Climate change

Question 1

Management of global warming.

Answer 1

• International policy (Kyoto Protocol, Bali conference, COP21)
• Renewable sustainable energy resources – HEP, solar, wind
• Carbon credits (offset CO₂ emissions by investing in renewable energy sources)
• London congestion charge 2006 – bus services, reduction in car travel, increased in bikes
• Education of the public: recycling, energy-efficient appliances, walking/cycling/public transport, reduce aircraft journeys, insulation
• Organic farming (no artificial agrochemicals that release NOx and methane, and use carbon to produce)
• Buy local produce (air miles)
• Reduce meat consumption
• Fuel-efficient vehicles
• Park & ride schemes
• Green cities – Curitiba (bus system – wide doors open for a short period of time) and Masdar (solar farm – several parabolic reflectors concentrate sunlight to a water tower, producing steam to drive a turbine; raised 23ft to reduce use of air conditioning; underground metro)

Question 2

What are the effects of global dimming (influence on climate and climate change) – the amount of solar radiation is declining.

Answer 2

• Reduced impact of the enhanced greenhouse effect = serious effect to the lives of humans, plants and animals.
• Israel sunlight records (1950s to 2014) - 22% drop in the sunlight
• Reduced evaporation of seawater will effect rainfall patterns (increased incidence of drought)
• A main concern is global dimming also having a detrimental impact on the Asian monsoon, affecting 3 billion people.
• Reduced growth of plants and trees, reduced photosynthesis, reduced crop yields
• Reduced effectiveness of photovoltaic cells

Question 3

What are the causes of global dimming?

Answer 3

Natural variations in the Earth’s climate (cloud and dust variations)

Volcanic eruptions

Atmospheric pollution (soot = platform for water to condense = cloud formation)

Decrease in Earth’s albedo (how much sunlight is radiated)

There are suggestions that dimming was behind the droughts in sub-Saharan Africa which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives in the 1970s and 1980s.

Question 4

What are the causes of acid rain in China?

Answer 4

• Increased car ownership
• High usage of coal (China lacks other fuels = 75% of power stations)
• Rapid industrialisation – tall chimneys = rapid dispersal (metal-working industry)
• Over-use of nitrate fertilisers
• Rapid urbanisation (higher demand for power)
• Lax anti-pollution laws and little environmental pollution
• High altitude = less O₂ = less efficient fossil fuel burning

Question 5

What is the impact of acid rain in China?

Answer 5

• Increased chemical weathering (buildings, roads)
• Rail and power lines become eroded and ail
• Soils increase acidity = reduced crop yields (leaches nutrients and mobilises toxic heavy metal ions like aluminium) – harmful to aquatic life
• Loss of forests = increased soil erosion
• Rivers and lakes increase acidity = damage to wildlife and fish farming
• Eye and respiratory problems (bronchitis and asthma)
• Ancient buildings corrode/ stone monuments

Question 6

What are the solutions to acid rain in China?

Answer 6

• Government taxes pollution and issues licenses to discharge pollutants – levying charges for pollution emissions from industry
• New technology to allow clean coal burn and desulphurisation (also closure of high polluting coal fired stations)
• Reducing fossil fuel use (3 Gorges HEP) and energy consumption
• Adding powdered limestone to lakes (Scandinavia)
• 2006 - $175bn invested to reduce pollution levels
• SO₂ quotas
• Goteborg protocol – emission targets

Question 7

What are the causes of Photochemical smog – Los Angeles, California

Answer 7

• 11 million vehicles (24m in the state of California)
• Sunny dry climate – only 35 days a year are wet (rain removes pollution)
• Temperature inversions trap fumes
• Basin effect of the relief and anticyclonic conditions (low wind velocity)= pollution
• Ports (Long Beach) = diesel fumes
• Lack of public transport
• Roads align with prevailing wind

Question 8

What are the impacts of Photochemical smog – Los Angeles, California

Answer 8

• 1600 premature deaths due to respiratory disorders/yr
• Children have 10-15% reduction in lung capacity
• Absenteeism from work = loss of workers
• 1970s: dangerous levels of smog on 100 days per annum
• Crops wilted in fields due to lack of light
• Depression
• Hollywood film-makers forced to produce films elsewhere

Question 9

What are the solutions of Photochemical smog – Los Angeles, California

Answer 9

• Legislation and regulation (2001= no days recorded as dangerous to health)
• Clean Air Act 1963 – reduced smoke pollution
• 2004 – ban on all outdoor burning
• 1966 – exhaust controls on cars
• California Air Resources Board set air quality standards, aim to reduce petrol use by 20% in the next 10 years (biofuels and electric vehicles)
• 1990s – strictest standards for low emission vehicles (10% were zero emission by 2003)
• Regular smog checks carried out (fines if vehicles didn’t meet standards)