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BIOL3074 > Greenhouse Gases > Flashcards

Greenhouse Gases Flashcards

1
Q

what is the IPCC

A

intergovernmental panel for climate change
it is a intergovernmental boudy of the UN providing the world with objective, scientific basis of the risk of human-induced climate change, its natural, political and economic impacts and risks.

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2
Q

what is the UNFCCC

A

united nations framework convention on climate change.
it seeks for the stabilisation of GHG concentrations in the atmosphere at a level taht would prevent dangerous anthropogenic human-induced interference with the earths climate system.

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3
Q

what is snowball earth?

A

a cliamte disaster triggered by the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis

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4
Q

what is the Dansgaard-Oeschger cycle?

A

rapid climate change during the last glaciation

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5
Q

what is the main cause of climate change?

A

Greenhouse effect

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6
Q

what is the greenhouse effect?

A

sunlight passes through the atmosphere and warms the surface of the earth. most escapes to outer space and cools the earth, but some IR is trapped by gases in the air, these reducing cooling.

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7
Q

what is the history of global greenhouse gases?

A

the insulating influence is importnat. historical records of the concentrations of 5 atmospheric gases important for global warming that occur in the troposphere.

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8
Q

what are the 6 main greenhouse gases?

A

CO2, CH4, N2O, Ozone O3, CF4 and CFC-12

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9
Q

what is the contribution to greenhouse effect of each gas, relative to CO2?

A 
CO2 - 1 
CH4 - 34 
N2O - 298 
Ozone - 2000 
CF4 - 7,350 
CFC-12 - 15000
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10
Q

what is the word equation for radiative forcing?

A

incoming energy - outgoing energy = radiative forcing

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11
Q

which year is RF ecpressed relative from?

A

1750

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12
Q

what are the other processes which has caused radiative forcing to warm?

A

greenhouse gas use, tropospheric ozone, aerosols, in terms of fossil fuels burning and mineral dust, aviating-indusced clouds and solar

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13
Q

what are the processes which have caused radiative forcing to cool?

A

stratospheric ozone, sulfate, fossil fuel, burnign of organic carbon, biomass burning, minteral dust, tropospheric aerosol indirect effect, and land use (albedo)

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14
Q

what are the major soil-bourne greenhouse gases?

A

CO2, CH4 and N2O

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15
Q

which are the 3 contributors to the greenhouse effect?

A

CO2, Methane and water vapour

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16
Q

what percentage of contribution to the greenhouse effect is water vapour?

A

36-40%

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17
Q

what does GWP stand for

A

global warming potential

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18
Q

what is global warming potential?

A

comparison of how much heat is trapped relative to CO2

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19
Q

what does GTP stand for

A

global temperature change potential

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20
Q

what is global tempearture change potential?

A

how much surface temparature change relative to CO2

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21
Q

what is the lifetime of CH4?

A

12.4 years in the atmosphere

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22
Q

what was the paris agreement?

A

most severe impacts prevented by mimiting warming to minus 2 degrees and preferably 1.5
190 of 197 particles have ratified the agreement
each country submits “Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) that would constitute the core mitigation commitments.

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23
Q

what is INDC

A

“Intended Nationally Determined Contributions”

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24
Q

what is climate geoengineering?

A

deliberately releasing things into the atmosphere to control it

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25
Q

what are 6 examples of climate geoengineering

A

using satellites in space

injecting aerosols into the stratosphere

brightening marine clouds

making the ocean surface more reflective

growing more reflective plants

whitening roofs and other built structures

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26
Q

why is climate geoengineering controversial?

A

much better to address the cause rather the effect

inherent risks

risks of unintended consequences

efficacy difficult to determine

who would regulate their deployment?

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27
Q

what does NET stand for?

A

Negative emission technologies

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28
Q

what is the climate change causal chain?

A

fossil energy system > release of CO2 emissions > heat trapping greenhouse gases, and earths system reflectivity > impact of climate on human and natural systems

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29
Q

what are the response options for negative emission technologies?

A 
decarbonise and reduce energy demand 
industrial CO2 management
CO2 removal in terms of mitigation
solar radiation management in terms of adaptation 
prevention and minimise climate damages
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30
Q

what does CCM stand for

A

CO2 control management

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31
Q

what are examples of negative emission technologies?

