Environmental Change and Management Flashcards
Climate
The description of the long-term pattern of weather in a particular area
Weather
The state of the air and atmosphere at a particular time and place
Climate vs Weather
Weather is at a particular time, while climate is the long-term patterns of weather
Climate Change
“Climate change” encompasses global warming, but refers to the broader range of changes that are happening to our planet, includingrising sea levels; shrinking mountain glaciers; accelerating ice melt in Greenland, Antarctica and the Arctic; and shifts in flower/plant blooming times.
Climate Change in the Past
Earth’s temperature has risen by an average of 0.14° Fahrenheit (0.08° Celsius) per decade since 1880, or about 2° F in total. The rate of warming since 1981 is more than twice as fast: 0.32° F (0.18° C) per decade.
Climate Change in the Future
Australia - Australia’s national climate projections at Climate change in Australia indicate that over coming decades Australia will experience: Further increase in temperatures, with more extremely hot days and fewer extremely cool days. Ongoing sea level rise.
Greenland - In the nearer future, though, the ice sheet is expected to contribute substantially to global sea level rise. One recent study found that it’s now inevitable that at least 3.3 percent of Greenland will eventually melt away, adding nearly a foot to the ocean’s rising levels. The Greenland ice sheet will lose at least 3% of its volume—enough to contribute to about 27 centimetres of sea level rise globally, the authors find.
How are future climate changes predicted to affect life on Earth?
- Future changes are expected to include a warmer atmosphere, a warmer and more acidic ocean, higher sea levels, and larger changes in precipitation patterns.
- The potential future effects of global climate change include more frequent wildfires, longer periods of drought in some regions, and an increase in the wind intensity and rainfall from tropical cyclones.
Environmental Change
Occurs as a result of both natural and human processes.
Changes to the Land
- Rapid spread of cities, towns and farms has greatly altered soils and plants
- Vast areas of forests cleared for human activity
- Less than one-quarter of the original forest cover remains today
- Fertile soil also declining
- loss of fertility
- soil erosion
- increased salt
Changes to Atmosphere
- Burning of fossil fuels (e.g. coal) has changed natural levels of certain gases in atmosphere
- Airborne chemicals released through production of everyday goods and services (e.g. steel and oil)
- Some chemicals have brought a partial breakdown in the layer of gases (ozone layer) in the atmosphere which shields us from UV light
- Also responsible for increase in acidity rain and a warming of atmosphere - climate change
Changes to Water
- About 70% of total water taken from rivers, streams and underground water sources is used to irrigate crops and provide water for farm animals
- Diversion and damming of rivers causes water shortages in other places around the world
- Some freshwater supplies becoming so polluted they are undrinkable, leading to problems for animals, birds, fish and plants
The 4 S’s
- Sources (Provisioning services): Resources, Natural products that can be used or converted for human use
- Sink (Regulating services): Processes in the natural environment that absorb our waste (e.g. decomposers)
- Services (Supporting services): Processes taking place in the environments that support life, but don’t produce a consumable resource (e.g. wetlands), Regulate, Cycle waste through
- Spirituality (Cultural services): Personal relationships that humans have with the environment
Drivers of Environmental Change
Indirect - sometimes called ‘underlying causes’, because they put pressure on the direct drivers of change. (E.g. increased demand for battery-powered electronic consumer goods)
Direct - factors that are undeniably responsible for change. (E.g. increased mining activity)
