Managing Our Environment Flashcards
What is the greenhouse effect?
Natural process where heat from Sun is trapped in our atmosphere by greenhouse gases, e.g. carbon dioxide and methane.
Keeps Earth warm enough for us to live on it.
Without greenhouse effect, planet would be freezing and nothing could survive.
What is the process of the greenhouse effect?
- Sun’s heat passes directly through greenhouse gases.
- Earth is warmed.
- Some heat is trapped by greenhouse gases.
- Some heat escapes into space.
- Increase in greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests.
- Less heat can escape into space.
- More heat is trapped. The Earth is warmed up more and faster.
What is a carbon footprint?
Measure of amount of greenhouse gases produced by person, organisation or activity in given time such as a year.
All gases are converted into equivalent weight of carbon dioxide to make it simpler to compare how harmful different activities are.
What is an example of carbon footprint?
Can of beans cost of growing beans;
Natural vegetation removed to create farmland;
Water used to irrigate beans;
Chemicals used to reduce pests;
Power used to plough soil and harvest crop;
Mining to produce steel and tin used in metal containers;
Energy used to make metal containers;
Transporting of beans and tins to processing plant;
Fuel used to transport them to local market;
Lights used in supermarket;
Fuel used to go to shop.
What are the natural causes of climate change?
Natural climate cycles.
Sunspots.
Volcanic activity.
How do natural climate cycles cause climate change?
Earth’s orbit changes very slightly between nearly circular and more elongated every 100,000 years.
Evident in glacial/interglacial cycles of roughly same period.
How do sunspots cause climate change?
Slightly darker spots on sun where temperatures are temporarily lower can affect temperature.
Period between 1645 and 1715 where very few sunspots where seen coincides with very cold period in Europe known as Little Ice Age.
How does volcanic activity cause climate change?
When volcano erupts it throws out large volumes of sulfur and ash into atmosphere which can influence climatic patterns for years.
Gases and dust particles partially block out incoming rays of sun, leading to cooling.
Sulfur dioxide forms small droplets of sulfuric acid in upper atmosphere which reflect sunlight, and screen ground from some energy that it would normally receive from the sun.
What are the human causes of climate change?
Burning fossil fuels.
Vehicles.
Agriculture.
How does burning fossil fuels cause climate change?
When coal, oil or gas is burned in power stations to generate electricity, gases such as carbon dioxide are emitted into atmosphere adding to greenhouse gases in atmosphere.
How do vehicles cause climate change?
Exhausts of cars and lorries emit polluting gases such as nitrogen dioxide, which add to greenhouse gases in atmosphere.
How does agriculture cause climate change?
Beef has high environmental impact and it is estimated that 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions comes from agriculture.
Methane production from large numbers of cattle is increasing very fast and so is nitrogen dioxide given off by fertilisers.
What are the consequences of climate change?
Sea level changes
Precipitation changes
Tourism
Agriculture
Health
Economy
What are the consequences of climate change towards sea level changes?
Sea levels could rise by up to 2.0m as water expands at it is heated, and due to melting ice.
What are the consequences of climate change towards precipitation changes?
Patterns of world precipitation could change and rainfall become more unreliable so that some places will be wetter and others drier.
What are the consequences of climate change towards tourism?
Places such as Alps could have less snow due to rising temperatures, so reducing conditions for skiing; could have negative effects on employment, economic prospects and income of region.
What are the consequences of climate change towards agriculture?
Types of crops grown and their yields will be affected by increasing temperatures; more extreme climate conditions may affect how land is farmed.
What are the consequences of climate change towards health?
Increasingly hot temperatures in Northern Europe in summer could put people at greater risk from heatstroke in cities, bringing rise in deaths.
What are the consequences of climate change towards the economy?
More money may need to be spent on expensive flood protection schemes to protect coastal cities, defending low-lying coastal land and safeguard ports and harbours.
What are the effects of climate change on the environment?
Increasing temperatures
Increasing rainfall
Glacier and icecap melt
Sea level changes
Impacts on plants and animals
What is the effect of climate change on increasing temperatures?
World heating up and rate of this increase is speeding up.
Global temperatures have risen by 0.75oC over last 100 years.
What is the positive effect of increasing temperatures on the environment?
Could improve weather (and climate) in some places.
What is the negative effect of increasing temperatures on the environment?
Could cause larger infestations of insects that will bring new diseases into an area.
What is the effect of climate change on increasing rainfall?
Global rainfall patterns are changing.
Places that used to be dry now experiencing more rain and wet places experiencing long periods of drought.
Rainfall totals in UK and Norway higher than 50 years ago.
What is the positive effect of increasing rainfall on the environment?
Increased amount of rainfall allows plants and crops to grow.
