How carbon/water cycles linked to global climate system

Question 1

Define ocean acidification

Answer 1

Acidification is the increasing amounts of Co2 absorbed from atmosphere

Question 2

Impacts of ocean acidification

Answer 2

Causes changes to movement of ocean currents
Disrupts the thermohaline circulation affecting weather patterns
Ecosystem productivity due to unfamiliar conditions

Question 3

Case study: Droughts in Amazonia

Answer 3

Mega droughts becoming more frequent 2005 then five years later
Inducing water stress on ecosystem

2005 70 million hectares of mature forest damaged 30% of total area. Visible damage to the canopy layer with lower moisture. 2010 drought made conditions worse as forest hadn’t recovered.

During these events trees absorbed less CO2 , with CO2 emissions increasing due to wildfires. 2005 drought emitted 5 billion tonnes of CO2

Question 4

Implications on humans due to forest loss
+Indonesia case study

Answer 4

1.6 billion people depend on forest ecosystem
Provides services such as products we gain and make (food,fuel)
People create livelihood off these resources
People use forest for spiritual and recreation uses (sports/healing/tribes)

CS: Indonesia
High palm oil production damaging to forest used in food cosmetics high demand
Producing 66 million tonnes per year
Result in ghge surpassing USA from burning

Small tribes driven away/killed in land
Local farmers lose land due to TNC’s
Increase in respiratory complication in surrounding cities due to smoke

Question 5

How does climate change affect Arctic (uncertainties)

Answer 5

Sea water temp rising faster than any other region. Climate change creating uncertainties on whether arctic is becoming major sink/source

More CO2 uptake-due to more open sea
Less uptake in Arctic ocean-high conc CO2 at surface acting as barrier/less downwelling
Permafrost moving north- increasing tree growth
More forest fire- higher sea temp

Question 6

Case study: Coral reef destruction

Answer 6

Warmer seas/acidification damages coral reefs causing bleaching
2050 coral bleaching severe in 50% of reefs

Effects
Less effective physical barrier (storms) increasing coastal erosion
Decreasing in marine productivity fewer fish as reefs act as nurseries (revenue loss)
Loss of tourism as coral dies

Question 7

Case study: Fairbanks impact on humans

Answer 7

Settlements sinking/destruction due to melting permafrost and damage to Trans Alaskian pipelines

Less sea ice for bears to hunt causing them to move inland risk to humans

Question 8

Name 5 adaptation strategies on carbon emissions

Answer 8

Solar radiation management
Water conservation/management
Resilient agriculture systems
Land-use planning
Flood risk management

Question 9

Explain solar radiation management strategies

Answer 9

Solar shield- reducing the amount of Sun’s radiation reaching earth

Cloud brightening- spraying seawater into atmosphere to create brighter clouds reflect more light (albedo)

Painting towns white to increase reflectivity

Question 10

Problems with solar radiation management strategies

Answer 10

Very expensive/unrealistic Solar shield estimated at $5 trillion
Unpredictable effects worldwide weather
Impossible to get all countries to agree on scheme

Question 11

Explain water management and conservation adaptation strategy
Nevada/Smart irrigation

Answer 11

Sustainable manage the usage of freshwater via regulations

Nevada, Las Vegas water stress due to reduced precip
Regulation in place fine public/money off on pool covers no grass in gardens

Smart irrigation techniques reduce levels of water needed by device measuring H20 levels and weather patterns to water plants

Question 12

Evaluate water conservation/management

Answer 12

Pro’s:
Less invasive to environment (solar radiation management techniques)
Cheaper
People can save money
Fines raise money

Cons:
Hard to enforce as you are having to change populations behaviour
Not fully effective
Not large scale

Question 13

Explain resilient agriculture systems

Answer 13

Where crops become resistant to water stress, Done by:
Genetically modifying plants-resilient

Multi-cropping- grow variety of crops in same area

Question 14

Evaluate resilient agriculture systems

Answer 14

Genetically modified crops
Pro’s:
Increased resilience, less water needed, reliable food source less likely to fail
Con’s:
concerns of cross contamination with wild species, unknown long term effects (health), expensive, crops don’t provide high yield

Multi-cropping
Pro’s:
Improves soil health, decreases evap., provides shade, reduce soil erosion/disease, increase biodiversity
Con’s:
long time to become effective, gradual change limited impact on climate change

Question 15

Explain land-use planning adaptation strategy

Answer 15

Restrict building close to river/flood zones to minimise effects on humans/economy

Question 16

Evaluate land-use planning adaptation strategy

Answer 16

Pro’s:
Prevents human impacts death/damage
Creates new habitats/undisturbed
Save money on insurance
No need for hard engineering
Con’s:
Land left to flood owners have to be compensated
Major cities are already built on floodplains NYC
Housing shortage means land needed

Question 17

Explain flood-risk management adaptation strategy

Answer 17

Making the surrounding area more flood resilient by improving defences, flood proofing houses, afforestation schemes

Question 18

Evaluate flood risk management strategy

Answer 18

Pro’s:
Minimal impact to already city
Improved resilience to flooding
Less damage/impact on humans
afforestation increases biodiversity

Con’s:
Locals don’t agree with schemes (lake district) controversial
Visual pollution
Impact tourism
Expensive