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2024 SEM 2 ENV SCI (LEC) > climate change > Flashcards

climate change Flashcards

1
Q

it is long-term heating of Earth’s surface has been observed since the pre-industrial period due to human activities, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in Earth’s atmosphere.

A

global warming

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2
Q

what causes global warming

A

greenhouse gases

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3
Q

it is a natural phenomenon

A

greenhouse effect

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4
Q

what is the difference between global warming and climate change

A

Global warming refers specifically to the overall rising average temperature of the Earth’s surface, including the atmosphere and oceans

Climate change is a broader term that encompasses not just the rising temperatures caused by global warming, but also the various effects and impacts resulting from those higher temperatures
- melting of glaciers
- sea level rise due to melting ice
- shifts in climate patterns

In summary, global warming is about rising temperatures, while climate change refers to all the associated consequences and impacts on the world’s climate systems caused by that warming.

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5
Q

why are greenhouse gases important

A

to keep our planet at a suitable temp for life

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6
Q

what happens if there is no natural greenhouse effect

A

the heat emitted by the Earth would simply pass outwards from the Earth’s surface into space and the Earth would have an average temperature of about -20 degree Celsius

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7
Q

what human activities increases the emission of greenhouse gasses - resulting in global warming

A

clearing forest
burning fossil fuels
releasing industrial gas

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8
Q

true or false:
in the past century, the average temp has risen by 1 degree celcius but it does not have an impact

A

false - this might not sound like very much but this increase has had a huge impact on our planet

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9
Q

true or false:
the rate of the increase in temperature is increasing. this means that in the next 100 years, the average temperature is likely to increase by more than one degree Celsius

A

true

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10
Q

define greenhouse effect

A

the process through which heat is trapped near Earth’s surface by greenhouse gasses

these gasses reduce the amt of heat of heat escaping from the earth into the atmosphere

the more gasses there are, the more the earth heats up

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11
Q

how do greenhouse gases work

A

greenhouse work by trapping heat from the sun
the glass panels of the greenhouse let in light but keep heat from escaping

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12
Q

how does the greenhouse effect occur

A

sun’s energy reaches the earth in the form of light rays
some of this incoming solar energy is reflected back into space, while some is absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere and surface
absorbed energy is then radiated back from earth’s surface as heat
greenhse gas (CO2, methane, nitrous oxide) traps and absorb some of this outgg heat radiation
trapped heat warms earth surface and lower atmosphere = greenhse effect and global warming

The more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, primarily from human activities like burning fossil fuels, the more heat gets trapped, causing average global temperatures to rise over time.

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13
Q

what are the greenhouse gases

A

CO2
methane
nitrous oxide
ozone
chlorofluorocarbon

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14
Q

it is the primary greenhouse gas

A

CO2

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15
Q

carbon dioxide comprise ___ percent of all greenhse gas

A

54

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16
Q

for the past 60 years, the rise in the level of carbon dioxide has been alarming enough to cause …

A

severe setbacks in ecosystem

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17
Q

true or false:
CO2 is now 1/3 more than before the industrial revolution

A

true

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17
Q

where do CO2 gasses come from

A

human respiration
industrialization
burning of fossil fuel to generate electricity
burning of forest

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18
Q

methane accounts how many percent of the greenhouse effect

A

12-20 percent

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19
Q

how long do methane remain in the atmosphere

A

10-12 years

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20
Q

what are some human activities that increases the amt of nitrous oxide in the atmosphere

A

agriculture
fuel combustion
wastewater management
industrial process

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21
Q

in 2021, nitrous oxide accounts for how many percent

A

6 percent of all US greenhouse gas emission from human activities

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22
Q

how is ozone created at ground level in urban environments

A

reaction of urban pollution and sunlight

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23
Q

it is a photochemical smog

A

ozone

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24
Q

it becomes a powerful urban pollutant with negative health effects

A

ozone

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25
Q

it is a harmful gas that depletes the ozone layer and cause a greenhouse effect

A

chlorofluorocarbon

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26
Q

sources of chlorofluorocarbon

A

aerosol sprays (air freshener, paint, car cosmetics)
coolants in fridge and aircons
cleaning solvent (detergent, clorox)

