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Natural Climate Change (Edexcel GCSE Geography B)

Revision Note

Bridgette Barrett

Written by: Bridgette Barrett

Reviewed by: Jenna Quinn

Natural Causes of Climate Change

Changes in the global climate

  • The global climate conditions of the Earth change over time leading to colder and warmer periods

  • The last 2.6 million years are the Quaternary period when there have been 60 cold periods and warmer interglacial periods

  • The last ice age ended approximately 25,000 years ago

Graph showing temperature changes over 11,000 years. Labels: Holocene Optimum, Roman Climate, Medieval Warm Period, Little Ice Age, Modern Warm Period.
Ice core data: changes in temperature over the last 11,000 years

Greenhouse gases from natural sources  

  • Water vapour: Evaporation from the oceans, seas and plants

  • Carbon dioxide: Volcanic eruptions, wildfires and respiration

  • Methane: Emitted from oceans and soils as part of decomposition, termites also emit methane

  • Nitrous oxide: Soils and oceans

Causes of Natural Climate Change

Cause

Impact

Milankovitch Cycles

  • Long term changes to the Earth's orbit and position. This changes how much solar radiation the Earth receives

  • The Earth's orbit changes every 100,000 years a more circular orbit leads to cooler periods and an elliptical orbit leads to warmer periods

  • The Earth's tilt varies every 40,000 years and the greater the tilt the hotter summers are and colder the winters are

  • Every 24,000 years the Earth wobbles on its axis and this can affect the seasonal temperatures

Volcanic eruptions

  • Large scale eruptions lead to vast quantities of ash being ejected into the atmosphere

  • Ash in the atmosphere blocks solar radiation leading to a decrease in temperatures

Sunspot activity

  • Increased sunspot activity is linked to higher average temperatures

Atmospheric dust and asteroids

  • Asteroids and meteors entering the Earth's atmosphere may increase the amount of dust which decreases temperatures

  • Large asteroid collisions can cause fires which release CO2 emissions and the dust sent up into the atmosphere can also lead to cooling as dust particles block solar radiation

Ocean Currents

  • Ocean currents affect temperature, warm currents such as the Gulf Stream lead to warmer temperatures. If these currents shift it can lead to changes in climate

Worked Example

Analyse the data in Figure 1

 

Mean Antarctic temperatures and atmospheric CO2 concentration over the past 200,000 years

Mean Antarctic temperatures and atmospheric CO2 concentration over the past 200,000 years

Explain one natural cause of climate change.                                                  

                                                                                                              (2 marks)

Answer 

You will be awarded 1 mark for identifying a natural cause of climate change and a further mark for the explanation.

  • Volcanic eruptions (1) cause cooling as incoming solar radiation is blocked by volcanic dust (1)

  • Asteroid collisions (1) can cause cooling as large quantities of ash and dust are kicked up into the atmosphere (1)

  • Increased/decreased sunspots/solar flare activity (1) cause warmer/cooler periods as more/less solar energy is released towards the earth (1)

  • Changes in the earth’s orbit / Milankovitch cycles (1) can cause cooling or warming of the earth as the amount of solar radiation received by the earth varies (1)

  •  Volcanic eruptions (1) can lead to a warming of the earth as more carbon dioxide is released (1)

Evidence of Natural Climate Change

  • The evidence for the natural changes comes from a range of sources

Ice cores 

  • These trap ash, air bubbles and microbes.

    • The air bubbles contain CO2 providing information about past temperatures

    • Ice cores give information regarding the climate for the last 2.6 million years

Preserved pollen

  • Allows scientists to know which plants were located where 

    • The climate requirements of those plants can then be used to know what the climate conditions were 

Historical sources

  • Diaries and art: such as paintings of the Thames river frost fairs

    • These are subjective and so may be inaccurate

Tree rings

  • Each ring of the tree shows a year's growth

    • During warmer and wetter years trees grow more and so the rings are larger

    • Fossilised tree remains enable scientists to examine the climate over thousands of years

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    Author
    Reviewer
    Bridgette Barrett

    Author: Bridgette Barrett

    Expertise: Geography Lead

    After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.

    Jenna Quinn

    Author: Jenna Quinn

    Expertise: Head of New Subjects

    Jenna studied at Cardiff University before training to become a science teacher at the University of Bath specialising in Biology (although she loves teaching all three sciences at GCSE level!). Teaching is her passion, and with 10 years experience teaching across a wide range of specifications – from GCSE and A Level Biology in the UK to IGCSE and IB Biology internationally – she knows what is required to pass those Biology exams.