A

afforestation and reforestation
soil carbon sequestration
biochar
bioenergy with carbon capture and storage
direct air capture
enhanced weathering and ocean alkalisation
ocean fertilisation

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32
Q

how would afforestation and reforestation help?

A

in terms of agroforestry, they would help boreal, temperate and tropical areas, with implementation of agricultural practices and livestock practical
it has reversible permanence and has a decrease in cost with an increase in potential

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33
Q

what are the positive side effects of afforestation and reforestation?

A

better soil quality

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34
Q

what are the negative side effects of afforestation and reforestation?

A

albedo, biodiversity and food security

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35
Q

how would bioenergy carbon capture and storage help as a negative emissions technology?

A

crop residue, dedicated crops and marginal dedicated crops

it has a stable permanence and has an increase in potential and cost after 2050

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36
Q

what are the positive side effects of bioenergy carbon capture and storage ?

A

there are none

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37
Q

what are the negative side effects of bioenergy carbon capture and storage ?

A

biodiversity, food secutiry, traces of GHG’s, and air pollution

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38
Q

how would biochar help as a negative emissions technology?

A

crop residue, dedicated crops and marginal dedicated crops

stable permanenece and cost will decrease as well as potential after 2050

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39
Q

what are the positive side effects of Biochar?

A

soil quality and traces of GHG

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40
Q

what are the negative side effects of Biochar?

A

food security

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41
Q

how would enhanced weathering help as a negative emissions technology?

A

silicate rocks, carbonate rocks all used

limited mineral production however.

stable permanence and cost will decrease, and potential increase after 2050

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42
Q

what are the positive side effects of enhanced weathering?

A

soil quality

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43
Q

what are the negative side effects of enhanced weathering?

A

ground and water pollution
air pollution
mining and extraction needed

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44
Q

how would direct air capture help as a negative emissions technology?

A

suspended amines and wet calcination

deployed in niche markets, and permanence is stable. potential increase and cost decrease after 3050

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45
Q

what are the positive side effects of direct air capture ?

A

no one is sure

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46
Q

what are the negative side effects of direct air capture ?

A

no one is sure

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47
Q

how would ocean fertilisation help as a negative emissions technology?

A

10s of small demonstrations
stable but UNCERTAIN

can be done using iron fertilisation, N and P fertilisation or enhanced upwelling

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48
Q

what are the negative side effects of ocean fertilisation?

A

ecosystem changes, traces of GHG’s and mining and extraction needed

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49
Q

what are the positive side effects of ocean fertilisation?

A

there are none

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50
Q

how would soil carbon sequestration help as a negative emissions technology?

A

using agricultural practices and livestock practices

reversible permanence and ready for large scale deployment

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51
Q

what are the positive side effects of soil carbon sequestration?

A

food security and soil quality

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52
Q

what are the negative side effects of soil carbon sequestration?

A

traces of GHG’s

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53
Q

what are the 8 sources of atmospheric methane?

A 
landfills
biomass burning 
fossil fuels 
gas hydrates
termites
ruminants
natural wetlands 
flooded rice fields
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54
Q

what is methanogenesis

A

anaerobes living close to the thermodynamic limit of life

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55
Q

what are the 4 processes needed for polysaccharides to be turned into CH4 and CO2?

A

hydroloysis
acidogenesis
acetogenesis
methanogenesis

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56
Q

which archaea aid methanogenesis?

A

methanogens

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57
Q

what propoerties do methaogens have?

A

they are anaerobes, and they are either hydrogenotropic or acetoclastic

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58
Q

where does methanogeneis occur?

A

occurs in flooded soils and other environments with a low redox potential

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59
Q

what are the processes which worsen the atmosphere?

A 
livestock 
rice cultivation
landfulls and waste
fossil fuels 
biomass burning
60
Q

what is methane hydrate, and what is its concern?

A

clathrate. it is a solid where methane is trapped in frozen water. if the temperature goes up, this will be released into the atmosphere, then increasing methane content in the air
its also in permafrost

61
Q

how likely is the release of CH4 hydrate?

A

it is considered unlikely.

