Physical Geography - Carbon Eq3

Question 1

What is driving the demand for land-use change globally?

Answer 1

The growing demand for food, fuel, and other resources is driving the demand for land-use change globally.

Question 2

What are the different land-use changes occurring globally?

Answer 2

he different land-use changes occurring globally include deforestation, afforestation, and conversion of grasslands to farming.

Question 3

How does land-use change impact terrestrial carbon stores?

Answer 3

Land-use change has a significant impact on terrestrial carbon stores.

Question 4

How does the water cycle get affected by changes in land-use?

Answer 4

Changes in land-use can affect the water cycle, causing changes in weather patterns and water availability.

Question 5

How does land-use change affect soil health?

Answer 5

Changes in land-use can lead to soil degradation, which can decrease agricultural productivity and negatively impact soil health.

Question 6

What is ocean acidification?

Answer 6

Ocean acidification is the process by which the ocean absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, resulting in a decrease in pH levels and an increase in acidity.

Question 7

What causes ocean acidification?

Answer 7

Ocean acidification is accelerated by human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, which releases large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Question 8

How does ocean acidification affect marine ecosystems?

Answer 8

As the ocean becomes more acidic, it becomes more difficult for marine organisms such as coral reefs and shellfish to form and maintain their calcium carbonate structures, leading to declines in population and biodiversity. Other marine ecosystems such as kelp forests, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests are also affected.

Question 9

Why are coral reefs particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification?

Answer 9

Coral reefs are sensitive to changes in pH levels and require specific conditions for growth and survival. They are therefore particularly vulnerable to ocean acidification.

Question 10

What is the critical threshold for ocean acidification?

Answer 10

There is a critical threshold beyond which the health of marine ecosystems may be irreversibly impacted by ocean acidification.

Question 11

What needs to be done to mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification?

Answer 11

It is important to take immediate action to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impacts of ocean acidification in order to protect these vital marine ecosystems and the services they provide.

Question 12

What is climate change?

Answer 12

Climate change refers to long-term changes in global average temperature, precipitation, and other aspects of the climate system.

Question 13

What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?

Answer 13

The enhanced greenhouse effect is the warming of the Earth’s surface due to the increase in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), caused by human activities.

Question 14

How does climate change increase the frequency of drought?

Answer 14

Climate change may increase the frequency of drought due to shifting climate belts, resulting in changes in precipitation patterns and soil moisture levels.

Question 15

What role do forests play in the carbon cycle?

Answer 15

Forests play an important role as carbon stores, absorbing and sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Question 16

How does drought impact forest health?

Answer 16

Drought can have negative impacts on forest health, reducing photosynthesis and leading to increased tree mortality and decreased carbon sequestration.

Question 17

What is the Amazonian region’s vulnerability to drought events?

Answer 17

The Amazonian region is particularly vulnerable to drought events, with increased frequency and severity of droughts projected under future climate change scenarios.

Question 18

Why is it important to consider the impacts of climate change on forests and the carbon cycle?

Answer 18

The impacts of climate change on forests and the carbon cycle have important implications for global efforts to mitigate climate change and maintain the health and resilience of ecosystems.

Question 19

What are the implications of forest loss for human wellbeing?

Answer 19

Forest loss has a range of implications for human wellbeing, including reduced biodiversity, loss of ecosystem services, and increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 20

Is there evidence of forest protection and expansion in some countries?

Answer 20

Yes, there is evidence of forest protection and expansion in some countries, particularly those at higher levels of development.

Question 21

What is the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) model?

Answer 21

The EKC model suggests that economic development and environmental degradation are initially positively correlated, but become negatively correlated at higher levels of development.

Question 22

How do attitudes of global consumers play a role in forest conservation?

Answer 22

Attitudes of global consumers towards environmental issues play an important role in driving changes in forest conservation policies and practices.

Question 23

Why has increased awareness of environmental issues led to greater forest protection and expansion?

Answer 23

Increased awareness and concern about environmental issues has led to greater demand for environmentally-friendly products and practices, which in turn has encouraged the expansion and protection of forest stores in some countries.

Question 24

Why is the continued expansion and protection of forest stores important?

Answer 24

The continued expansion and protection of forest stores will be important for maintaining the health and resilience of ecosystems and for addressing global environmental challenges such as climate change.

Question 25

How do increased temperatures affect evaporation rates?

Answer 25

Increased temperatures can affect evaporation rates, leading to changes in the quantity of water vapor in the atmosphere.

Question 26

What are the implications of changes in water vapor quantity in the atmosphere?

Answer 26

Changes in the quantity of water vapor in the atmosphere can have implications for precipitation patterns, affecting the quantity and timing of precipitation in different regions.

Question 27

How does increased temperature impact river regimes?

Answer 27

Increased temperatures can impact river regimes, affecting the flow and volume of water in rivers and the timing of flood and drought events.

Question 28

What is the cryosphere and how is it impacted by increased temperatures?

Answer 28

The cryosphere, or frozen water stores, is impacted by increased temperatures, leading to melting of glaciers, ice caps, and permafrost.

Question 29

How are drainage basin stores affected by increased temperatures?

Answer 29

Drainage basin stores, or the total amount of water stored in a drainage basin, can be affected by increased temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns.

Question 30

Why is the Arctic region particularly vulnerable to the impacts of increased temperatures?

Answer 30

The Arctic region is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of increased temperatures, with the potential for significant melting of the cryosphere and changes in river regimes.

Question 31

What is the uncertainty in global projections of the impacts of increased temperatures on water stores and regimes?

Answer 31

There is significant uncertainty in global projections of the impacts of increased temperatures on water stores and regimes, due to a range of factors, including variability in regional precipitation patterns, land-use changes, and human activities.

