Climate and Energy Systems

Question 1

The troposphere is how high above the Earth’s surface?

Answer 1

0-10km

Question 2

What lies between the troposphere and the Stratosphere?

Answer 2

The Ozone layer

Question 3

How high above the Earth’s surface is the stratosphere?

Answer 3

10-50km

Question 4

How do zones of temperature inversion put people at risk?

Answer 4

emissions cannot rise into the atmosphere, instead the build up and cause congestion

Question 5

How does a zone of temperature inversion form?

Answer 5

radiative cooling of the ground or when a warmer layer is created by a warm front

ground cools, outer band of warmth traps emissions

Question 6

What is ozone gas important for?

Answer 6

screening the sun’s UV radiation

Question 7

Which GHG has contributed most to the depletion of stratospheric ozone?

Answer 7

CFCs

Question 8

Why is ozone unwanted in the Troposhpere?

Answer 8

near the ground it is a pollutant and the primary component of summertime smog

Question 9

How is ozone harmful to humans?

Answer 9

it is a powerful oxidant which can be harmful when in high concentrations in the air

Question 10

How might we respond to air pollution?

Answer 10

disperse industry from urban centres

Generate power at remote large power stations

Improve domestic fireplaces and fuel

Distribute wasteful heat via district heating

Question 11

Describe district heating

Answer 11

distributing heat through a centralized location

Question 12

What is the benefit of district heating?

Answer 12

higher efficiency
better pollution control

Question 13

Where does photochemical pollution occur?

Answer 13

around areas of high traffic density

the climate conditions increase the concentration of polluting gases

Question 14

What are the four phases of acid rain formation and damage?

Answer 14

sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released in the air

pollutants transform into acid particles

particles fall to earth during rainfall events

causes direct harm to nature

Question 15

What is the world’s average GHG emission per person per year?

Answer 15

5.5T of CO2 (scary)

Question 16

How much energy is in 1kWh?

Answer 16

1000W x 1h
1000W x 3600s = 3.6e+6 Joules

Question 17

What are the three largest energy markets?

Answer 17

NA, Europe, Asia Pacific

Question 18

Compared to the rest of the world, do the big 3 energy markets consume or reserve more energy?

Answer 18

consume?

Question 19

The big 3 consume and reserve what % of oil?

Answer 19

consume 80%

reserve 15%

Question 20

The big 3 consume and reserve what % of gas?

Answer 20

consume 61%

reserve 32%

Question 21

The big 3 consume and reserve what % of coal?

Answer 21

consume 89%

reserve 69%

Question 22

industrialisation of emerging economies and subsequent GDP growth will cause an increase in

Answer 22

consumption per capita

Question 23

what will decrease if production declines and local consumption increases?

Answer 23

exports from fuel producing nations will decrease

Question 24

What is the estimated energy consumption of a person per day in the UK?

Answer 24

190kWh

Question 25

How much of the daily 190kWh is used on heating/cooling?

Answer 25

around 36kWh

Question 26

How much of the daily 190kWh is used on transport?

Answer 26

around 40kWh

Question 27

How much of the daily 190kWh is used on the consumption of goods and products

Answer 27

48kWh

Question 28

What is peak oil defined as?

Answer 28

the point in time where oil production reached its peak value, after which enters a terminable decline

Question 29

What are the consequences of the aftermath of peak oil?

Answer 29

high fuel prices, shortages and conflict breaking out over the two above points

Question 30

The peak in global conventional oil is unlikely to occur after [], and therefore happen sooner

Answer 30

2030

Question 31

The demand for fossil fuels will likely continue and grow, why is this?

Answer 31

We are reliant on it, it is hard to change once established

Question 32

When will we NEED an alternative to fuel to oil?

Answer 32

When this projected peak has passed

Question 33

What is the 450 stabilisation pathway?

Answer 33

a plan to reduce 17.9Gt of CO2 emissions per year from current levels

Question 34

How can we reach the 450 stabilisation pathway?

Answer 34

cleaner technologies need to be deployed faster than is currently the case

Technologies which aren’t yet financially viable need to be deployed

Need to begin ASAP, each passing year reduces the chance of success

Question 35

Developing renewable energies and more efficient energy systems is not enough, this is because of the energy trilema

What three requirements does the energy trilemma demand of our energy systems?

Answer 35

sustainability
security
equity

Question 36

What do we mean we we talk about energy sustainability?

Answer 36

Energy solutions must:

mitigate climate change
minimise other environmental impacts
not be resource hungry

(essentially future proof)

Question 37

What do we mean when we talk about energy security?

Answer 37

the ability to meet demand in any situation, a secure, reliable source

the system must have:
sufficient capacity
built in resilience (withstand shock loads, have reserves ready)
manage demand(efficiency of delivery etc.)

Question 38

What do we mean when we talk about energy equity?

Answer 38

have energy be available to all, ensuring:

standard of living and good welfare
affordable energy