EQI3 Flashcards
what are facts on global land use for agriculture?
- 5 bn hectares are used for agriculture
- 77% of agricultural land is used for livesock but it only provides 18% of global calories
- 23% is used for crop
what are the most affected regions of agricultural expansion?
- amazon rainforest = 17% lost due to cattle ranchin
- southeast asia = palm oil plantations replace rainforests
- sub saharhan africa = expanding farmland for cash crops
what are the causes of agricultural land expansion?
- growing population and food demand = expected to reach 9.7 bn in 2050 requiring 50% increase in food production
- industrial agriculture - monoculture farming drives deforestation
- biofuel production = crops like sugarcane, maize and soybeans replace forests
- land degredation and desertification = forces expansion into new areas as soil fertility declines
what are the environmental impacts of arricultural expansion?
- deforestation = reduces carbon storage, increasing CO2 emissions
- biodiveristy loss = habitat destruction threatens species like elephants
- water scarcity = intensive farming drains river and aquifers
what are the social and economic impacts of agricultural expansion?
- displacement of indigenous communties = large scale farming pushes people off their land
- food security VS export crops = many countries prioritize cash crops over local food production
- land conflicts = competition for land fuels social and political tensions
what were the causes of the amazon droughts?
1) climate change - rising global temps increase evaporation and enhanced greenhouse effect intensifies extreme weather events
2) deforestation - slash and burn agriculture reduces moisture recycling from trees and fewer trees means less transpiration
3) el nino - warms pacific ocean and reduces rainfall in amazon - 2015-16 el nino caused drought
what were the environmental impacts of drought in the amazon?
- forest mortality = tree dieback leads to more CO2 emissions
- wildfires = dry conditions increase the risk of forest fires, releasing carbon
- loss of biodiversity = drought threatens species
what were the social and economic impacts of drought in amazon?
- water shortages = rivers dry up, affecting indigenous communities and HEP
- agricultural losses = drought reduces crop yields
- disrupted transport = low river levels make it harder for boats to navigate
what is ocean acidification?
the ongoing decrease in the PH of ocean water due to the absorption of excess atmospheric CO2 from FF emissions.
- since industrial revolution PH has dropped from 8.2 to 8.1
how does ocean acidification occur?
1) CO2 dissolves in seawater foming carbonic acid
2) carbonic acid releases hydrogen ions, increasing acidity
3) the excess hydrogen ions react with carbonate reducing the availibility of carbonate needed by marine organisms like corals
what is happening in the arctic ocean for acidification?
- cold water absorbs CO2 more easily
- shellfish pops are at risk
- indigenous communities relying on fisheries face food insecurity
what happens to coral reefs because of acidification?
- corals need carbonate ions to build their skeletons and acidification weakens them
- mass coral bleaching occurs
- 30-50% of great barrier reef corals have been lost
what are the environmental impacts of ocean acidification?
- weaker coral reefs = habitat loss
- disrupted food chaing = shellfish, plankton and fish are affected impacting the ecosystems
- less productive oceans = reduced biodiversity
what are the social and economic impacts of ocean acidification?
- fisheries decline = shellfish industries suffer
- coastal communities at risk = countries relying on seafood face economic loss
- tourism impacted = coral reef degredation reduces marine tourism revenue 6
what are the consequences of replacing natural forest cover with plantations?
- destroying natural habitat
- changing water cycle
- soil degredation
- short term carbon sink
- destroying previous carbon sink
what is the kuznets curve?
a model suggesting that environmental degredation initially increases with economic development but eventually decreases as societies become wealthier and prioritize environmental protection
how does forest loss impact people?
1) climate change and natural disasters = forest absorb CO2 and their loss accelerates climate change
2) loss of livlihoods = many communities rely on forests for food, medicine and income
3) biodiveristy loss = forest loss leads to habitat destruction, pushing many species towards extinction
4) increase in zoonotic diseases = deforestation forces wildlife closer to human settlements increaseing the spread of diseases like COVID
what are the changes of the Yukon river regime?
1) increased winter and early spring runoff =warmer arctic temps = more water vapour = increase water precipitation
2) permafrost thaw alters groundwater flow = rising temps and increased eveporation = permafrost degredation
3) increased river discharge = higher temps = glacial melt
4) more frequent and severe flooding = warmer temps result in increased atmospheric moisture = heavier rainstorms
what are the impacts on coastal communities of declining ocean health?
1) loss of fisheries = overfishing, ocean acidification and rising temps = reduction in fish stocks
2) increased coastal erosion = coral reefs, mangroves act as natural barriers against coastal erosion
3) more frequent and severe storms = warmer ocean temps fuel stronger hurricanes
4) decline in tourism = coral bleaching and marine pollution reduce the appeal of the coast
how does an increase in precipitation and decrease in precipitation in high and low latitudes impact of human wellbeing?
increase flooding and displacement in high lats and droughts and competition in low lats
increase soil erosoin and crop failures in high lats and decrease crop yields in low lats
what impact will diseases for plants have on human wellbeing?
reduce crop yields = malnutrition and economic losses
instability for agriculture exporting countries
reduction in medicinal plant availability
what impact will extreme heavy precipitation events have on human wellbeing?
flooding and water based diseases
flood = destroy homes and infrastructure
waterlogged soil = crop failure
what is mitigation?
strategies aimed at reducing or preventing greehouse gas emissions, such as carbon taxation , renewable energy adoption, afforestation and CCS
what is adaptation?
actions taken to adjust to the effects of climate change, such as flood defenses, drought resistant crops and water management strategies to reduce vulnerability