Question 32

What are the threats to ocean health?

Answer 32

The threats to ocean health include depletion of fish populations, contamination of seafood with pollutants, erosion of coastlines, destruction of coral reefs, decline in marine biodiversity, poisoning from harmful algal blooms, spread of infectious diseases from marine animals, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and changes in ocean currents and temperatures.

Question 33

How do these threats impact human wellbeing?

Answer 33

These threats disrupt food sources and economic activities leading to loss of income and employment opportunities, food scarcity and malnutrition. They also have health impacts such as increased risk of disease transmission and contamination of drinking water. Additionally, they increase vulnerability to natural disasters through enhanced erosion and flooding due to rising sea levels.

Question 34

What is the impact of ocean health on food security in developing regions?

Answer 34

In developing regions, the depletion of fish populations and contamination of seafood with pollutants pose threats to food security and can lead to food scarcity and malnutrition.

Question 35

How does the decline in marine biodiversity affect coastal protection and tourism?

Answer 35

The decline in marine biodiversity can lead to the destruction of coral reefs, which provide crucial coastal protection and are popular tourist destinations.

Question 36

What is the impact of climate change on ocean health?

Answer 36

Climate change has several impacts on ocean health, including rising sea levels, ocean acidification, and changes in ocean currents and temperatures.

Question 37

What is the uncertainty in future emissions and atmospheric concentration levels?

Answer 37

The future emissions and atmospheric concentration levels are uncertain due to various natural factors such as the role of carbon sinks, changes in ocean currents and temperatures, and human factors such as economic growth and population growth, and changes in energy sources and their emissions. There is also uncertainty due to feedback mechanisms, including carbon release from peatlands and permafrost and tipping points, including forest dieback and alterations to the thermohaline circulation.

Question 38

What are the natural factors affecting future emissions and atmospheric concentration levels?

Answer 38

Natural factors affecting future emissions and atmospheric concentration levels include changes in solar radiation, volcanic eruptions, and changes in ocean currents and temperatures.

Question 39

What are the human factors affecting future emissions and atmospheric concentration levels?

Answer 39

Human factors affecting future emissions and atmospheric concentration levels include future emissions from economic growth and population growth, and changes in energy sources and their emissions.

Question 40

What are the feedback mechanisms affecting future emissions and atmospheric concentration levels?

Answer 40

Feedback mechanisms affecting future emissions and atmospheric concentration levels include the release of carbon from permafrost and peatlands, alterations to the thermohaline circulation, and tipping points, including forest dieback.

Question 41

What is the uncertainty in future climate warming?

Answer 41

The future climate warming is uncertain due to various natural factors such as changes in solar radiation, volcanic eruptions, and changes in ocean currents and temperatures, and human factors such as future emissions from economic growth and population growth, and changes in energy sources and their emissions. There is also uncertainty due to feedback mechanisms, including release of carbon from permafrost and peatlands, alterations to the thermohaline circulation, and tipping points, including forest dieback.

Question 42

What are the adaptation strategies for a changed climate?

Answer 42

The adaptation strategies for a changed climate include water conservation and management, resilient agricultural systems, land-use planning, flood-risk management, and solar radiation management.

Question 43

What are the costs associated with water conservation and management?

Answer 43

The costs of water conservation and management can include infrastructure upgrades and increased energy use.

Question 44

What are the risks associated with resilient agricultural systems?

Answer 44

The risks of resilient agricultural systems may include decreased yields and reduced food security.

Question 45

What are the costs of land-use planning?

Answer 45

The costs of land-use planning can include changes to zoning and development patterns.

Question 46

What are the risks of flood-risk management?

Answer 46

The risks of flood-risk management may include increased exposure to flooding and displacement of communities.

Question 47

What are the costs of solar radiation management?

Answer 47

The costs of solar radiation management can include deployment of reflective surfaces or shading technologies.

Question 48

What are the risks associated with solar radiation management?

Answer 48

The risks of solar radiation management may include unintended consequences such as altered rainfall patterns.

Question 49

What is re-balancing the carbon cycle?

Answer 49

Re-balancing the carbon cycle refers to the process of mitigating the impact of human activities on the carbon cycle to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote sustainability.

Question 50

What are the mitigation strategies for re-balancing the carbon cycle?

Answer 50

The mitigation strategies for re-balancing the carbon cycle include carbon taxation, renewable switching, energy efficiency, afforestation, and carbon capture and storage.

Question 51

Why is global scale agreement and national actions required for re-balancing the carbon cycle?

Answer 51

Global scale agreement and national actions are required for re-balancing the carbon cycle because mitigation strategies must be implemented on a large scale to be effective.

Question 52

What are the challenges in achieving global scale agreement and national actions for re-balancing the carbon cycle?

Answer 52

The challenges in achieving global scale agreement and national actions for re-balancing the carbon cycle include different priorities and interests among countries, resistance to change from transnational corporations (TNCs), and lack of public support and understanding.

Question 53

What are the attitudes of different countries towards re-balancing the carbon cycle?

Answer 53

The attitudes of different countries towards re-balancing the carbon cycle vary, depending on factors such as their level of development, energy needs, and political priorities.

Question 54

What is the role of transnational corporations (TNCs) in re-balancing the carbon cycle?

Answer 54

The role of transnational corporations (TNCs) in re-balancing the carbon cycle is complex. Some TNCs may resist change and hinder progress, while others may support mitigation strategies and play a positive role in re-balancing the carbon cycle.

Question 55

What is the role of public support and understanding in re-balancing the carbon cycle?

Answer 55

Public support and understanding are crucial for re-balancing the carbon cycle, as they can influence government policies and the actions of transnational corporations (TNCs). A lack of public support and understanding can hinder progress towards re-balancing the carbon cycle.