the atmosphere
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what is uv light blocked by in the stratosphere
ozone
what happens to most of the visible light in the atmosphere
is absorbed, converted to heat and re-emitted as infrared energy.Naturally occurring gases gases absorb this,converting it to heat.
how is the temperature raised on earth (two ways)
infra red energy which is absorbed by the earths surface. -atmosphere reduces heat loss by conduction from land and oceans.
how do ocean currents distribute heat
winds blowing over them carry warm water from tropical areas to higher latitudes e.g the north Atlantic conveyor.
in the atmosphere what area the 4 layers staring with the bottom
troposphere stratosphere mesosphere thermosphere
what type pf radiation does the earth emit
Infra red-this cannot pass through the atmosphere as easily as visible light and is absorbed by gases in the atmosphere.
what human activities cause the release of methane
anaerobic digestion of microbes in padi fields, landfill sites and leaks from natural gas fields. relative effect of 25
how do humans release CFCs
aerosol propellants,fire extinguishers and refrigerants. 2500 relative effects.
how is tropospheric ozone formed
produced by the photo chemical breakdown of NO2 and subsequent reactions with oxygen. 2000 relative effect.
why might species migration not be possible
could colonise new areas more slowly than they disappear from their old range e.g trees. -suitable areas may not be available. -human land use may block movement. -not all species in interdependent communities move at the same speed.
what are positive effects of climate change on bats-UK
increased survival in hibernation. -could increase population of food species.
what are the negative effects of climate change on bats
wetter weather could reduce time of feeding which may reduce survival.
what is needed for plant migration-climate change
biological corridor.
one of the impacts of climate change is isolation of species what are the impacts of this.
gene pool is divided into smaller ones making inbreeding more likely. -individual smaller populations may not be viable.
what is a jet stream
strong winds that blow west to east in the upper troposphere. they are caused by the difference in temperature and density between two air masses such as the warm air in the mid latitudes and old air in polar regions.
why is the temperature differences that create jet streams getting smaller?
polar regions are warming faster than areas near the equator- the jet streams int he Northern hemisphere are moving nearer to the pole in a meandering path.
what are the waves created by the meandering path of jet streams?
rossby waves-can carry unsually cold air southwards and vise versa.
what does the slower movement of jet streams cause?
cause weather systems to remain in one area creating longer more intense weather.g prolonged droughts.
how does climate change change rainfall patterns?
increased temps-increased evaporation. -air may have to move further north before water vapor condenses. -changes in wind velocity and direction carries humid areas to one place or another -one plays is dry and other is wet.
what is the impact of warmer temperatures on a glacier.
cause the front end of the glacier to melt faster than it is moving forward so the ice front retreats up the valley.
what is the effect of meltwater on glaciers
can flow into cracks and lubricate the bottom of the glacier causing it to move more quickly.
what is an ice sheet?
ice covering an area over 50000km -Greenland and Antarctica.
why might ice coverage increase as temperatures rise?
increased freshwater flowing off the land, floating on the denser sea water the freezing.
why is rainfall more hazradous than snowfall
rainfall rapidly flows into rivers whereas melt water has more even flow but may cause an increase river flow in sudden warms such as a spring thaw.