CLIMATE CHANGE - ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION

Question 1

facts to know

Answer 1

annual emissions of CO2 increased by 18% from agriculture, but decreased by 14% for land usage in Aus
- agriculture = 80% global water use

Question 2

what are some options for climate change

Answer 2

1. adapt
2. reduce emissions (mitigate)
   - reduce total energy use
   - shift to other sources
   - store carbon in the ground

Question 3

direct vs indirect impacts of climate change on forests

Answer 3

direct = drought and wind throw
indirect = pests and disease + fire risks

Also,
- collapse of ecosystems and biodiv
- water balance

Question 4

direct impacts on water

Answer 4

• reduced run off
• reduced water available for crops
• increased water use efficiency
• floods with extreme weather

Question 5

what is included in an adaptation plan

Answer 5

1. timescale
2. to what scale
3. participants
4. stockholders
5. resources

Question 6

4 types of adaptive responses

Answer 6

1. technological
2. behavioural (changed food and recreational choices)
3. managerial (altered farming practices)
4. policy (planning regulations)

Question 7

what are some agricultural adaptive responses to climate change

Answer 7

• variation in planting time
• crop management
• new crops
• farming systems
• water management

Question 8

carbon mitigations using land

Answer 8

1. reduce emissions by retaining existing C in forests
2. increase carbon stocks - C into soils and biomass
3. replace fossil fuel emissions with bioenergy

Question 9

at what level should carbon be stabilised at?

Answer 9

500ppm CO2

bu Aus aims for 153 Mt CO2 per year

Question 10

what are some bioenergy strategies

Answer 10

1. direct combustion - combusting wastes instead of wasting them
2. second generation - using alternative transport fuels
3. BECCS - bioenergy and carbon capture storage

Question 11

how is salinity offset?

Answer 11

-adding clays to sandy soils
- restoring catchments

Question 12

what drives agriculture intesification?

Answer 12

1. population growth
2. intensification of diets (30-70% world grain fed to livestock) - desire for clean food

Question 13

how can we improve food production

Answer 13

• better variety
• increase input
• adapt to climate change
• increase irrigation efficiency

Question 14

what are the aims of intensification

Answer 14

• increase yields sustainably
• maintain evrio values

Question 15

are some water sources

Answer 15

1. precip
2. surface water (6%) catchments
3. groundwater (94%) - aquifers
4. basins

Question 16

why do we use irrigation?

Answer 16

• to avoid water logging
• to optimise water use and quality

Question 17

methods of irrigation

Answer 17

1. flood/furrow
2. trickle
3. spray

Question 18

methods of irrigation management

Answer 18

• water efficient crops
• water buudgeting
• salinity management
• drip irrigation

Question 19

equation for water balance

Answer 19

change = inputs - outputs

in = rainfall, irrigation
out = crop water use, evap, drainage

Question 20

what is soil monitoring for

Answer 20

• improve efficiency
• reduce costs
• reduce leaching of nutrients
• reduce salt buurden