Higher Global Climate Change

Physical causes Human causes Local and Global effects Management strategies and their limitations&nbsp;

Reducing energy consumption through better insulation and ‘smart’ meters. Over 10% of all Scottish homes have received financial support to fit loft or cavity wall insulation. By the end of 2021 the Scottish Government will have allocated over £1 billion since 2009 to tackle fuel poverty and make our homes more energy efficient. The Scottish House Condition Survey shows that 43% of homes in 2016 rated EPC band C or above, an increase of 77% since 2010.

NASA Models Methane Sources, Movement Around Globe

21 times as effective in trapping heat than CO2. Methane is produced when organic material is broken down anaerobically, without oxygen. This can happen in the following ways: In landfill sites as waste / vegetation decomposes. In&nbsp;padi&nbsp;fields when the rice plants are left to rot after they have been harvested. In the stomachs of cows as they digest grass and then released as they belch and fart. When permafrost melts the methane trapped in the ground for thousands of years&nbsp;can continue to biodegrade and is able to&nbsp;escape into the atmosphere.&nbsp;

International Agreements

The Paris agreement 2015, or COP 21, reaffirmed the goal of limiting global temperature increase well below 2 degrees Celsius, while urging efforts to limit the increase to 1.5 degrees. By establishing binding commitments by all countries to make “nationally determined contributions” and to pursue domestic measures aimed at achieving them.

At Glasgow for the first time at a COP conference, there was an explicit plan to reduce use of coal - which is responsible for 40% of annual CO2 emissions. However, countries only agreed a weaker commitment to "phase down" rather than "phase out" coal after a late intervention by China and India.

Vehicle Emissions&nbsp;&nbsp;

Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) is calculated on a basis of C0² emissions, with vehicles which produce less CO² charged less. Sales of new petrol and diesel cars to be ended in Scotland by 2030. 12% of Scotland's bus fleet is now low – carbon including 10 Hydrogen powered busses in Aberdeen.&nbsp;

Milankovitch Cycles

Axial Tilt The less the tilt the less the variation in Summer and Winter temperatures. This will make Summers less warm and will encourage snow to last longer forming glacial ice. Occurs over 41,000 years.

Axial Precession This is a change in how close the Earth is to the Sun when Summer occurs. When the Earth is further away from the Sun in our Summer (Northern Hemisphere) we have cooler summers allowing snow to last for longer and possibly develop into glacial ice. This increases the Albedo effect. Occurs over a 23,000 year cycle.

Longannet Coal Power Station Kincardine

Reducing the amount of energy produced from coal–fired power station which emit the most C0². Cockenzie power station closed in 2013, and Longannet closed in 2016. Increased power generation from renewable sources such as wind power, Whitelee Wind Farm outside Glasgow is the second largest in Europe with 215 turbines. The giant Drax power station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, has become the first in Europe to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) from wood-burning.

Human activities are&nbsp;causing the release of&nbsp;large amounts of&nbsp;Greenhouse gases,&nbsp;particularly carbon&nbsp;dioxide.&nbsp; As the percentage of&nbsp;carbon dioxide in the&nbsp;atmosphere has&nbsp;increased, so in general&nbsp;has the Earth’s mean&nbsp;temperature.

Why CO2 matters for climate change - BBC News

Burning fossil fuels, for example coal, oil and natural gas release Carbon Dioxide&nbsp;into the atmosphere. These has been used increasingly to&nbsp;generate electricity in power stations and to heat homes. Deforestation, especially in the Amazon Rainforest, has resulted in more carbon&nbsp;dioxide being released when trees are burnt. With fewer trees there is less photosynthesis so less CO² is captured by vegetation.&nbsp;

Impact on wildlife and natural habitats, e.g. extinction of at least 10% of land species&nbsp;and coral reefs suffer 80% bleaching

Climate change: What is coral bleaching? - CBBC Newsround

How does climate change affect animals? | Global Ideas

Globally, an increase in precipitation, particularly in the winter in northern&nbsp;countries such as Scotland, but some areas like the USA Great Plains / central Europe may&nbsp;experience drier conditions.

