1. PATTERN IN ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND SUSTAINABILITY 1) Atmosphere and Change

2. The Atmosphere = thin layer/film surrounding the Earth = 500km thick half the mass is found in the lowest 6km 99% of the atmosphere is found in the lowest 40km There are 4 layers that are defined by whether the temperature is rising or falling with altitude

4. Atmospheric task Read pages 100-101 and complete the worksheet about the atmosphere

5. The global heat budget and Atmospheric circulation All processes in the atmosphere depend upon energy from the sun Energy sent from each square meter of the sun is enough to power 1million light bulbs (total surface area = 65million meters square)

6. SHORT and LONG WAVE RADIATION Incoming solar radiation = ……………………… and arrives as ………………………….. RADIATION Visible light Short wave radiation produced by ………………………… (Sun = 5300 o C) Cold bodies (e.g. Moon and Earth) emit ………………………………….

7. Dispersion of Solar Energy

8. Most solar energy absorbed by ………………… and ………………….. in the atmosphere, especially ……………………………………... …………% of incoming solar radiation is absorbed in the atmosphere ………..% of the insolation (some directly and some indirectly from reflections) is absorbed by the earths surface

9. Reasons for the Earth receiving different amounts of energy Less solar energy is absorbed by the ground in polar areas compared to equatorial areas for 3 reasons

10. 1)The sun’s rays strike the earth’s surface at a lower angle so the energy is spread over a larger area, resulting in less energy per square metre on the surface

12. 2) The sun’s rays must penetrate a greater thickness of atmosphere near the poles compared to at the equator. This is because the sun’s rays approach at an oblique angle so that the gases in the atmosphere absorb more heat and light

13. 3) More light is reflected back into space from the surface at the poles Shiny white snow and ice have a greater ……………….. compared to water and vegetation. Snow and ice reflect …………% of solar energy Grass and trees absorb between …………..% Surfaces become shinier and reflect more energy when the light reaches at a low angle

14. Low angleGreater thickness of atmosphere

15. Balance between solar and longwave radiation Radiation reflected back from the earth’s surface has a ……………………….. wavelength. This means more of the radiation is in the form of heat and less is light Gases in the atmosphere are good at ………………. long wave radiation/heat The atmosphere absorbs energy emitted from the ……………………… better than incoming short wave radiation from the sun

17. The total incoming radiation equals the total outgoing energy There is a …………….. of energy at the equator and a ………………… of energy at the poles There is thus a transfer of heat from the equator to the poles, otherwise the equator would continue to heat up and the poles would keep getting colder The redistribution of heat creates pressure systems and winds.

18. Annual mean net incoming solar radiation at the top of the atmosphere that is absorbed by the Earth

19. Of all the energy received by the earth, 34% is reflected back into space (2% from the surface, 7% from the atmosphere and 25% from clouds) Before the reflected energy returns to space some of it is retained/held in the atmosphere It is this retained heat that provides warmth and makes earth habitable

20. The process where the input of heat into the atmosphere equals the output, whilst retaining some heat is known as the …………………………………………. Without the greenhouse effect the earth would be ……………… cooler than it is now, and would not be able to sustain life as we know it

22. Evidence of climate change

30. Causes of climate change Changes in solar activity Impact of volcanic activity Variations in the earth’s orbit Changes in humidity and cloud cover

31. 1) Changes in solar activity Sunspot activity, which occurs in cycles, can affect the earths climate Times of high annual temperatures on earth match periods of maximum sunspot activity

34. 2) Impact of volcanic activity World temperatures are lowered after a single eruption e.g. Mount Pinatubo or after a series of eruptions Increased amount of dust particles in the lower atmosphere (troposphere) absorb and scatter more incoming radiation

35. 3) Variations in the earths orbit Milankovitch cycles show how the Earth’s orbit, tilt and wobble around the sun can change our climate as the amount of solar energy reaching the earth changes

37. 4) Changes in humidity and cloud cover This impacts how much radiation is absorbed or reflected so changes daily and from place to place

38. The Enhanced Greenhouse effect Some scientists say that a reason for climate change and global warming is due to human inputs of carbon dioxide and pollution. This is known as the enhanced greenhouse effect as more solar radiation is trapped and thus the earth warms up even more

42. Environmental Consequences of Climate change A rise in sea level, causing flooding in low-lying areas such as the Netherlands, Egypt and Bangladesh. This could cause 200million people to be displaced An increase in the number of storms/hurricanes/cyclones due to the atmosphere having more energy Changes to agricultural patterns e.g. a decline in USA grain production but an increase in length to Canada’s growing season Reduced rainfall in USA and southern Europe Extinction of up to 40% of species wildlife

43. Arctic ice is melting at a rapid rate- 40% thinner now than 40 years ago Non-polar glacial retreat ‘permanent’ snow on Mount Kilimanjaro may disappear Timings of egg laying for animals and flowering plants has changed as climate have warmed Migration and movement of plants and animals as seasons and habitats have changed Precipitation has changed across the northern hemisphere, especially destructive storms.

44. FOODFalling crop yields, particularly in the developing world WATERMountain glaciers melt reducing water availability and sea level rise ECOSYSTEMSDamage to coral reefs and increased extinctions EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS Rising intensity of storms, forest fires, droughts, flooding, heatwaves

47. Increase in number of hurricanes in the USA

50. Kilimanjaro permanent snow retreat 1993 2000

52. ALASKA

53. The implications of climate change Flow diagram page 33 IB study guide Questions 2, 3, 4 and 5 page 108 A3 photocopy

54. Policies to combat climate change Emissions of anthropogenic (man-made) greenhouse gases and carbon dioxide are influenced by: –The size of human population –The amount of energy used per person –The level of emissions resulting from the use of energy

55. Attempts to reduce emissions include Improved energy efficiency Fuel switching Use of renewable energy Nuclear power Capture and storage of carbon dioxide Increasing the rate that natural sinks (oceans and forests) absorb carbon dioxide

56. The Kyoto Protocol and Bali 2007 Produce a fact sheet about the Kyoto Protocol In it you must include information about –What it is trying to do –When it was introduced –How it was trying to achieve its aims –Which countries have signed the protocol –Which countries did not sign and why

57. Bali 2007 Produce a factsheet about Bali 2007 –Why was it needed? –What were the aims? –What were European countries wanting? –What impact did this have on India and China?