6.8 implications for human well being

Question 1

Forest loss

Answer 1

The removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use. Associated with deforestation.

Question 2

Environmental Kuznet’s curve

Answer 2

A model which suggests that economic development initially leads to a deterioration in the environment, but after a certain level of economic growth, a society begins to improve its relationship with the environment and levels of environmental degradation decrease. A ‘tipping point’ is reached where exploitation changes to protection/conservation/sustainability.

Question 3

Environmental Management

Answer 3

Environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable use of ecosystems for present and future generations.

Question 4

Evaporation Rate

Answer 4

The rate at which a material will vaporize (evaporate, change from liquid to gas/vapor).

Question 5

Water Vapour

Answer 5

The gaseous state of water.

Question 6

Precipitation Patterns

Answer 6

Precipitation levels could increase or decrease in different locations as a result of changes to the carbon cycle. Increases in temperature (E-GHE and global warming) can alter the rate of evaporation, and warmer air will store more water (resulting in more water in the atmosphere).

Question 7

River regime

Answer 7

The difference in the discharge of a river throughout the year.

Question 8

Water stores

Answer 8

A stage of the water/hydrological cycle where water remains stationary for a period of time (i.e. the residence time) before continuing in the cycle (transfer/flow).

Question 9

Cryosphere

Answer 9

The frozen component of the hydrosphere (the water environment on Earth). This includes sea ice, glaciers, snow cover and ice sheets

Question 10

Drainage basin

Answer 10

An area of land drained by a river and its tributaries.

Question 11

Coastal protection

Answer 11

Methods used to control physical/human processes to maintain/sustain coastal environments.

Question 12

Arctic barometer

Answer 12

The way in which the arctic is already showing pressure on its natural systems from anthropogenic influences (i.e. human activity).

Question 13

Runaway global warming

Answer 13

A reinforced positive feedback loop is achieved, which causes global warming/the E-GHE to be perpetuated.

Question 14

Methane hydrate

Answer 14

Methane molecules trapped inside ice deposits. If it is either warmed or depressurised, it will revert back to water and natural gas. When brought to the earth’s surface, one cubic meter of gas hydrate releases 164 cubic meters of natural gas. Hydrate deposits may be several hundred meters thick and generally occur in two types of settings: under Arctic permafrost, and beneath the ocean floor.

Question 15

Albedo

Answer 15

The solar energy reflected from the Earth back into space. It is a measure of the reflectivity of the earth’s surface. Lighter coloured surfaces (i.e. ice sheets/snow cover) have a greater ‘albedo effect’ and reflect more solar energy compared to darker coloured surfaces.

Question 16

Tree Line

Answer 16

The edge/limit of a habitat at which trees are capable of growing. It is found at high altitudes and latitudes. Global warming is causing it advance in to higher latitudes (i.e. towards the poles).

Question 17

Coral bleaching

Answer 17

When water is too warm, corals will expel the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing the coral to turn completely white. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, but they are under more stress and are at risk of death.

Question 18

Aquaculture

Answer 18

The farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants.

Question 19

Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP)

Answer 19

Different predictions/scenarios of how the world may look in 2100 according to CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. (Created by the IPCC.)

Question 20

Marine conservation zone

Answer 20

Areas that protect a range of nationally important, rare or threatened habitats and species in coastal/marine environments.

Question 21

Oceana

Answer 21

A pressure group which focuses on ocean conservation. They have ranked of the vulnerability of coastal countries using a risk equation… Exposure + dependence + lack of adaptive capacity = vulnerability