Maharashtra Board Class 11 Geography Chapter 5 Global Climate Change Solutions

1. Complete The Chain.

Question 1.
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह तालिका जलवायु परिवर्तन से संबंधित चार श्रेणियों (A) को उनके कारण (B) और परिणाम (C) से जोड़ती है, जिसमें बर्फ का पिघलना, सूर्यातप के प्रभाव, ग्रीनहाउस गैसें और जलवायु परिवर्तन शामिल हैं।

A	B	C
(1) Melting of snow	(1) Increase in sea level	(1) Flooding
(2) Effects of insolation	(2) Erratic rains	(2) Increase in frequency of cyclones
(3) Greenhouse gases	(3) Methane	(3) Agriculture
(4) Climate change	(4) Average temperature of the earth	(4) Existence of life on Earth

Answer:

A	B	C
(1) Melting of snow	(1) Increase in sea level	(1) Flooding
(2) Effects of insolation	(2) Average temperature of the earth	(2) Agriculture
(3) Greenhouse gases	(3) Erratic rains	(3) Existence of life on Earth
(4) Climate change	(4) Increase in frequency on cyclones	(4) Increase in frequency on cyclones

In simple words: This table correctly links climate-related phenomena, their causes, and their corresponding effects, demonstrating a cause-and-effect chain in global climate change.

🎯 Exam Tip: Pay close attention to matching the correct cause and effect for each climate phenomenon to score full marks in 'Complete the Chain' type questions.

2. Identify The Incorrect Factor.

Question 1. The causes of global warming-
(a) Emission of greenhouse gases
(b) Deforestation
(c) Apparent movement of the sun
(d) Industrialization
Answer: (c) Apparent movement of the sunIn simple words: Global warming is primarily caused by human activities like greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and industrialization, not by the apparent movement of the sun.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly distinguish between natural astronomical phenomena and human-induced factors when identifying causes of climate change for accuracy.

 

Question 2. The indicators of climate change-
(a) Retreat of glaciers
(b) Increase in the frequency of floods
(c) Increase in frequency of cyclones
(d) Increase in the minimum and maximum temperature
Answer: (d) Increase in the minimum and maximum temperatureIn simple words: While retreating glaciers, floods, and cyclones are consequences of climate change, the direct indicator related to temperature change is the increase in both minimum and maximum temperatures.

🎯 Exam Tip: Focus on direct measurements and observable shifts in temperature patterns as primary indicators of climate change.

 

Question 3. The tools for studying climate change
(a) Ice cores
(b) Coral reef
(c) Tree rings
(d) Ancient forts
Answer: (d) Ancient fortsIn simple words: Ice cores, coral reefs, and tree rings provide proxy data for past climates, whereas ancient forts are historical structures and not used to study climate change.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that paleoclimatology relies on natural archives like ice, coral, and trees for reconstructing past climate conditions.

 

Question 4. Measures to combat climate change-
(a) Banning the use of pesticides and insecticides
(b) Promoting afforestation and banning deforestation
(c) Banning public transport
(d) Banning fossil fuels
Answer: (c) Banning public transportIn simple words: While promoting afforestation and banning fossil fuels are effective measures, completely banning public transport is impractical and not a universally adopted combat strategy for climate change.

🎯 Exam Tip: Identify practical and commonly accepted solutions for climate change mitigation, distinguishing them from extreme or less feasible options.

3. Give Geographical Reasons.

Question 1. It is important to study climate change.
Answer: It is important to study climate change because-
1. The earth's climate is changing faster primarily as a result of human activities.
2. Number of flash floods are increasing, especially in urban areas.
3. Due to warming of oceans the rate of evaporation is high, which is the root cause of both flooding and droughts.
4. Due to increase in temperature, there is melting of snow on mountains and sea level is rising.
5. Human activities, especially emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and land use changes are the primary drivers of the climate changes observed in the industrial era.In simple words: Studying climate change is crucial because human actions are rapidly altering Earth's climate, leading to increased natural disasters like floods and droughts, melting ice, and rising sea levels, all of which threaten ecosystems and human societies.

