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GEO1005 > Living in the anthropocene > Flashcards

Living in the anthropocene Flashcards

1
Q

What does the anthropocene describe?

A

The hypothesis that we are living in a new geological era in which humans are altering the planet to such an extent that we are leaving a permanent and irreversible mark on the earth’s biological, hydrological, atmospheric and geological systems

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2
Q

How much rock do humans move each year?

A

In a single year we move more rock and earth than all natural erosion combined

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3
Q

What are we close to exceeding?

A

Several of the nine major planetary boundaries

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4
Q

What are the 9 major planetary boundaries?

A 
Climate change
Ocean acidification
Chemical pollution
Nitrogen and phosphorus loading
Freshwater withdrawals
Land conversion
Biodiversity loss
Air pollution
Ozone layer depletion
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5
Q

How have we changed the appearance of the Earth?

A

Three quarters of all land outside the ice sheets owes its appearance to us

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6
Q

How many people can the Earth support naturally?

A

3.5 billion but humans have adapted the environment to hold more

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7
Q

How can we make cities sustainable?

A

By fostering biodiversity

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8
Q

How much of the world’s population live in cities?

A

More than half

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9
Q

What is a problem threatening concrete?

A

We are running out of sand for it

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10
Q

Where does the sand for concrete come from?

A

Deltas and rivers- can’t use aeolian sand

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11
Q

How much concrete has been produced enough?

A

All of the concrete in the world could case the entire Earth 2mm thick

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12
Q

What has caused there to be a hole in the ozone layer?

A

CFCs

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13
Q

Where is the ozone hole located?

A

It is over Antarctica but if it were over inhabited areas then it would cause skin cancer and other health issues

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14
Q

When were greenhouse gas levels last this high?

A

Greenhouse gas concentrations have not been this high for more than 3 million years

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15
Q

What is happening to global temperatures?

A

They are rising

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16
Q

What is a threat to oceans?

A

Ocean acidification

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17
Q

What is happening to sea levels?

A

They are rising

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18
Q

What is happening to deltas and why?

A

They are sinking 4x faster than sea levels are rising due to dams

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19
Q

How many of the world’s deltas are sinking?

A

Two thirds of the world’s deltas are sinking due to damming, mining and other causes

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20
Q

how many people move to the city every week and for how long is this predicted to continue?

A

1million inhabitants every week until 2100

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21
Q

What is an issue with growth?

A

Health, wealth and longevity increased yet more than 1 billion remain malnourished

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22
Q

How many people are expected to live on the planet?

A

9 billion

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23
Q

What is an issue with inequality and life expectancy?

A

There is a 20 year life expectancy gap in kensington

24
Q

In what geological epoch did life begin?

A

Phanerozoic

25
Q

What has human rights in Bangladesh and New Zealand?

A

rivers

26
Q

What are 3 issues related to water stress?

A

Rivers drying out
Mining
Oceans breaking heat records

27
Q

What has colonisation led to?

A

Cooling as diseases are brought over and landscapes change

28
Q

What has there been a loss of which is essential for environmental function?

A

Pollinators

29
Q

What has there been a change in the distribution of over the years?

A

Crop distribution has changed over the years

30
Q

What is a reason for the extinction of species?

A

Humans have been introducing other species

31
Q

What do ‘golden spikes’ mark?

A

Clear boundaries geologically

32
Q

What is meant by ‘the Great Acceleration’?

A

The steep increase and potential future increase in the use of fuel

33
Q

What has there been an increase in between 1890 and 1990?

A

Nitrogen fixation

34
Q

What are the trends in terms of investment?

A

Both rich and poor follow curves in terms of investment

35
Q

What is meant by internal dynamics?

A

Plate tectonics

36
Q

What does E stand for?

A

Earth system

37
Q

What is the equation for the rate of change of the Earth System?

A

dE/dt = f (A,G,I)

38
Q

What does A stand for?

A

Astronomical forcing

39
Q

What does G stand for?

A

Geophysical forcing

40
Q

What does I stand for?

A

Internal dynamics of the Earth System

41
Q

The balance of which elements in coastal zones can affect ecosystems?

A

The nitrogen-phosphate balance in coastal zones affects ecosystems

42
Q

What is an issue with changing the landscape to produce other species?

A

Can’t go back to the old environment easily

43
Q

What does H stand for?

A

Humans

44
Q

What is the anthropocene equation?

A 
dE/dt = f(H)
A,G,I= 0
45
Q

What is the equation for the H dynamic of the anthropocene equation?

A

H= f(P,C,T)

46
Q

What does P stand for?

A

Population (consumers)

47
Q

What does C stand for?

A

Consumption

48
Q

What does T stand for?

A

Technosphere

49
Q

How can the technosphere value be found?

A

T = f(En, K, Pe)

50
Q

What does En stand for?

A

Energy system

51
Q

What does K stand for?

A

Knowledge

52
Q

What does Pe stand for?

A

Political economy

53
Q

What is the environmental impact equation?

A

I= P x C x T

54
Q

What does I stand for in the environmental impact equation?

A

Environmental impact

55
Q

What does P stand for in the environmental impact equation?

A

Population

56
Q

What does C stand for in the environmental impact equation?

A

Consumption per person

57
Q

What does T stand for in the environmental impact equation?

A

Impact per unit of consumption

GEO1005 (8 decks)

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