Climate change: Impacts 'accelerating' as leaders gather for UN talks

Evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies used to: (i) reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases; and (ii) manage the local effects of climate change. 12

Management strategies and their Limitations

Government Policy Scotland's emissions of all greenhouse gases to net-zero by 2045 at the latest, with interim targets for reductions of at least 56% by 2020, 75% by 2030, 90% by 2040.&nbsp;

Diagram Q2: Global air temperatures 1850—2011

Explain&nbsp;the human&nbsp;activities which have&nbsp;contributed to the&nbsp;changes in global air&nbsp;temperatures. 8

SF6 - 23,500 time more potent than CO2 at trapping heat. It also lasts in the atmosphere for approx. 1000 years. It is a cheap and non-flammable, SF6 is a colourless, odourless, synthetic gas. It makes a hugely effective insulating material for medium and high-voltage electrical installations. It is widely used across the industry, from large power stations to wind turbines to electrical sub-stations in towns and cities. It prevents electrical accidents and fires.

Growth of the global population but mostly an increase in wealth means more people need food especially an increase in meat production.  Growing demand for heating and electrical supply as well as cars and transport have also increased these gases.  

Video: Human causes of climate change

310 times more effective in trapping heat than Carbon Dioxide.&nbsp; The largest source is agriculture and&nbsp;the majority of&nbsp;agricultural emissions&nbsp;result from nitrogen fertilisers of agricultural soils (87 percent of the&nbsp;agriculture total). When too much nitrogen feritsier is put on the farmland it can react with the rain and atmosphere and turn into nitrous oxide. Nitrous Oxide&nbsp;is also released from vehicles especially diesel cars / lorries.

Volkswagen's diesel scandal, explained

Volcanic eruptions which produce a large amount of Sulphur Dioxide into the upper atmosphere (Stratosphere) can lead to global cooling, as the gases reflect and absorb more insolation from the sun before it gets to the Earth. This makes the Earth cooler as has been seen after modern day volcanic eruptions, such as Krakatau, in the past much larger volcanoes had a larger effect.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/stratospheric-aerosols.html">https://www.nasa.gov/topics/earth/features/stratospheric-aerosols.html</a>

Powerful volcanic eruptions - National 5 Geography - BBC Bitesize

11,200 hectares of new planting in 2018/19 beating the target of 10,000 ha. The annual woodland creation targets are now set to increase from 10 000 to 15 000 ha per year by 2024/25. The Forestry Grant Scheme offers financial support for landowners and land managers to create new woodland and sustainably manage existing woodland. Over the last 4 years funding for the scheme has increased from £31 million in 2016-2017 to £51 million in 2019-2020.

Ice cap melting: Melting of ice caps releases additional fresh water into the oceans, which in turn alters ocean circulation with cold and warm ocean currents being affected. This also reduces the albedo effect as there is less energy being reflected as more land is exposed. Permafrost melting: As permafrost melts within the Arctic tundra, frozen organic matter starts to decay releasing Methane.&nbsp;

Exploding methane gas bubbles   - Earth: The Power of the Planet - BBC

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Methane (CH₄) Nitrous Oxides (N₂O) Chlorofluorocarbons&nbsp;(CFC’s) Hydrofluorocarbons&nbsp;(HFC’s) Sulphur hexafluoride (SF₆)

There are 6 main Greenhouses gases, but the most important ones are the first three. The amount of these gases have all been increasing in our atmosphere due to human factors.

Variations in Energy Emissions from the Sun

Solar activity: variations in solar energy and sun spot activity can alter global temperatures. Scientists have shown that variations in sun spot activity follow an 11-year pattern.&nbsp;

Video: Natural causes of Quaternary climate change

Discuss a range of possible impacts of global climate change. 10

Explain the physical factors affecting climate change. 8

1.Variations in Energy Emissions from the Sun 2.Variations in the Orbit &amp; Movement of the Earth 3.Variations in Volcanic Activity 4.Variations in Ice Caps

Variations in the Orbit &amp; Movement of the Earth

Milankovitch’s theory: changes in the Earth’s orbit and tilt alter the amount of energy reaching the Earth. When there is less energy reaching Earth during the Northern Hemispheres' Summer ice will last longer increasing the Albedo effect. This is because most of the Earth land in is in the Northern Hemisphere.