🎯 Exam Tip: When explaining the importance of studying climate change, emphasize both the anthropogenic causes and the resulting widespread environmental and societal impacts.

 

Question 2. There is a great possibility that we may not see Maldives on the world map in the future.
Answer: There is a great possibility that we may not see Maldives on the world map in the future because-
1. Sea level continues to rise at a rate of about 3 mm/ per year, leaving no ground surface higher than 3 m.
2. Due to global warming the rising of sea level is likely to worsen.
3. Higher sea levels may lead to severe cyclones and periodic flooding of coastal areas.
4. Since, Maldives is a flat country there is possibility that it may be submerged under sea water if the rise in sea level continues.In simple words: Maldives faces the risk of disappearing due to rising sea levels caused by global warming, as it's a very low-lying island nation with much of its land barely above current sea levels.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing specific case studies like Maldives, link the geographical characteristics (low-lying, island nation) directly to the threats posed by global climate change (sea level rise, flooding).

 

Question 3. The snowline is retreating.
Answer: The snowline is retreating because-
1. A snowline is a boundary between a snow-covered and snow-free surface. Above the snowline there is permanent snow cover.
2. When glaciers and icebergs melt at an alarming rate, it is a cause of concern. This is known as retreating glaciers.
3. Due to changes in the climate there is less snowfall as compared to the previous years.
4. This means that there is lesser ice formation each year than its rate of melting.
5. Thus, due to melting of glaciers and icebergs as well as less snowfall the snowline is retreating.In simple words: The snowline is retreating because global warming is causing glaciers and icebergs to melt at an accelerated rate, combined with a reduction in new snowfall, leading to less ice formation than melting.

🎯 Exam Tip: Explain the concept of a snowline and then connect its retreat directly to rising temperatures, reduced snowfall, and increased glacial melt as key factors.

 

Question 4. There is an increase in the frequency of droughts and cyclones.
Answer: There is an increase in the frequency of droughts and cyclones because-
1. In addition to triggering more rainfall, global warming could also increase the occurrence of drought.
2. The roots of both flooding and drought lie in the physical process known as evaporation.
3. As global warming heats the world's oceans, the water molecules near the sea surface become more energetic and tend to evaporate into the atmosphere more readily. Thus, water vapour is formed.
4. Similarly, due to global warming, the number of cyclones in a year and their intensities have also increased in the tropical regions.In simple words: Global warming intensifies the water cycle, leading to increased evaporation from warmer oceans, which can cause both more intense droughts in some areas and more frequent and stronger cyclones in others.

🎯 Exam Tip: Link the increased frequency of extreme weather events like droughts and cyclones to the fundamental process of global warming and its impact on ocean temperatures and atmospheric moisture.

4. Write Short Notes On.

Question 1. Bleaching of coral reefs
Answer:
1. When temperature changes, corals throw out the algae living in their tissues.
2. These algae are responsible for their colour.
3. An increase of 1°C - 2°C in ocean temperatures for a long time can lead to bleaching, turning corals white.
4. If corals are bleached for prolonged periods, they eventually die.
5. Coral bleaching leads to death of large amounts of corals.In simple words: Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel the symbiotic algae that give them color and nutrients, usually due to increased ocean temperatures, which can lead to widespread coral death if prolonged.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define coral bleaching by explaining the expulsion of algae, its primary cause (temperature stress), and the ultimate consequence (coral death), highlighting its ecological impact.

