Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Earth resources, Impacts and Sustainability > Pre-reading > Flashcards

Pre-reading Flashcards

1
Q

What is the expected total population growth from 2012 to 2030 and how will the affecet the global middle class?

A

Total population will go from 6 to 9 billion
Middle class will increase from 1 to 4 billion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

what 4 catergories can ecosystem services be catergorised into?

A
  1. provisioning services (direct products)
  2. Regulating services (pollination etc)
  3. Support services (nutrient, water cycle)
  4. Cultural services (spiritual, recreational etc)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What did the Millennium Ecosystem Assesment 2005 determine?

A

The majority of the worlds valuble ecosystem services are being degraded or used unsustainably

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What is biomass?

A

biogenic material derived from living or recently living organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How are the broad land use classes distinguished by Erb et al?

A

Settlement and infrastructure
Croplands
Grazing and other land
Forestry
Unused lands

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How much land and biomass is produced from forestry?

A

35Mkm*2
3.3Gt/year

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How much land and biomass in produced by grazing and other land?

A

46.9Mkm*2
3.8 Gt/year

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How much land does cropland cover?

A

15.2Mkm*2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How much of total human biomass is derived from cropland?

A

> 50%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

How much land do settlements cover?

A

1.4Mkm*2

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What would a global transition to plant based diets do?

A

Strongly reduce the demand on the food supply system

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is 3/4 of the unused land like?

A

Very unproductive (arctic, apline tundra and deserts)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is causing a reduction in biomass yearf by year?

A

Harvest of biomass (food, feed , raw of wild living hetereotrophs or carbon sequestration)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is the use of timber over steel or concrete for contruction beneficial for the environment?

A

Reduce GHG emissions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is ~60% of biomass used by humans for?

A

Feeding livestock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the energy conversion loss between trophic levels?

A

~90%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

How is biomass produced?

A

primary production which convert inorganic chemical compounds (CO2 and water) into sugars.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What has been the annual increase in installed renewable technologies?

A

2-30%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

How much of total energy production was derived from renewables in 2013?

A

19% (50% traditional biomass)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What is the split of energy production for different renewables largest to smallest?

A
  1. Hydrological
  2. Wind
  3. Solar-Pv
  4. Bio-power
  5. Geothermal
  6. Concentrated solr power
  7. ocean energy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

How has renewable energy investment chnaged from 2004 to 2016?

A

$40 billion to $214 billion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Who is the biggest investor in renewables in 2016?

A

China ($56 billion)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

What has the trend been with employment in renewables from 2004 to 2014?

A

Doubled from 3 to 6 million

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What happened to the price of solar-pv from 2010 to 2014?

A

50% decrease

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is the conversion efficieny of solar-pv?

A

25%

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q
A
27
Q

What is the environmental benefit of solar-pv?

A

significanlty reduced atmopsheric input with emissions being linked to manufacturing of cells

28
Q

How long does it take a wind turbine to “pay back” its energy?

A

3-6 months

29
Q

What is the economical/ technical lifespan of a wind turbine?

A

20 years

30
Q

What is the capcity factor of wind turbines?

A

the fact they are not able to run all the time (high winds) this is around 28-40%

31
Q

What was the economic value of wind energy in 2013?

A

57 billion euro

32
Q

What temperature of reservoir is required for geothermal energy production?

A

100c or higher for traditional but with lower temp evapouration fluids can be 80c

33
Q

How does geothermal enegry production work?

A

by producing hot fluids/ vapor by tapping into hydrothermal reservoirs

34
Q

What is the main challenge of food systems?

A

Ability to satisfy food demand

35
Q

What is the aim of the UNEP sustainble food system programme?

A

improve resource use efficiency and reduce the polluting intensity of food systems from production to consumption

36
Q

what do all food systems rely upon?

A

water
biodiversity
fertile soil
or
the sea

37
Q

What is responsible for the biggest withdrawal of global water?

A

Agriculture 70%

38
Q

What does rapfish mean and who produced this thesis?

A

Rapid appraisal for fisheries
University of British Columbia

39
Q

What is the purpose of Rapfish?

A

A way to analyse and evaluate sustainability and fisheries

40
Q

What indicators does Rapish use to asses fisheries?

A

Ecology
Technology
Economy
Social
Ethics

41
Q

Who is the largest producer and exporter of rare earth materials?

A

China 90% of market with 23% of reserve

42
Q

What problems are associated with Chinas rare earth metal production?

A

Low efficiency
Over-exploitation
Environmental pollution

43
Q

What was found to be the main factor affecting rare earth material development in China?

A

A lag in the development of environment protection and rare earth protection systems

44
Q

What elements are considered REEs (Rare Earth Elements)?

A

the 15 lanthanides and yttrium and scandium

45
Q

In what areas are REEs used mostly?

A

New energy
New material
Energy conservation
Environmental protection
Aerospace

46
Q

What is the proven global reserve of REEs said to be according to the US Geological Surveys Mineral commodities survery 2018?

A

130 million tonnes

47
Q

What the trend in chinas sustainble development of REEs between 2006-2016?

A

Increasing

48
Q

What was the main that is responsible for china sustainability growth?

A

Rare earth industrial industry development policy
AND
The Rare earth industry medium- and long-term developmnt plan

49
Q

How much of earths land has been changed by human activity?

A

1/2

D.Jackson (2002)

50
Q

Who said the quote “Water sustains all life on Earth; energy sustains human society”?

A

Gerhard et al 2002

51
Q

What is electrochemical CO2 reduction?

A

Green and efficient process of converting CO2 to high value products i.e. alcohols, acids and chemicals

52
Q

What is the main barrier to electrochemical CO2 reduction?

A

Efficient and low cost when scaling up the process

53
Q

Why are Heteroatom-doped porous carbon based catalysts used in CO2 electrochemical reduction?

A

Great surface area
Electrical conductivity
tailorable structure
Easy synthesis
High yiled from inepnesive and abundant earth materials

54
Q

What do ground source heat pumps do?

A

Take heat from the ground and raise it to a higher temperature

55
Q

How much larger can the output from Ground source heat pumps be than the electrical input?

A

3-4 times greater

56
Q

What is geothermal energy?

A

Thermal energy stored within the earths crust

57
Q

What 3 distinct groups can geothermal energy be split into according to ASHRAE (2002)?

(less

A

High temperature (150+)
Intermediate temperature (30-150)
Low temperature (less than 30)

58
Q

What type of geothermal energy is predominantly used by Ground source heat pumps?

A

Low temp for cooling and heating

59
Q

How do closed loop ground source systems work?

A

Circulating a heat carrier fluid through a heat exchanger in a sealed loop of pipework in trenches or boreholes

60
Q

How do open loop ground source systems work?

A

Pump ground water and extract heat from or reject to the ground water by passing through a heat pump or exchnager

61
Q

Can the ground be used as a store for thermal energy?

A

Yes due to it being a large and stable thermal mass

62
Q

What is an example of using the ground as a thermal store for ground source heat pumps?

A

waste ehat from summer cooling can be stored and then re-used in winter

63
Q

What are the general advantages to ground source heat pumps over conventional heaters and coolers?

A

Large potential carbon, energy and revenue savings

64
Q
A

Earth resources, Impacts and Sustainability (2 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions