Carbon Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
1
Q

Carbon store

A

where carbon is held
( earths crust - 100000000 pg)

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2
Q

carbon fluxes

A

flow of carbon between stores
( photosynthesis 120pg)

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3
Q

4 stores of carbon

A

hydrosphere, lithosphere, biosphere atmosphere

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4
Q

hydrosphere an what it holds…

A

ocean , lakes and rivers which dissolve c02 - 38,0000 PcG

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5
Q

Lithosphere and what it holds…

A

carbonate found in rocks such as limestone 100,000Pcg

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6
Q

Biosphere and what it holds..

A

living and dead organisms 2000 Pcg

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7
Q

Atmosphere and what it holds

A

gasses such as carbon dioxide and methane 750Pcg

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8
Q

3 biochemical carbon stores

A

terrestrial, oceans , atmosphere

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9
Q

regulation of c02 in biological carbon store - terrestrial sequestration

A

primary producers sequester carbon for photosynthesis - the flux of carbon between atmosphere and plants is rapid as it’s released via respiration

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10
Q

regulation of c02 in biological carbon cycle - biological carbon in soils

A

biological carbon can be stored in soils in the form of dead organic matter or returned to the atmosphere because of decomposition- stored in trees, plants, litter and dead wood

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11
Q

regulation of c02 in biological carbon cycle - thermohaline circulation

A

global system of ocean currents is dependent on temp and salinity.
-Current begins in cold, saline regions so it sinks and warm water from the tropic is pushed above this water then cools when it reaches arctic regions

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12
Q

regulation of c02 in biological carbon store - ocean sequestration

A

phytoplankton sequesters carbon for photosynthesis on the surface of the ocean.
93% is stored by the ocean - mainly by under sea algae

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13
Q

geological carbon cycle

A

most of earths carbon is geological , resulting in formation of sedimentary rocks

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14
Q

4 geological carbon stores

A

coal, crude oil , limestone , natural gas

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15
Q

Formation of coal

A

plants die and enter swamps where they compact to form peat or coal

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16
Q

formation of limestone

A

phytoplankton sinks to ocean floor and compacts over time

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17
Q

Formation of crude oil

A

sediment settles in biologically degraded animals, anerobic reactions turn this into liquid which is crude oil

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18
Q

formation of natural gas

A

bi product of crude oil and coal formation, trapped within sedimentary rock

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19
Q

What landscapes are significant carbon stores - terrestrial photosynthesis

A

soils, mangroves, tundra

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20
Q

how soil retains carbon - terrestrial photosynthesis

A

decomposers return carbon via respiration

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21
Q

how mangroves retain carbon

A

a layer of soil which holds 10% of carbon as soil health influences carbon sequestration and productivity - important for terrestrial photosynthesis

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22
Q

coral reefs and regulation of c02

A

coral reefs are most important for ocean photosynthesis

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23
Q

tropical rainforests and terrestrial carbon

A

stores high amount of carbon and the healthy soils are poreous , dark, crumbly and contain carbon

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24
Q

how much carbon per hectare per year do mangroves store

A

1.3million tonnes

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25
Q

How does tundra retain carbon

A

frozen so holds carbon for thousands of years

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26
Q

primary producers

A

first in food chain, make their own energy from sunlight through photosynthesis

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27
Q

regulation of c02 by photosynthesis

A

ocean and terrestrial photosynthesis regulate composition of the atmosphere , it sequesters carbon and balances it via respiration and decomposition

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28
Q

consumers

A

eat primary producers and return carbon via respiration

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29
Q

decomposers

A

consumer dead matter and return via respiration

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30
Q

Carbonate pump

A

process of carbon entering and moving around the ocean

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31
Q

Phytoplankton sequestration

A

Absorb C02 via photosynthesis, this builds their shells from calcium carbonate , eaten by zoo plankton, when they both die they eventually turn into sedimentary rock

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32
Q

2 ways c02 is regulated in the geological carbon cycle

A

chemical weathering , volcanic outgassing

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33
Q

Chemical weathering - how it regulates c02

A

rain falls to the ground and absorbs c02 which makes acidic carbonic acid, this reacts with calcium carbonate in sedimentary rocks and c02 is released back to the atmosphere

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34
Q

chemical weathering - what is it

A

the break down of rocks by carbonic acid in rain which dissolves carbonate based rocks

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35
Q

equilibrium

A

a balanced carbon cycle

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36
Q

volcanic outgassing - how it regulates c02 in the atmosphere - geological carbon cycle

A

sedimentary rocks is formed and moves towards a plate boundary , the rock is subducted and melted then released during an eruption , releasing c02