What is the negative effect of increasing rainfall on the environment?
Some places will have more rain while others will have less rain which lead to drought conditions.
What is the effect of climate change on glacier and icecap melt?
Polar icecaps and glaciers melting at faster rate.
Evidence shows sea ice in Arctic has retreated by 20%.
What is the positive effect of glacier and icecap melt on the environment?
Polar icecaps that are traditionally frozen through winter will not have thick ice forming all year round.
What is the negative effect of glacier and icecap melt on the environment?
Polar bear population in Arctic decreasing. Nears have to swim further between flows of ice, using up more energy and causing them to lose weight and body fat.
Increasing run-off from glaciers into rivers cause increase in flooding in upland areas, e.g. melting ice in Nepal cause flooding in Bangladesh.
What is the effect of climate change on sea level changes?
Over last 100 years, sea levels around UK have risen by 10cm.
As water released from storage in ice, amount of water in world’s oceans will continue to rise.
Even rise of 1m could flood 25% of Bangladesh.
What is the positive effect of sea level changes on the environment?
Some coastal areas with coral reefs will have more water to help Coll sea temperatures. Allow coral to recover from bleaching caused by warm sea temperatures.
What is the negative effect of sea level changes on the environment?
Flooding cause difficulties along coasts and lowland area as sea levels begin to rise.
Will change natural habitats and create more marsh areas.
What is the effect of climate change on the impact on plants and animals?
As changes occur to climate, some species will be unable to adapt.
What is the positive effect of the impact plants and animals on the environment?
Plants will be able to be grown in new areas due to warmer temperatures, e.g. oranges grown in UK.
Animals and birds will change emigration patterns to live in previously inhospitable places.
What is the negative effect of the impact plants and animals on the environment?
Plants not be able to survive in some areas due to weather rand climate changes.
Animals might have to migrate longer distances to find food, e.g. lions in Savannah grasslands of Africa.
Large areas of rainforest such as Amazon will be lost to drought or uncontrolled fire.
What are the effects of climate change on people?
Food supply
Availability of water
Increasing temperatures
Health
Mortality rates in LEDC’s
What is the effect of climate change on food supply on people?
Impact on crops and food supply will vary across world, but as climate changes, farmers will need to change crops and farming practices.
May need to choose plants that can adapt to different climates.
What is the positive effect of climate change on food supply on people?
Corps can be grown in new areas, e.g. grapes now grown in some areas of southern England.
What is the negative effect of climate change on food supply on people?
Decreased food supply and food security means increasing number of people are starving or malnourished, especially in Eastern African countries such as Ethiopia and Eritrea.
What is the effect of climate change on availability of water on people?
If there is more rainfall in an area there may be more water available for drinking or irrigation.
However, other areas might experience higher chance of drought conditions.
What is the positive effect of climate change on availability of water on people?
Increased rainfall might increase amount of fresh drinking water, e.g. in southern France.
What is the negative effect of climate change on availability of water on people?
Increased rainfall could build up in stagnant ponds and lakes, increasing amount of water-borne diseases such as cholera, e.g. in India and Pakistan.
What is the effect of climate change on increasing temperatures on people?
People like to go on holiday to warm countries. If temperatures continue to rise then might not have to travel as far for warm-weather holiday.
What is the positive effect of climate change on increasing temperatures on people?
People might benefit from periods of warm weather in summer and not have to travel for summer holidays.
What is the negative effect of climate change on increasing temperatures on people?
Longer frost-free seasons will mean fewer bugs and bacteria killed off by cold weather, causing increases in deaths from diseases.
What is the effect of climate change on health on people?
Changes in atmosphere could have both good and bad impacts on health, e.g. heatwaves cause more people to end up in hospital, yet will allow more people to enjoy sunny days in parks or on beach.
What is the positive effect of climate change on health on people?
People will experience better health if there is warmer climate and better weather.
Warmer temperatures allow people chance to enjoy nature and outdoors more.
What is the negative effect of climate change on health on people?
Malnutrition will increase and more people be endangered by extreme weather events which as heatwaves and storms.
More medical assistance will be needed to help people affected by these events.
What is the effect of climate change on mortality rates in LEDCs on people?
Estimated that number of deaths will increase in future, seriously affecting 660 million people.
Total cost to global economy caused by deaths could be nearly £220 billion per year.
What is the positive effect of climate change on mortality rates in LEDCs on people?
Increased rainfall can lead to better crops / food supply which might help reduce death rates in LEDCs.
What is the negative effect of climate change on mortality rates in LEDCs on people?
People in LEDCs do not have money or resources to cope with change in climate.
Means that even small changes to climate could cause floods or droughts and cause more people to die.
