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Geography > unit 2 > Flashcards

unit 2 Flashcards

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1
Q

the atmosphere consists of

A

a mixture of solids, liquids and gases

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2
Q

up to a height of around 80km the atmosphere consists of

A

nitrogen, oxygen, argon and a number of other trace gases such as carbon dioxide, helium and ozone
in addition, there is water vapour and solids such as dust, ash and soot

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3
Q

most weather occurs in

A

the troposphere

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4
Q

the troposphere

A
  • here temperatures fall with height (on average 6.5°C per km)
  • different gases are contained at various heights
  • most water vapour for example is contained at the lowest 15km km of the atmosphere; above this, the atmosphere is too cold to hold water vapour
  • at high altitude, there are significant concentration of gases, such as ozone between 25 and 35km
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5
Q

the atmosphere is

A

an open energy system receiving energy from both the sun and the earth

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6
Q

incoming solar radiation is referred to as

A

insolation

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7
Q

solar energy drives all

A

weather systems and climates

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8
Q

the earth absorbs the most solar energy in

A

tropical regions

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9
Q

the earth loses the most solar energy in

A

temperate and polar regions

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10
Q

there is a redistribution of energy

A

from lower latitudes to higher latitudes, driven by wind circulation and ocean currents

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11
Q

the earths atmosphere constantly solar energy, and yet until recently there was a balance between inputs (insolation) and outputs (re-radiation). This recent imbalance, known as global warming has been linked with human activities such as land-use changes and the use of fossil fuels
under natural conditions, the balance is achieved in three main ways:

A
  • radiation - the emission of short wave sand long waves; as the sun is a vey hot body out of its radiation is in the form of very short wavelengths such as ultraviolet or visible light
  • convection - the transfer of heat by the movement of liquid or gas
  • conduction - the transfer of heat by contact
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12
Q

short-wave energy emitted by the sun at what wave length by the earth

A

at long wave length

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13
Q

hot bodies such as the sun emit

A

short wave radiation

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14
Q

cold bodies such as the earth emit

A

long wave radiation

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15
Q

clouds and the atmosphere absorb

A

some of the energy and re-radiate it back to earth
evaporation and condensation Aldo count for a loss of heat
in addition a small amount of condensation occurs (carried up by turbulence)

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16
Q

the atmosphere is largely heated from

A

below

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17
Q

most of the incoming short wave radiation is let through the

A

atmosphere

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18
Q

CO2 traps the outgoing long-wave radiation, therefore

A

warming the atmosphere aka greenhouse effect

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19
Q

incoming solar radiation (insolation)

A

is the main energy input and it varies according to latitude, season and cloud cover

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20
Q

the amount of insolation received varies with

A

the angle of the sun and with cloud type
the less cloud cover there is, and/or the higher the cloud, e more radiation reaches the earth’s surface

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21
Q

incoming solar radiation is mostly in the

A

visible wavelengths
these are not absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere; instead they heat the earth which in turn heats the atmosphere by way of long wave radiation

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22
Q

long wave radiation

A

refers to the radiation of energy from the earth into the atmosphere
cloudless night = large loss of long-wave radiation from the Earth; due to a lack of clouds there is very little return of long-wave radiation from the atmosphere hence there is a net loss of energy from the surface
cloudy night = clouds return some long-wave radiation to the surface which reduces overall loss of energy

ex: think contrast temperatures in desert day/night compared to more stable temperatures day/night of a rainforest

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23
Q

greenhouse effect

A

process by which certain gases (greenhouse gases) allow short-wave, solar radiation to pass through the atmosphere but trap a proportion of outgoing long-wave radiation from the earth
this radiation leads to a warming of the atmosphere

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24
Q

there are a number of greenhouse gases

A
  • water vapour (most common) accounting for about 95% of greenhouse gases by volume and for about 50% of the natural greenhouse effect
    however gases mainly implicated in global warming are carbon dioxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons
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25
Q

human activities increasing greenhouse effect

A
  • burning fossil fuel
  • ## land use changes such as deforestation
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26
Q

deforestation

A
  • not only does it increase atmospheric C02 levels but also removes trees that convert CO2 into oxygen and act as a major carbon store
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27
Q

carbon dioxide accounts for __ of greenhouse effect

A

20%

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28
Q

methane

A

is the second largest contributor to global warming and its presence in the atmosphere is increasing at. a rate of 1% per annum

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29
Q

chlorofluorocarbons

A

are a man made chemical that destroy ozone as well as absorbing long-wave radiation
CFC’s, which are increasing at a rate of 6% per annum are up to 10000 times more efficient at trapping heat than CO2

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30
Q

milankovitch cycle

A

variations in the earths orbit affect the seasonal and latitudinal distribution of solar radiation and are responsible for initiating ice ages

31
Q

changes in reflectivity ______

A

albedo, are affected by, and affect global climate change, for example as ice melts and is replaced by darker coloured vegetation, the amount of insolation absorbed increases and temperatures rise

32
Q

global dimming

A

is the cooling of the air temperature due to pollution

33
Q

how does global warming affect the tundra

A

melting of the polar ice caps results in less ice and lowers planetary albedo
since ice is more reflective than water, less ice leads to less reflection, increasing the amount of solar energy absorbed at the surface, and an increase in temperature
rotting vegetation trapped under the permafrost in the tundra releases methane that is unable to escape due to the frozen subsurface
increased thawing of permafrost will lead to an increase in the release of methane adding to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and thereby increasing global temperatures

