Question 1: Explain what is meant by the term 'climate change'.

Answer: Climate change refers to significant and lasting changes in the Earth's climate, especially an increase in global temperatures due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

Question 2: Describe two natural factors that can influence the Earth's climate.

Answer: Natural factors include volcanic eruptions, which can block sunlight and cool the climate temporarily, and variations in the Earth's orbit, which can alter the distribution of sunlight received and lead to long-term climate changes.

Question 3: Identify three human activities that contribute to climate change.

Answer: Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), deforestation, and industrial processes release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Question 4: Describe two ways in which rising global temperatures can affect the physical environment.

Answer: Rising temperatures can lead to the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps, causing sea levels to rise, and can increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events like hurricanes and droughts.

Question 5: Explain what is meant by the greenhouse effect.

Answer: The greenhouse effect is the process where greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere trap heat from the Sun, warming the planet and maintaining a suitable environment for life.

Question 6: Sketch a simple diagram of the greenhouse effect, showing how sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere and how heat is trapped.

Answer: A correct sketch would show sunlight entering the atmosphere, some energy reaching the Earth's surface, and heat being radiated back towards space, with greenhouse gases trapping some of this heat and reflecting it back towards Earth.

Question 7: Describe one impact of climate change on sea levels.

Answer: Climate change causes sea levels to rise due to melting ice caps and glaciers, which can lead to flooding of coastal areas.

Question 8: Identify two geographical regions that are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change and explain why.

Answer: Low-lying island nations are vulnerable due to rising sea levels threatening their land and existence. Arctic regions are affected because of rapid ice melt, which disrupts local ecosystems and global climate patterns.

Question 9: Draw a diagram illustrating the difference between weather and climate. Include key features and definitions.

Answer: A correct diagram would differentiate 'weather' as short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific place and time, such as temperature, rain, and wind, while 'climate' is the average weather over a long period (typically 30 years) for a region.