Chapter 3: Global Systems Case Studies Flashcards
- Completed Carbon Cycle, need to do water
Where is the Peatland case study?
Sebangau’s National Park, Indonesia
Which organisation has been lobbying the government since 1997?
WWF
How many animals are in the Sebangau’s National Park?
5000-9000
What 2 measures have WWF put in to mitigate the damage from the forest fires and logging?
- 800 dams to rehydrate the peatland, which had been drained by the river to start fires.
- replanted 6000 hectares of forest
What percentage of Indonesia’s carbon emissions have come from peat destruction?
40%
How do the local villagers benefit from the peat lands being protected?
They can fish, they can be guides for ecotourism, and they can get rubber from the vegetation to sell.
What is a peatland?
Thick layer of black or dark soil material
Why do peatlands store carbon?
The wet soil prevents the carbon rich plant remains from being decomposed as the anaerobic conditions limit microbial decomposition.
Give an example of when a peatland preserved remains?
‘Pete Marsh’ in Cheshire
What are the 3 types of peatland?
- Fen Peatland= form where groundwater meets at the surface, at springs or on the edge of open water
- Blanket Peatland= form on flat hilltops where rainfall is high
- Raised bogs= form in valley bottoms where souls are saturated due to frequent arrival of through flow and overland flow from the slopes above.
What is carbon offsetting?
Planting trees abs vegetation to compensate for emissions elsewhere
Why does monoculture of commercial trees impact carbon storage?
Carbon storage benefits from monoculture of commercial trees as they absorb carbon. However, as they’re all one tree type they absorb less carbon than natural forests as they lack biodiversity.
Where are the Northern and Southern Pennines?
Yorkshire, UK
Why did the N/S Pennines need restoration?
Their peatlands had been extensively drained in the past
How have erosional gullies impacted the peatland restoration?
They were blocked to raise the water table which would rehydrate the soil for the peatland- which would restore the anaerobic conditions.
How might precipitation be impacted by the rising number of greenhouse gases in the water cycle?
2007 rainfall led to £3 billion in damages due to pluvial floods (surface water) which damages houses and businesses.
What 4 things are the rising greenhouse gases causing?
- Amount, type and patterns of precipitation.
- Acidification of oceans
- Sea level rise
- River discharge
Why is it important that the long radiation is absorbed?
It enables life to form as it keeps the Earth at an average temperature of 15c which supports life. However, climate change is causing the Earth to heat due to the thick layer of Greenhouse gases which reduces the radiation being radiated away from Earth.
In what way has the energy budget changed?
It has changed as more heat is being retained rather and reflected which results in a warmer, more energetic climate.
What is the energy budget?
The state of balance between incoming solar radiation received by the atmosphere and the Earth, and the re-radiated and reflected energy.
How do ice cores affect global warming?
Over time, they have absorbed green-house gases and when they melt due to the rising temperatures, the ice melts and releases the gases stored inside.
How are coral reefs affected by the acidification of oceans, caused by changes to greenhouse gases in the water cycle?
Carbonic acid (which is created when the carbon combines with the ocean water) reacts with carbonate ions which forms bicarbonate.
Coral needs carbonate ions to from its shells (exoskeleton) and due to the lack of the ions, the shells are thinner and more fragile.
This means that they’re at risk from storms.
“High intensity rainfall can lead to overland flow. This means that soil and groundwater stores will not be restored, this leads to a flashy hydrograph”. Which impact of changes to greenhouse gases in the water cycle is this?
River Discharge
How is sea level rise affected by changes to greenhouse gases in the water cycle?
Increasing carbon emissions- which creates heavier cloud and thicker area of greenhouse gases, means that more heat is being radiated back to the ground rather than away from earth. This causes polar ice caps to melt which causes a rise in sea level.
What were the 5 steps for restoration which occurred in the Northern Pennines to restore the peatlands?
- Fences (barriers to protect the areas)
- Hydrology (stopping the flow of water)
- Slopes (speed up colonisation of growth)
4 .Heather Brash (prevents peat damage) - Revegetation techniques (speed up revegetation)
What is a key moss found in peatlands that restores water and protects the bare soil?
Sphagnum Moss
How much has the N/S Pennines Peatland restoration cost?
A. £1 million
B. £2 billion
C. £50 million
A. £1 million
True or False, 65% of the dams in the N. Pennines have been blocked or assessed as naturally regenerating.
True
What percentage of UK peatlands are in a pristine state?
20%
Rates of carbon sequation (absorption) in degraded peatlands ha reduces, they’re now becoming emitters of carbon. Is this true?
True
Why does peat get drained?
- Moorland farming
- Agricultural land
- Peatlands drained will lose CO2 and emit it through soil leaching
Plant species have been damaged by pollution in what counties? Name 2.
Manchester
Yorkshire
What percentage of Carbon is stored in plants?
20%
How is humus dispersed?
Through worms
Why do tropical rainforests have their own water cycle?