62
Q

what is aerobic methanotrophs

A

the key enzyme for methane oxides

63
Q

what is the amount of biological CH4 oxidation per year?

A

around 800 Tg y-1

64
Q

what is the chemical equation for the aerobic carbon cycle?

A

CH4 + 2O2 > CO2 + 2H2O

65
Q

what is the chemical equation for the anaerobic carbon cycle?

A

CH4 + SO4-2 or NO3^- > CO2 + H2S or N2

66
Q

what percetnrage of anthropogenic CO2 equvanet emissions are short term?

A

1.3%

67
Q

how many reserviours are larger than 0.01 ha in 2011?

A

16.7

68
Q

how many large dams are in construction?

A

857

69
Q

what are hydroelectric dam?

A

clean energy dams, which uses water to hold energy

70
Q

what is the estimation of PgC in soil?

A

1500-2400

71
Q

what services are provided by soil?

A

biomass recycling systems.

source of nutrients

72
Q

why are soils a biomass recycling system?

A

the soils are natures recycling system, and return biomass and nutrients to forms that can be used for the next generation of life

73
Q

why do soils serve to prupose of the source of nutrients?

A

soils support the growth of higher plants by providing a medium for plant roots and supplying nutrients that are essential for plant biomass and metabolism
soil properties are often in large part responsible for the types, diversity and biomass of vegetation and microorganisms in ecosystems, and indirectly the number of animals that the vegetation can support

74
Q

what kind of biomass and biodiversity are soils a home for?

A

microbes, fungal hyphae, menatodes, fungi, nematodes, mites, springtails

75
Q

what is soil?

A

hummus and mineral components

76
Q

what is humus?

A

carbon that has resisted degradation

it very slowly decomposes and provides soil with its dark colour

77
Q

what is the horizon of soil?

A

this is the top layer of soil, it is also the most biologically active layer, with higher organic matter and nutrients

78
Q

what is critical in soil chemistry for nutrient retention?

A

cation exchange capacity is crticial for nutrient retention

79
Q

what are colloids?

A

they are the smallest particles of clay or humus, which are chemically active.
it is mainly negatively charged, with cation exchanged capacity with soil solution and plant roots.

80
Q

what is CEC

A

cation exchange capacity

81
Q

why is soil fertility important?

A

for the ability to sustain plants

82
Q

what 7 aspects are important for soil fertility?

A 
nutrient abundance and balance
bioavailable phosphorus
type of clay 
pH 
toxic elements 
salinity 
microbes
83
Q

why does topography affect water drainage?

A

upland soiul and wetland soil are different. wetland soil is often partially flooded and have unique vegetation tolerant of anoxic conditions

84
Q

what are the two biomass of roots that are of importance?

A

natural prairies and short roots of cultivated grains

85
Q

what do forest soils uptake?

A

CO2 uptake and storage through photosynthesis and primary production

86
Q

what do forest soils release/output?

A

CO2 effluent through autotrophic respiration
CO2 efflux through heterotrophic respiration
CH4 uptake by methane oxidising soil bacteria
N2O efflux through microbial nitrification and denitrification processes

87
Q

are forest soils CO2 sinks?

A

yes, but not over long term. peatlands are the only terrestrial ecosystem that have a greater NPP than decomposition over the long term

88
Q

what fraction of total soil carbon does peatlands hold globally?

A

1/3

89
Q

what percentage of the earths cover does peatlands hold?

A

3%

90
Q

what percentrage of atmospheric CH4 does peatlands emit?

A

10%

91
Q

what does a high water-table result in?

A

anoxia, slow decomposition, but greater CH4 emissions

92
Q

why does Sphagnum peat decompose slowly?

A

it is flooded, which makes it anoxic/anaerobic, it is acidic and it is nutrient poor

93
Q

what percentage of land which is used for agriculture, affected by soil degradation?

A

52%

94
Q

how many hectares is lost to drought and desertification?

A

12 million

95
Q

how does physical degradation and erosion impact soils?

A

bare soils are vulnerable eto wind and water erosion.
due to hoof traffic with overgrazing, soils structure is further degraded, as well as tillage and very heavy equipment being used

96
Q

what is the American dust bowl?

