challenges for the planet 1 Flashcards
what are the human causes of climate change
cars and transport = pollution
greenhouse gasses by fossil fuels
increase in energy consumption
natural cause of climate change
cows and methane
volcano and sulphur
solar output (heat trapped)
increase in methane
china = more rice and more cow
more disposable income means meat is demanded
negative effects of climate change
changing pattern of crop yield e.g. Tanzania and Mozambique e.g. droughts
treating glaciers = loss of habitat
Labrador, Atlantic = 8-10 degrees in july.
90% of glaciers in Antarctic are retreating
rising sea levels = flooding in coastal areas.
1993-2006 = 3.3mm global increase
London, Tokyo, NYC = low lying = flooding
how companies/the government promote sustainability
park and ride in Cambridge (public transport)
£2.20 per ticket
advantages:
cheap
convenient reduces traffic
busses every 10mins
disadvantage
expensive start up
bus congestion
unreliable / late
how has the climate changed since the last ice age?
8000BC was end of ice age, and world temp has risen 6 degrees C since.
temp change of 5 degrees over next 2000 years then
decrease of 1.5 degrees in 5000 BC
next 1500 years = increase and second warm period.
between 2000BC and 2000AD was the medevil warm
period - temp change of 1 degree
mini ice age.
projected temp to increase by 5 degrees by 2100
what are the external and internal factors affecting climate change?
external:
solar output
orbital geometry
internal:
volcanic activity
surface relfection
tectonic activity
explain solar output (external factor)
it is the energy that comes from the sun
more solar output means hotter and less means cooler. a 1% change in solar output could make temp rise or fall by 0.5-1 degree C.
in 1980s the amount reaching earth decreased by 0.1%.
sunspots affect solar output. reduced sunspot between 1645 and 1715 may of caused mini ice age
orbital geometry (external factors)
orbital characteristics that are responsible for the past and possible future climate changes
1) shape of the earth orbit around the varies from nearly circular to elliptical and back to circular again every 95000 years.
circular = cold and glacier
elliptical = warmer
2) the tilt of the Earth’s axis varies from 21.5 and 24.5 degrees. this occurs over a 41000 years.
greater angle= hotter summers & colder winters. also usually warm periods
volcanic activity (internal factors)
volcanic eruptions releasing gas and ash
lots of sulphur dioxide and ash is released. reduces amount of solar radiation reaching the earth = cold.
1815) mount tambora erupted meaning Europe had lots of snow and world was unusually cold. “year without summer”
surface refection (internal factor)
snow and ice reflects sun into space
cooler periods = snow and ice. global temp drops because it reflects sunlight back into space.
if planet warms then the snow will melt and earth temp will increase
tectonic activity (internal factors)
movement of continents caused by plate tectonics
affects global patterns of atmospheric and ocean circulation.
causes winds and ocean currents to change.
process is to slow to have effect on climate over 10,000 yrs
change in atmospheric gas
CO2 = largely responsible for the greenhouse gas effect. it traps heat by absorbing longwave radiation
without it the world would be at -18, rather than +15 degrees
causes on climate change on a local scale
cars = pollution = greenhouse
methane and C02. methane is 20 times more potent than CO2 and makes up for 20% of the green house.
energy consumptions e.g. fossil fuels
causes to climate change on a global scale
75% of china energy = coal. = fossil fuels and greenhouse
fossil methane (30% methane) is released when we mine for fossil fuels
examples of where places suffer from climate change
Bangladesh - 1m sea rise = loss of 17.5% land
kenya - droughts. 80 year drought killed all cattle
great barrier reef dying (sea temp increased)
polar ice caps - animals lose habitat & sea levels rise
responses to climate change
kyoto protocol - singed in December 1997, came to action feb 2005
june 1992 united nations held a meeting in Rio, Brazil. most powerful countries went.
first international treaty about climate change
aim to stabalize greenhouse
c
outries agreed to cut gas emissions by 5.2% compared to 1990 levels globally.
each country has a carbon allowance, 7% for EU
Inorder to achieve countries could cut limits or trade carbon
what is the green house effect
the process by which radiation from a planet’s atmosphere warms the planet’s surface to a temperature above what it would be without its atmosphere.
it’s made of gas
describe actions of non-government organisations to prevent climate change
green space
campaign against fossil fuels
trying to get UK government to be more sustainable
e.g capture lost heat waste from cooling towers and reuse so that energy isn’t wasted and reused
describe actions of schools
livesimply - made by Catholic Church
ran in 2007, made students consider sustainability
schools introduced energy efficient water and electricity from solar panels and wind turbines
outline sustainable policies made by large organisations
M&S
sourcing
70% of cotton sustainable by 2020 - less water, organic, recycled and fair trade
recycle nylon, wool, plastic, polyester
no testing since 2006
farming
works with Ireland = fresh and good for econmy & less travel
lamb and other stuff farmed in UK
global community
prodjects to build livelihoods and protect environment.
e.g. india and Africa
20% reduced carbon emissions and £2millioin to charities per year e.g. £2mill for oxfam
outline of sustainable development and ways building are sustainable
development that meets the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
long lasting
cheaper in long run
save energy
M&S
solar panels
natural light
geothermal heating
resource extraction in rainforests
oriente in equador first developed in 1972 by multinational companies such as Texaco - spillages - money goes abroad and not to locals - waste sulphur and sludge = damage
papua new guinea (PNG) 4 main bio fuel plantations - pollution of water from construction - famers/land owners becomes dependant - reduce biodiversity as habbitats destroyed
resource management
Ecuador
- preservation areas e.g. limonchocha reserve
- 1998 development in TRF
- education initiatives
- replanting areas
new guinea
- ecotourism
- selling local produce e.g. Galip nuts
- educating importers on protecting rainforest
costa rica = ecotourism
madagasca = repaid by swiss company in conservation and development initiatives
sustainable transport schemes
park and ride
congestion charge of £11.50 - 2003 car sharing 65,000 less cars saves emissions 12%more cyclists 12% carbon emissions reduction (bad because its bad for residents)
Santander bikes £2 for 24 hrs - 30 mins free - £2 every 30 min after lots of docking stations 24 hr service pay on cad or phone carbon free exercise
