Carbon Flashcards
Assess the role of oceans in regulating the carbon cycle?
Thermohaline circulation
More carbon absorbed due to conc. gradient
Ocean largest sink with 36,000 Pg C
Biological pump - photsynthesis sequestration
Physical Pump - up/down welling
Carbonate Pump - sedimentation
What limits the role of oceans in regulating the carbon cycle?
Ocean acidification
- Sea is a carbon sink
- Creates a weak carbonic acid
- Ocean less alkaline
- Shrinking phytoplankton
Thus reducing sequestration
Negative feedback cycle
Assess the role of terrestrial lands in regulating the carbon cycle?
Peatlands help store lots of carbon
- around 25-30% of all carbon emissions
Peat fires lead to large releases of carbon
Assess how successful Canada and the US have been in acheiving energy security?
- Diversified to reduce dependence on Middle East
- $300bn barrels of ol located in oil sands, shales and the Gulf of Mexico
- Only 5% of American oil imports came from Saudi
Assess how Canada and the US have failed in achieving energy security?
- Unconventional oil resources require almost twice the minimum oil price in comparison the Middle Eastern oil
- bp oil spill highlights that reinvestment in fossil fuels is not environemntally sustainable so only viable in short term
Assess how Ukraine has failed in achieving energy security?
- 7th largest coal reserves in the world
- Gas reserves amounting to 1.1 trillion cubic metres
- Europe’s worst energy security
- Election corruption has allowed Russian-backed leaders to win
- Crimean 2014 annexation depleted Ukraine of many reserves
Assess how Georgia has succeeded in achieving energy security despite Russia?
- Invaded by Russia in 2008
- Very energy secure
– 81% of energy is renewables
– Imports only $8 million of fossil fuels - Could be because it lies on new silk road
Assess how Brazil has struggled in achieving energy security?
- Began to diversify in the 70s
- Biofuels require large land clearance via deforestation
- Not as profitable as oil
- Govt reduced fossil fuels taxes to control inflation meaning less stability for biofuel farmers
Assess how Brazil has been successful in achieving energy security?
- 98% of the country’s oil production is offshore
- Brazil’s energy sector is one of the least carbon intensive in the world
- 45% of energy demand is made up by renewable methods
- In 2017 Brazil turned into a net oil exporter
Brazil has successfully diversified and achieved holistic energy mix to achieve energy security
Assess why Mozambique may be successful in achieving energy security?
- 125 bn m^3of gas found in Temane Gas Field
– 4th largest oil reserve - $350 bn of potential energy sources
- Portugal, India and Brazil all want to invest in oil and gas
– $10bn/year
Assess why Mozambique may not be successful in achieving energy security?
- Land grabs and forced relocation by mining companies that dont commit to contracts
- Most foreign companies want to export oil… what is left for the young developing population?
Assess how Norway could use radical technologies to limit their impact on the carbon cycle?
- Carbon Capture and Storage helps traps carbon from the atmosphere reducing the impact of the greenhouse effect
– 17 million tonnes have been injected since inception - Thorium can be used to recyle nuclear waste from nuclear plants; removes the downside of radioactive waste
- 4 times more plentiful than Uranium so it is sustainable
- Liability -> Asset
Assess the drawbacks of using radical technologies to achieve energy security?
- Novel technology so not as effective; requires time for development
- CCS absorption nowhere in comparison to billions of tonnes every single year
- Currently very high start-up costs for Thorium reactors
Evaluate how Denmark has decoupled it energy economy?
- Aim to be fully independent of fossil fuels; Energy Strategy 2050
- Highest energy security in EU
- Connected to NordPool countries
- Have agreement to share energy generation
- Also passing expertise, reducing energy dependence leading to diversification
- 40% of energy is wind
Assess the impact of climate change on the hydrological processes in the Arctic? GENERAL
Warmer oceans mean…
- Lower atmospheric pressure
- Smaller temp gradient between poles and equator leading to less precipitation and weaker winds
Higher temperatures have led to…
- Arctic ponds drying up
- Humidity increasing
- Increased melting of snow, ice and permafrost
- Increased surface run off
- More local river-ice floods
