Alternative Energy Sources Flashcards
What happens when outgoing (longwave) radiation balances with incoming?
It gives a global surface temperature of -15C
The entire climate system is drive by what radiation?
Visible (Shortwave)
The global surface temperature is +15C. How?
30C is due to 1% of atmospheric gases known as the greenhouse effect (predominantly CO2)
What would happen if we didn’t have the ‘greenhouse effect’?
We would freeze. However we don’t want an enhanced greenhouse effect
What happened to annual fossil fuel consumption rates and cumulative co2? (Hint: This is on a graph)
Annual Fossil Fuel Consumption: began rising between 1500 and 200. Peaked, decline around 2025 when we may run out.
Cumulative Co2: Began rising rapidly in 2000, levelled out stayed at this level
For thousands of years what were CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere stable at?
280ppm
When did humans start emitting more carbon?
After the industrial revolution
Ocean Conveyer: When water reaches Greenland it picks up salt, then what happens?
It is released by newly formed sea-ice becomes heavier and sinks
Ocean Conveyer: When the sea ice sinks, it sinks near the Odden ice shelf, then what happens?
It is sucked in from the North
Ocean Conveyer: as it is sucked in from the North, then what happens?
12 vast chimneys form but little sinking occurs
Name 7 reasons why we need nuclear and renewables?
- population
- Increasing wealth and standards of living
- Finite oil and gas resources
- Climate change
- Temperature Increase
- Sea Level Rise
- Chaotic Weather
How long is the projected time for the exhaustion of each of the following resources?
- Oil, 1.2 Trillion Barrels
- Natural Gas, 181 trillion m3
- Coal, 900 billi tonnes
- Uranium, 5.3 milli tonnes
- Oil, 41 years
- Natural Gas, 63 years
- Coal, 147 years
- Uranium, 100 years
In USA how much are the carbon emission per capita compared to that of India or the South West?
- USA, 26t of co2
- India, 2.5t of co2
UK Targets: By 2020 what are the aims to reduce emissions and move to renewables?
20% reduce emissions
20% of all energy obtained from renewables
UK Targets: What are the aims by 2050?
To reduce emissions by 80%