3.1.4.5 Human Impacts On Cold Environments (2) Flashcards
2 reasons climate is changing
Naturally
Human impacts
4 natural causes of climate change
Changes in solar activity (sunspots) Variations in eccentricity of the earth’s orbit + axial tilt Meteorite impact Volcanic activity (more dust + gases) Plate movement Changes in oceanic circulation
What are the 2 human causes of climate change
Changes of atmospheric composition (greenhouse effect)
Deforestation
3 ways CO2 is building up in the air due to humans
Agriculture Industry Transport Energy production Waste
Describe the greenhouse effect
Suns rays pass through atmosphere as short-wave radiation heating up the earth’s surface
Heat (long-wave radiation) is given off from earth and now there’s more heat than before trapped in the atmosphere do it warms up
The CO2 rich atmosphere absorbs some of long-wave radiation but some is radiated back towards earth, instead of space, causing warming
3 observable impacts of climate change
Shrinking glaciers
Reduced ice on rivers + lakes
Shifting plant + animal ranges -> bird migration patterns changing
How many glaciers are losing mass due to climate change
90%
3 impacts of climate change that was predicted + is now occuring
Loss of sea ice - shrinking and getting thinner
Accelerated sea level rise
Longer, dryer summers
4 predicted future impacts of climate change
- permafrost to thaw to increasing depths
- further decrease in extent of sea ice
- possible growth of Antarctic ice sheet due to increased snow fall
- shrinking of Greenland ice sheet due to sea level rise
- increased issues of invasive species in warmer tundra environments
- continued contraction of ice covered by snow + ice
During arctic amplification, what further reduces the nicer cover of water
As sea ice is reduced, a smaller fraction of the sun’s radiation is reflected directly back to space so more energy is absorbed by the ice-free water, raising temperatures
During arctic amplification, what releases trapped CO2 and methane into the atmosphere contributing to global warming (greenhouse gases)
Melting permafrost
In arctic amplification what increases heat absorption by the sun
Reduction in snow cover means more bare rock is exposed - leading to higher temperatures and increased melting of adjacent snow
3 main things being done to help Antarctica
Treaty of Antarctica
Research
Tourism
Explain the treaty of Antarctica
More than 500 countries are signed up to protect Antarctica from mining, drilling for oil, pollution + war
What is there in Antarctica where research takes place
Over 50 research systems
What was set up in Antarctica in 1991 that has guidelines about tourism
The IAATO (International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators)
What does the IAATO have tourism guidelines about
Number of people allowed on shore
Activities
Wildlife watching
What are tour operators + tourists not allowed to do in Antarctica
Not allowed to leave rubbish behind
What must cruise ships do according to the IAATO
Carry their used (grey) water back to port instead of dumping it in the sea
After 2011, what can ships in Antarctica not use
Heavy fuel
What does the polar code limit in Antarctica from 2013
Limits numbers + size of ships visiting
Ships carrying more than 500 can’t land anyone + only 100 tourists will be allowed ashore at any given time
How are humans impacting the environment with hunting
Over-exploitation
How are humans impacting the environment with transport
Risk of spillages
Road vehicles damage roads in Alaska
How are humans impacting the environment with tourism
Vegetation removal
Litter + waste - don’t easily degrade
3 main principles of environmental management
Prevent
React
Adapt
Define prevent
Try to stop a damaging event occuring
Define react
Responding to an event
Define adapt
Changing + learning to live adapted to change
2 new methods used to protect permafrost + subsidence (prevent) -> reducing heat in ground
- houses can be built on piles driven into permafrost to elevate them above the ground, reducing heat spread through ground
- larger buildings + roads can be build on aggregate pads, layers of coarse sand + gravel. These insulate the ground below, reducing heat transfer
What are utilidors (prevent)
Elevated, insulated boxes that carry water supplies, heating pipes + sewers between buildings in large settlements
What adventurous prevention project protects permafrost + subsidence
The trans Alaskan pipeline
How much did the trans Alaskan pipeline cost
How much oil does it transfer a day
Cost $8 billion
Transfers 14 million barrels a day
What do the trans Alaskan pipeline do
Takes oil from north Alaska -> south Alaska
How does the trans Alaskan pipeline reduce heat transfer
As it’s build elevated above the ground
Describe the trans Alaskan pipeline
Covered by thick insulation + buried in caribou migration areas
In a zigzag pattern and on stilts so can move in earthquakes
3 ways the arctic becoming a main shipping route would be managed
- limiting no. of ships
- ships all safety tankers
- need ship escort + traffic management system
3 disadvantages of the arctic becoming a main shipping route
- lose tranquility
- ports need to be built
- new tons, developments + infrastructure built
Two events that have been responded to (react)
Exxon Valdez oil spill
Alps
What can actually benefit from climate change (adapt)
Summer tourism could benefit. Hotter summers would bring more people to mountains + tourism season could be extended
Why does winter tourism face challenges
What are adaptations for this
As there is an expected snow decrease +ice cover
Many ski resorts are using snow cannons to create artificial snow + a chemical additive is used to raise temperature at which snow forms at -> but may impact ecosystems
What resorts does climate change create an opportunity for
E.g
Snow reliable resorts
E.g the Marzon valley, Veneto region, Italy
3 drivers in managing cold environments in alternative possible futures
Political drivers
Environmental drivers
Economic drivers
What’s a growing area of scientific research
Bioprospecting
Antarctica’s biodiversity
What may Antarctica’s animal + plant life’s adaptations to deal with the harsh conditions be useful for in the future
Valuable commercial products e.g medicines, synthetic materials
What treaties and protocol currently protect Antarctica
The Antarctic treaties
The Madrid protocols
What have tourism numbers to Antarctica fallen since in 2010
Controls on cruise ships were introduced
What would Antarctica have if tourism was encouraged
Airport, port with shops and tourist hotels
What is the type of tourism needed in Antarctica in the future
Eco-tourism
If hotels were built in Antarctica what would they need
Utilidors
What is heavily regulated in Antarctica and why
What would happen if these regulations were lifted
Fishing levels
As in some parts of the world , commercial fishing is depleting fish stocks to near extinction
Without regulations, overfishing would occur a lot
