carbon cycle notes Flashcards

Question

what are unconventional fossil fuels

Answer 1

fuels produced or extracted using techniques other than the conventional (normal) methods Industry and governments are investing in unconventional oil sources due to the increasing scarcity of conventional oil reserves

Answer 2

Deep Water oil - As accessible reserves run out, companies have to look into deeper ocean waters - greater risks and costs Fracking - Controversial way of extracting shale gas. - banned in the UK in 2019 - Qatar and Holland our major suppliers - There are over 1.7 million fracking wells in the USA - USA now self-sufficient in gas so no dependence on supplies from unstable regions - Very energy intensive and dependent on high oil and gas price or uneconomi - evidence of chemicals used polluting underground water aquifers Tar Sands - AKA oil sands - These are naturally occurring mixtures of sand, clay, water and a form of petroleum called bitumen - Canada has 73% of known global stocks. - Tar Sands have become known as the most polluting source of fossil fuel extraction.

Answer 3

Runoff and erosion are increased interception are decreased Lag times are reduced Large scale clearance may lead to reduced rainfall as evapo- transpiration rates collapse

Answer 4

loss of soil fertility CO2 is released from decaying and dying trees Biomass is lost due to reduced plant growth leads to nutrients and minerals being lost from soil

Answer 5

Oxygen content is reduced and transpiration rates are lower More direct sunlight reaches forest floor leading to increased temperatures at ground level Reduced evapo-transpiration leads to reduced humidity

Answer 6

Oceans absorb around 30% of all anthropogenic carbon More is absorbed by the oceans as atmospheric carbon levels increase this results in ocean acidification

Answer 7

Coral has a narrow temperature range, If water exceeds 29C the coral turns white- coral bleaching impact on ocean health and ocean species less protection on coasts from flooding Acidification means coral cannot absorb the alkaline calcium carbonate they need to maintain their skeletons The coral dies and the reefs begin to dissolve.

Answer 8

1: Supporting services: ecological processes necessary for others to exist - soil formation, nutrient recycling 2: Provisioning services: the products obtained from ecosystems including food, fuel and medicines 3: Regulating services: the benefits obtained from the ecosystem including regulating air quality, climate and water quality 4: Cultural services: non material benefits including recreation, education and science.

Answer 9

- These are either negative (reduces the original process) or positive ( amplifies the process) One of the uncertainties over future change is the impacts of potential tipping points.

Answer 10

1: PEATLANDS The dominant soil in the majority of the world’s wetlands High carbon contents as dead vegetation does not decompose in cold, waterlogged soils As soils dry out decomposition resumes and carbon is released in the form of methane 2: PERMAFROST Billions of tonnes of carbon are trapped in the form of frozen, dead vegetation in frozen soils in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions As temperatures rise, soil melt occurs and decomposition begins releasing the carbon in the form of methane 3: THE ALBEDO EFFECT IN THE ARCTIC As Arctic sea ice is reduced, less sunlight is reflected As liquid ocean area increases, the dark area absorbs more of the sun's heat This heats the ocean, resulting in further loss of sea ice and the process becomes a positive feedback loop 4: FOREST DIE BACK Rainfall in the Amazon is largely recycled from moisture within the forest Droughts reduce this process trees die, the recycling of water is reduced and climate patterns change

Answer 11

practice of adopting new ways of doing things in order to live with the likely outcomes of climate change - can be hard strategies that require technology e.g: wind farms - soft strategies that use a more natural approach e.g: land use zoning

Answer 12

1: WATER CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT Smart irrigation systems on farms including placing plastic trays under plants to collect dew and condensation Recycling sewage water for agriculture Widespread use of water metering so actual costs reflect real use less resources used less groundwater abstraction 5 desalination plants desalination is very expensive and energy intensive leading to increased emissionsI 2: LAND USE PLANNING AND FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT The most common form is land use zoning limiting development on floodplains to low impact activities such as car parks and playing fields low cost approach to flood management that largely maintains natural floodplains leading to high levels of infiltration and surface run-off difficult to create in already settled places 3: RESILIENT AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS Conservation cropping uses fewer artificial fertilisers and allows the remains of harvested crops to rot naturally into the soil improves soil structure and reduces run-off and soil erosion create plants that are resilient to disease and less likely to rot more expensive already growing food insecurity 4: SOLAR RADIATION MANAGEMENT an example of a hard strategy a form of climate engineering which reflects solar rays to reduce global warming Examples include pumping sulphur aerosols into the upper atmosphere to reflect rays directly back into space and sending reflectors into space The technology to do this already exists doubts over costs as untried and untested would reduce not eliminate

Answer 13

These aim to re-balance the carbon cycle and reduce the impacts of climate change

Answer 14

1: CARBON TAXATION A carbon tax paid for users of fossil fuels, directly linked to amount of CO2 that the fuel produces Would encourage TNCs to consider carbon footprint of their products Already forms of this farming has taxes on fertilisers 2: ENERGY EFFICIENCY Loans and government grants available to insulate older properties Manufacturing companies given large subsidies to increase energy efficiency Most new houses are very heavily insulated and triple glazed cars now more energy efficient 3: AFFORESTATION AND REFORESTATION Many ACs have effective programmes canada and sweden lead the way Forest restoration projects included as part of economic development plans may not be possible in a nation with a large rural population 4: RENEWABLE SWITCHING focuses on abandoning use of fossil fuels in favour of low carbon energy sources 5: CARBON CAPTURE aims to capture carbon and store underground before it reaches the atmosphere