carbon EQ3 Flashcards
what is land conversion being driven by
an increasing demand for food, fuel and other resources
borneo has lost how much forest cover since 1950
50%
deforestation
Forests cover 30% of the Earth’s land area and absorb rainfall and increase groundwater storage
Deforestation occurs for either the timber or the space they occupy
An estimated 10 million hectares are deforested every year
why is energy demand larger than population growth
as wealth increases so does the demand for energy
deforestation impacts on water cycle and soil
-deforestation reduces interception meaning less infiltration and drier soils with increased surface run off
-Less vegetation means less evapotranspiration, which reduces atmospheric moisture. reducing rainfall
-Loss of organic matter lowers pH, leading to more acidic soils. leading to degradation of soils
USA case study
midwest has been growing increased corn for biofuels
over 6 billion hectares of grassland dissapeared
benefits of natural grassland
-traps water and reduces flood risk
-maintains healthy soils
-acts as a carbon sink
-maintain natural habitats
disadvantages of grassland to crops
-increased carbon emissions contributing to global warming
-reduced soil fertility
-impacts on natural habitats
biggest carbon sink
oceans- absorbed 30% of carbon
what is ocean acidification
increased release of CO2 from fossil fuels leads to increased carbonic acid in the sea. this acid releases hydrogen ions which lower the oceans PH and make it more acidic
effects of ocean acidification
-Coral reefs are weakened and bleached
-shellfish and plankton struggle to survive without carbonate ions - phytoplankton produce 50-80% of worlds oxygen and absorb 30% of human co2 emissions
-less carbon stored in ocean increasing climate change
why are reefs important
-support fishing industries as they shelter 25% of marine species
-tourism
-protect shore from coastal erosion
forest loss influence human well being
-loss of biodiversity
-less carbon sequestration increasing co2
-loss of tourism
how climate change affects the artic
A loss of albedo as the ice that once covered the land is replaced by tundra (further encouraging global warming)
Significant loss of sea ice e.g., the North-west Passage can now be navigated in the summer
importance of ocean health
-fishing supports 500 million people-most in developing countries
-coral reefs provide protection to coastal areas
-tourism from coral reefs
-many countries rely on exporting fish eg. thailand
chinas great green wall
billions of trees planted
reduced sandstorms
however low survival rates of trees due to poor soil
