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Enviromental Science > the atmosphere part 2 (global climate change) > Flashcards

the atmosphere part 2 (global climate change) Flashcards

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1
Q

what is a large proportion of solar radiation in the form of

A

visible light

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2
Q

state 6 major anthropogenic sources if greenhouse gases

A

transportation / electricity and heat / industry / land use change / agriculture

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3
Q

list the 5 main greenhouse gases produced by anthropogenic sources

A

carbon dioxide / methane / nitrous oxide / tropospheric ozone / chlorofluorocarbons

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4
Q

name 2 human activities that majorly produce CO2

A

combustion of fossil fuels (natural gas, coal, crude oil) / deforestation

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5
Q

how does deforestation affect global climate change

A

co2 levels rise due to reduced rate fo photosynthesis / combustion of vegetation (eg.slash and burn) / aerobic respiration of remaining dead plant material

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6
Q

name a 2 human activity that majorly produces methane

A

anaerobic archaea / formation of fossil fuels (ventilation of coal mines, leaks from natural gas fields)

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7
Q

how does anaerobic archaea affect global climate change

A

paddy fields and landfill sites and intestines of livestock, they produce methane from decomposition of organic matter

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8
Q

name 2 oxides of nitrogen that act as greenhouse gases and how they’re formed

A

nitric oxide (NO) nitrogen dioxide (NO2) formed when nitrogen and oxygen react in the air at high temps /, nitrous oxide (N2O) formed by bacterial dentrification of nitrate fertiliser

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9
Q

how does NO and NO2 affect global climate change

A

INDIRCET greenhouse gases. released from exhausts- partake in a series of reactions that form tropospheric ozone- greenhouse gas NO rapidly converts to NO2 so reaction takes place very frequently

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10
Q

how is tropospheric ozone produced

A

NO2 –> NO + O, O2 + O –> O3

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11
Q

what were CFCs used in

A

aerosol, refrigerants, solvents and production of polystyrene

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12
Q

how is GWP calculated

A

compares amount of heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas, calculated over a specific time interval

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13
Q

what does a high GWP correlate to

A

a large infrared absorption and a long atmospheric residence time

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14
Q

why is carbon dioxide of most concern

A

since it is released in largest amounts by human activity, not because its the most powerful

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15
Q

name 2 changes in the oceans caused by climate change

A

sea level rise / ocean current changes

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16
Q

what effects sea level rise

A

thermal expansion and melting land ice

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17
Q

why does thermal expansion increase sea level

A

as the atmosphere causes the sea to heat up, it expands

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18
Q

why will thermal expansion take a long time to cause a dramatic increase in sea level rise

A

there is an enormous amount of water in the ocean / water has a high specific heat capacity, will take a long time for the temp of the sea to ‘catch up’, deep water will only warm up when slow moving currents bring it to the surface

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19
Q

when water is warmed up do water molecules expand or does the water expand as whole

A

water expands as a whole

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20
Q

why does ice floating on the sea not cause a rise in sea level

A

because it contracts during melting and occupies the same volume of water as the water displaced when it was ice

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21
Q

what ice causes sea level to rise

A

land ice because the water flows into the sea and increases the volume as they displace seawater

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22
Q

describe the water in near south America and why its like that

A

winds blow westward across pacific ocean causing cold water drawn up near south America, rich in nutrients causing massive algal blooms, feed a rich food web.

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23
Q

why is the there a massive algal bloom in the cold water in south America

A

because cold water in contains more nutrients

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24
Q

how does a rich food web from the cold south American water impact humans

A

feeds important fisheries

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25
Q

explain the movement of water as the current continues westward from south America

A

the water warms up as it travels along the east coast of Australia as a warm current

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26
Q

how does the cold current affect rainfall patterns

A

cold costal current cools down any rain-bearing winds heading over the sea towards the land, causing water vapour to cool and condense as rain before it reaches land

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27
Q

how does the warm costal current affect rainfall patterns

A

winds blowing towards land are likely to retain water vapour and may cause rain to fall on the land