 

Question 2. Flash floods
Answer:
1. A flash flood is a term that describes floods, which is usually observed in the low-lying areas.
2. Floods are caused due to extremely heavy rainfall.
3. Flash floods generally occur after the collapse of natural ice, debris dam or a man-made dam, etc.
4. Flash foods also occur due to very high precipitation in one day (Mumbai in 2005, Kedarnath in 2013) or because of changed weather conditions like cyclones (Chennai, 2015).
5. Flash foods are different from the regular floods by having a time scale of fewer than six hours between rainfall and the onset of flooding.In simple words: Flash floods are sudden, rapid floods occurring in low-lying areas, typically caused by extremely heavy rainfall or dam collapses, and are characterized by their quick onset, usually within six hours of the causative event.

🎯 Exam Tip: When describing flash floods, emphasize their suddenness, rapid onset, intense causes (heavy rain, dam failures), and specific geographical impact areas (low-lying regions).

 

Question 3. Tools to study Paleoclimatology
Answer: Paleoclimatology is the study of the weather and climate of the earth's past. Scientists and meteorologists have been using instruments to measure climate and weather for the past 140 years. However, millions of years ago historical evidence called proxy data, which includes coral reefs, tree rings, ice cores, etc., were used to tell about the climate.
Coral reefs:
1. Coral reefs are very sensitive to changes in climate.
2. Corals form skeletons by extracting calcium carbonate from the ocean waters.
3. When the water temperature changes, densities of calcium carbonate in the skeletons also change.
4. Coral formed in the summer has a different density than coral formed in the winter.
5. This creates seasonal growth rings on the corals.
6. Scientists can study these rings to determine the temperature of the water and the season in which the coral grew.
Tree rings:
1. There are rings on the stem of the tree.
2. Variation in these rings is due to variation in the environmental conditions when they were formed.
3. Thus, studying this variation leads to improved understanding of past environmental conditions.
Ice cores:
1. These are samples of ice taken from the inner sides of the ice sheets.
2. Throughout each year, layers of snow fall over the ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica.
3. Each layer of snow is different.
4. Summer snow differs from winter snow.
5. Each layer gives scientists a lot of information about the climate each year.In simple words: Paleoclimatology uses proxy data from natural archives like coral reefs (analyzing growth rings for temperature), tree rings (examining annual growth variations for environmental conditions), and ice cores (studying layered snow for past atmospheric composition and temperature) to reconstruct Earth's ancient climates.

🎯 Exam Tip: For each paleoclimate tool (coral reefs, tree rings, ice cores), clearly explain how its physical characteristics or composition can be interpreted to infer past climate conditions.

 

Question 4. Greenhouse gases
Answer:
1. Greenhouse gases are the primary gases, such as, water vapour carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and ozone in the earth's atmosphere that absorbs and traps energy from the sun.
2. Of all greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide absorbs more heat.
3. Without greenhouse gases, the average temperature of the earth's surface would be about -18°C rather than the present average of 14°C.
4. Carbon dioxide emissions comes from many human activities such as combustion of fossil fuels, oil and natural gas, with additional contributions coming from deforestation, changes in land use, soil erosion and agriculture (including live stock).In simple words: Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane in Earth's atmosphere trap solar energy, keeping the planet warm enough for life, but human activities are increasing their concentration, leading to excess heat retention and global warming.

🎯 Exam Tip: Define greenhouse gases by listing key examples and explaining their function in trapping heat, then detail the major human activities contributing to their increased emissions and the resulting impact on Earth's temperature.

