Challenges for the Planet Flashcards by Lucy Dilworth

What is weather?

The state of the atmosphere at any given time and place

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What is climate?

The average weather conditions over a long period of time (at least 30 years)

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How has the worlds climate changed since the last ice age?

temp. rise

Over past 10,000 years the temperature has risen by 6°C. The projected temperature is still rising.
There were many fluctuations between 4 and 6°C between the years of 6800 BC and 2000 AD.

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What are the 2 types of factors that have affected the worlds climate change since the last ice age?

External factors

Internal Factors

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What are the External factors that have affected the worlds climate change since the last ice age?

Solar output

Orbital geometry

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What are the Internal factors that have affected the worlds climate change since the last ice age?

Volcanic activity
Surface reflection
Change in atmospheric gas
Tectonic activity

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Explain solar output and its effects

Energy that comes from the sun
Studies (1980’s) show this has decreased by 0.1 percent
Not much but over large scale of time could affect global climate
Reduced sunspot activity may have caused the Little Ice Age (1645 and 1715)

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Explain Orbital geometry and its effects

Shape of Earth’s orbit
Colder periods when orbit is circular
Warmer periods when orbit is more elliptical
Tilt of Earth’s axis
Greater angle - hotter summers and colder winters
When angle is greater earth experiences warmer periods

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Explain Volcanic activity and its effects

Release sulfur dioxide and ash
Act as cloak and reduce amount of solar radiation/energy reaching Earths surface
1816 “year without summer” after Mount Tambora erupted

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Explain Surface reflection and its effects

During cool period when there is ice and snow the temperature will drop because the ice and snow will reflect sunlight back to space. When the planet warms up this diminishes and the Earth gets warmer

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Explain Change in atmospheric gas and its effects

There is a clear relationship between CO2 and temperature variation
Responsible for greenhouse effect - keeps heat in

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Explain Tectonic activity and its effects

Continent movement - caused by tectonic plates - affects ocean circulation and causes wind and ocean currents to change
This process is too slow to have an impact over the span of 10,000 years

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What are the causes of current climate change?

Explain

Fossil fuels - (coal, oil, natural gas) when burnt gases are released. CO2 causes greenhouse effect - global warming

Methane - greenhouse gas(20 percent of g.h.g in atmosphere) Comes from:
Wetlands+mashes+swamps
Growing of rice
Landfills(rotting vegetable matter)
Burning vegetation
Bowels of animals

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What are the negative effects of cimate change

Changing pattern of crop yields
Rising sea levels
Retreating glaciers

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Changing pattern of crop yields

Countries near equator suffer from decreasing yields

Tanzania/Mozambique - long periods of drought with shorter growing seasons

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Rising sea levels

Studies show a rise of 3.3mm a year - 88cm by end of century

Threaten areas of low lying land, many island are being evacuated before they are covered/engulfed by sea water

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Retreating glaciers

Lots of glaciers are melting quickly. Research shows 90 percent of glaciers in Antarctica are retreating. Could affect water movement and temperatures in western europe

Examples of negative climate changes effects

BANGLADESH - coastal flooding, if levels rise by 1m it will lose 17.5 per cent of its land
GREAT BARRIER REEF- Australia, Greenpeace report predicts it will be dead in 30 years due to rising sea temp.
GLACIER NATIONAL PARK-Montana, (1910:150 glaciers) has decreased to 30 glaciers, predicted that 30 till all gone

What are the global responses to climate change?

1988: UN set up Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) first report showed Earth warmed by 0.5°C in past century
1992: Earth Summit Rio de Janeiro
1997: Kyoto Protocol is agreed - 178 countries signed treaty came into force in 2005. agreed to cut g.h.g emissions
2007: Bali conference-IPCC confirms 90 percent chance global warming caused by humans. Agree to tackle climate change

Kyoto Protocol Update

Been hard as not all countries were singed up properly
Hard to get countries to legally commit
Next major event is in December 2015 - representatives from more than 190 countries will be present

Local responses: Schools

‘LivesSimply’ campaign 2007- think about sustainability
Energy efficient water and central heating systems
Renewable sources eg. solar panels/wind turbines
Notices to switch off lights

Local responses: Local Councils

Given £4 million by government
Introduce ideas about cutting emissions
Simple changes eg. free low energy light bulbs
Sophisticated changes eg. combined heat and power scheme (Woking’s CHP)

Local Responses: Local Interest Groups

Eg. Manchester is my planet
encourage individuals to reduce carbon footprint
green energy projects
green badge parking permit - low carbon cars apply, annual permit for NCP car parks in Greater Manchester for 25% discount

Define sustainable development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

How can we be sustainable in the workplace?

Video conferences - reduces a companies carbon footprint also saves money and time

How can a hotel be sustainable?

Hotels - only wash linen when needed (not everyday) saves energy(electricity) and reduces water usage E.G Travelodge

How can schools be sustainable?

Schools-separate waste bins, signs to encourage t switch off lights

In what other ways can we be sustainable in a workplace?

Internet used instead of paper Provide different bins Push taps in toilets to conserve water

How did the government propose to manage transport?

Increase tax to control traffic growth rate Improve vehicle performance - tests, restrictions, road tax Make public aware of emissions impact- adverts, campaigns Reduce dependency on cars(HICs) Affordable alternative public transport systems

What are the aims of congestion charging?

Reduce number of vehicles entering the city, to ease traffic congestion and lower pollution emissions This will hopefully lead to more sustainable transport methods being used eg. cycling, walking, public transport

London Congestion Charging - key facts

Set up in 2008 | £11.50 a day 0700-1800 (Monday-Friday)

What are the benefits of congestion charging in London?

Traffic levels reduced by 21% 65,000 fewer journeys a day 12% increase in cycle journeys 12% Reduction in nitrous oxide emissions

Cambridge Park and ride-key facts

Introduced in 1994 Buses run every 10min Mon-Sat and every 20min after 7pm Links 5 park and ride sites to city centre TRUMPINTON-CLOSE TO M11 Very successful

Benefits of Cambridge P+R

Parking in city centre in expensive and scarce Reduced congestion Nice waiting areas encourage the P+R usage Less use of cars (more sustainable)

Negatives of Cambridge P+R

Loss of land Traffic congestion moved elsewhere(car parks) Services may become slow, discouraging tourists

Marks and Spencers- Plan A

``` 2007 Environmental and ethical plan reduce carrier bag use take old m&s clothes to Oxfam-customers get £5 voucher £2.5 million raised for Oxfam reduced food packaging by 20% 90% of packaging widely recyclable sustainably source 70% of food IN STORE-natural light, LED lights in car parks ```

Impact of resource extraction: Mining in Brazil

mercury used in gold mining-very toxic : found in high concentration in the fish. 90% of fish contaminated high miscarriage and cancer rates among locals

Impact of resource extraction: Oil extraction in Ecuador

toxic waste mixed with crude oil and seeps into freshwater through the 600 unlined pits stomach cancer more frequent because hydrocarbons 200-300 times more concentrated than allowed for human consumption many miscarriages plants e.g periwinkle(leukemia) are endangered

Managing resource extraction: Costa rica

ecotourism zip wiring, trails through rainforest allowed American company(Merck) to look for plants that can be fragrances Costa rica government gets a share of the profits

Managing resource extraction: Venezuela

not issued more gold or diamond mining permits since 2008 conserves forest area followed attacks from illegal miners