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28
Q

what causes the ocean current to reverse

A

wind

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29
Q

what affect does the ocean current reversing have

A

prevents nutrient upwelling in south America- rich food web collapses / rainfall in Australia drops while desert in South America experiences heavy rain and flooding

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30
Q

describe the water pattern in el nino

A

warm ocean water develops in South America

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31
Q

how does the current slow down from melting land ice in Greenland

A

melting land ice dilutes salty surface water, makes it less dense, more difficult for cold water to sink so the current slows down

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32
Q

why does this current make north west Europe water warmer

A

the current transfers heat from the tropics to north-west Europe

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33
Q

what would happen to north-west Europe water if the current from the tropics slowed down

A

it would become much cooler

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34
Q

how do you monitor ocean currents

A

with cataloguers on argo floats

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35
Q

what 5 aspects of the cryosphere is affected by rising global temperature change

A

reduced snow cover / glaciers / land ice caps and ice sheets / ice shelves / sea ice

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36
Q

how is snow cover affected by rising global temperature change

A

amount and duration. less snow falls and fallen snow melts quicker- can affect rivers: run off from melted snow from mountain means river level fluctuates and river doesn’t dry up. no snow in summer so no runoff so river dries up in dry seasons

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37
Q

how are glaciers affected by rising global temperature change

A

changes in extent and speed of movement. increase rate glaciers melt. meet water flows to the bottom and lubricates it movement towards the sea, ice burgs break off and melt into the ocean / glacial lake outburst floods

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38
Q

how are land ice caps and ice sheets affected by rising global temperature change

A

changes in thickness and movement. increases melting of ice caps as well as lubricating their movement.

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39
Q

why is it unlikely to lose an ice sheet

A

so huge it would take thousands of years for them to melt completely, warmer temps are linked to more precipitation, replaces the melted ice water

40
Q

how are ice shelves affected by rising global temperate change

A

speed up the break up of ice shelves and the impact on land ice movements. due to their immense weight, they act as plugs to reduce rate of glacial flow off the land, when ice shelf breaks up it releases the glacial flow, increasing sea volume

41
Q

why do ice shelves melting not affect the volume of the sea

A

they’re already displacing their own weight of underlying water

42
Q

how is sea ice affected by rising global temperature change

A

changes in thickness and area of sea ice cover. sea ice grows in winter and shrinks in summer, however overall it is being reduced. when it melts the darker ocean below has a lower albedo so heats area surrounding

43
Q

why does sea ice not affect the volume of sea

A

its already displacing its own weight of underlying water

44
Q

what are most climate systems driven by, and what might change the processes involved in these systems

A

energy from the sun, retention of more energy from the sun in the atmosphere may change the climate systems

45
Q

how may wind patterns change due to climate systems

A

velocity, frequency and density. stronger winds = more storm damage. direction change = rain distributed by wind may fall in different areas

46
Q

how may precipitation change due to climate systems

A

higher temp increases = increased evaporation rates = increased precipitation / if too warm for water to condense, areas that get lots of rain may get less / cold areas = little rain bc it condenses and falls before it reaches land- if warmer = more precipitation as water vapour is carried further before condensing

47
Q

Name 4 uncertainties of ecological impacts of climate change

A

Changes in species survival caused by changes in abiotic/ biotic factors / changes in species distribution / population fragmentation

48
Q

How can temperature change affect plants

A

Cause them to grow faster - provide more food for herbivores eg caterpillars, moths - plants may produce toxins that build up in their leaves to protect them from being eaten so if plant growth begins earlier, toxins build up sooner which could kill caterpillars

49
Q

How may uncertainty of if ecological events change due to climate change

A

Flowering, migration, nesting — survival of interdependent species may be reduced eg, pollinating insects aren’t present when flowers are produced which affects bee lifestyle, flowers and bees are out of sync

50
Q

What happens to bat populations if climate change increases

A

Produce more nights that are warm enough to feed and fewer when they’re inactive and must fast / increase insect survival and therefore food supplies for bats

