Causes of climate change
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Flip to reveal answersDefine “anthropogenic” in the context of climate change.
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Question
Define “anthropogenic” in the context of climate change.
Answer
Anthropogenic means caused by human activities (e.g., burning fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture).
💡 Hint
Anthro = human.
Question
What is “global warming potential (GWP)”?
Answer
Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps compared with CO2 over a specified time period.
💡 Hint
CO2 baseline = 1.
Question
Name two natural factors that can change Earth’s climate.
Answer
Examples include Milankovitch cycles, volcanic eruptions, solar output variations, and changes in ocean circulation (El Niño/La Niña).
💡 Hint
Pick any two.
Question
Why does CO2 have the largest overall impact on warming even though CH4 is more potent per molecule?
Answer
CO2 has the largest overall impact because it is emitted in far greater quantities and persists for a long time, so its cumulative effect is very large.
💡 Hint
Quantity + long lifetime.
Question
Why can volcanic eruptions cause short-term global cooling?
Answer
Large eruptions release aerosols/ash that reflect incoming solar radiation, reducing the energy reaching Earth’s surface for months to a few years.
💡 Hint
Aerosols reflect sunlight.
Question
Give one key source for each: CO2, CH4, and N2O.
Answer
CO2: fossil fuel combustion/deforestation. CH4: livestock/rice paddies/landfills. N2O: fertiliser use/combustion/industry.
💡 Hint
One source per gas.
Question
Explain why deforestation is described as a “double impact” on climate change.
Answer
Deforestation removes a carbon sink (less CO2 absorbed by photosynthesis) and often releases stored carbon as CO2 when biomass is burned or decomposes.
💡 Hint
Removes sink + adds source.
Question
Give two human activities and match each to a greenhouse gas it increases.
Answer
Fossil fuel combustion → CO2. Livestock/rice paddies/landfills → CH4. Fertiliser use → N2O. Refrigerants → fluorinated gases.
💡 Hint
Activity → gas.
Question
Explain why natural factors alone cannot explain the rapid warming since the mid-20th century.
Answer
Natural factors (solar output, volcanic activity) do not show changes large enough to match observed warming, while greenhouse gas concentrations from human activity rise sharply and align with temperature increases.
💡 Hint
Link: stable solar + rising GHGs.
Question
What is the difference between a carbon source and a carbon sink? Give one example of each.
Answer
A carbon source releases CO2 (e.g., fossil fuel combustion). A carbon sink absorbs CO2 (e.g., forests via photosynthesis or oceans dissolving CO2).
💡 Hint
Source releases; sink absorbs.
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Topic 6.2 hub
Climate change—causes and impacts
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