Human Impacts

Question 1

Supports human wellbeing

Answer 1

forests
oceans

Question 2

Tipping points

Answer 2

Atlantic thermohaline circulation collapse
seabed methane release
dieback of TRF

Question 3

Feedback loops

Answer 3

permafrost
peatlands

Question 4

Services

Answer 4

seagrass
mangroves
wetlands
coral reefs

Question 5

land use changes

Answer 5

grasslands to farming (US)
Deforestation (madagascar + indonesia)

Question 6

Humans and water usage

Answer 6

Sub sahaaran africa, withdraw 3% of internal resources (economic scarcity)
Middle East and North Africa use 133% of supply (desalination)
East Asia and pacific, domestic usage doubled, emergence of middle class

Question 7

Ocean Acidification

Answer 7

25% of post industrial era emissions absorbed
past 30 years ocean is 30% more acidic
results in fragile shells, with less abundant carbonate ions
warmer oceans
most phytoplankton thrive in cooler and nutrient rich waters
increased temps will decrease productivity, less CO2 absorption

Question 8

Drought in the Amazon

Answer 8

forest degredation could surpass climate change as biggest source of CO2 emissions in amazon
total area affected will triple by end of century
regional differences due to differential ocean warming (atlantic vs Pacific)

Question 9

lower emissions pathway

Answer 9

2/3 coral reefs collapse
25% of aquifers dont renew
increase by 2 degrees
inevitable

Question 10

higher emissions pathway

Answer 10

3.7 degree increase
1/2 plant and animal species die

Question 11

highest emissions pathway

Answer 11

CO2 108% above 2010 levels by 2050
5 degree increase

Question 12

Forests and human wellbeing

Answer 12

Indonesia
largest palm oil producer
700 land conflicts in 2016 (indigenous)
slash and burn
moratorium in 2011, $1bn from UN
reduced clearance by 15%b
permits prior still went ahead

Question 13

Oceans and human wellbeing

Answer 13

1/2 billion dependent on fisheries for food and income
coral reefs shelter 25% of marine species
reef degredation could cost between $20 and $80bn
barrier reef brings $5.4bn to Australias GDP

Question 14

mangroves

Answer 14

below ground root maintains elevation of forest floors (combats sea level rise)
traps sediments, protects reefs from siltation
less than 50% of magrove forests are intact, expanding agriculture industry
cleared to create artificial ponds, water div ersions therefore reduced growth

Question 15

coral reefs

Answer 15

catches are 10% of global fish consumption
offshore breakwaters
industrial and agricultural runoff increases nutrient levels, algae growth and eutrophication
destructive fishing techniques

Question 16

sea grass

Answer 16

fish nurseries
present on all coastlines except antartica
make up 50% of carbon sequestration
removeal during coastal dev., marinas, channels
declining 7% annualy

Question 17

wetlands

Answer 17

fisheries
tourism
energery production
25% of US natural gas originated, processed or transported through Louisianna wetlands
coastalisation and polluted runoff

Question 18

peatlands

Answer 18

3% of landmass
store 1/3 of soil carbon
hotter and drier cond accelerate Carbon decomposition, releases GHG
limited historical data
burning to create energy
postive feedback loop

Question 19

permafrost

Answer 19

stores 17bn tonnes of carbon in artic
3 degree increase could melt up to 85% of top permafrost
lowers albeo
negative loop could be created due to vegetation growth
methane and co2 released at melt

Question 20

madagascar

Answer 20

deforestation
growing demand for hardwood
debt repayments
80% of forests gone
waters of river sofia turned red due to soil erosion
ET rates from grasslands are 1/3 of TRF
75% of pop reliant on ag, and sub.
once ecosystems lose resilliance, increased sensitivity to invasive species and CC

Question 21

grasslands to farming US

Answer 21

2007-15 biofuels encouraged, boost economies of rural areas, reduce dependence of oil imports
natural grasslands trap moisture and floodwater, carbvon store and maintain healthy soils
biofuel growth- annual ploughing enables bacteria to release co2, soils liable to erosion, irrigation needs, co2 based fertaliser, pesticides and eutrophication

Question 22

Atlantic thermohaline circulation collapse

Answer 22

important currents redistribute heat and preciptiation between tropics
currents stopping
West antarctic ice sheet, heat not being transerred north, therefore rapid melting
amazon, more heat
sahel, wind flow and ITCZ collapse, harms monsoon establishment

Question 23

seabed methane release

Answer 23

methane hydrate melts as ocean warms
hydrate contatins as much carbon as all oil and gas left on earth
5% in vulnerable zone

Question 24

dieback of TRF

Answer 24

deforestation delaying start of south american monsoon, reduced rainfall
over 40 years, dry season extened, warning of threshold
increased freq of droughts, decreased resilliacne
self perpetuating cycle