3.1.1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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.
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1

Physical Geography

1.1

River Environments

1.1.1Weathering1.1.2Mass Movement1.1.3Erosion1.1.4Transportation1.1.5Deposition1.1.6River Landforms: Waterfalls & Gorges1.1.7River Landforms: Interlocking Spurs1.1.8River Landforms: Flood Plains1.1.9River Landforms: Point Bars1.1.10River Landforms: Levees1.1.11River Landforms: Meanders1.1.12River Landforms: Oxbow Lakes1.1.13River Landscape Changes: Long Profile1.1.14River Landscape Changes: Cross Profile1.1.15Vertical & Lateral Erosion1.1.16Flood Risk Factors1.1.17Human Activities on Rivers1.1.18River Management: Hard Engineering1.1.19River Management: Soft Engineering1.1.20Case Study: The River Eden - Landforms1.1.21Case Study: The River Eden - Climate1.1.22Case Study: The River Eden - Geology1.1.23Case Study: The River Eden - Management1.1.24Case Study: The River Eden - Human Activity1.1.25End of Topic Test - River Environments
1.2

Coastal Environments

1.2.1Weathering1.2.2Mass Movement1.2.3Erosion1.2.4Deposition1.2.5Longshore Drift1.2.6Sediment Transportation1.2.7Wave Action on Coasts1.2.8Other Factors Influencing Coasts1.2.9Coastal Landforms: Wave-cut Platforms & Cliffs1.2.10Coastal Landforms: Headlands & Bays1.2.11Coastal Landforms: Caves, Arches & Stacks1.2.12Coastal Deposition1.2.13Spits, Bars & Sand Dunes1.2.14Human Activity on Coasts1.2.15Coastal Defences: Hard Engineering1.2.16Coastal Defences: Soft Engineering1.2.17Coastal Defences: Managed Retreat1.2.18Case Study: Holderness Coast Overview1.2.19Case Study: Holderness Coast Management1.2.20Case Study: Holderness Coast Defences1.2.21End of Topic Test - Coastal Environments
1.3

Hazardous Environments - Tropical Cyclones

1.3.1Characteristics of a Tropical Cyclone1.3.2Structure of a Tropical Cyclone1.3.3Physical Hazards of Tropical Cyclones1.3.4The Impacts of Tropical Cyclones1.3.5Responses to Tropical Cyclones1.3.6Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclones1.3.7Preparing for Tropical Cyclones1.3.8Case Study: Katrina1.3.9Case Study: Nargis
1.4

Hazardous Environments - Earthquakes & Volcanoes

1.4.1Earthquakes1.4.2Features of an Earthquake1.4.3Types of Earthquake1.4.4Case Study: L'Aquila1.4.5Case Study: Chile1.4.6Case Study: Japan & Pakistan - Planning1.4.7Volcanoes1.4.8Types of Volcanoes1.4.9Volcanic Eruptions
2

Human Geography

2.1

Economic Activity & Energy

2.1.1Increasing Energy Consumption2.1.2Non-Renewable Energy - Nuclear2.1.3Non-Renewable Energy - Fossil Fuels2.1.4Renewable Energy - Solar2.1.5Renewable Energy - Water & Bio2.1.6Renewable Energy - Hydro2.1.7Energy - Statistical Skills
2.2

Rural Environments

2.2.1Rainforests2.2.2Temperate Forests2.2.3Characteristics of a Temperate Forest2.2.4Goods & Services in Temperate Forests2.2.5Deserts2.2.6Tundra
2.3

Urban Environments

2.3.1Urbanisation in Different Countries2.3.2Causes of Urbanisation2.3.3Consequences of Urbanisation2.3.4Sustainable Urbanisation2.3.5Case Study: Rapid Urbanisation in Mexico City2.3.6End of Topic Test - Urbanisation
3

Global Issues

3.1

Fragile Environments & Climate Change

3.1.1Natural Causes of Climate Change3.1.2Effects of Climate Change on the Environment3.1.3Effects of Climate Change on People3.1.4Impacts of Deforestation3.1.5End of Topic Test - Climate Change3.1.6Increasing Water Supply3.1.7Sustainable Rainforest Management
3.2

Globalisation & Migration

3.2.1Globalisation - Transport3.2.2Globalisation - Communication Networks & Banking3.2.3Push & Pull Factors3.2.4TNCs & Globalisation3.2.5Tourism Landscapes3.2.6The Growth of Tourism3.2.7The Economic Benefits of Tourism3.2.8The Social & Cultural Benefits of Tourism3.2.9The Economic Costs of Tourism3.2.10The Social & Cultural Costs of Tourism3.2.11Managing Tourism - Sustainability3.2.12Managing Tourism - Quotas & Tourism Hubs
3.3

Development & Human Welfare

3.3.1Ways of Defining Development3.3.2Different Ways of Measuring Development3.3.3Environmental Factors Causing Uneven Development3.3.4Historical Factors Causing Uneven Development3.3.5Economic Factors Causing Uneven Development3.3.6Patterns of Development3.3.7How Can we Reduce the Global Development Gap?3.3.8Top-Down & Bottom-Up Development

Practice questions on Natural Causes of Climate Change

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  1. 1
    Potential natural causes of climate change:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Which volcanic output can result in short-term temperature changes?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which of the natural causes of climate change below do scientists believe is most likely to cause long-term climate changes?Multiple choice
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End of Topic Test - Urbanisation

Effects of Climate Change on the Environment