Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

OCR A level Geography > Support systems KQ4- To what extent are the water and carbon cycles linked? > Flashcards

Support systems KQ4- To what extent are the water and carbon cycles linked? Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
U.S. Geography flashcards World Geography flashcards
1
Q

Name 5 strategies used to protect the global carbon cycle

A
  • Wetland restoration
  • Agricultural practices
  • Afforestation
  • International agreements to reduce carbon emissions
  • Cap and trade
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What are wetlands?

A

An area where the water table at or near the surface causing the ground to be permanently saturated

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

How much of the Earth’s land surface is covered by wetlands?

A

6-9%

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

How much of the Earth’s terrestrial carbon pool do wetlands hold?

A

35%

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

Why are wetlands under pressure?

A

Population growth, economic development, and urbanisation

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

How many tonnes of carbon do wetlands hold per ha per year?

A

3.25

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

What has been done on the Canadian prairies in regard to wetlands?

A

112,000 ha have been targeted for restoration, which should eventually sequester 364,000 tonnes of carbon per year

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

What is being done in the UK in regard to wetland restoration?

A

-400 ha of grade 1 farmland in East Cambridgeshire is being converted back to wetland

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

How are wetlands restored?

A
  • local water tables are raised to create water-logged conditions
  • flood and sea defences can be breached to water-log areas
  • drainage ditches are blocked or diverted
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is afforestation?

A

The planting for trees in deforested areas or in areas that have never been forested before

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

Why is wetland restoration needed?

A
  • To reduce carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere as they act as an important carbon sink
  • To conserve wildlife
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How can afforestation manage the global carbon cycle?

A
  • trees act as a carbon sink

- so can reduce atmospheric CO2 levels

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

On what time scale can afforestation have an effect on the carbon cycle?

A

Medium and long term

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

Besides reducing CO2 concentration, what other benefits does afforestation provide?

A
  • reducing flood risks
  • reducing soil erosion
  • increasing biodiveristy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Besides afforestation what can be done to decrease the rate of deforestation?

A

-tropical forests can be protected from loggers, farmers, and miners

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

What is the UN doing to combat deforestation? Give examples of areas

A
  • The REDD scheme incentivises developing countries to conserve their rainforests by placing a monetary value on forest conservation
  • E.g Amazonia and lower Mississippi
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Why are the Chinese government sponsoring an afforestation project?

A
  • to combat desertification and land degradation

- to reduce carbon dioxide emissions

18
Q

Give examples of unsustainable agricultural practices

A
  • overcultivation

- overgrazing

19
Q

How many million tonnes a year of methane is released from livestock?

A

100 million

20
Q

What 3 general methods can be used to improve agricultural practices?

A
  • Land and crop management
  • Livestock management
  • Manure management
21
Q

How does manure management reduce emissions of greenhouse gas?

A
  • controls the way manure decomposes to reduce CH4 emissions

- capturing CH4 as a source of renewable energy

22
Q

How can livestock management reduce emissions of greenhouse gas?

A

-improving the quality of animal feed to reduce ENTERIC fermentation so less is converted to CH4

23
Q

How can land and crop management reduce emissions of greenhouse gas?

A
  • zero tillage, not ploughing soil, preserving soil’s organic content, and reducing oxidation
  • growing crops interspersed with trees to protect from soil erosion
24
Q

How can international agreements reduce carbon emissions?

A
  • The Paris agreement gets countries to set a voluntary target for carbon emissions
  • Richer countries transfer money and technologies to poorer countries to assist them in achieving their targets
25
Q

What are disadvantages of the Paris agreement?

A
  • the targets are voluntary

- a timetable has yet to be set

26
Q

What are the aims of the Paris agreement?

A
  • to reduce global CO2 emissions to 60% of what they were in 2010, by 2050
  • to keep global warming below 2 degrees
27
Q

What is cap and trade?

A
  • businesses are give an annual quota for emissions
  • if they emit less than their quota they are given carbon credits which can be traded
  • businesses that exceed their quotas must buy credits and incur financial penalities
28
Q

Give 3 ways the water cycle is managed

A

Forestry
Water allocations
Drainage basin planning

29
Q

What are the factors that mean wetland restoration difficult to achieve?

A
  • not everywhere is suitable as not everywhere has an ideal water source
  • land is lost to wetlands e.g farmland
30
Q

What are some of the positives of afforestation as a management strategy for the carbon cycle?

A
  • reduces desertification
  • acts as a carbon sink
  • supports biodiversity
  • reduces soil erosion
31
Q

How can forestry help to manage the water cycle?

A

-stabilises regional water cycles

32
Q

What benefits can forestry provide?

A
  • offsets 430 million tonnes of carbon a year
  • stabilises regional water cycle
  • supports indigenous forest communities
33
Q

Give an example of a programme using forestry to help manage the water cycle.

A

REDD funded by the UN
Pays countries to maintain their forests
Also promotes ecotourism

34
Q

How is water primarily wasted?

A

Through evaporation and over-irrigation

35
Q

How can water allocations help to manage the water cycle?

A
  • governments allocate water to different resources
  • governments improve water management techniques
  • water agreements better dividing water resources
36
Q

Give 3 examples of improved water management techniques

A
  • mulching
  • drip irrigation
  • zero soil disturbance
37
Q

How does drainage basin planning manage the water cycle?

A

-specific targets are set in regard to things such as run-off, water storage, and groundwater

38
Q

How can run-off be decreased?

A
  • reforestation programmes

- permeable surfaces are increased

39
Q

How can surface water storage be improved?

A

-conserving and restoring wetlands

40
Q

How can groundwater levels be maintained?

A
  • abstraction is limited

- artificial recharge

41
Q

What is artificial recharge?

A

When water is injected into acquifers via boreholes

42
Q

Give an example of an area that successfully uses drainage basin management

A

England and Wales

OCR A level Geography (31 decks)

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