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27
Q

each CFC molecule can trap is equivalent to how many CO2 molecule

A

100 000

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28
Q

why does CFC were phased out via the Montreal Protocol

A

due to their part in ozone depletion

28
Q

it can remain in the atmosphere for a long time

A

CFC chlorofluorocarbon

28
Q

the warming trend is expected to bbring

A

droughts
flooding in low lying coastal areas as the polar ice caps melt and raise sea levels

29
Q

what is the outcome of the expected negative impact of the greenhouse effect on human life has been assessed by some scientists

A

to be second to global nuclear war

While the specific mechanisms of destruction differ, both climate change and nuclear war have the potential to cause widespread devastation, environmental catastrophes, and significant loss of human life on a global scale.

30
Q

Identifiable change in the climate of Earth that lasts for an extended period of time (decades or longer)

A

global climate change

31
Q

Scientists agree that the Earth’s rising temperatures are fueling longer and hotter heat waves, more frequent droughts, heavier rainfall, and more powerful hurricanes.

A

extreme weather

32
Q

what happens when the heat waves, droughts and floods associated with climate change

A

more frequent, more intense, communities suffer and death toll rises

33
Q

scientist believe that climate change could lead to how many deaths if we r unable to reduce our emissions

A

lead to deaths of more than 250 000 people around the globe every year
and
force 100 million people into poverty by 2030

34
Q

Heat stress and other heat related health problems are caused directly by very warm temperatures and high humidity.
(examples)

A

human health
(heat exhaustion, heat stroke)

35
Q

what may alter the world’s habitat of plants and animals

A

climate change

can create conditions that are inhospitable for many plants and animals, forcing them to adapt, migrate, or face the risk of extinction if they cannot adjust to the altered habitats

36
Q

briefly explain the ecological system of the world’s habitats for plants and animals

A

most past climate changes occurred slowly, allowing plants and animals to adapt to the environment or move someplace else
plants and animals may not be able to react quickly enough to survive if future climate changes occur as rapidly as scientist predict

37
Q

it leads to an increase in the evaporation of water

A

global warming

38
Q

briefly explain climatic change

A

with more water vapour, more rainfall is expected

but it is not evenly distributed
- dry areas: severe drought conditions, water shortage and heat waves occur
- wet areas: flood and avalanches (landslides)

while climate change is increasing the overall amount of water vapor in the atmosphere, the distribution of moisture is becoming more uneven. This results in severe droughts and water shortages in some areas, while other regions face an increased risk of flooding, avalanches, and landslides due to excessive rainfall or melting of snow and ice

39
Q

other problem in climatic change

A

destroy food crops such as rice, wheat and corn
affect animals making them migrate
encourage growth of weeds and pests = dengue fever and chlorea

40
Q

what are the climate change causes

A
  1. natural process
    volcanoes
    tectonic plate movement
    changes in the sun - energy outpiut of the sun is not constant
    shift in earth’s orbit
  2. human activities
    any activities that releases greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere
41
Q

a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms

A

ozone

42
Q

an area in the stratosphere where ozone is highly concentrated

A

ozone layer

stratosphere:
2nd layer of Earth’s atmosphere
region whr concentration of the zone gas is much higher than other regions

43
Q

what does ozone layer absorbs

A

harmful ultraviolet light from the sun before it reached the earth’s surface

44
Q

good ozone is naturally in the _____ layer of the atmosphere (___ miles up)

A

stratospheric
10-30 miles up

45
Q

why is UV harmful to organisms

A

it can damage the genetic material living cells

skin cancer, eye damage

46
Q

good zone depletion allows ____ to reach the surface of the earth

A

ultraviolet radiation

47
Q

what acts like a sunscreen for the earth’s inhabitants -by how

A

the ozone in the stratosphere
by shielding the earth’s surface from most of the sun’s UV light

48
Q

bad ozone is created by chemical reactions between ____, ____ and ____

A

nitrogen oxides
volatile organic compounds
sunlight (vehicle exhaust, gas vapour, solvents)

49
Q

when did the CFC discovered that it might be damaging the ozone layer

A

during the 1970s

50
Q

difference between good and bad ozone in simplest term

A

In simple terms, ozone high up in the stratosphere is good because it blocks dangerous UV rays.
But ozone at ground level in the troposphere is bad because it’s a pollutant that can be toxic to breathe and degrade air quality for humans and the environment.