A

1930’s, native grasses with deep roots help keep moisture in the ground and stabilise the soil.
the farmers removed native grass and planted wheat. the ploughing and also livestock disturbed the soil structure. and the soils became highly susceptible to wind erosion.

97
Q

what 4 impacts occur from chemical degradation?

A

depletion - of organic matter and nutrients
contamination - which chemical pollutants
salinization - in dry areas
desertification - only occurs in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas.

98
Q

what does acid rain cause?

A

it causes flooding of cation exchange sites on solid colloids with protons (H+)

99
Q

how does acidification cause chemical degradation in soils?

A

it displaces nutrients from cation exchange sites > leached away > no longer available for plant growth.
the toxic aluminium is soluble in water at low pH, and it injuries plants and soil microorganisms.

100
Q

what is the chemical equiation for ammonium fertilisation?

A

NH4^+ > NO3^- + H+

101
Q

what are the 4 types of soil degradation?

A

wind erosion
chemical degradation
physical degradation
water erosion

102
Q

what are the 5 underlying causes of soil degradation?

A 
agricultural activity 
overgrazing
industrial activity 
deforestation
overuse of vegetation
103
Q

what is a yield plateaus?

A

?

104
Q

what does REDD+ stand for?

A

reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation

105
Q

what is REDD+?

A

it is a biomass sink enhancement, trying to stop deforestation 1.1 GtC/y
it removes CO2 by restoring forest capacity over the next 50 years at the average rate that allows current second growth forests to reach maturity 2GtC.y, restore degraded forests 1 GtC/y and reforest recently deforested land 1

106
Q

what does the + in REDD+ signify?

A

+ conservation of forests
+ sustainable management of forests
+ enhancement of forest carbon stocks

107
Q

what is the 4 per mille initiative?

A

it is a growing international coalition of nation-states, international organisations, NGO’s, research centers, universities, farmers organisations and businesses,
the amount of C stock increase needed to offset CO2 emission

108
Q

what are 5 practices that increase soil organic carbon?

A

conservation tillage, residue management and mulch farmin g

apply organic wastes to soils

use N and other nutrients sources more efficiently

eliminate summer (bare) fallow and incorporate legumes and other appropriate crops in rotations

agroforestry

109
Q

what are examples of effectiveness of agricultural schemes in regards to carbon benefit and the 4 per mille initiative?

A

new hedgerow
cover crops
min till

110
Q

what are regenerating soils

A

restoring soils to sequester carbon back where it belongs, in the soils and int he plants. it is the most efficient and safest climate mitigation strategy

111
Q

what is the safest climate mitigation strategy in terms of soils?

A

regenerating soils

112
Q

when using regeneratng soils, what increase of tonnes in grain-producing would you see?

A

24-40 million metric tonnes in grain production at a global level

113
Q

is regenerating soils feasible?

A

it depends on how much carbon is there already. if the initial C stock is higher, there is a LOWER sequestration rate, this can be shown in a graph.
it also depends on how long improved management has been practised on the site. the higher the number of years, the lower sequestration rate is

114
Q

what other aspects need to be considered when determining regenerating soils?

A

CH4 and N2O
incorporating rice straw is common practice
it improves plant growth and waterlogged conditions slow decomposotion
but it leads to a very high CH4 emissions from rice fields

115
Q

what is biochar a product of?

A

pyrolysis of biomass

heating of biomass in low oxygen environments

116
Q

how is biochar collected?

A

carbon captured by photosynthesis (biomass) from the atmosphere is locked into the biochar, preventing degradation and return of carbon into the air. Biochar is then applied into the soil.

117
Q

what is pyrolysis?

A

thermal decomposition int eh absence of oxygen.

118
Q

what is gasification?

A

the conversion of biomass into CO, CO2, H, CH4, and N with a limited supply of oxygen and steam

119
Q

what are the products of pyrolysis?

A

gas, bio-oil and solid char

120
Q

what are the products of gasification?

A

syngas and char

121
Q

what can biochar be used for?

A

negative emission technology and improved soil fertility. it is very stable in the soil and degraded over centuries

122
Q

what is bioremediation?

A

polyaromatic hydrocarbons, which can improve soils by direct intervention.