51
Q

How can bat populations be effected by warmer climate change

A

Increase evaporation and rainy periods and stormy periods when bats can’t fly

52
Q

Why may some species not be able to recolonise if conditions change

A

May colonise new areas more slowly than they disappear from their old range / suitable new areas may not be available / human land may block movement / species live in interdependent communities of species, not all will move at the same speed

53
Q

Why is there uncertainty over the use of some data in drawing conclusions within monitoring climate change

A

Lack of historical data / limited reliability of proxy data / lack of understanding of natural processes that control weather (ocean currents and their interconnections) / natural changes and fluctuations that mask changes caused by anthropogenic actions / time delay between cause and effect

54
Q

State 2 examples of negative feedback

A

Increased temperature - increased photosynthesis rates - plants store more carbon in biomass - levels of co2 in atmosphere lowered - reduced temperature / increased temp - increased evaporation of water - formation of more low-level clouds - albedo increases - more sunlight reflected so less solar heating - reduced temperature

55
Q

State 2 examples of positive feedback

A

Increased temperature - faster melting of permafrost in polar regions - more methane released - temp increases even more / increased temp - increased warming of the seas - more melting of methane hydrate in marine sediments - methane released and travels to atmosphere - temp increases / increased temp - increased rate of aerobic decomposition of dead organic matter in soil by bacteria - more co2 released to atmosphere - increased temp

56
Q

What is the debate about clouds and positive and negative feedback to do with

A

Low-level clouds contribute to negative feedback, high altitude cirrus clouds contribute to positive feedback - more evaporation leads to both types

57
Q

Give 2 ways to reduce co2

A

Carbon sequestration / carbon capture storage (CCS)

58
Q

Give 3 ways to reduce methane

A

Reduced dumping of waste in landfill sites / reduced livestock production / better collection of gas from coal mines and oil facilities - can be converted to co2 which is a weaker GHG

59
Q

Give 3 ways to reduce oxides of nitrogen

A

Reduce of internal combustion engines / catalytic converters in vehicle exhausts / addition of urea to power station effluent if diesel exhaust / n2o controlled by making fertiliser application more efficient and injecting liquid organic fertiliser deeper into the soil

60
Q

Give 2 methods of how to reduce CFCs

A

Use alternative materials (eg butane or propane in aerosol or hydroflurocarbons in refrigerators) / use of alternative processes (stick deodorant instead of aerosol)

61
Q

What are the three types of uv

A

UV(a) UV(b) and UV(c)

62
Q

Why is UV(a) and UV(c) not of a concern

A

A isn’t significantly absorbed by ozone and C is fully absorbed and never reaches earths surface

63
Q

Why is uv(B) of concern

A

It’s not absorbed in the atmosphere so it reaches the earths surface and is absorbed by living cells, the energy is absorbed and turned into chemical energy as it breaks up biological molecules causing damage and mutation to the dna in exposed cells and damage to plant tissue and marine plankton

64
Q

Why are CFCs good for many uses

A

They’re very chemically stable and can be liquified with pressure, are good solvents of grease and oil and aren’t flammable or toxic

65
Q

Why are CFCs highly persistent

A

They have very high chemical stability so take many years to break down

66
Q

Why do CFCs stay in the atmosphere for so long

A

They’re very persistent and have low solubility so aren’t washed out of the atmosphere by precipitation

67
Q

What part of CFCs cause ozone depletion

A

Chlorine atoms which are released in the stratosphere from being broken down by UV light

68
Q

how is carbon capture and storage performed

A

capture of co2 or removal of carbon from fuel / transport by road tanker, ship or pipeline / co2 storage underground in depleted oilfields, gas fields, aquifers or use in secondary oil recovery

69
Q

give 3 ways to reduce oxides of nitrogen

A

reduction of internal combustion engines / catalytic converters / addition of urea to power stations or diesel engine exhausts

70
Q

give 2 ways to reduce CFCs

A

use alternate materials (eg propane and butane in aerosols) / use alternative products (stick deodorant over aerosol)

71
Q

name the 3 types of UV

A

UV(A) UV(B) UV(C)