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37
Q

volcanic outgassing - what is it

A

where eruptions spewed gases from the earths interior which contain carbon , into the atmosphere

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38
Q

enhanced green house effect

A

an increase in natural greenhouse effect caused by human activity

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39
Q

radiative forcing

A

difference between incoming and outcoming radiation.
incoming energy> outcoming energy = earth will heat

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40
Q

natural greenhouse effect

A

natural process of the sun heating the earth , some of the heat is absorbed and some is reflected back into space , the rays are converted into long wave radiation which reflects off greenhouse gases , heating it up

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41
Q

negative feedback loop - carbon cycle

A

impacts which offset the prevailing change in climate ( cloud cover and land)

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42
Q

positive feedback loop - carbon cycle

A

impacts which increase the change in climate

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43
Q

eg of how positive feedback loop works

A

temp rises - increases droughts and wildfires - trees die/decompose or burn which releases c02- causes temp to rise even more - fewer trees means less water pumped into atmosphere - rainfall decreases - causing temp to rise again and cycle continues

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44
Q

fossil fuel combustion and carbon pathways

A

fossil fuel combustion has altered the balance of carbon pathways and stores.
-Fossil fuels are long term carbon stores so when they are burnt carbon is released into the atmosphere -
speeds up the geological and hydrological cycle - having impacts on ecosystems and causing disequilibrium

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45
Q

impacts of fossil fuel combustion - albedo effect

A

surfaces with high albedo reflect more sunlight so as snow melts the effect is enhanced

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46
Q

impacts of fossil fuel combustion - artic amplification

A

-arctic region is warming 2x as fast as global average ,
-melting permafrost releases c02 which increases greenhouse gas concentrations , exacerbating the green house effect further

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47
Q

GDP per unit of energy

A

how much a country makes relative to the amount of energy it uses
- high GDP countries tend to have high energy inefficiency

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48
Q

energy mix and 4 factors affecting it

A

the amount and type of each form of energy used - depends on natural resources , population size , development and technology

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49
Q

energy security

A

when a country can supply the energy it’s country needs without imports

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50
Q

5 energy categories

A

renewable , non renewable , recyclable , primary , secondary

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51
Q

renewable energy

A

continuous flows that can constantly be used

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52
Q

non renewable energy

A

energy sources that are finite as depleted by use

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53
Q

recyclable energy

A

energy that can be used over and over but at first must go through a process to prepare it for re -use

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54
Q

decoupling

A

moving away from fossil fuels to drive economic growth ( UK energy use is changing , solar grew by 86% rom 2014-2015 ,)

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55
Q

primary energy

A

energy used in it’s raw form ( fossil fuels)

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56
Q

secondary energy

A

where a primary energy source is used to generate electricity ( power lines)

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57
Q

oversea sources of energy

A

located in one country then imported to the user country

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58
Q

domestic sources of energy

A

located in the country they are used in

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59
Q

% of energy used in urban areas

A

75% - mainly secondary

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60
Q

fossil fuel location and demand

A

mismatch between locations for conventional fossil fuel supply and regions where demand is highest - 48% of oi is in middle east but North America, Europe and Asia demand the most oil

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61
Q

developing rural areas and energy

A

lack of secondary energy so renewable is emerging,

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62
Q

Peru and renewable

A

500,000 solar panels installed between 2006-2015

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63
Q

More c02 in atmosphere means

A

Northern Europe having warmer winters and more rain , southern europe having warmer summer and less rain

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64
Q

effect of temp on drainage basins

A

increase temp means more evaporation, snow melt begins earlier which increases river discharge

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65
Q

effect of temp on evaporation rates

A

wet gets wetter , dry gets drier

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66
Q

ocean acidification whats happened

A

ocean has lowered it’s pH by 0.1 so it’s 30% more acidic than it was in 1750

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67
Q

ocean acidification

A

oceans are a major carbon sink and have absorbed 30% of carbon humans produce, as c02 in them increases so does acidity, reducing the Ph , leading to corals not being able to absorb the alkaline

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68
Q

Impacts of ocean acidification on marine life

A

coral reef provides shelter for 25% of marine species, provide protection from storms and supports local industry

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69
Q

coral bleaching

A

corals get their colour from algae in their tissues , when water becomes to warm the algae is ejected and the coral bleaches

70
Q

energy pathways

A

flow of energy between producer and consumer

71
Q

transit state

A

a country or state that energy flows through in an energy pathway

72
Q

proxy war

A

a war instigated by a major energy supplier who may not always be directly involved in the fighting