123
Q

what is lignin

A

a plant polymer in the soil

124
Q

why is lignin needed for biostimulation?

A

lignin is added to the soil to stimulate the growth of microbes. lignolytic enzymes can also transform some PAHs
these are produced mostly by fungi and some bacteria

125
Q

what is phytoextraction

A

this is when phytoremediation enhances PAH dissipation from soil by plant uptake

126
Q

what is rhizoremediation?

A

during phytoremediation, this can be stimulated microbe activity through root exudates.

127
Q

what is Rhamnolipid, and why is it important during biostimulation?

A

it is a biosurfactant produced by pseudomonas aeruginosa.
it is a surfactants used to increased water solubility of hydrophobic organic pollutants
enhances plant uptake and microbial degradation
biosurfactants are less toxic than artificial surfactants and are biodegradable.

128
Q

in the experiment looking at PAH in the Chinese Farm soil, what did the results show?

A

it shows that there is no PAH reduction when any reduction when any treatment used alone.
it showed that Ramnolipid is essential, and maximum dissipation is around 50% in the combined treatment

129
Q

what is the ruminant digested system?

A

the digestive system changes food nutrients into compounds that are easily absorbed into the bloodstream.

130
Q

what is a ruminant?

A

animals that contaain a multi-chambered digestive system.

131
Q

how do ruminant animals get their nutritional needs?

A

from forages and other roughages

132
Q

what are the major sources and sinks of GHG’s?

A

sources: anthropogenic, cows, faeces.
sinks: grass

133
Q

what percentage of GHG emissions does livestock contribute to?

A

14.5%

134
Q

which GHG emissions are from livestock?

A 
applied and deposited manue, N2O 
fertiliser and crop residues, N2O 
Feed: Rice, CO2 
Feed, CO2 
LUC, Soybean, CO2 
LUC: Pasture expansion, CO2 
Enteric, CH4 
Manure Management, CH4 
Manure management CO2 
Indirect energy, CO2 
Direct energy CO2 
Postfarm CO2
135
Q

which pollutants are classed as GHG emissions from agriculture, but arent actually GHG?

A

NH3 and NOx

136
Q

what is life cycle assessment

A

a tool to assess potential environmental impacts throughout a product’s life cycle

137
Q

what 4 categories does grain crop production go to?

A

grain fed to people - 47%
grain fed to animals - 36%
other - 12%
biofuels, 5%

138
Q

how many tonnes of crop in 2007 was produced?

A

2000 million tonnes

139
Q

how many people could US feed with the grain that livestock eat?

A

800 million

140
Q

what are feedlots in the USA?

A

calves spend one year in a pasture, and then they are transferred to a feedlot for “finishing” and fed high energy grains. they are slaughtered at 14-19 months.

141
Q

what are the disadvantages of feedlots?

A

environmental, antibiotics in feed, grain production and shipment, animal welfare

142
Q

what is grass-fed in the USA?

A

when animals entire lives are in pasture. they are slaughtered when ages 18-24 months.

143
Q

what is the disadvantages of grass-fed lifestock?

A

more land is required.

GHG emissions are 37% higher due to longer finishing times and weight

144
Q

what are some potential options to reduce CH4 and N2O

A 
transferring the low microbiome of low methane producing ruminants 
finding new traits for GHG emissions 
vaccines to reduce methane production in the rumen 
carbon sequestration 
increase disease resistance 
select low-methane producing ruminants
improved performance, low-quality feed 
storage cover 
feed supplement 
precision feeding 
dietary improvement and substitutes 
efficient and robust animals 
improving forage quality 
prevention, control and eradication of diseases 
collection and storage facility 
temperature and aeration of manure 
pasture management 
grazing practices
capturing biogas from anaerobic processes
145
Q

can grazing enhance soil carbon?

A

yes, they promote the growth of extensive roots and manure adds to soil carbon.
it maintains UK grassland landscapes without grazing would required mechanical mowing

146
Q

what is holistic management?

A

planning grazing, regenerative grazing, mob grazing. things to enhance soil carbon

147
Q

can holistic grazing balance the beef industry footprint?

A

partly, but not entirely according to various reports.

BIOL3074 (5 decks)

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