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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
it becomes a powerful urban pollutant with negative health effects
ozone
25
it is a harmful gas that depletes the ozone layer and cause a greenhouse effect
chlorofluorocarbon
26
sources of chlorofluorocarbon
aerosol sprays (air freshener, paint, car cosmetics) coolants in fridge and aircons cleaning solvent (detergent, clorox)
27
each CFC molecule can trap is equivalent to how many CO2 molecule
100 000
28
why does CFC were phased out via the Montreal Protocol
due to their part in ozone depletion
28
it can remain in the atmosphere for a long time
CFC chlorofluorocarbon
28
the warming trend is expected to bbring
droughts flooding in low lying coastal areas as the polar ice caps melt and raise sea levels
29
what is the outcome of the expected negative impact of the greenhouse effect on human life has been assessed by some scientists
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
Identifiable change in the climate of Earth that lasts for an extended period of time (decades or longer)
global climate change
31
Scientists agree that the Earth’s rising temperatures are fueling longer and hotter heat waves, more frequent droughts, heavier rainfall, and more powerful hurricanes.
extreme weather
32
what happens when the heat waves, droughts and floods associated with climate change
more frequent, more intense, communities suffer and death toll rises
33
scientist believe that climate change could lead to how many deaths if we r unable to reduce our emissions
lead to deaths of more than 250 000 people around the globe every year and force 100 million people into poverty by 2030
34
Heat stress and other heat related health problems are caused directly by very warm temperatures and high humidity. (examples)
human health (heat exhaustion, heat stroke)
35
what may alter the world's habitat of plants and animals
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
briefly explain the ecological system of the world's habitats for plants and animals
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
it leads to an increase in the evaporation of water
global warming
38
briefly explain climatic change
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
other problem in climatic change
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
what are the climate change causes
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
a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms
ozone
42
an area in the stratosphere where ozone is highly concentrated
ozone layer stratosphere: 2nd layer of Earth's atmosphere region whr concentration of the zone gas is much higher than other regions
43
what does ozone layer absorbs
harmful ultraviolet light from the sun before it reached the earth's surface
44
good ozone is naturally in the _____ layer of the atmosphere (___ miles up)
stratospheric 10-30 miles up
45
why is UV harmful to organisms
it can damage the genetic material living cells skin cancer, eye damage
46
good zone depletion allows ____ to reach the surface of the earth
ultraviolet radiation
47
what acts like a sunscreen for the earth's inhabitants -by how
the ozone in the stratosphere by shielding the earth's surface from most of the sun's UV light
48
bad ozone is created by chemical reactions between ____, ____ and ____
nitrogen oxides volatile organic compounds sunlight (vehicle exhaust, gas vapour, solvents)
49
when did the CFC discovered that it might be damaging the ozone layer
during the 1970s
50
difference between good and bad ozone in simplest term
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
explain why CFC is chemically stable at earth's surface
they do not combine with other chemicals or break down into other subs
52
briefly explain when the CFC molecules breaks apart
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
what are the effect of ozone thinning on humans
● 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
what are the damaging effect ofuv light to humans: amphibians: marine life: land plants:
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
it is a global problem
climate change
56
to reduce greenhouse effect, working internationally to influence governments to reduce ____, ____, and ____
reduce greenhouse gas emissions conserve vital forests help developing countries cope with climate change
57
briefly explain how to reduce greenhouse effect by the gov: by the people:
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
briefly explain the international efforts to reduce the greenhouse effect: kyoto protocol
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
briefly explain the international efforts to reduce the greenhouse effect: paris agreement
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
what has been achieved globally since 1986
a significant reduction in the consumption of ozone-depleting substances - UNEP Montreal Protocol
61
how large is the largest historical extent of the ozone hole - when was it occurred.
28.4 million km per squared - sept 2000 this area is equivalent to almost 7 times the territory of the EU
62
the Antarctic ozone hole reached it maximum area of ___
24.5 million km per square sept 2022
63
true or false: if the montreal protocol is fully implemented, the ozone layer is projected to recover completely
true
64
in jan 2023, what is published its latest assessment report
UN-backed scientific panel - it confirms that 99 percent of ozone depleting gasses have been phased out
65
UNEP suggest that antarctic ozone layer will recover to ____, with recover in the rest of the world between ____
1980 levels by around 2066 2040 and 2045
66
environmental crisis will affect health: property: economic costs:
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
what is the diff btwn greenhouse gas and greenhouse effect
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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