73
Q

4 energy pathways

A

pipelines , transmission lines, shipping routes, rail

74
Q

pipelines

A

transport gas and oil under sea or above ground

75
Q

ESPO Oil pipeline

A

allows russia to export oil to Asia

76
Q

Transmission lines + example

A

carry electricity to where’s needed - UK national grid

77
Q

shipping routes

A

50% of world oil is transported by tankers

78
Q

chokepoints

A

narrow sea channels where disruption is likely - 8 around the world

79
Q

Rail

A

oil can be transported via rail

80
Q

piracy attacks

A

seize ships and hold hostage for payments ( Strait of mallacca)

81
Q

pipeline issues

A

if damaged it causes impacts, 2013 UK pipeline damaged leaving 6hrs of gas reserves

82
Q

4 adaptation strategies

A

land use planning, water management, resilient crops , infrastructure management

83
Q

land use planning

A

areas most at risk are of low expense

84
Q

water management

A

smart irrigation means minimal water used

85
Q

resilient crops

A

crops that can withstand changing climate

86
Q

3 mitigation startergies

A

carbon taxation, afforestation, renewable switching

87
Q

carbon taxation

A

charge for carbon use, promotes fuel reduction

88
Q

afforestation

A

funds landowners who plant trees

89
Q

Biofuel

A

produced from organic matter such as plant material and animal waste

90
Q

3 categories of biofuels

A

bio ethanol, bio diesel , bio methane

91
Q

negatives of biofuels

A

results in food shortages as crops used for fuel not food, deforestation

92
Q

4 fossil fuel alternatives

A

Tar sands , Oil shale , shale gas , deep water oil

93
Q

tar sands - positives and negatives

A
  • economically viable when oil prices are high
  • creates jobs
  • requires large amounts of energy
  • contaminates water
  • threat to wildlife and indigenous people
    -contributes 3x more to global warming than normal oil
94
Q

uncoventional fossil fuels - tar sands

A

oil is seperated from the sand using hot water and hydrocarbons

95
Q

unconventional fossil fuels - oil shale

A

extracted by heating keregon which releases oil and hydrocarbons -

96
Q

oil shale - positives and negatives

A
  • increase energy security
  • 1 tonne of waste per barrel
  • involves clearance of land , habitat loss and pollution
97
Q

shale gas - positives and negatives

A
  • reduces carbon footprint by 10%
  • methane can escape to atmosphere
  • could contaminates water supply
  • risk of earthquake
  • loss of habitat
98
Q

unconventional fossil fuels - shale gas

A

water is ejected at a high pressure which splits the rocks apart that contain methane

99
Q

Deep water oil disaster - deep water horizion

A

dangerous working conditions caused 11 deaths , did produce 4.7million barrels but only 40% were recovered

100
Q

deep water oil - positives and negatives

A
  • provides large oil reserves
  • reduces consumer costs
  • ( Deep water horizon caused 11 deaths in Mexico)
  • decreases fish stocks
  • expensive
101
Q

unconventional fossil fuels -deep water oil

A

drill pipes are lowered to seafloor and oil is pumped to the surface

102
Q

4 Renewable’s

A

Biofuel , solar , wind , HEP

103
Q

Recyclable energy

A

nuclear - heat from atomic reactions heats water and steam turns turbine

104
Q

Which 2 countries supply most coal

A

USA and Russia

105
Q

Which 2 countries supply most oil

A

Venezuala and Saudia arabia

106
Q

Which 2 countries supply most gas

A

Russia and Iran

107
Q

China and fossil fuel demand

A

economic development led to doubling in oil consumption from 2000-2010 - making China energy insecure

108
Q

Effect of climate change on oceans - devloping nations

A

rely on ocean for food and industry

109
Q

Effect of climate change on oceans - tourism

A

coral bleaching has reduced tourism - great barrier reef

110
Q

radical technology def

A

new technologies that have the potential to dramatically change the way we generate and use energy

111
Q

3 radical technologies

A

electric cars, CCS, Hydrogen fuel, nuclear fusion

112
Q

Hydrogen fuel cells - positive and negative

A
  • more efficient than petrol/diesel cars
  • hydrogen is most abundant element on the planet
  • no pollution
  • explosive and dangerous
113
Q

Radical technologies - Hydrogen fuel cells

A

once hydrogen is separated it can be used as an alternative form of energy

114
Q

Radical technologies - Electric cars negative and positive

A
  • many cost £20,000 +
  • early cars could only travel 100 miles ( this has improved)
  • don’t produce pollution
115
Q

CCS positives and negatives

A
  • could cut c02 emissions by 19%
  • not financially viable
  • c02 may not stay trapped and then leak
116
Q

Radical technologies - Carbon capture storage (CCS)

A

C02 is compressed and injected into liquid form into the ground.