How Ice Ages Happen: The Milankovitch Cycles

Managing the Effects of Global Climate Change

Flood defences have been built to manage the local effects of extreme weather events. The Thames Barrier has successfully protected London from flooding on numerous occasions and is predicted to provide protection from “one in a thousand year” flood events. However, a second barrier may be needed to cope with flooding beyond 2070 and advance warning systems need to be further developed to advise householders of the potential risks of flooding. To manage the effects of drought, the UK has implemented hose-pipe bans but these are unpopular and difficult to enforce. London has built a desalination plant to provide additional fresh water during droughts.&nbsp;

At a local level, individuals are encouraged to reduce, reuse and recycle so that less refuse is sent to landfill sites. In Falkirk Council the ‘Green’ waste bin is only collected once every 4 weeks now. Scottish government target to ban household waste going to landfill by 2021. In 1995 15 Million tons of waste went to landfill, it fell below 1 Million in 2019. This will be achieved by increasing recycling rates and building more energy-from-waste incinerators.

25.8% fall in agriculture sector emissions between 1990 and 2015 This fall is attributable to : •fewer cattle and sheep •a reduction in the amount of nitrogen fertiliser being applied By 2020, to help increase the efficient use of nitrogen fertiliser, the Scottish Government will continue to work with farmers so that they know the pH of the soil, and that they are applying fertilisers in an efficient manner.

Over the past 50 years the sales of Beef and Lamb have reduced. This is down to a variety of reasons such as cost, mad cow disease, health concerns and different tastes as the sale of chicken has increased.

Increase in extent of tropical/vector borne diseases, e.g. yellow fever as warmer&nbsp;areas expand, possibly up to 40 million more in Africa being exposed to risk of&nbsp;contracting malaria. Higher sea temperatures can cause more extreme and more variable weather,&nbsp;particularly hurricanes becoming more frequent and more intense. A prolonged dry season can lead to forest fires, for example Australia.&nbsp;

Australia fires: Preventing the spread - BBC News

Eccentricity This is the change in the shape of the earth's orbit around the sun.&nbsp; Over time the Earth will be closer to, or further away from the Sun altering the amount of energy we receive. Occurs over 97,000 years.

Climate change is causing permafrost warming and thawing in high latitude regions&nbsp;(Alaksa), this has an impact on infrastructure such as pipelines which can fracture as their foundations move as the land thaws. As Arctic ice melts shipping could start to use the North West passage and thereby&nbsp;making communication links between Europe and Asia- much quicker and cheaper.&nbsp; Changes to ocean current circulation, e.g. in the Atlantic the&nbsp;thermohaline&nbsp;circulation&nbsp;starts to lose impact on north–western Europe, resulting in considerably colder&nbsp;winters.

Sea level rises caused by an expansion of the sea as it becomes warmer,&nbsp;and also&nbsp;by&nbsp;the melting of glaciers and ice caps in Greenland and Antarctica.&nbsp;When ice melts in the Arctic Sea it does not effect the sea level as the ice displaces the same volume of water it releases but when ice on Greenland melts it turns to water and flows into the Atlantic rising the sea levels.

Climate change: Why are sea levels rising? - CBBC Newsround

Low–lying coastal areas, e.g. Bangladesh affected with large-scale displacement of&nbsp;people and loss of land for farming and destruction of property

The Greenhouse Effect

Global Warming

Some gases in the Earth’s atmosphere stop&nbsp;heat radiating into space from the Earth.&nbsp;This is called the greenhouse effect and the&nbsp;gases involved are called greenhouse gases.&nbsp; Radiation from the Sun passes through&nbsp;the Earth’s atmosphere. The Earth absorbs radiation with short&nbsp;wavelengths and so warms up. Heat is&nbsp;radiated from the Earth as longer&nbsp;wavelength infrared radiation. Some of this infrared radiation is&nbsp;absorbed by greenhouse gases in the&nbsp;atmosphere. The atmosphere warms up.

Name

Safari may block some audio or video from playing automatically and ‘read to me’ will skip these. You can configure this in Safari’s preferences.