Climate Change

Evidence of Climate Change
1. Physical
  1. Fossils
  2. Landforms e.g. U shaped valleys from retreating glaciers
  3. Samples from ice sheets
2. Human
  1. Photos, drawings and paintings
  2. Written records
  3. Recorded dates of regular events
Climate Change Theories
1. Asteroid Theory
2. Human Theory
3. Eruption Theory
4. Orbital Theory
5. Sun Spot Theory
Case Studies
1. Megafauna
  1. Megafauna - Big Animals
    1. Wooly Mammoths + Sabre Tooth Tigers
  2. 10,000 - 15,000 years ago
  3. Two new stresses - Humans and Climate Change
  4. They migrate to a new environment that suits them
    1. Finding food in the new area was hard
      1. Disrupted food chains
        Climate change stress may have made the Megafauna weaker
2. Little Ice Age
  1. "Frost Fairs" were held on the frozen river thames
  2. Before the little ice age had begun, there was a warm period and Europe's population grew and land on the hillsides were given as farmland
    1. In 1315, growth crashed to a halt as the little ice age took place
      1. Cold and rain lashed Europe in the spring and summer
        Wheat and oats did not ripen and the harvest failed
        The cool, wet weather continued into 1316 and 1317
        By 1917 the "Great Famine" had begun and it lasted till 1325
        10-20% of peasant farmers may have died of hunger
        The Black Death hit Europe in 1349.
        Killed more people than the famine did.
        Made worse by the weather conditions
        Glaciers then grew and slide down the valleys, destroying villages
        People adapted and started to grow potatoes which were suited to the environment
The Atmosphere
1. Atmospheric Gases
  1. Nitrogen 78.1% Important nutrient for plant growth
  2. Oxygen 20.9% Is breathed in by animals, which breath out CO2
  3. Carbon Dioxide 0.03% Breathed in by plants
  4. Water Vapour 1% Form clouds which are a vital part of the water cycle
2. Greenhouse Gases
  1. Carbon Dioxide 89% GGP
    1. Produced through burning fossil fuels
  2. Methane 7% GGP
    1. Produced through farming and gas pipeline leaks
  3. Nitrous Oxide 3% GGP
    1. Produced in car engines
  4. Halocarbons 1% GGP
    1. Used as a solvent and a coolent
Air Masses
1. Polar Maritime
  1. An air mass that has traveled from the north over the sea, bringing cold, wet weather.
2. Arctic Maritime
  1. An air mass originating from the Arctic area, bringing cold, snowy weather.
3. Polar Continental
  1. An air mass that has traveled over Europe bringing the cold, dry weather from Russia and Siberia
4. Tropical Maritime
  1. An air mass that has traveled from the north west bringing warm, wet weather.
5. Tropical Continental
  1. An air mass that travels over southern Europe bringing warm, dry weather.
How to combat Climate Change?
1. Locally
  1. Solar Panels
  2. Using public transport
  3. Reducing, Reusing, Recycling
  4. Growing your own
  5. Turn off appliances when not in use
2. Nationally
  1. Improve public transport
  2. Insentives to being green
  3. Recycling scheme improvement
  4. Change laws/ policies on car emissions
  5. Introduce penalties for not using public transport
3. Globally
  1. Bring in Protocals
    1. Kyoto Protocal
      1. Aim to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide in each country
Ocean Currents
1. Movements of surface water set in motion by prevailing winds and affect the climate on coastal areas.
2. North Hemisphere - Clockwise
3. South Hemisphere - Anti-Clockwise
4. Warm currents carry water from the tropics to the poles
5. Cold currents carry water from the poles to the topics

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	Created by Matthew Jones over 10 years ago