Carbon and water case studies

Question 1

Rising sea levels affect which places first?

Answer 1

East Coast USA
Gulf Coast
East Asia

sea levels could rise by as much as 12 inches in these areas by 2050

Question 2

Renewable energy case study and fact

Answer 2

Iceland - 99% of energy used is renewable

80% hydroelectric
20% geothermal

Question 3

Ocean acidification:

Answer 3

• Coral bleaching in Australia (91% affected)
• Worsens conditions for marine life
• kills phytoplankton: releases more carbon

Question 4

Harvesting biofuels

Answer 4

American Midwest (Indiana, Michigan etc.) worsened water and carbon cycle

Question 5

Aswan Dam - South Egypt

Answer 5

Location/condition: In ITCZ and arid climate, heightened chance of evaporation flow

The increased human interaction increases surface storage and decreases output

Question 6

Thames Basin

Answer 6

Overabstraction - 13m people

Question 7

China’s inputs and outputs

Answer 7

Large population living a more middle class life style -> increased demand for water

Cloud seeding: +inputs and +stores

Reliance on irrigation: lessened output

Question 8

California’s hydrological drought

Answer 8

Colorado river suffering from heavy usage

Under the unrelenting ENSO cycle
- Worsening due to climate change: longer droughts

Question 9

The Sahel

Answer 9

Meteorological drought - ITCZ and Arid climate

Agricultural drought - heavy use of water for irrigation
- increased soil erosion and is already desertified

Question 10

Cumbria (North West England): the setting

Answer 10

2014 - 2015: consistent floods
Many warm and cold fronts meeting: Frontal rain
+
Mountainous North West: Orographic Rain
+
Consistent rainfall: soil already at full moisture capacity

Question 11

Impacts of storms desmond, eva and frank

Answer 11

$3b in damages across Cumbria and Carlisle

50,000 without power

1,000 evacuated

Railway access blocked