Natural Causes of Climate Change

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Natural Factors and Climate Change

Below are some natural factors that are potential causes of climate change:

Milankovitch cycles

The Earth's orbit around the Sun changes from circular to elliptical and back to circular over a period of 96,000 years. This is known as Milankovitch cycles.
When the Earth is closer to the sun, more of the sun's radiation will reach the Earth, warming it.
Orbital cycles could explain the interglacial eras.
The Earth's tilt changes over a cycle of 41,000 years.
The Earth's axis wobbles on a cycle of 22,000 years.
- These cycles affect the amount of solar radiation the Earth receives - the more solar radiation it's exposed to, the warmer it gets.

Volcanic activity

Very large volcanic eruptions can change the atmosphere.
- Particles can reflect the Sun's radiation away from Earth, cooling it down. This can be described as a volcanic winter.
- Volcanic eruptions also release Carbon Dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas.
However, volcanic winters only last for a few years and would cool the earth down.
Volcanoes don't produce enough CO2 to explain global warming over 150 years.

Solar output variation

The Sun's energy output changes in cycles. It is possible that a period of high output could increase the Earth's temperature, however, the scientific consensus is that solar output variation cannot explain recent global warming.

Asteroid collisions

When asteroids collide with the Earth, huge amounts of dust particles get thrown up into the atmosphere.
These dust particles reduce the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth's surface. This causes global temperatures to fall.
This is unlikely to explain recent changes in the Earth's climate.

Natural Causes of Climate Change

There are several natural causes of climate change.

Milankovitch cycles

The Earth's orbit around the Sun changes from circular to elliptical and back to circular about every 96,000 years.
- The closer the Earth is to the Sun, the more solar radiation it is exposed to and the warmer it gets.
The Earth's tilt changes over a cycle of 41,000 years.
The Earth's axis wobbles on on a cycle of 22,000 years.
- These cycles affect the amount of solar radiation the Earth receives - the more solar radiation it's exposed to, the warmer it gets.

Volcanic activity

Major volcanic eruptions change the atmosphere:
- Lots of particles are thrown out, some of which reflect the Sun's rays, meaning that the surface of the Earth cools down.
- Carbon dioxide is also released, but not enough to cause global warming.
It's thought that volcanoes are only capable of causing short-term climate changes.

Solar output variation

Solar output changes in short cycles, and maybe longer cycles as well.
It is possible that when output is low, the Earth's climate could cool.
Scientists are not convinced that solar output variation is enough to significantly affect the climate.

1Physical Geography

1.1River Environments

1.1.1Weathering

1.1.2Mass Movement

1.1.3Erosion

1.1.4Transportation

1.1.5Deposition

1.1.6River Landforms: Waterfalls & Gorges

1.1.7River Landforms: Interlocking Spurs

1.1.8River Landforms: Flood Plains

1.1.9River Landforms: Point Bars

1.1.10River Landforms: Levees

1.1.11River Landforms: Meanders

1.1.12River Landforms: Oxbow Lakes

1.1.13River Landscape Changes: Long Profile

1.1.14River Landscape Changes: Cross Profile

1.1.15Vertical & Lateral Erosion

1.1.16Flood Risk Factors

1.1.17Human Activities on Rivers

1.1.18River Management: Hard Engineering

1.1.19River Management: Soft Engineering

1.1.20Case Study: The River Eden - Landforms

1.1.21Case Study: The River Eden - Climate

1.1.22Case Study: The River Eden - Geology

1.1.23Case Study: The River Eden - Management

1.1.24Case Study: The River Eden - Human Activity

1.1.25End of Topic Test - River Environments

1.2Coastal Environments

1.3Hazardous Environments - Tropical Cyclones

1.3.1Characteristics of a Tropical Cyclone

1.3.2Structure of a Tropical Cyclone

1.3.3Physical Hazards of Tropical Cyclones

1.3.4The Impacts of Tropical Cyclones

1.3.5Responses to Tropical Cyclones

1.3.6Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclones

1.3.7Preparing for Tropical Cyclones

1.3.8Case Study: Katrina

1.3.9Case Study: Nargis

1.4Hazardous Environments - Earthquakes & Volcanoes

1.4.1Earthquakes

1.4.2Features of an Earthquake

1.4.3Types of Earthquake

1.4.4Case Study: L'Aquila

1.4.5Case Study: Chile

1.4.6Case Study: Japan & Pakistan - Planning

1.4.7Volcanoes

1.4.8Types of Volcanoes

1.4.9Volcanic Eruptions

2Human Geography

2.1Economic Activity & Energy

2.1.1Increasing Energy Consumption

2.1.2Non-Renewable Energy - Nuclear

2.1.3Non-Renewable Energy - Fossil Fuels

2.1.4Renewable Energy - Solar

2.1.5Renewable Energy - Water & Bio

2.1.6Renewable Energy - Hydro

2.1.7Energy - Statistical Skills

2.2Rural Environments

2.2.1Rainforests

2.2.2Temperate Forests

2.2.3Characteristics of a Temperate Forest

2.2.4Goods & Services in Temperate Forests

2.2.5Deserts

2.2.6Tundra

2.3Urban Environments

2.3.1Urbanisation in Different Countries

2.3.2Causes of Urbanisation

2.3.3Consequences of Urbanisation

2.3.4Sustainable Urbanisation

2.3.5Case Study: Rapid Urbanisation in Mexico City

2.3.6End of Topic Test - Urbanisation

3Global Issues

3.1Fragile Environments & Climate Change

3.1.1Natural Causes of Climate Change

3.1.2Effects of Climate Change on the Environment

3.1.3Effects of Climate Change on People

3.1.4Impacts of Deforestation

3.1.5End of Topic Test - Climate Change

3.1.6Increasing Water Supply

3.1.7Sustainable Rainforest Management

3.2Globalisation & Migration

3.2.1Globalisation - Transport

3.2.2Globalisation - Communication Networks & Banking

3.2.3Push & Pull Factors

3.2.4TNCs & Globalisation

3.2.5Tourism Landscapes

3.2.6The Growth of Tourism

3.2.7The Economic Benefits of Tourism

3.2.8The Social & Cultural Benefits of Tourism

3.2.9The Economic Costs of Tourism

3.2.10The Social & Cultural Costs of Tourism

3.2.11Managing Tourism - Sustainability

3.2.12Managing Tourism - Quotas & Tourism Hubs

3.3Development & Human Welfare

3.3.1Ways of Defining Development

3.3.2Different Ways of Measuring Development

3.3.3Environmental Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.4Historical Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.5Economic Factors Causing Uneven Development

3.3.6Patterns of Development

3.3.7How Can we Reduce the Global Development Gap?

3.3.8Top-Down & Bottom-Up Development

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