Managing Our Enviornment Flashcards
What is the greenhouse effect?
- Solar radiation passes through the atmosphere as short wave energy and heats up earth.
- 70% of this heat is absorbed by the earths surface so ground on earth is heated up
- This radiates back out through the atmosphere however some of it is trapped as it is long wave radiation.
- This outgoing heat is trapped by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere.
Define carbon footprint
A measure of the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a person, organisation or country in a given time.
How does the green house effect and carbon footprint contribute to climate change?
The greenhouse effect means that greenhouse gases such as CO2 will keep heat in the atmosphere and stop it escaping into space. This means that global temperatures will rise and climate will change.
How will climate change impact coral reefs?
Oceans become more acidic as they pick up more CO2 from the atmosphere.
This increased ocean acidification combined with rising temperatures is damaging coral reefs.
When these reefs are in sea temperatures higher than normal they start ‘bleaching’. This is where they lose their colourful algae.
There have been 6 mass bleaching events since 1979. One in 1998 killed 16% of the world’s reef building corals.
Back to back severe bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef devastated it for 1500km. (2/3 of the entire reef)
Bleaching could reach 80-100% of the world’s corals by 2080.
How will climate change have an impact on extinction risks?
It is forecast that if the temperature rose by 2 or 3°C 20-30% of all species around the world could be extinct in the next 100 years. This could mean 300,000 to 600,000 species being lost forever.
How will climate change have an impact on changes in seasonal life cycle events?
E.g changes in bird migrations, butterflies emerging from cocoons before they did in the pastor plants flowering earlier than they used to.
However theses changes are not all synchronised. For example Pied Flycatchers migrating from Western Africa to UK and Ireland fell by over 50% between 1995 and 2014. This is due to breeding being out of synch with peak availability for food. Warner springs causes insects to emerge earlier before the birds arrive from migration.
How will climate change make an impact on flooding
UK gov estimates that annual damage from flooding could increase to £12 billion in England and wales by 2080.
Many houses are threatened with 330,000 currently at risk from floods this could increase to between 630,000 and 1.2 million by 2080.
What impacts will climate change have on farming?
Agriculture in higher latitudes will be helped by climate change
However in LEDCs like countries in Africa as it is likely food production will fall. By 2030, Southern Africa’s maize production could fall by 1/3.
On the other hand, maize production in Europe is expected to grow by up to 25%.
How will climate change have an impact on drier summers?
The UK could have warmer and drier summers in the future. Therefore there are likely to be more droughts and heatwaves. These put considerable pressure on healthcare services particularly older people.
What are some natural causes of climate change?
Natural climate cycle- the orbit of the earth changes every 100,000 years very slightly between circular and elongated. Milankovic coined the term as eccentricity. This charging means temperatures will vary, this is evident in glacial cycles.
Sunspots- slightly darker spots on the sun seen which are temporarily lower.
Volcanic activity- when a volcano erupts large volumes of sulphur dioxide water vapour and dust is thrown into the atmosphere. Dust particles can partially block suns rays ad sulphur dioxide forms small droplets of sulphuric acid in the upper atmosphere which reflects sunlight.
What is the waste hierarchy?
Shows how reducing reusing and recycling materials can help reduce waste.
- Reduce
- Reuse
- Recycling
- Dispose
Why is it important to help prevent waste?
There are many chemicals in waste such as mercury in batteries. If these chemicals get into water in the ground, they could poison it, killing wildlife and possibly people.
Disease could also spread in places where waste is rotting.
Why is dealing with waste such a big issue in the UK?
Shortage of landfill sites
Most suitable sites have been filled up
NIMBY- people dont want them near as thy fear smells, blowing waste and rats.
What does reducing mean?
Reducing the amount of waste produced, by buying and consuming less.
Choosing products with less packaging than they need or packed in materials that have not consumed a lot of energy to produce.
Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth
What does reusing mean?
Finding innovative ways of using items again
Reuse clothes by taking them to charity shops. Also bring toys books and DVDs
Computer cartridges, leftover paint and computers can be used by others.
What does recycling mean?
Collecting and converting old paper, glass, plastic etc. so that it can be used again.
All councils in NI collect waste for recycling from boxes or wheelie bins given to householders
Even small villages have recycling banks for glass and aluminium cans
It is David that recycling just one can saves enough energy to run a TV for 3 hours.
What is renewable energy?
A sustainable source of electricity production, such as wind, solar or biofuels.
Name types of renewable energy
Wind
Solar
Hydroelectric
Biomass
Name the two ways solar energy is captured
Concentrated solar power (csp)- this uses parabolic troughs (curved mirrors) that heat a tube of fluid such as synthetic oil to 400°C. This heats water, the steam then drives a turbine to create electricity.
Photovoltaic cells- these are often found on the roof of a house. They change the suns energy directly into electricity.
What are the benefits of solar power?
They are non polluting, produce no noise and no greenhouse gases
They are cheap to run and require little maintenance.
Photovoltaic cells have less moving parts, therefore will last a long time 25-30 years guaranteed (often last 40 years)
What are the disadvantages of solar power?
Production reduced during cloudy periods. It’s difficult to store the electric energy in these periods also.
Only around 20% of the suns energy is converted meaning a large area is reduced to meet the needs
NIMBY affect results in objections to planning permission being granted for them
What are advantages of huge solar farms in MENA countries?
Providing a locally generated renewable power source to drive local industry in the MENA countries.
Provides long term employment in operating the plants
Clean energy will be cheaper to produce than that being produced in Europe
Development will contribute to taking carbon out of the atmosphere by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy.
What are disadvantages to solar farms in MENA countries?
These large scale projects which will bring few benefits to local communities
Technology is MEDCs and will be owned and controlled by them
Mistrust of multinational corporations who are known for the exploitation of the countries in which they work
These plants need water for cooling and to clean mirrors, these countries have a shortage of water due to climate change.
What are the positives of the of the Paris climate agreement?
Acceptance that ecosystems, biodiversity and land use can reduce greenhouse gases and help countries reduce risks and adapt to climate change
Conference recognises the importance of preparing for climate change through averting and minimising loss and damage. Also cooperation on early warning systems, emergency services and risk insurance.
Ratcheting- each target set will be replaced by a more ambitious one at regular intervals
Stocktaking- countries will announce publicly every 5 years how much they have reduced CO2 emissions.
LEDCs would get international support to adapt. MEDCs would continue with a goal of providing $100 billion per year by 2020. Extending this to 2025 with a new and higher goal to be set after that point.
