The Use Of Fossil Fuels

Question 1

What is carbon trading?

Answer 1

Rich, economically developed countries can buy carbon credits from poorer countries.

Question 2

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 2

The way that the atmosphere absorbs long-wave radiation from the Earth and is warmed. The effect is increasing because of the release of gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by human activity.

Question 3

What is kyoto protocol?

Answer 3

An agreement signed in 1997 by most of the medcs (except the USA). The aim of this treaty is to cut harmful emissions by 5% by 2012.

Question 4

What are ledcs more susceptible to the effects of climate change?

Answer 4

They do not always have the infrastructure and resources to counter the effects of climate change. (E.g. single weather events such as tropical cyclones).

Question 5

How much of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are from the USA?

Answer 5

Nearly 25%

Question 6

In the 2007 UN climate-change convention, what points were agreed?

Answer 6

> transfer of clean technology to NICs
aims to halt deforestation
help ledcs protect themselves from the impacts of climate change
medcs and nics to earn ‘carbon credits’ by paying for forest protection in ledcs

Question 7

What causes acid deposition?

Answer 7

The burning of fossil fuels in power stations, the smelting of metals in older industrial plants and exhaust fumes from motor vehicles.

Question 8

What does acid deposition consist of and how is it formed?

Answer 8

Dry deposition of pollutants released by these activities: sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. These chemicals mix with precipitation, mist and clouds to produce wet deposits of sulphuric acid, nitric acid and compounds of ammonia.

Question 9

What is the problem with acid deposition?

Answer 9

Is damages trees, particularly conifers. It produces a yellowing of the needles and strange branching patterns.
It also leads to the leaching of toxic metals (aluminium) from soils, and their accumulation in rivers and lakes (killing fish).
Also damages limestone and health problems such as bronchitis.

Question 10

How can acid deposition be reduced?

Answer 10

> catalytic converters on cars- reduce nitrogen oxide from fumes
burning fossil fuels with a lower sulphur content
replacing coal-fired power stations with nuclear power stations
flue-gas desulphurisation schemes
reducing overall demand for electricity and car travel

Question 11

Case study of acid deposition:

Answer 11

Scandinavia=
>forests and lakes damaged
>pollution from UK
>by 1999 total acid deposition has fallen by 30%