Sustainability Flashcards
What is the population controlled by?
Density-dependent factors
Give an example of a negative feedback mechanism
Increased CO2 in the atmosphere increases the rate of photosynthesis, so more plants grow which leads to less CO2 in the atmosphere, more carbon sequestration.
Give an example of a positive feedback mechanism
Increases CO2 in the atmosphere causes warming of the atmosphere, therefore ice/snow melts so less albedo more absorption. This leads to more CO2 in the atmosphere and even more warming.
What are cirrus clouds made of?
Ice crystals
Give an example of a positive feedback mechanisms which relates to oceans
Increased levels of CO2 in the atmosphere increases the amount of CO2 absorbed by the ocean.
CO2 and water form carbonic acid which dissociates into hydrogen ions and carbonate ions.
The hydrogen ions decrease pH making oceans more acid, this damages coral/algae so less CO2 is sequestered.
What is the definition of sustainability?
Sustainable development meets the needs of the current generation without it compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
What systems are more likely to be resistant to change?
Highly diverse systems like coral reefs or tropical rainforests
Why are agroecosystems low in diversity?
Because they are mainly used for growing a few select species with little attempt to maintain the habitat for other animals like, pollinators, detritivores ect
What are natural systems driven by?
Renewable, low density energy at low temperatures
What are some natural systems?
Hydrological cycle
Carbon cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Atmospheric circulation
Thermohaline circulation
What are human systems driven by?
Non-renewable, high density energy at high temps
Give examples of natural processes that occur at low temperatures
Production of carbohydrates by photosynthesis
Nitrogen fixing
Decomposition
What human processes use high temperatures?
Haber process
Manufacturing processes
Incineration of wastes
What processes have low carbon footprints?
The processes that use renewable energy
What are material cycles?
Where the waste product from one cycle is used as a raw material for another cycle
How do material cycles work in natural processes?
Products produced naturally are biodegradable so they break down into non-toxic products and are used as raw materials for other natural processes.
This minimises environmental problems and is sustainable.
Why are material cycles difficult to achieve in human processes?
Minerals or Toxic metals are often dispersed and are used to produce mixtures, these cannot be broken down and are difficult to reuse/recycle.
The toxic metals may bioaccumulate
What are some principles of the circular economy?
Cycling of materials: biogeochemical cycles where there is no build up of wastes or depletion of raw materials
Human activities supporting more diverse ecosystems
Connected systems
Design products for end of use
Design products for reuse
Optimum production over maximum production
Renewable resources
How can mineral resources be managed to be more sustainable?
Extend products lifespans through better design so that less minerals are exploited.
No planned obsolescence
Reducing unnecessary packaging
Replaceable parts
How can wastes be managed to be more sustainable?
Repair
Re-use
Recycle
Refurbish
Re-purpose
How can energy supplies be managed to be more sustainable?
Developing low temperature manufacturing processes
Developing methods to make storing renewable energy easier and increasing their density, e.g. parabolic reflectors, HEP, hydrogen storage
What are some EU initiatives that support the circular economy?
Conservation of biodiversity by more sustainable forestry and agriculture, better protection of animals likes SPA.
Waste management/pollution control: Less landfill, more recycling, less packaging, less food waste,.
Management of water
Energy: use more biofuels, use wastes for energy production, more renewables.
How can appliances be designed to make them more sustainable?
Improved design so they can be repaired instead of replaced.
Improved design so materials of the products can be recycled.
Reducing toxic materials used.
Easier battery replacement.
Using more recyclable materials in buildings and roads
What is biocapacity?
The measure of the biological productivity of an area
What ecological footprint?
The area of earths surface that is needed to provide the resources that are used by the human population and to deal with the wastes produced.
What is the living planet index?
It is measured by the WWF, and it is a measure of the state of the planets ecosystems
How has sustainable development been used in Ol Pejeta Game reserve, Kenya
Development from a cattle ranch to a cattle ranch with other wildlife.
Cattle used are Boran cattle because they are resistant to many diseases, they are kept in fenced areas overnight to stop predation.
Dung left by cattle increases growth
How has sustainable development been used in Eigg, UK?
Not connected to the national grid, so they can use renewables and phase out fossil fuels.
3 HEP, solar panels and wind turbines.
Habitats have been created.
Recycled waste is shipped off the island but food waste is used as compost.
How has sustainable development been used in Kalundborg eco-industrial park in Denmark?
An industrial park where the wastes of one industry are used as raw materials for another industry in that park.
Examples:
Coal power station waste of heat is used for domestic heating.
Fish farm waste of sludge is used as fertiliser
Medicine waste of yeast is used in pig food
Name another circular economy you learned about in class related to bread
Beer is made from wasted bread from supermarkets that was being thrown away.
This has massively reduced waste
What is the circular economy?
Involves using natural systems to create more sustainable lifestyles
How is urban development used in circular economy?
Design and management of parks, buildings etc sustainably to provide habitats for wildlife to colonise
How are agri-environmental schemes used in circular economy?
They optimise yields whilst benefitting wildlife
How is forestry used in circular economy?
Mixed species forests increases wildlife
How is fishery management used in circular economy?
Improved fishing methods that exploit fish sustainably whilst reducing bycatch and environmental damage
How is Mineral exploitation used in circular economy?
Good management to minimise environmental impact and restoring after use
How is pollution controlled in the circular economy?
Connected industries so a waste becomes a resource, like integrated manufacture e.g. waste energy used to heat homes/pig farms
Better design so wastes can be separated
Change from flue-gas desulfurisation to low-sulfur fuels
How is wildlife managed in the Game reserve in kenya?
Electric fences to stop poachers getting in and animals escaping.
Biological corridors
Tracking collars to monitor movements
Drones to monitor and search for poachers
Ecotourism, this provides money to fund the reserve.
Locals are employed to provide jobs