117
Q

Radical technologies - nuclear fusion

A

when atomic nuclei join to make a new nucleas and produce 500 MW ITER

118
Q

nuclear fusion - positive and negatives

A
  • no GG emissions
  • no radioactivity
  • very expensive so only accessible to HIC’s
119
Q

Increase demand in fossil fuels has meant

A

increase deforestation - less carbon captured , decrease infiltration and interception leading to more flooding

120
Q

Madagascar and deforestation

A

deforestation in 1950 as hardwood demand increased- reduced forest cover by 2/3rds in 25 years

121
Q

forest loss due to biofuels

A

growing of palm oil has meant deforestation - loss of habitat for animals and indegionious people

122
Q

Kuznets curve

A

as economic growth increases , environmental care decreases until the country has developed so hits a point where environmental care increases

123
Q

Brazil - positive of Biofuels

A

biggest producer of bio ethanol
produces 930,000 barrels a day
employs 1.34 million
generates 16% of Brazils energy
3 million vehicles powered by it

124
Q

Deforestation in Amazon- effects

A

in 2014, 4000 hectares were burnt
stores 17% of terrestrial carbon , 2010 drought meant amazon was no longer a sink.
- increased droughts (2010 )
- forest fires - releasing more c02
-

125
Q

Deforestation in Indonesia - responses

A

produces half of earths palm oil , government introduced moratorium which reduced c02 emissions by 1,2%

126
Q

Coral triangle - effects on coral

A

In southeast asia,
most biodiverse marine ecosystem on earth ,
120 million people rely on it for food, income and protection

127
Q

COP26 - response to deforestation

A

110 countries pledged to end deforestation by 2030
$1.1 billion put to protect congo basin

128
Q

prairies grassland - negative of biofuel

A

2007-2015 US Enviromental agency urged farmers to grow corn soya and sugar cane
5.5 million hectares of grassland disappeared leading to increase soil erosion - affects soil carbon store

129
Q

role of key energy players - TNC’s

A

-distribute energy resources,
-ensure profits
-supply energy ( BP and Shell)

130
Q

role of key energy players - OPEC

A

control world’s oil reserve and ensures stabilisation of oil markets

131
Q

role of key energy players - national governments

A

meet obligations , secure energy supplies , enforce policies ( EU target to reduce fossil fuels)

132
Q

role of key energy players - consumers

A

create demand , oppose local energy production and decide on household energy type

133
Q

role of key energy players - non government organisations

A

campaign against global issues like nuclear energy , pipelines and exploitation of resources ( green peace)

134
Q

factors influencing access and consumption of energy resources - physical availability

A

climate and natural resources like coal and oil

135
Q

factors influencing access and consumption of energy resources - cost

A

is passed onto the consumer , renewables are expensive so can only be afforded by wealthy nations

136
Q

factors influencing access and consumption of energy resources - technology

A

the ability to extract resources from harder places ( deep water oil)

137
Q

factors influencing access and consumption of energy resources - economic development and extraction

A

developed countries have access and money to invest in technology to extract
( Russia does , Kenya doesn’t)

138
Q

factors influencing access and consumption of energy resources - environmental priorities

A

climate change concerns and a cultures view on damage to the environment will effect consumption

139
Q

alternative fossil fuels - wind ( positives and negatives)

A

-operational costs are low
-can be done on a small or large scale
- but can’t store energy
-creates nose pollution

140
Q

Wind energy eg - Quarrendon fields

A

an onshore wind farm
- produces 1.5MW of energy
- provides 2000 homes with energy

141
Q

Wind energy eg - Hornsea offshore wind farm

A

-has 174 wind turbines
- powers 1 million homes

142
Q

alternatives to fossil fuels - solar ( positives and negatives)

A

-no pollution and minimal risks ,
-low operational costs and can be used by poor countries.
-energy can’t be stored and can’t be used in
- certain weather conditions and at night

143
Q

eg of solar power - Christchurch solar farm

A

will run for 25 years
cost £50 million
is weather dependent

144
Q

alternatives to fossil fuels - nuclear
how it works and the pros and cons

A
  • atoms are split which produces steam and turns a turbine to produce energy
  • produces a continuous supply energy
  • reduces transport
  • accidents can occur
  • difficult to dispose of waste
145
Q

Nuclear energy eg - Hinkley point C

A
  • nuclear power station located in Somerset
  • cost £20.3 billion
  • aims to produce 7% of UK energy
  • risks of radiation leak
146
Q