51
Q

explain why CFC is chemically stable at earth’s surface

A

they do not combine with other chemicals or break down into other subs

52
Q

briefly explain when the CFC molecules breaks apart

A

at high in the stratosphere where the UV radiation is absorbed
one CFC molecule break apart, parts of the CFC molecules destroy protective ozone
over a period of 10-20 years, CFC molecules released at earth’s surface make their way into the stratosphere

53
Q

what are the effect of ozone thinning on humans

A

● UV light damages DNA.
● Exposure to UV light makes the body more susceptible to skin cancer and may cause other damaging effects to the human body.

54
Q

what are the damaging effect ofuv light to
humans:
amphibians:
marine life:
land plants:

A

humans:
increase incidence of skin cancer
premature aging of skin
increased incidence of cataracts
weakened immune response

amphibians:
death of eggs
genetic mutations among survivors
reduction of population

marine life:
death of phytoplanktonin surface water
disruption of food chain
reduction in the no. of phototsynthesizers

land plants:
interference with photosynthesis
reduced crop yields

55
Q

it is a global problem

A

climate change

56
Q

to reduce greenhouse effect, working internationally to influence governments to reduce ____, ____, and ____

A

reduce greenhouse gas emissions
conserve vital forests
help developing countries cope with climate change

57
Q

briefly explain how to reduce greenhouse effect
by the gov:
by the people:

A

by the gov:
o Stabilization of population growth.
o Reduction of air pollution from industries (internal agreement).
o Reduction of desertification and protection of the
rainforest against the clearance (national programs).
o Finding alternative fuel.

by the people:
o Reduce the use of fossil fuel.
o Stop the clearance of the forest.
o Plant trees/conduct massive reforestation.
o Follow the recommendations to reduce the
emission of greenhouse gasses.
o Change lifestyle habits.
▪ Bike, bus, and walk.
▪ Creating mass awareness.
▪ Buy products that don’t use as much
energy.
▪ Buy recyclable products instead of
non-recyclable ones.
o Saving electricity
o Living in an environmentally friendly life

58
Q

briefly explain the international efforts to reduce the greenhouse effect: kyoto protocol

A

biggest effort
adapted in 1997, went into effect in 2005
end of 2009, 187 countries has signed and ratified the agreement
under the protocol, 37 industrialized countries and the European union hv committed to reduce their greenhse gas emission

59
Q

briefly explain the international efforts to reduce the greenhouse effect: paris agreement

A

agreement w the framework of the UNFCCC - United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
aim: reduce emission of greenhse gas
improve upon and replace the kyoto protocol - an earlier international treaty designed to curb the release of greenhse gasses

60
Q

what has been achieved globally since 1986

A

a significant reduction in the consumption of ozone-depleting substances - UNEP Montreal Protocol

61
Q

how large is the largest historical extent of the ozone hole - when was it occurred.

A

28.4 million km per squared - sept 2000
this area is equivalent to almost 7 times the territory of the EU

62
Q

the Antarctic ozone hole reached it maximum area of ___

A

24.5 million km per square
sept 2022

63
Q

true or false:
if the montreal protocol is fully implemented, the ozone layer is projected to recover completely

A

true

64
Q

in jan 2023, what is published its latest assessment report

A

UN-backed scientific panel
- it confirms that 99 percent of ozone depleting gasses have been phased out

65
Q

UNEP suggest that antarctic ozone layer will recover to ____, with recover in the rest of the world between ____

A

1980 levels by around 2066
2040 and 2045

66
Q

environmental crisis will affect
health:
property:
economic costs:

A

health:
air pollution = respiratory probs
water pollution = poison our food source
destruction of forest = loss of biodiversity

property:
floods = property loss
pollution = destroy streets and beaches
soil erosion = desertification, loss of farmlands

economic costs:
loss in terms of monetary values, industry and business
money needs to be spent to restore the original resources

67
Q

what is the diff btwn greenhouse gas and greenhouse effect

A

Greenhouse gases are the specific gases that trap heat.
The greenhouse effect is the natural process of trapping heat by these gases, which is essential for life but is being amplified by human activities.

2024 SEM 2 ENV SCI (LEC) (13 decks)

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