5. Answer In Detail.

Question 1. Climate change has not always been anthropogenic in nature. Explain.
Answer: Though the human activities are a major cause behind climate change, there are some natural causes for climate change. They are as follows:
Amount of energy output by the sun:
1. Low energy output by the sun can reduce amount of insolation received by the earth.
2. This can lead to cooling of the earth.
Milankovitch Oscillation:
1. The earth's rotation around its own axis and revolution around the sun is responsible for the changes in climate.
2. Their changes alter the amount of insolation received from the sun, which in turn might affect its climate.
3. It can cause the earth to be closer to the sun (warmer) and farther from the sun (colder).
4. The ice ages can occur when we are farther from the sun.
Volcanism:
1. Volcanic eruptions throw lots of particulates and aerosols into the atmosphere.
2. These aerosols remain in the atmosphere for a considerable period of time.
3. The winds spread it around the world, thus reducing the sun's radiation reaching the earth's surface.
Goldilocks Zone:
1. The earth lies in the habitable zone called the Goldilocks Zone.
2. Earth experiences cooler climate, when it was located in the outer reaches of this zone.
3. As the size of the sun increases the zone moves outward over time.
4. Such changes in the zone causes earth to warm or cool.In simple words: Climate change isn't solely human-caused; natural factors like variations in solar energy output, Milankovitch cycles (Earth's orbital changes), volcanic eruptions (releasing aerosols that block sunlight), and shifts in Earth's position within the Goldilocks Zone have historically led to periods of warming or cooling.

🎯 Exam Tip: When discussing natural causes of climate change, provide a clear explanation for each factor (solar output, Milankovitch cycles, volcanism, Goldilocks Zone) and how it affects Earth's energy balance or temperature.

 

Question 2. What measures will you suggest to combat climate change in your village/city.
Answer: Following measures can be taken to combat climate change in our village / city.
1. Afforestation should be encouraged in and around play areas, hill sides, schools, etc.
2. Deforestation should be avoided strictly.
3. The use of public transport should be enabled to lessen the vehicular pollution. Thus, emission of harmful gases such as CO2, etc., can be prevented.
4. Use of natural manure can be encouraged instead of using fertilizers.
5. In villages, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) should be used instead of using coal or wood as fuel.In simple words: To combat climate change locally, we should promote tree planting, stop deforestation, encourage public transport, use natural fertilizers, and switch to cleaner fuels like LPG in homes.

🎯 Exam Tip: Provide actionable and specific measures for local climate change mitigation, categorized into areas like afforestation, pollution reduction, and sustainable energy/agriculture practices.

11th Geography Digest Chapter 5 Global Climate Change Intext Questions And Answers

Can You Tell? (Textbook Page No. 58)

Question 1. 1. The graph in the figure shows the difference between the global average temperature of the twentieth century and global monthly temperatures from 1985 to 2015. Answer the questions given below.
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह ग्राफ 1985 से 2015 तक बीसवीं सदी के वैश्विक औसत तापमान और वैश्विक मासिक तापमान के बीच के अंतर को दर्शाता है, जिसमें विभिन्न वर्षों के लिए तापमान भिन्नता की प्रवृत्ति दिखाई गई है।
Difference in temperature
(degree Celsius)

1.2																-2015
1																+2010
0.8																-2005
0.6																-2000
0.4																-1995
0.2																-1990
0																-1985
J																F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Months

Question 1. In which year is the difference the least?
Answer: Ans. Difference in the temperature is least in the year 1985.
Question 2. What is the difference between the mean temperatures of the twentieth century and temperature in 2015?
Answer: The difference between the mean temperature of twentieth century (1995-2000) and 2015 is 0.8°C.
Question 3. Why do the temperatures differ in different months?
Answer: The temperature differs in different months because of the occurrence of different seasons.In simple words: The graph shows how global temperatures have changed monthly between 1985 and 2015, with the smallest difference observed in 1985; the temperature difference between the mean of the 20th century and 2015 is 0.8°C, and monthly variations are due to seasonal changes.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing graphs, first understand the axes and what the lines represent; then carefully read values for specific points and trends to answer questions accurately.