Impacts of changing land use on carbon cycle - deforestation

A

concentrated in developing countries
it increases c02 in atmosphere
reduces photosynthesis
increases soil erosion and soil heath as nutrients are lost

147
Q

Impacts of changing land use on carbon cycle - conversion of grass lands to farm lands

A

farmers have cleared grasslands to grow plants ( sugar cane, soya) for biofuels.
- releases c02
- lung effect is reduced
- more toxins released from soil into atmosphere

148
Q

Impacts of changing land use on carbon cycle- afforestation

A

establishment of a forest
- increases carbon capture
- increases carbon stores
- increased interception
- nutrient rich soils

149
Q

what do climate change models suggest

A

global warming is causing a weather patterns to shift

150
Q

moratorium

A

a legally authorised delay in performance of a legal activity ( deforestation)

151
Q

changes in outputs due to global warming - cryosphere

A

the area of earth’s surface where water is held in a solid form as ice ,
- higher ocean temps and global temps lead to higher evaporation and higher humidity causing more intense storms and higher river discharge leading to flooding

152
Q

factors causing uncertainty- natural factors

A

oceans are carbon sinks however they take a long time to respond to climate change

153
Q

factors causing uncertainty- human factors

A

emissions are still on the rise as countries industrialise and people become more affluent causing increased demand , however it is uncertain if renewables will reduce these.

154
Q

factors causing uncertainty- (tipping points) forest die back and thermohaline circulation

A

melting of northern ice sheets releases salty water which slows the conveyor belt which could reachh a tipping point.
die back is also meaning less trees are sequestering carbon

155
Q

Indonesia - response to deforestation

A
  • produce half of the world’s/ $50 million palm oil each year.
  • In 2011, Indonesia’s president created a forest moratorium to reduce deforestation to protect the 74 million hectares of the natural forest and peatland.
  • By 2013, emissions had fallen by 1-2.5%. However its effects were limited since illegal logging still remains an issue.
156
Q

UK energy security and energy mix

A
  • is energy insecure
  • 1980 - 89% from fossil fuels -
  • 2012 - 14% renewable
    coal - 3%
    nuclear - 6%
    oil- 39%
157
Q

Yukon river - impact of climate change on river regimes

A

-more water fell as rain than snow in Spring,
-snowmelt is beginning earlier bringing earlier peaks to regimes
- inflows has increased by 39%.

158
Q

Impacts of climate change of southern ocean ( antarctic)

A
  • pH to drop from 8.2 to 8.1 which is a 26% reduction.
  • Arctic and Antarctica are the most vulnerable to this due to their ice sheets.
  • caused organisms to migrate as can’t cope with acidity
  • impacting fish stocks
  • reduce coral health
159
Q

COP 26- response to climate change

A

-110 countries pledged to end deforestation by 2030
- $1.1 billion fund to protect the Congo Basin.
- however deforestation in 2020 in the congo was at an all time high so people are skeptical

160
Q

carbon cycle

A

the movement of carbon between stores on land , oceans and the atmosphere

161
Q

carbon is a closed system because

A

no external inputs or outputs of carbon to the earth so the total amount of carbon is fixed and finite

162
Q

resevoir turnover

A

the rate at which carbon enters and leaves a store

163
Q

largest store of carbon on earth

A

the lithosphere ( the earths crust )
100 million billion tonnes

164
Q

1 peta gram is equal to

A

one billion tonnes of carbon

165
Q

why the biological carbon pump is important

A
  • this helps keep atmospheric carbon levels 200 ppm lower than they would be without it
166
Q

what % of carbon is stored in under sea algae and plants

A

93%

167
Q

how many billion tonnes of carbon are predicted to be in atmosphere

A

40,000 billion

168
Q

what temp of water is more affective at sequestering carbon

A

cold water in the arctics

169
Q

how thermohaline circulation works

A
  • current begins in polar regions and sea ice forms so water becomes saltier
  • the current divides into Indian and western pacific
  • the two branches warm and rise as they travel north and release small c02
  • they then go back to the south and get cold again and absorb more c02 then sinks and stays at bottom of ocean for thousands of years
170
Q

what would happen in thermohaline circulation stops

A

UK climate would get colder
- USA would get warmer and see increase in flooding and storms as gulf stream stops
-more c02 in atmosphere as can’t be sequestered

171
Q

Example of tar sands - Canada , Alberta

A

hold 1.7 million barrels of bitumen oil
uses huge amounts of energy
leaves scars on environment

172
Q

Example of shale gas - US

A

US estimate they have 86 years left of shale gas
In US you own the minerals under ground - so many people can make a lot of money
done by fracking