Unit 1 Climate and change

Transcription

1 Name: Unit 1 Climate and change Glossary Atmosphere the layer of gases above the earth s surface. Climate the average of weather conditions measured over a period of 30 years. Climatologist a scientist who is an expert in climate and climate change. Weather the short-term day to day changes in things like temperature, wind, cloud cover and rainfall. Desertification the gradual change of land into desert. Extinction a species of plant or animal dies out completely so none survive. Food Chain plants provide food for plant eating animals (herbivores). Herbivores provide food for meat-eating animals (carnivores). Plants and animals and linked together and depend on each other. Glacial a long period of time during which the earth s glaciers expanded widely. Interglacials a long period of warmer conditions between glacials. Megafauna means big animals. Most weighed over 40kg and included the woolly mammoth, giant elk, ground sloth, sabre-tooth cat, giant beaver and glyptodon. Milankovitch Cycles the three long term cycles in the earth s orbit around the sun. Milankovitch s theory is that glacials happen when the three cycles match up in a certain way. Quaternary the last 2.6 million years, during which there have been many glacials. Stratosphere the layer of air 10 50km above the earth s surface. It is above the cloudy layer we live in, called the troposphere. The Greenhouse effect the way that gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun. The gases act like the glass in a greenhouse. They let heat in but prevent most of it from getting out. 1

2 2.1 Past climates. Look at the graph on the right, showing CO 2 levels and temperature over the last 800,000 years. Describe how the graph is changing (what shape does the graph make?) Does the earth heat up faster, or cool down faster? How are CO 2 levels and temperature linked? Exam Style Question: Describe the evidence that can be used to reconstruct past climates (4 marks) Use p The causes of climate change in the past. Use pages to write a description of the following theories for why climate has changed in the past: 2

3 Four Theories of Climate Change Process Eruption Theory Sunspots & Solar Output Orbital Theory Asteroid Collision [p30] Effect on climate Example 3

4 2.3 Lessons from the past What happened to the Vikings of Greenland? P.29 Q1 How did the climate at the time affect Erik the Red s prospects when he was banished to Greenland? Q2 Imagine you were one of the last farmers in Greenland. Explain how difficult life has become. The Little Ice Age What is the relationship between price of grain in Germany and climate? Why is this? Lessons from the past. 4

5 Use page 29 to answer the following questions: In 1315 the Little Ice Age hit Europe. What impacts did this have on European people? List 5 impacts. How did people in Europe adapt to the colder climate of the Little Ice Age? 2.4 Climate and Ecosystems. Use pages to complete the following. An Ecosystem is a community of animals and plants together with the environment in which they live. Sort the following into a food chain: Rabbit Sun Grass Wolf Bacteria What happened to the Dinosaurs? Why is this used to represent the threat of climate change? 5

6 Complete the following chain of events. Draw pictures in the box provided to illustrate each event. P 31 Q3 North America South America Australia Europe Extinct 33 Survived 12 Total 45 % extinct (E T x100= ) 73% 6

7 P31 Exam-style question. Using examples, describe how the environment and ecosystems were affected by climate change in the past [6 marks.] 2.5 Changing the atmosphere P33 q1 Why is carbon dioxide in the atmosphere so important? P33 q 2 What are the main greenhouse gases? An estimate of the rise of the three main greenhouse gases Year Carbon dioxide (parts per million) Methane (parts per million) Nitrous oxide (parts per million) Look at the above table of greenhouse gases. (a) Draw a graph to illustrate changes in one of the gases shown. [use graph paper] (b) Identify the decade when major changes first started to occur. (c) Suggest reasons why major changes began around this time. 7

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9 This diagram explains how the world is slowly getting warmer. Write the labels in the correct boxes. 9

10 2.6 The enhanced greenhouse effect P35 Q1 is a greenhouse. These gases in the keep the planet comfortably. Human activities are producing more greenhouse gases which the atmosphere. This is causing the greenhouse effect and seems to be leading to warming. P 33 Q4(a) Make a list of human activities which add extra greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Global Warming Game Put the EVENTS CARDS in a pile Put 1 counter on the START box on the game board Put 1 counter on the S (box 22) on the GREENHOUSE GAS LEVEL scale Roll the die and move the counter along the number of squares shown on the die. If you land on a square that decreases global warming, find the matching EVENT CARD and put it on the grid in the middle of the board. Each square has a number on it (+2, -1). Move the counter on the GREENHOUSE GAS LEVEL scale along the number of boxes shown on the big square ALWAYS Record what happens each turn on your RECORD SHEET [see next page] Continue the game until you reach turn 20 There are 3 possible outcomes 1. If you manage to collect 10 EVENT CARDS before turn 20 you have stopped further global warming 2. If YOU reach the end box (40) on the GREENHOUSE GAS LEVEL scale then the game is OVER and you have not STOPPED global warming. 3. If you DO NOT collect 10 event cards before turn 20, look at where your counter is on the GREENHOUSE GAS LEVEL: A) If you re on an X = you have failed to stop global warming B) If you re on a = you have successfully stopped future global warming 10

11 Number of Turns Event you landed on Record Sheet Greenhouse gas level Increase or decrease? Example 1 Solar Power -1 Decrease Example 2 Increased use of CFCs +2 Increase

12 Explanation of key events Write in the first column which of the events you think are described Key Event Explanation A renewable energy resource that uses the sun s natural powers Projects created to re-use certain parts of rubbish and to prevent huge amounts of waste Without these vital resources carbon dioxide cannot be absorbed from the atmosphere and used in the process of photosynthesis An agreement signed by many different countries in an attempt to think of different ways of reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere An attempt to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the environment, a natural way using a natural process A ban to reduce the amount of small particles that are found in man made products, that are degradable in the atmosphere Combustion or burning of things creates carbon, especially fuels such as coal. A new form of power is needed A positive effort by man to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that enters the atmosphere, catch the bus! The energy within water is used effectively to create electricity Cattle naturally produce wind that adds to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere An attempt by man to address the issue of global warming and to educate generations of people into thinking about what causes this environmental problem Instead of using fossil fuels (will run out in years to come) man uses the power of the ocean to generate an endless power source that us natural and not damaging to the environment Attempts to educate the people into saving energy An expensive, but natural way of using another natural resource that has no impact on the atmosphere, the wind By using the natural heat found within the earth, power can be created, thus limiting the additional heat entering the atmosphere 12