The area receives high intensity from the sun, this causes the air to rise, then the air cools which causes the air to sink and become heavy- which forms clouds. As these cloud build in size and weight, rainfall occurs.
Are rainforests a high or low pressure area?
Low and they get 2000ml annually of rain.
What are the 3 stages of the Carbon Cycle in the Tropical Rainforest?
- During photosynthesis plants absorb carbon dioxide which forms their organic body- they release oxygen as a by-product.
- When a plant respires or burns, carbon is released back into the atmosphere as the plant decomposes.
- The carbon gets released into the ground, where is is stored as sediment under rivers etc. This can eventually turn into fossils/ fuels.
What is the Gersmehl Model?
It is a way in which data is stored in proportional circles which show the amount of carbon in each biome.
What vegetation is largely found in areas of grassland?
Grasses. The grassland has minimal rain which leads to perfect conditions for grasses to grow. their long stems reduce heat in summer and their roots trap water underground to reduce evapotranspiration. Turf grasses have underground stems which play the reproductive role- but bunch grasses reproduce via seeds.
How many worms are found per 1 square metre in grassland areas.
500
What animals are limited in grassland areas?
Above ground due to the lack of vegetation.
What are the 3 types of rainfall found in the water cycle?
- Convectional= (rain= water vapour + solar radiation)
- Orographic= (rain= air masses rising over mountains)
- Frontal= (rain= two air masses meeting at low pressure)
What are the 3 outputs in the water cycle?
Evaporation= water vaporising
Transpiration= plants through stomata
Channel Flow= volume of water in river channels
What does interception do?
It is the process of plants capturing water in leaves which is absorbed by the plant through the roots/leaves.
“The soil absorbs the water” What term is this- linked to flows in the water cycle?
Infiltration
What is it called when surfaces aren’t permeable which causes water to ‘run-off’ them? It can occur on tarmac or concrete in bust urban areas.
Direct run-off
What is throughflow?
Horizontal flow of water between soil and rock.
What is percolation?
The vertical flow of water through soil and rock.
Groundwater flow is what?
The flow of water horizontally along the water table.
What occurs when ‘Saturated Overland-flow’ happens?
When the ground is fully saturated which means it cannot absorb any more water, causing it to run over the land.
Can you give 5 factors which influence drainage basins?
- Rock Type
- Vegetation Cover
- Soil Type
- Land Relief
- Climate
How does the Climate impact drainage basins?
Stores may vary over seasons due to changes in the climate. For example, in cold weather storage may be in glaciers, and in summer or warmer months this will melt which will cause surface run-off and channel flow.
What human factors may influence drainage basins?
- Deforestation
- Over Abstraction
- Urbanisation
What percentage of water is fresh water?
2.5%
What percentage of freshwater are we able to access?
Less than 1.1%
What are the 2 non- renewable stores of water?
- Fossil water
2. Cryosphere
What is fossil water?
Water what is ancient, fresh and unused
What are the Polar Hydrology characteristics?
Little vegetation in winter as 86% of solar radiation is reflected.
Rapid surface run off in the summer- this causes bio-genie gases to be released as it melts.
Give 4 human causes for the change in carbon stores?
- Deforestation
- Mining
- Green House Gases and the Ocean
- Peatland
How does the destruction of Peatland impact carbon stores?
Peatland store organic plant material which contains carbon. Due to anaerobic conditions, the carbon isn’t decomposed which leaves it stored in the plants rather than being emitted into the soil or back into the atmosphere.
How does deforestation lead to changes in the carbon stores?
Cutting down trees released carbon dioxide, which is increased when slash and burn is used as in addition ti emissions from the fire, the vegetation is killed.
How does deforestation cause carbon to be stored?
Carbon can also be stored in alternative stores such as in chairs after it is deforestation.
How does mining impact carbon stores?
Mining for natural gases and oil reduces the stores
How do Volcanos change carbon stores?
They release green house gases (including CO2), when they erupt. These are not linked to human activity, however human settlements being destroyed can increase carbon in the atmosphere as they burn.
What does the heating of oceans have to do with carbon stores?
As the ocean warms, it is unable to absorb as much heat as it previously did- and may even emit the heat.
How do ice cores impact carbon stores?
They have stored greenhouse gases over million of years, and as they melt the gases- such as methane, are realised into the atmosphere. This also happens to perma frost.
How do Kelp Forest provide a Carbon Sink?
They store up to 20x more carbon per screw than land forests and act as a carbon sink.
Using 3 reasons, how are Kelp Forests being damaged?
- Strong storms
- Changing temperatures
- Pollution of seas.
Where do Kelp Forests grow?
Along rocky coastlines, particularly in the Pacific Ocean.
How are people calling for Kelp Forests to be used?
A Californian study is suggesting that Kelp should be planted in Oceans to absorb more Carbon. However, people are not paying the study attention or prefer to use Kelp for medicine etc.
