3.1.1.4 Water, carbon, climate and life on earth Flashcards
describe and explain the ability of water to absorb and transfer CO2
CO2 is dissolved in rainwater to become carbonic acid which weathers carbonate rocks. residue is washed into the rivers and eventually the ocean. carbon in the water is used for shell growth by marine animals. as they decompose, carbon is deposited on the ocean floor
as temperatures rise as a result of the enhance greenhouse effect, sea ice is melting.
what is the positive water cycle feedback that results from this change?
ice reflects radiation from the sun due to its high albedo. as it melts into the sea where there is a lower albedo, sea temperature rises/
this means that there is more melting and further reduction in ice coverage
what is the negative feedback warm temperatures in the arctic are having?
high temperatures increase the growing season for plants which then photosynthesise more so more CO2 is absorbed and concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere decreases
what is the positive feedback warm temperatures in the arctic are having?
higher temperatures melts permafrost and the organic matter begins to decompose as oxygen is introduced. decomposition results in extra CO2 and methane being released into the atmosphere and even higher temperatures
what is one human intervention that can influence and mitigate the impacts of climate change
CCS - carbon capture and storage
how does CCS work?
captures power station emissions where it is cooled and pressurised into a liquid
then transported by ship, pipeline or lorry to a location at which it is pumped into sedimentary rocks deep below the surface
what is an example of a CCS plant
the Boundary Dam power pant in Canada
what are some disadvantages of CCS?
it is extremely expensive to set up and maintain
requires huge amounts of energy to setup
how could altering carbon practices mitigate the impacts of climate change?
avoid over stocking to maintain soil health
reducing ploughing helps to reduce large amounts of run off and there fore reduce carbon loss from soils
improving crop types that photosynthesise at a quicker rate increases the organic carbon storage in the soil and reduces atmospheric CO2
encouraging trees within farmland like hedges and small woodlands
what is an example of carbon neutral technology that can mitigate impacts of climate change?
biomass energy generation
how does using biomass to create energy mitigate impacts of climate change?
because it is carbon neutral and the total amount of carbon in the atmosphere is not altered as the matter that is burned is the same amount as what was stored in the plant by photosynthesis
outline the principle of carbon offsetting
when activities that release CO2 are compensated for by things which sequester carbon such as planting trees or restoring wetlands
what is a local scale example of carbon offsetting
the tissue brand ‘Velvet’ pledge that for every tree Velvet uses it replaces three trees
what is a global scale example of carbon offsetting?
countries may pay other countries to plant trees for them in exchange for permits to pollute
when was the IPCC set up and for what reason?
1988
to monitor, analyse and summarise scientific reports on climate change and advices the UN on policy
