Carbon and energy

Question 1

definition of a store

Answer 1

location where carbon is held - can be terrestrial, oceanic or atmospheric

Question 2

definiton of a flux

Answer 2

movement/transfer of carbon between different stores

Question 3

main carbon stores (6)

Answer 3

1. oceans
2. soils
3. atmosphere
4. terrestrial plants (biosphere)
5. marine sediments and sedimentary rock
6. fossil fuel deposits

Question 4

main carbon fluxes (8)

Answer 4

1. photosynthesis
2. respiration
3. combustion
4. decomposition
5. sedimentation
6. metamorphosis
7. volcanic outgassing
8. chemical weathering

Question 5

what is the greenhouse effect

Answer 5

-short-wave radiation from sun hits earth and some is absorbed, while some is reflected back as long-wave radiation
-greenhouse gases trap long-wave radiation in atmosphere
-when conc of greenhouse gases is increased, more is trapped, increasing global temps

Question 6

how is consumption of energy measured

Answer 6

1. per capita (person)
2. units of energy used per GDP

Question 7

definition of energy mix

Answer 7

-combination of different energy sources used to meet a country’s total energy consumption

Question 8

factors affecting security of energy pathways

Answer 8

1. geopolitical conflict
2. overreliance and depletion
3. natural disasters

Question 9

4 types of unconventional fossil fuel sources

Answer 9

1. tar sands
2. oil shale
3. shale gas
4. deepwater oil

Question 10

benefits of tar sands, Canada

Answer 10

• large scale employment (400,000 people)
  -helps keep oil prices relatively low
  -energy companies often fund transportation infrastructure in area

Question 11

costs of tar sands, Canada

Answer 11

-fracking can cause earthquakes and land subsidence
-large areas left with scars on landscape and long-term effects on plant growth
-oil spills may harm marine life
-health issues due to air and water pollution (3 million gallons of toxic runoff/day)

Question 12

example of nuclear power in UK

Answer 12

-Hinkley Point
-£18 billion project which will provide energy for 60yrs

Question 13

example of wind power in UK

Answer 13

-Hornsea project
-wind turbines provide power for 1 million homes and 2000 construction jobs

Question 14

example of solar power in UK

Answer 14

-Chapel Lane solar farm
-Uks largest solar farm serving 60,000 homes

Question 15

3 main radical technologies

Answer 15

1. carbon capture and storage
2. hydrogen fuel cells
3. electric vehicles

Question 16

how does ocean acidification occur

Answer 16

-co2 dissolves in ocean and forms carbonic acid. which reduces pH of water

Question 17

effects of ocean acidification

Answer 17

-dissolves calcium carbonate shells and skeletons on corals
-affects ability of marine plants to take up minerals, so they decline, affecting primary consumer pop

Question 18

what does the environmental kuznets curve show

Answer 18

-relationship between economic development and environmental degradation
-as development begins, environmental degradation increases until a ‘tipping point’ where they can prioritise environmental health so degradation decreases.

Question 19

adaptation strategies to climate change (5)

Answer 19

1. water conservation
2. land-use planning
3. resilient agriculture systems
4. flood-risk management
5. solar radiation management

Question 20

mitigation strategies to climate change (5)

Answer 20

1. renewable switching
2. energy efficiency
3. carbon capture and storage
4. afforestation
5. carbon taxation

Question 21

examples of positive feedback loops

Answer 21

1. permafrost thaw releases ancient co2 and methane that enhance greenhouse effect and cause increased temps, so increased thaw
2. peatlands dry out releasing ancient co2 + increased decomp (respiration by decomposers) that enhance greenhouse effect and cause increased temps, so increased dry out