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Global Change > Components Of Global Environmental Change > Flashcards

Components Of Global Environmental Change Flashcards

1
Q

There are several components of global environmental change that affect biodiversity , mention them and give examples of what they might include .

A

1 Climate change : includes rising CO2 levels, warming, sea level rise , change in precipitation patterns ,soil moisture etc.
2. Pollution: aquatic pollution,eutrophication,acidification,ground level ozone, particles,
3. Human land use: land use changes , land management, land conversion, urbanization , soil erosion

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2
Q

What are some of the aspects of global change ?

A

Empirical evidence
Spatial and temporal (past and present) patterns
Causes: mechanisms and processes
Modelling and projections

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3
Q

What do the impacts of global change depend on?

A

Adaptiivty of the system
Sensitivity of the system
Magnitude and significance of the system
Vulnerability

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4
Q

What is noticeable about the change in global surface temperatures? (Global change effect 1)

A

Global temperatures have risen at unprecedented rates in the past decades . Although some of it maybe attributed to natural phenomenons like solar energy’s and volcanic eruptions the majority is attributed human activities

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5
Q

Global change effect 2:biodiversity loss . There is a current global extinction risk in different species groups true /false ?

A

True

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6
Q

True/false : environmental changes influence ecosystems and humans at global scales

A

True

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7
Q

Climate change Impacts : what are the major observed climate change impacts (high confidence) according to IPCC! Sixth assessment report from 2022

A

Ecosystems and biodiversity changes (pop. Size, range shifts , structure)
Ice melting affecting stream flows , shipping routes etc.
Freshwater availability and food production
Tropical cyclone impacts (like hurricanes and typhoons)
Human health ( aggravated in big cities)
Flooding impacts
Drought related tree mortality
Wildfire impacts
Coral bleaching and mortality(
Displacement and migration

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8
Q

How do you understand coral bleaching ?

A

This is when corals expel the algae that live within their tissues due to stress from high temperatures, light or nutrient changes

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9
Q

True / false : on land and fresh water ecosystems impacts /risks from global changes like temperature) are already at a moderate level ( which implies are noticeable and in some ecosystems and species might be significant)

A
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10
Q

True or False : in the ocean impacts on corals are very high

A

True

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11
Q

What could the recent observed increase in biodiversity in Asia pacific countries be attributed to ?

A

It can be attributed to stricter laws and policies that support conservation efforts. Mostly in countries where one leader makes the decisions it is easier to positively change things if he/she cares.

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12
Q

True or false : studies conducted show an average decline in monitored wildlife populations (vertebrae species only )

A

True

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13
Q

True /false : species in all groups on average are being driven closer and closer to extinction. With amphibians, land plants and reef building Corals facing the greatest risk and show the most rapid deterioration.

A

True

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14
Q

Background: of the mammals on earth humans make 36% of it while live stock=60 and wild mammals =4%
There are ver little wild mammals left why is this so ?

A

This could be attributed to loss of habitat , hunting and over exploitation,climate change

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15
Q

True /false: domesticated bird biomass is about three fold higher than that of wild birds .

A

True

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16
Q

Freshwater availability: since the 1950’s drought has increased . Where and why ?

A

This can be observed globally however it is more prominent in areas/regions that are already dry .

Why: climate change (altered precipitation), rising temperatures(increased evaporation) and some more .

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17
Q

What are the drivers of change in drought ?

A

Precipitation increase /decrease (which is regional (some areas experience and increase others a decrease).
Temperature increases /decrease (globally)
Land use change: this usually involves the removal of trees which are an integral part
of the water cycle through transpiration .
Human use of freshwater resources: over extraction causes the depletion of freshwater.

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18
Q

What are the drivers of change in drought ?

A

Precipitation increase /decrease (which is regional (some areas experience and increase others a decrease).
Temperature increases /decrease (globally)
Land use change: this usually involves the removal of trees which are an integral part
of the water cycle through transpiration .
Human use of freshwater resources: over extraction causes the depletion of freshwater.(the desiccation of lake Chad )

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19
Q

True/ false: there are going to regional changes in both river runoff and soil moisture content. This is as a result of drought and some areas may get drier and others wetter .

A

True

20
Q

River runoff trends ?

A

Mimics soil moisture with dry eared getting drier and wet areas getting wetter. In Europe river runoffs can be called flood discharge!!

21
Q

Is the Sahel area increasing in vegetation and why ?

A

Yes it is , this mostly due to summer precipitation.

22
Q

Trends in terrestrial water storage (TWS) show decline , what could be the reason ?

A

Excessive human use.