2. Look At The Graph And Answer The Questions. (Textbook Page No. 63)

Question 1.
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह ग्राफ 1900 से 2017 तक कार्बन डाइऑक्साइड (CO2) सांद्रता (ppm) में वृद्धि का स्तर दर्शाता है, जो समय के साथ वायुमंडल में CO2 के संचय की प्रवृत्ति को उजागर करता है।
CO2 Concentration (ppm)

450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
1900	1910	1920	1930	1940	1950	1960	1970	1980	1900	2000	2010	2017
Years

Question 1. What does this graph show?
Answer: Ans. The graph shows CO2 concentration (ppm) and its increased level over the period of time from 1900 to 2017.
Question 2. What does ppm mean?
Answer: The abbreviation ppm means 'parts per million' of carbon concentration in the atmosphere.
Question 3. Since which year has the increase been phenomenal?
Answer: After 1980, there has been a phenomenal increase observed.
Question 4. Can you think of the reasons behind the increase in carbon dioxide?
Answer: The reasons behind the increase in carbon dioxide is due to combustion of fossil fuels and large-scale deforestation.In simple words: This graph illustrates the significant rise in atmospheric CO2 concentration (parts per million) from 1900 to 2017, showing a dramatic increase post-1980, primarily driven by fossil fuel combustion and widespread deforestation.

🎯 Exam Tip: When interpreting graphs showing trends over time, identify the overall pattern (increase, decrease, stability) and pinpoint specific periods of significant change, then correlate with underlying causes.

Try This. (Textbook Page No. 59)

Question 1. 1. Look at the following graph. Answer the following question.
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह बार ग्राफ विभिन्न ग्रीनहाउस गैसों जैसे जल वाष्प, CO2, मीथेन, NO2 और अन्य गैसों द्वारा कुल उत्सर्जन में प्रतिशत योगदान को दर्शाता है।
Contribution in emission

100% 195.000%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Water Vapour	CO₂	3.618%	0.360%	0.950%	0.072%
		Methane	NO₂	Misc. gases

Question 1. Which of these gases has the highest contribution?
Answer: Water vapour, shows the highest contribution.
Question 2. Which of these gases came from natural and man-made sources?
Answer: Water vapour, methane, NO2 and miscellaneous gases are naturally occurring gases while CO2 is man-made.
Question 3. Which activities are responsible for their emission?
Answer: Burning of fossil fuels like coal, etc., and deforestation are responsible for emission of CO2.
Question 4. Out of these, whose emission can be controlled by humans?
Answer: Ans. The emission of CO2 can be controlled by humans.In simple words: The graph shows water vapor as the largest contributor to emissions, with water vapor, methane, NO2, and miscellaneous gases being natural, while CO2 primarily stems from man-made activities like fossil fuel burning and deforestation, making CO2 emissions controllable by humans.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing emission contributions, differentiate between naturally occurring gases and those significantly increased by human activities, and identify which emissions are most amenable to human control for climate mitigation strategies.

 

Question 2. Make a list of things you need to change in your lifestyle. (Textbook Page No. 67)
Answer:
1. Use of public transport.
2. Less use of wood but more use of alternatives to wood.
3. Regular maintenance of vehicles.
4. Avoid wastage of water.
5. Use of energy efficient devices.
6. Ban on plastic goods.
7. Minimum use of paper in home and office.
8. Purchase of only required goods.
9. Use of Eco-friendly goods.
10. Celebration of festivals without harming the environment.In simple words: To lead a more sustainable lifestyle, individuals should prioritize public transport, use wood alternatives, maintain vehicles, conserve water, choose energy-efficient products, avoid plastics, minimize paper use, buy only essentials, opt for eco-friendly goods, and celebrate festivals responsibly.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing lifestyle changes for climate combat, provide a diverse range of practical actions covering transportation, consumption, resource management, and eco-conscious habits.

Find Out! (Textbook Page No. 62)

Question 1. Use internet and reference books on climate change and make a list of species vulnerable to climate change.
Answer: Species vulnerable to climate change are: corals, polar bear and frogs.In simple words: Corals, polar bears, and frogs are examples of species highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to their specific ecological requirements and sensitivities.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing vulnerable species, choose examples from different ecosystems (marine, arctic, amphibian) to illustrate the broad impact of climate change across diverse habitats.

