What is an ice core?
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What is an ice core?
An ice core is a cylindrical section of ice extracted from a glacier or ice sheet that traps air bubbles and other materials that can be used to study past climate conditions.
What is an interglacial period?
An interglacial period is a warmer period between two glacial periods.
True or False?
The last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago.
True.
The last ice age ended approximately 12,000 years ago.
What does the melting of glaciers and Arctic sea ice indicate?
The melting of glaciers and Arctic sea ice indicates recent temperature increases caused by climate change.
What evidence is there that plant and animal behaviour is changing?
Evidence of changing plant and animal behaviour, such as altered flowering patterns, migration times, and hibernation periods, is a sign of recent climate change.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is the natural process by which greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorb and trap heat from the Earth's surface, maintaining a certain average temperature. The enhanced greenhouse effect is when the quantity of greenhouse gases is increased by human activity.
True or False?
Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth's average temperature would be -18 °C.
True.
Without the greenhouse effect, the Earth's average temperature would be -18 °C.
What are some natural sources of greenhouse gases?
Natural sources of greenhouse gases include:
Water vapour from oceans and plants.
Carbon dioxide from volcanic eruptions and respiration.
Methane from oceans and soils.
Nitrous oxide from soils and oceans.
What are Milankovitch Cycles?
Milankovitch Cycles are long-term changes in the Earth's orbit and position that affect the amount of solar radiation received, influencing climate patterns.
Name one human source of carbon dioxide (CO2).
Human sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) include:
Burning fossil fuels for power, transportation, and industry.
Deforestation, which reduces the absorption of CO2 by trees.
How can climate change impact health?
Climate change can lead to:
The increased spread of diseases including malaria and water-borne illnesses.
Heatwaves, and increased air pollution that can cause respiratory problems and exacerbate existing health conditions.
True or False?
Climate change may lead to food shortages and malnutrition.
True.
Climate change may lead to food shortages and malnutrition due to the impacts on agriculture and water availability.
What is the impact of sea level rise on coastal areas?
Sea level rise increases the risk of flooding in low-lying coastal areas and islands, leading to:
Beach erosion.
Saltwater intrusion.
Damage to coastal ecosystems like coral reefs and mangrove swamps.
True or False?
Climate change may lead to changes in pest and disease patterns.
True.
Climate change may lead to changes in pest and disease patterns, such as the expansion of malaria-carrying mosquitoes into new areas.
Give one social impact of climate change.
Social impacts of climate change include:
Health effects.
Displacement of people due to flooding or drought.
Loss of job opportunities in sectors like tourism and agriculture.
What is the purpose of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was set up in 1988 to assess the risks of human-induced climate change.
True or False?
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement signed in 2015.
False.
The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement adopted in 1997, where industrialised countries agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels. Developing countries like China and India were exempt.
What is the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement is a global agreement adopted in 2015 to limit global warming to no more than 2 °C (preferably 1.5 °C) above pre-industrial levels and reduce CO2 emissions by at least 60% by 2050.
True or False?
The United States initially withdrew from the Paris Agreement but later re-joined.
True.
The United States initially withdrew from the Paris Agreement under President Trump but later rejoined in 2021 under President Biden.
What is the Conference of the Parties (COP)?
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is an annual United Nations meeting where representatives from world countries gather to discuss and negotiate actions to address climate change.
Define alternative energy production.
Alternative energy production refers to the use of renewable energy sources like wind, solar, hydroelectric, tidal, and geothermal power, which emit lower levels of greenhouse gases than fossil fuels.
How does afforestation help to manage climate change?
Afforestation is the planting of trees, which increases the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and can help mitigate climate change.
Define carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a process that captures and removes carbon dioxide before it is emitted, compressing and storing it underground.
True or False?
Carbon capture and storage is currently an economically viable solution.
False.
Carbon capture and storage is not yet economically viable on a large scale.
What is the purpose of mitigation strategies?
Mitigation strategies aim to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of climate change by reducing or preventing greenhouse gas emissions.