What is a waste hierarchy?
Method used to rank waste management options in order of sustainability.
What is the order of priority in a waste hierarchy?
- Measures that prevent waste in the first place. (Waste prevention)
- Preparing waste for reuse. (Reuse)
- Recycling.
- Energy recovery.
- Disposal.
What is involved in the waste prevention management option in a waste hierarchy?
Using less material in design and manufacture.
Using products for longer.
Reusing materials.
Using less hazardous materials.
What is involved in the reuse management option in a waste hierarchy?
Checking, cleaning, repairing and refurbishing whole items or spare parts.
What is involved in the recycling / composting management option in a waste hierarchy?
Turning waste into new substance or product, including compost.
What is involved in the energy recovery management option in a waste hierarchy?
Disposing of waste through incineration, which produces energy of other materials from waste.
What is involved in the disposal management option in a waste hierarchy?
Landfill and incineration without energy.
What does reduce mean in the idea ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’?
Produce less waste, e.g. by buying less or choosing products that have less packaging.
What does reuse mean in the idea ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’?
You can use an item again as it is, such as passing things on to a friend or donating them to a charity shop.
What does recycle mean in the idea ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’?
An item can be turned into something else, such as plastic bottles into a park bench.
Uses energy, so not quite as sustainable as the other options.
What is a renewable energy source?
Sustainable source of energy production (e.g. solar, wind or biofuels).
Energy can be naturally replaced and used repeatedly.
What is solar energy?
Renewable energy source that uses sun to generate energy.
Sun’s light and heat is converted into electricity and used to heat water.
What is wind energy?
Renewable energy source that uses force of the wind to turn sails on a turbine and generate power.
What are biofuels?
Renewable energy source that uses fermented animal or plant waste to create energy.
Power generated as biological material rots and creates chemical energy.
What are biofuels also known as?
Biogas or biomass.
Where have the biggest advances in wind technology come from?
The UK, Denmark and California (USA).
What is the world’s largest wind farm in the world?
Walney Wind farm.
What are some facts about Walney Wind farm?
Located off coast of Cumbria in UK.
Opened in 2012.
Its 189 wind turbines can create 1026 megawatts of energy.
What are the benefits of wind energy?
Less carbon emissions.
A source of ‘green’ energy.
Reduced need for imported fossil fuels.
Value for money.
What are the benefits of wind energy on less carbon emissions?
Much of UK’s energy comes from fossil fuels that create greenhouse gases and carbon emissions.
Move to a renewable source provides an inexhaustible, locally available, ‘green’ fuel.
What are the benefits of wind energy on a source of ‘green’ energy?
Wind power is cost-effective and modern wind turbines are reliable - lasting over 20 years.
UK also has access to most reliable wind patterns in Europe.
In 2021, 26% of energy needs in UK came from wind power.
What are the benefits of wind energy on reduced need for imported fossil fuels?
UK has become very dependent on fossil fuels, which are mostly imported from other countries.
Any reduced dependence helps UK with its energy security.
What are the benefits of wind energy on value for money?
Wind power can be expensive (especially to build) but, as fossil fuels become more expensive to use, it is becoming more attractive long-term solution.
Once turbines are built, they can produce a fixed income for at least 20 years with minimal maintenance.
What are the disadvantages of wind energy?
Harm to wildlife
Eyesores / visual impact
A need for alternative sources of energy
High set up costs
What are the disadvantages of wind energy on harm to wildlife?
Some scientists concerned that electric field created be generators in turbines might affect sense of direction of seals, porpoises, sharks and whales.
What are the disadvantages of wind energy on eyesores / visual impact?
Some people find wind farms ugly and feel that they will put tourists off coming to an area.
However, contractor of Walney Wind farm argues that it is difficult to see its wind farm as is 14km offshore.
What are the disadvantages of wind energy on a need for alternative sources of energy?
On calm or very wind (above 16 knots) days turbines cannot be used.
Means backup system is always needed, e.g. non-renewable power station which can be brought to full capacity quickly.
What are the disadvantages of wind energy on high set up costs?
Initial investment of £1 billion very expensive.
Wind turbines (especially those off coast) expensive to build and can take over 20 years until they make a profit.
Where did the 2015 International Climate Change Agreement take place?
Paris at COP 21 conference.
What are some of the key points of the 2015 International Climate Change Agreement?
Keep global temperatures ‘well below’ 2oC above pre-industrial times (potentially below 1.5oC).
Limit amount of greenhouse gas emissions due to human activity so that trees p, soil and oceans can naturally absorb carbon emissions (between 2050 and 2100).
Review contributions each country is making in cutting emissions every 5 years.
MEDCs to help LEDCs by providing ‘climate finance’, help poorer