 

Question 2. Make a list of movies based on ice age and climate change. (Textbook Page No. 65)
Answer:
1. Interstellar
2. Beasts of the Southern Wild
3. Chasing Coral
4. Snowpiercer
5. An Inconvenient Truth
6. Are you ready to fight? (Vattaram)In simple words: Movies like "Interstellar," "Chasing Coral," "Snowpiercer," and "An Inconvenient Truth" are examples of films that explore themes related to ice ages and climate change.

🎯 Exam Tip: When listing relevant movies, try to include a mix of fictional and documentary films to cover different perspectives on climate change and its consequences.

 

Question 3. With the help of internet, find out the details of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC), 2008 and its missions. (Textbook Page No. 66)
Answer: NAPCC is a government document that includes eight ambitious goals set for the country to achieve.
1. National Solar Mission
2. National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency
3. National Mission on Sustainable Habitat
4. National Water Mission
5. National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem
6. National Mission for a "Green India"
7. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture
8. National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate ChangeIn simple words: The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) is an Indian government initiative from 2008 with eight key missions, focusing on solar energy, energy efficiency, sustainable habitats, water, Himalayan ecosystems, a green India, sustainable agriculture, and strategic knowledge for climate action.

🎯 Exam Tip: When detailing the NAPCC, ensure you list all eight missions accurately, as they represent the comprehensive strategy for addressing climate change in India.

 

Question 1. 1. Look at the graph and answer the following questions. (Textbook Page No. 60)
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह ग्राफ 1880 से वर्तमान तक वैश्विक समुद्र स्तर में मिलीमीटर में वृद्धि को दर्शाता है, जिसमें बढ़ते समुद्र स्तर की प्रवृत्ति का चित्रण किया गया है।
Sea Level Change (mm)

250
200
150
100
50
0
-50
1880										1900	1920	1940	1960	1980	2000	2020	Years

Question 1. What does the graph show?
Answer: The graph shows an increase in the global sea level from 1880 till date.
Question 2. In which year is the change around 225 mm?
Answer: The change around 225 mm is observed is the year 2018.
Question 3. What conclusions can you draw by seeing the graph?
Answer: With the continued global warming the sea levels are likely to rise.
Question 4. What correlation can be seen in this graph and the graph of rising temperature?
Answer: With the rising temperature the sea level is rising. We can conclude this from both the graphs.In simple words: The graph clearly shows a continuous increase in global sea levels since 1880, reaching approximately 225 mm by 2018; this rise is directly correlated with global warming and indicates that sea levels will likely continue to increase with ongoing temperature rises.

🎯 Exam Tip: When analyzing graphs illustrating environmental changes, always connect the trends observed (e.g., rising sea level) to their primary causes (e.g., rising global temperatures) to draw comprehensive conclusions.

 

Question 2. Compare both the satellite images in fig 5.3 (A) and (B). (Textbook Page No. 61)
ℹ️ चित्र व्याख्या (Diagram Explanation): यह चित्र 5.3 (A) और (B) में दिए गए उपग्रह चित्रों को दर्शाता है। चित्र 5.3 (A) में दिसंबर 1984 में गंगोत्री ग्लेशियर का बर्फ से ढका क्षेत्र दिखाया गया है, जबकि चित्र 5.3 (B) में नवंबर 2018 तक उसी गंगोत्री ग्लेशियर क्षेत्र में बर्फ का काफी पीछे हटना (डीग्लेसिफिकेशन) दर्शाया गया है।
Answer: Fig. 5.3 (A) shows the snow-covered Gangotri glacier area in Dec. 1984, whereas in Fig. 5.3 (B) the snow-covered region of the Gangotri glacier has retreated by 2018.In simple words: The satellite images illustrate the significant retreat of the Gangotri glacier, showing a reduction in its snow-covered area between December 1984 (Fig. A) and November 2018 (Fig. B).

🎯 Exam Tip: When comparing images of environmental change, highlight the specific observable differences over time, such as changes in ice cover, to demonstrate the impact of climate change.

11th Std Geography Questions And Answers: