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Global Change Biology > Introduction > Flashcards

Introduction Flashcards

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AP® Biology flashcards Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What are the primary driving forces of change

A

An increasing population
Climate change
Pollution
Many interlinked secondary changes

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2
Q

What did John Beddington say

A

He likened climate change to a perfect storm - he raised awareness of issues we are facing as a species in terms of our ability to manage energy demands, usually results in fossil fuel use. Amount of freshwater is decreasing.

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3
Q

What is the timeline of overpopulation

A

1315-1317- great famine where there was low light conditions due to volcanic clouds from volcanoes around the world.
1850s - time of industrial revolution, there’s been an increase in population.
1940s - potatoes were the dominant crop and the Irish potato famine caused a decrease in population through migration and death.
1950s - the green revolution.
Now - population is slowing down in some places but other places like Africa the population is still increasing

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4
Q

What is the green revolution

A

A series of technologies that allowed scientists and farmers to substantially increase food production

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5
Q

What do farmers expect back from every seed

A

7 seeds

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6
Q

How many seeds back per seed planted did farmers get during the great famine

A

Only 2

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7
Q

What does the computer model say about the world

A

It will level out at 5 billion and 2 billion of the people will be African

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8
Q

What causes overpopulation

A

Imbalance between demand for food and agricultural production

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9
Q

What caused the Irish potato famine

A

Partially caused by a single plant pathogenic fungus that destroyed crops before they could be dug up and eaten

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10
Q

What made the Irish potato famine even worse

A

There were still significant exports of potatoes to England - social issue

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11
Q

How would we have to sustain agricultural production

A

Agricultural production per unit would have to be substantially increased

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12
Q

How might one increase agricultural production per unit

A

Convert existing land to agricultural production

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13
Q

What is the issue of converting existing land to agricultural production

A

Extensive reach of deforestation as a result of trying to create the land, climate change feedback as deforestation released co2 and the agricultural land has low sequestration rates.

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14
Q

What are some lands limited by

A

Low rainfall

Low temperatures which can cause massive degradation as not suitable for global use

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15
Q

What is the concept of buffering food supply against population change

A

Shouldn’t be looking at opening new land but achieving the most from existing land by breeding plants to be more productive or manage them different to make most out of them

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16
Q

What are 3 buffers of food supply against climate change

A

Plant breeding solutions
GM technology
Crop Management solutions

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17
Q

What happened to the Aral Sea

A

It used to be one of the largest freshwater bodies on the planet now becsuse water is used in irrigation it is depleted. Also a climate change signature

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18
Q

What caused a loss of biodiversity

A

Intensification of agriculture and deforestation, desertification due to overpopulation

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19
Q

How did farmland birds in UK coincide with increased pesticide use

A

Farm spaces for bigger so less space for breeding birds

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20
Q

What percentage of UK GHG emissions come from agriculture

A

9%

Nitrous oxides 55%. Methane 36%. Co2 9%

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21
Q

Example of intensification causing local problems of pollution

A

Fertilisers stimulating algal growth

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22
Q

What do we need to consider with pollutants in landscapes

A

Their spatial distribution

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23
Q

What are local pollutants

A 
Heavy metals like lead
Radioisotopes
Salinity
Increased nutrients
Acidification
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24
Q

What are continental pollutants

A

Acidic gases and acid rain

Tropospheric ozone

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25
Q

What are global pollutants

A

Persistent organics
Ozone depleting gases
Greenhouse gases

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26
Q

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect

A

Incident solar radiation is absorbed by the earths surface and re-emitted at longer wavelengths.
A proportion of re-emitted radiation is radiated back to space.
A proportion of reemitted radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases, warming the atmosphere.

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27
Q

Carbons source and contribution to anthropogenic greenhouse effect

A

Fossil fuels and deforestation

56%

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28
Q

Methanes source and contribution to anthropogenic greenhouse effect

A

Biomass burning, fossil fuels and agriculture

16%

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29
Q

Cfcs source and contribution to anthropogenic greenhouse effect

A

Refrigerants

11%

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30
Q

Tropospheric ozone source and contribution to anthropogenic greenhouse effect

A

Hydrocarbons and biomass burning

5%

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31
Q

What is the global warming potential of methane

A

32 GWP

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32
Q

What is the global warming potential of nitrous oxide

A

282 GWP

33
Q

What is preindustrial co2 levels

A

270ppm

34
Q

What is co2 levels likely to rise to by the end of this century

A

700ppm

35
Q

What has happened to co2 levels in the space of 30 years

A

Seen an increase of about 50ppm

36
Q

Where are co2 readings taken

A

At Mauna Loa observatory in Hawaii

37
Q

What has mean global temperature risen by in 50 years

A

0.75*C

38
Q

What are the predictions of increase in temperature

A

1.5-6*C. Uncertainty bc of uncertainty of how ju am emissions will be

39
Q

What may mean change in temp disguise

A

Spatial and temporal variations such as more extreme local weather events

40
Q

What will broader changes in climate disrupt

A

Both natural and cultivated ecosystems

41
Q

What will increase in sea level result in

A

Loss of cultivar able land thus hastening agricultural intensification

42
Q

What may the speed of change be too great for

A

Either agricultural systems to change or organisms to evolve

43
Q

What may migration of ecosystems and organisms result in

A

Increased disease incidence

44
Q

As temps increase what may happen to areas immune to human disease

A

They become stricken with them as a result of host being able to migrate into regions

