Environment Flashcards
what is pollution?
substances released into the environment in amounts that cause harmful effects and which natural biological processes cannot easily release
what is the greenhouse effect?
- high energy, short wave radiation from he sun reaches the earth
- some energy is absorbed and warms up the earth
- some energy is re-emitted as long wave radiation
- some long wave radiatopm escapes into space
- some long wave radiation is absorbed by the greenhouse hases and re-emitted back to earth
- as a consequence the erath’s surface and the lower atmosphere is warmed up
why is the greenhouse effect good?
what would be the consequence for life on Earth without it?
without greenhouse gases, there would be no global warming
life as we know it would not be possible as the Earth would be the same temperature as the moon
name two gases that contribute to global warming
carbon dioxide
methane
what are the consequences of global warming?
polar ice caps would melt and sea levels would ise
change in rainfall patterns: more rain in some areas and less in others
extreme natural events such as hurricanes, storms, and earthquakes might result
the changes in climate would affect ecosystems and habitats and so threaten nature (species, wildlife)
how has the levels of carbon dioxide changed over the last 40 years?
levels have been fluctuating but rising quite significantly
it has increased from just below 330 concentration (ppm) to over 380 concentration (ppm)
why does carbon dioxide fluctuate during each year?
in autumn and winter the carbon dioxide levels increase as plants still respire but they have lost their leaves at this time so they absorb little crabon dioxide
in spring and summer trees have leaves and photosynthesis occurs quicker than they repsire so the carbon dioxide levels decrease
there are fewer trees each year so the levels cannot return to the levels of the previous summer
which countries are repsonsible for most CO2 emmisions?
Guyana
Canada
USA
Australia
New Zealnad
Malasia
Papua New Guinea
Zambia
what is the main reason for the increase in CO2 levels?
power stations (21.3%)
what are the reasons for the increase in CO2 levels?
industrial processes (16.8%)
power stations (21.3%)
waste disposal and treatment (3.4%)
land use and biomass burning (10.0%)
residential, commercial and other sources (10.3%)
fossil fuel retrieval, processing and distribution (11.3%)
agricultural byproducts (12.5%)
transportation fuels (14.0%)
what is the word equation for the burning of fossil fuels?
fossil fuel + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + water
what is deforestation and does it increase levels of carbon dioxide?
= cutting down trees (and plants)
yes it does
what are some consequences of deforestation?
rise in levels of carbon dioxide
loss of roots anchor –> soil washed away –> leaching + erosion
loss of habitat –> some species extinct
disturbances of water cycle:
less trees –> reduced transpiration –> droughts
lack of stems, litter, trunks –> increased water runoff after rainfall –> floods
what is methane and doe sit cause levels of carbon dioxide to rise?
= an organic gas produced when microorganisms ferment larger organic molecules to release energy
yes it does
list three origins of increasing methane levels that contribute to global warming
decompostition of waste in landfill sites by microorganisms
fermentation by microorganisms in the rumen of and other ruminants
fermentation by bacteria in rice paddy fields