72
Q

Why is uv a and c not of concern

A

uv(a) isn’t significantly absorbed by the ozone and uv(c) is fully absorbed by the ozone so doesn’t reach earth

73
Q

why is uv(b) of a concern

A

its not fully absorbed in atmosphere so will reach the earths surface and can be absorbed by living cells, which is converted to chemical energy and breaks up biological molecules and causes damage/mutation to DNA in exposed cells

74
Q

Give the equations to make ozone

A

O2 + UV -> O + O

O + O2 -> O3

75
Q

State the reactions to explain ozone depletion

A

CF3 + UV light -> CFCL2 + CL
CL + O3 -> CLO + O2
CLO+ O -> ClO2
ClO2 + Cl -> O2

76
Q

where do chemical reactions involving chlorine and ozone require UV(B) occur most easily

A

at very low temperatures when ice crystals form in polar stratospheric clouds that provide catalytic surfaces that speed up reactions

77
Q

when, in antartica does ozone depleting reactions take place

A

spring, when ice crystals are still present in clouds and there is UV

78
Q

what is the Antarctic polar vortex

A

when high altitude winds enters the stratosphere and circulates around the continent from autumn through spring

79
Q

how does the antarctic polar vortex affect ozone

A

makes it hard for ozone to come in from the outside to replace whats been destroyed

80
Q

why is the arctic ozone not as bad as the antarctic ozone

A

arctic polar vortex is weaker, giving more of an ozone dent than hole

81
Q

name 3 methods of ways to collect data on ozone depletion

A

ground-base data collection / aerial surveys / satellite surveys

82
Q

what is the method for ground-base data collection

A

principle that less UV(b) reaching the ground, the more stratospheric ozone above - dobson spectrophotometer

83
Q

what is the method for aerial surveys

A

either by aircraft or helium balloons. Aircraft contains an instrument for measuring chlorine monoxide concentrations in the upper atmosphere. helium balloon carries an ozone monitor

84
Q

what is the method for satellite surveys

A

used for remote sensing of total atmospheric ozone levels, if there is more ozone in the atmosphere more UV will be absorbed and less will be reflected by earth and its atmosphere, satellite detects amount of reflected UV

85
Q

what will effect the readings of the dobson spectrophotometer

A

clouds and polluntants

86
Q

what is an issue with the helium balloon aerial survey

A

it can drift on winds, so sampling points and unpredictable, sampling instruments must also be able to survive the parachute journey back

87
Q

what is an advantage and disadvantage to using aircrafts over helium balloons for methods of ozone monitoring

A

aircrafts fly higher and follow a predictable route / they’re more expensive

88
Q

what is the advantage and disadvantage of using satellites for ozone monitoring

A

they have the highest financial start up cost / collect most data, so low cost per data unit. sample from all areas of the planet predictably, rapidly with high frequency

89
Q

in what 3 ways can the concentration of the ozone in the stratosphere vary

A

spatially (vary depending on where on earth the atmosphere sits) temporally (antarctics hole forms from sep-nov) with altitude (form where high conc of oxygen particles and uv intensity are both found)

90
Q

what was the Montreal protocol (1987)

A

an international agreement which phased out all manufactured use of CFCs and other ozone depleting substances

91
Q

what else did the Montreal protocol encourage

A

use of alternative processes, use of alternative materials, collection and disposal of CFCs and other ODSs

92
Q

state some alternative processes from promoted Montreal protocol

A

trigger and pump action spray cleaners over aerosols / stick deodorant over aerosol

93
Q

state some alternative materials from promoted Montreal protocol

A

butane or propane in aerosols / hydrofluorocarbons in refrigerators

94
Q

how do you dispose of CFCs

A

they must be released from their appliance and then immediately captured and destroyed by incineration

95
Q

why was the montreal protocol more successful than the kyoto protocol

A

ozone depletion has a simpler cause and fewer feedback mechanisms than climate change / Montreal has greater political agreement, where major countries have signed up / more evidence to support ozone depletion by ODSs than anthropogenic climate change / clear alternatives to CFCs, fossil fuels are more difficult to replace

Enviromental Science (12 decks)

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