23
Q

Regional drought has cause the need for deeper wells in much drier areas . True /false

A

True

24
Q

Is there a correlation between water scarcity and crop production ?

A

Drought poses a significant risk to agricultural productivity , particularly in already dry areas.

Crop production can also be affected by heat waves and in very rare cases (the cold )

25
Q

Ice melting arctic (one type of ice )

A

There has been a yearly decline in ice areas m with a significant dip happening in 2012

26
Q

What is the full meaning of IPCC.

A

Intergovernmental panel on climate change

27
Q

Explain what SSP1, SSP2etc. Means?

A

Scientists use these to to describe different future scenarios to global climate change based on how much green house gases are emitted.
SSP1:This is a scenario that is anticipated based on if we are able to turn things around forth better
SSP2: the scenario that occurs when things remain the same
SSP3: a rocky road (when things get worse than the current situation
SSP5: the most drastic situation (worst case scenarios)

28
Q

What does SSP stand for and what do the neg numbers mean ?

A

SSP= social shared pathways
The negative numbers tell us how much extra energy will be trapped in the earth’s atmosphere by 2100. (This trapped energy leads to global warming)

-2.6 - negative -8.5 ( the lower the numbers go the more drastic the global warming potential)

29
Q

In real gain to artic ice what does SSP and its negative numbers show us ?

A

The scenarios show us how auickly the article could lose its ice . In the worst case scenario b/n (SSP-3 to 8.5) the attic could lose all its ice by 2050

30
Q

Could the melting arctic ice affect trade routes?

A

It could provide many more shipping routes

31
Q

Ice melting glacial impacts freshwater availability how?

A

In the beginning as the glaciers melt and flow downstream there will be increased water availability. However over time as the size of the glacier reduces water suppply diminishes and some farms and villages may lose valuable water resources.

32
Q

Coastal flooding as a result of sea level rising is tied to SSP and their numbers .how?

A

As usual the numbers represent how much energy is stored in the atmosphere to cause global warming , so the higher the negative number is the better . -1.9 is a much better scenario as compared to -8.5

33
Q

Who is most likely to get affected by sea level rise

A

Low Laying countries (eg. Bangladesh) which could flood farm lands .

34
Q

Tropical cyclones

A

These have changed over time : higher rainfalls leading to an increased flooding risk

35
Q

Explain the following : fluvial,coastal,urban flooding)

A

Fluvial flooding : river flooding ( heavy rainfall causing rivers to overflow)
Coastal flooding : high flooding leading to coastal areas flooding
Urban flooding : cities may not have the necessary infrastructure to handle increased rainfall leading to flooding in urban areas

36
Q

What do pantropical studies show on coral bleaching

A

This shows that coral bleaching occurs more at tropical sites particularly during the elniño years .
2. Coral bleaching has occurred everywhere in the tropics
3. Rate of occurrence has increased( as opposed to before when it was not that frequent)

37
Q

What are El Niño years?

A

They are basically warmer and drier years

38
Q

Tree mortality explained ?

A

Hot and dry conditions increase tree mortality because it leads to drought especially in drier areas.

Eg. In general trees in the Amazon forests experience an increase in above ground biomass(abg)(meaning forests are usually growing ).
However during these El Niño years when dry season become harsh there is a decrease in growth of tree (ABG decrease)

39
Q

Wild fires : explained

A

Wildfires due to climate change have increased in some regions( due to hotter and drier conditions )and decreased in others ( due to fire suppression efforts and land use conversion .).

40
Q

True/false globally despite the rise in frequency of wildfires the total land burned has decreased over years due to fire suppression and land use changes .

A

True .

41
Q

How is climate change expected to worsen wildfires?

A

Increased drought which will dry out vegetation making it more flammable, increased lightening strikes, change in wind patterns can affect fire suppression because it affects how quickly fire spreads

42
Q

What are some of the human health impacts due to climate change ?

A

More intense heat waves and fires = mortality decline
Under nutrition in poor regions ( due to declining food security )
Food an waterborne diseases.

Climate change increases cardio-vascular diseases, malaria, tumors , diabetics, communicable respiratory diseases

43
Q

True ,/false : general decline globally in disease fatality due to positive social health developments

A

True

44
Q

What are two biggest climate hazards causing migration and dsiplacements?

A

Floods and storms

45
Q

True/false : population growth further increases the challenges caused by climate change .

A

True

46
Q

What happened to GHG during Covid 19?

A

There was a rapid decrease in emissions however after restrictions were lifted it increased rapidly because economic activities went back up again

Global Change (13 decks)

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