Give 3 examples of data which show how UNCLOS has been successful in managing shipping flows?
- 20 largest spills were all before 2000
- 1990s, 1 million tonnes of oil was lost (358 spills)
- 2000s, less than 200,000 tonnes of oil has been released from spills- due to successful UNCLOS regulations
According to Europool, What percentage of illegal migrants use the help of illegal criminal services ?
90%
In 2015, what was the estimate income drawn by the criminal businesses who transport illegal immigrants?
£3-6 billion
How many ££ is the UK fishing industry worth?
£770 million
Can you give an example of how Slavery at Sea occurs in the UK?
People are legally allowed to work on boats which are offshore but in British territory, but are not allowed to have legal residence. Due to the distance from the mainland, these people don’t have access to human rights protection.
Give another example of how Slavery at Sea occurs in the UK?
Some African sailors in the UK are paid so little it amounts modern slavery.
How long is Europe’s coastline?
70,000km
What was in-forced after the 2001 terror attack ?
Strengthened security measures
What is Masks view on ISPS ?
That not enough is being done, they claim of AK47s can be smuggled elsewhere then it can occur in Europe too.
What does the ISPS stand for?
2004 International Ship and Port Security Code
What is the role of ISPS?
Gives authority heightened security power to monitor shipping access and vessel control.
What percentage of internet data passes through the Oceans?
90%
How long are the Sea Floor Data Cables (roughly)
1million om
What the are 4 facets of Globalisation?
- Economic
- Social
- Cultural
- Political
What does MNC stand for?
Multi National Cooperation
What does MOOCs stand for?
Massive open online course
What does MGO stand for?
Multi government organisations
How does ICT support Economic Globalisation?
- Connectivity between factories
- Media companies can move data files quickly which speeds up animation
- Personal scale: Crowdfunding platform for citizens, or selling of good and services on Ebay
How does ICT support Cultural Globalisation?
- Cultural traits travel faster (eg: food, music)
- Smaller subcultures can be shared
Give an example of how cultural globalisation was shared by ICT in 2012?
PSY Gangnam Style
racked the highest views of all time
How has Social Globalisation been caused by ICT?
- Social media creates a hub of local or global friends
- Virtual school and uni (MOOCs)
- Remote healthcare where areas lack physical infrastructure
How does ITC benefit political globalisation?
- Charities can share their messages online and fight for changes (eg Petitions)
- MGOs can share information that helps and joins people together
Who owns majority of the Sea Cables?
MNCs (microsoft, google, BT)
What was the Convention for the protection of Submarine Cables?
Signed by 20 countries in 1884
Does the UNCLOS expand on Convention for the protection of submarine cables?
Yes
How does the UNCLOS expand on Convention for the protection of submarine cables?
- States can establish no fishing and anchoring zones.
2. All states can lay cables in the EEZ and on continental shelfs
How may the UNCLOS change its approach on the Convention for Protection of Submarine Cables?
It may stop cables being places in areas of venerability- such as Coral Reefs.
How have seafloor data cables changed form the 1800 to 1950s?
1800s-Cables laid in Atlantic which carried morse code.
1950- Coaxial cable were made to carry phone conversations
How have seafloor data cables changed form the 1990 to today?
1990s- Analogue candles were replaced with fibre optic cables which carry more data more quickly.
today- 99% intercontinental traffic is carried through Oceans
What are the 5 risks to global connectivity?
- Tsunami and Cyclones
- Fishing and Trawling
- Tectonic Hazards
- Sabotage
- Fish and Shark attacks
When was Sabotage of Sea Floor Data cables introduced?
Common in both world wars
Why are Fish and Shark attacks risks to Global Connectivity?
- Like to bite the cables. Shark and barracuda cause cable failures.
- Fish are drawn to the cables due to a ‘strumming’ sensation caused by electromagnetic fields.
How do tectonic hazards and landslides impact global connectivity?
- Modern seabed mapping mitigates challenge by avoiding active areas.
Can you give an example of how, tectonic hazards and landslides impact global connectivity?
2006 an earthquake and landslides destroyed Taiwan and Philippines cable
How does fishing and trawling impact global connectivity?
- 60% cut cables are due to anchors and fishing nets.
- Asia temporarily lost 75% of internet capacity in 2008 when a ship severed a main cable.
How do tsunami and cyclones impact global connectivity?
- 1982 hurricane Iwa caused submarine landslides which damaged 6 sea floor cables in Hawaii
- Andaman-Sumatra tsunami in 2004 destroyed land based telecoms in Malaysia and South Africa
How much carbon does the Amazon store?
90-140 billion tonnes
How is an increase of carbon negatively impacting the rainforests?
Plants are dying younger which decreases the biomass.
How many people live in the Amazon?
34 million
Give an example of 3 countries the Amazon overlaps into?
Peru, Brazil and Columbia
What is the name of the transport link in the amazon?
The Trans Atlantic Highway
