🌍 elss sg5 Flashcards

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1
Q

SG5!!! what is a positive feedback loop

A

self enhancing, accelerates original change

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2
Q

what is a negative feedback loop

A

self limiting, ultimately reverses original change

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3
Q

what is dynamic equilibrium

A

despite inputs and outputs of a system constantly changing in short term, in long term, a balance will be maintained

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4
Q

example of dynamic equilibrium in the water cycle

A

heavy rainfall = saturated ground, eventually water comes back up to surface through springs, rivers remove water so water table returned back to normal

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5
Q
A
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5
Q

example of dynamic equilibrium in the carbon cycle

A

fossil fuel combustion = higher atmospheric co2 = more photosynthesis = atmospheric co2 removed

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6
Q

how does urbanisation affect water cycle

A
  • soil replaced by concrete (impermeable) so water can’t infiltrate
  • more surface storage = more surface run off = higher flood risk
  • drainage systems take water to rivers quickly = higher flood risk
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7
Q

how does urbanisation affect carbon cycle

A
  • vegetation removed = less photosynthesis
  • more co2 emissions from cars, homes, industry etc
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8
Q

how does farming affect water cycle

A
  • irrigation systems mean lots of water lost by ET
  • soil becomes very saturated = surface storage = surface run off = flood risk
  • less interception by crops than trees
  • ploughing creates channels for water = soil erosion
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9
Q

how does farming affect carbon cycle

A
  • less biomass storage
  • less soil storage as organic matter is exposed to oxidation
  • soil is exposed so organic matter is removed by wind/rain
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10
Q

how does forestry affect water cycle

A
  • more interception & interception loss
  • less saturated soil = less run off = smaller flood risk
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11
Q

how does forestry affect carbon cycle

A
  • more photosynthesis = more co2 storage in biomass
  • more soil respiration = co2 released
  • trees only becomes carbon sink 100 years after planting and by this time they may have been felled
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12
Q

what is the surface water extraction case study

A

the aral sea

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13
Q

aral sea location

A

in central asia in between kazakhstan and uzbekistan

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14
Q

when was the water extraction from the aral sea

A

1930s onwards

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15
Q

why was the water extracted from the aral sea

A

to develop irrigated cotton & rice farms in the area

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16
Q

what was the impact of the water extraction on the aral sea

A

water leaked or evaporated so less water to the sea.
by 2007, the sea was 10% of original size

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17
Q

what was the impact of water extraction from the aral sea on local climate

A
  • less evaporation = less local rainfall
  • seasons became more extreme as the sea kept the area cool in the summer as water was cool, and warm in the winter as the water warmed up over the summer
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18
Q

what is the groundwater extraction case study

A

london basin

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19
Q

what is water table

A

top of saturated zone

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20
Q

what is an unconfined aquifer

A

permeable rock that holds water that is not capped by impermeable rock

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21
Q

what is an aquitard

A

non porous rock which restricts flow of water from an aquifer

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22
Q

what is a confined aquifer

A

permeable rock that holds lots of water that is capped by impermeable rock

23
Q

what is a recharge area

A

where a confined aquifer is unconfined

24
Q

what is artesian pressure

A

creates a basin with a syncline

25
Q

what is the london basin

A

artesian basin at the centre of a syncline where water is held in a band of chalk

26
Q

why and when was water extracted

A

to power machinery during industrial revolution

27
Q

what was the impact on the ground water store

A

water table fell by nearly 90m

28
Q

describe the recovery of the water table

A

began to recover in 1990s, rising by 3m/per year

29
Q

what was the impact on other flows and stores in the water cycle

A
  • more infiltration & percolation bc soil was not as saturated (only unconfined areas)
  • less surface stores due to more infiltration
30
Q

what is combustion

A

when fossil fuels or organic matter is burnt and co2 is released

31
Q

what is the biggest carbon emitter since 1750 and size

A

coal - 673 gt

32
Q

where do most of the carbon emissions go

A

atmosphere - 879 gt

33
Q

how does fossil fuel combustion impact ocean

A
  • ocean takes in 30% of emissions
  • as oceans warm due to global warming, less co2 diffuses into it, so more atmospheric co2
34
Q

how does fossil fuel combustion impact biomass

A
  • more atmospheric co2
  • more photosynthesis
  • plants grow more
  • more photosynthesis
  • less co2 in atmosphere
35
Q

how has fossil fuel combustion impacted atmospheric temperatures

A

anthropegic change: fossil fuel combustion = warmer temps

36
Q

what is the enhanced greenhouse effect

A

fossil fuel makes the β€˜blanket’ around the earth thicker so less solar radiation can emit back into atmosphere so it is re emitted back to earth

37
Q

what is carbon capture and storage (CCS)

A

where co2 released by combustion is captured from atmosphere and is transported and stored underground

38
Q

what are the advantages of CCS

A
  • would reduce emissions from power stations by 90%
  • good potential in uk as surrounded by sea (can be stored under it)
  • reduce co2 in atmosphere so reduce climate change
39
Q

what are the disadvantages of CCS

A
  • expensive
  • may not be safe (could leak)
  • better to spend money on renewable energy sources
40
Q

diurnal changes to carbon cycle in amazon

A

day: sunny so more photosynthesis than respiration
night: more respiration than photosynthesis

41
Q

diurnal changes to water cycle in amazon

A

day: sunny so lots of ET = condensation = precipitation
night: dark so less ET

42
Q

diurnal changes to carbon cycle in arctic tundra

A

day: little vegetation & cold = little photosynthesis
night: even less

43
Q

diurnal changes to water cycle in arctic tundra

A

day: cold = little ET
night: still cold = even less ET

44
Q

seasonal changes to carbon cycle in amazon

A

summer & winter: same temps & same amount of sunlight all year round = same rates of photosynthesis = high NPP

45
Q

seasonal changes to water cycle in amazon

A

summer: high precipitation & high temps = lots of ET & large stores
winter: slightly less precipitation but still a lot = still a lot of ET

46
Q

seasonal changes to carbon cycle in arctic tundra

A

summer: long hours of sunlight & some vegetation = some photosynthesis
winter: dark = no photosynthesis

47
Q

seasonal changes to water cycle in arctic tundra

A

summer: permafrost thaws so more surface stores = some ET
winter: water frozen

48
Q

long term changes to carbon cycle

A

glacial period:
- carbon stored in bubbles in ice
- lower ocean temps so more co2 diffusing into it
- vegetation destroyed so less photosynthesis
= bigger atmospheric store

49
Q

long term changes to water cycle

A

glacial period:
- most water stored in ice = low sea levels
- smaller biomass stores as vegetation destroyed
- less transpiration = lower temps = less ET

50
Q

what is remote sensing

A

obtaining information from a distance

51
Q

examples of remote sensing

A
  • mapping forest fires
  • weather predictions
  • tracking city growth
52
Q

advantages of remote sensing

A
  • large areas
  • see change over time
  • see depth and height
  • doesn’t disturb ppl or environment
53
Q

disadvantages of remote sensing

A
  • expensive
  • requires specialists
54
Q

what is geographic information systems (GIS)

A

a way of presenting remote sensing data