45
Q

What is the good news about the greenhouse effect

A

Post-Kyoto limitation of greenhouse gas emissions
Kigali agreement limited HFCs
More co2 is good for plants
We’ll be able to have more vinyards in south of England

46
Q

Bad news of greenhouse effect

A

Patchy implementation of post-Kyoto emissions limit
Effects of increased incidence of extreme weather events
Impact of change agricultural practices on native organisms and ecosystems

47
Q

What happens for each 1% decrease in stratospheric ozone

A

There is a 2% increase in UV-B radiation reaching the biosphere, which has biological effects

48
Q

Where is the stratosphere

A

15-35km up

49
Q

What does ozone in the stratosphere do

A

Selectively filters out the shortest, most energetic and potentially most damaging UV from sunlight

50
Q

What is the wavelength of UV-C

A

200-280nm (removed by O3 and O2)

51
Q

What is the wavelength of UV-B

A

280-315nm (reduced by O3)

52
Q

What is the wavelength of UV-A

A

315-400nm (not absorbed by O3)

53
Q

What does ozone filter out

A

Impacts of ultra-violet radiation

54
Q

What does stratospheric o3 depletion lead. To

A

Increased Uv-B

55
Q

What does upper tropheric O3 increase lead to

A

Trapped heat and acts as a greenhouse gas itself

56
Q

What does mid-level tropheric o3 doe

A

Breaks down pollutants

57
Q

What does ground level o3 affect

A

Plants and makes smog

58
Q

What is ozone measured in

A

Dobson Units

59
Q

When did atmospheric ozone decline

A

In 1980s over the Antarctic

60
Q

What was the main cause of the ozone hole

A

CFCs

61
Q

Why did ozone depletion also occur in the Arctic and Tibet

A

Due to air circulation patterns

62
Q

When was there a substantial ozone depletion over the Uk

A

1996

63
Q

What is the good news about ozone depletion and UV radiation

A

The Montreal Protocol (1989£ successfully limited CFCs

The atmospheric concentrations of CFCs is falling and ozone is beginning to recover

64
Q

What is the bad news about ozone depletion and UV radiation

A

Ozone recovery is slow and recovery is delayed by global warming and pollution
Ozone unlikely to return to pre-1980s ozone before 2050
This may have long term impacts at the poles

65
Q

How is ozone production

A

Combined action of NOx, hydrocarbons (exhaust) and UV radiation

66
Q

What are the two components of the atmosphere

A

Stratosphere

Troposphere (near earth)

67
Q

How does ozone reduce crop yield

A

Stomatal closure and synthesis of anti-oxidants and reduced photosynthesis. Leads to reduced leaf growth and reduced root growth so reduced crop yield.

68
Q

How are some crops grown now to combat ozone levels

A

In open topped containers that ensures crops get exposed to charcoal filter air and not ozone

69
Q

What is the good news about tropospheric ozone

A

The use of catalytic converters in new cars in substantial reducing emissions of hydrocarbons that lead to o3

70
Q

What are the bad parts of tropospheric ozone

A

Lots more cars as economic Developement continues its pace

71
Q

What are the gases causing acid rain

A

Sulphur dioxide

Nitrogen oxides

72
Q

What is the source of sulphur dioxide

A

Burning fossil fuel
Industry. 85% of global budget
Forest fires 8%

73
Q

What is the source of nitrogen oxides

A

Automobiles
Burning fossil fuels. 40% of global budget
Incinerating organic wastes
Forest fires 20%

74
Q

What causes the UK Vlean Air Act in 1952

A

In London there has been a serious epidemic of sulphur gases.4,000 fatalities to the effects of coal smoke, acid gases and particulates

75
Q

How does acidic gases and rain effect human health

A

Lung disease like bronchitis and asthma

76
Q

What ecological effects is acid rain linked to

A

Long term health of forests in Northern Europe and major concerns in scandalous even tho not wide spread pollutant emissions a lot of the U.K. Pollutants got transported to it

77
Q

Good news about acidic gases and acid rain

A

Controls on industry and power stations in developed countries are reducing emissions of sulphur and nitrous
Acid precipitation is much less common

78
Q

Bad news about acid rain

A

Industrialisation in developing countries means emissions are not being reduced everywhere
NOx emissions from cars remain a problem

Global Change Biology (6 decks)

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