34
Q

other mechanisms of positive feedback include

A
  • increased carbon dioxide released from increased decomposition of biomass, especially in forests, caused by rising temperatures, leading to a further rise in temperature as greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere
  • increased forest cover in high latitudes, decreasing albedo and increasing warming
35
Q

negative feedback

A

increased evaporation in low latitudes due to higher temperatures, may lead to increased snowfall on the polar ice caps, reducing the mean global temperature
similarly an increase in carbon dioxide in atmosphere leads to increased plant growth by allowing higher levels of photosynthesis
increased plant biomass and productivity would increase the store of terrestrial carbon but reduce atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide

36
Q

other mechanisms of negative feedback include

A
  • global dimming, that is, burning, leading to more aerosols and thus reduced solar radiation at the surface, thereby causing cooling
  • increased evaporation in tropical and temperate latitudes leading to increased snowfall in polar areas
37
Q

enhanced greenhouse effect

A

is the impact of increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activities
it is more frequently called global warming

38
Q

global climate change

A

refers to the changes in global patterns of rainfall and temperature and the incidence of droughts, floods and storms resulting from changes in the Earth’s atmosphere caused mainly by the enhanced greenhouse effect

39
Q

the increase in greenhouse gases is linked towards

A

industrialisation, globalisation and trade
as industrialisation has increased, so has CO2

40
Q

global warming is predicted to have many far-reaching effects on the natural, social and economic environment

A
  • sea levels will rise, causing flooding in low-lying areas
  • storm activity will increase
  • agricultural patterns will change, for example the USAs grain belt will shrink and production is likely to decline but canvas growing season will get longer and likely more productive
  • there will be less rainfall over USA, Southern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
  • up to 40% of wildlife species will become extinct
41
Q

the potential impacts of global climate change on the hydrosphere (freshwater, seawater and ice/glaciers) are great
impacts could include:

A
  • a rise in sea levels causing flooding in low lying areas such as Bangladesh and Kiribati, displacing up to 200 million people
  • floods from melting glaciers threatening 4 million km2 of land and the reliability of water supply to millions of people
42
Q

by 2100, it is estimated that sea levels will have risen by between

A

40cm and 80cm

43
Q

scientists predict arctic will become ice free during summer by __

A

2024

44
Q

over 1.5 billion people depend on

A

the retreating Himalayans glaciers providing drinking water, irrigation, industry and other uses
at lower elevations, glacial retreat is unlikely to cause major water shortages in the near future however other major factors such as population growth and groundwater depletion could have serious impacts on water supplies in lowland areas

45
Q

what does carbon in the ocean do

A

it acidifies the water
with less carbonate available shell-building organisms such as lobsters and coral end up with thinner shells
in addition warmer oceans may decrease the abundance of phytoplankton which grows more vigorously in cool, nutrient rich waters

46
Q

terrestrial plants have absorbed

A

approximately 25% of the carbon dioxide that humans have released into the atmosphere

47
Q

probable impacts of climate change are

A
  • up to 200 million people at risk of being driven from their homes by floods or drought by 2050
  • an increase in hurricane frequency and intensity
  • water shortages affecting up to 4 billion people
48
Q

up to 1° increase in temperature

A
  • vital for the survival of low-lying island states, but now though to be virtually impossible to achieve
  • arctic sea ice is already disappearing and with a 1° global average temperature rise it will disappear for good in the summer months
  • heatwaves and and forest fires will become more common in the subtropics and the worst hit areas will be the Mediterranean region, Southern Africa, Australia and south west United States
49
Q

up to 2° increase in temperature

A
  • limit scientists want
  • deadly heatwaves will occur annually
  • amazonian rainforest will turn into desert and grassland
  • increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere will make the oceans too acidic for any coral reefs and thousands of other marine life forms
  • more than 60 million people, mainly in Africa, will be exposed to higher rates of malaria
  • agricultural yields around the world will drop, exposing half a billion people to starvation
  • the world’s sea level will begin to rise by 7m over the next few hundred years
  • glaciers all over the world will recede, reducing the fresh water supply for major cities
  • coastal flooding will affect more than 10 million extra people
  • a third of the world’s species will become extinct
50
Q

up to 4° increase

A
  • artic permafrost would enter the dangerzone, releasing into the atmosphere much more of the methane and carbon dioxide currently locked in the permafrost
  • artic ice cover would disappear permanently meaning extinction for polar bears and other species relying on the presence of ice
  • further melting of the antarctic ice sheets would mean a further five meter rise in sea level submerging many island nations
  • italy spain greece and turkey would become deserts and Central Europe would reach temperatures of almost 50°C in summer
51
Q

how will climate change shift biomes

A

models suggests a latitudinal shift in biomes relative to the equator and an altitudinal shift as biomes move up slope
low lying mangroves may be lost due to changes in sea level and high altitude biomes may be lost as they have no where to move to

52
Q

how will climate change affect species composition in ecosystems

A

current changes in temperature are happening very rapidly so there is little time for the organisms to adapt
a reduction in biodiversity may also occur, some species, especially those in high altitude high latitude habitats have fewer options for migration and so are more vulnerable to extinction

53
Q

how will global climate change affect soil erosion

A

could lead to an increase in soil erosion, degradation, desertification and salinisation
warmer average annual temperatures and increased precipitation could double soil loss on moderate slopes

54
Q

changes to agriculture

A

a rise of 3° could lead to 35% drop in crop yields across Africa and the Middle East
a rise of 2° could lead to 200 million more ppl experiencing hunger, while a rise up to 3°could lead to 550 million people being affected by hunger
changes in locations of the crop growing areas can be expected, with latitudinal movements away from the equator
- the reduction in water resources will make it increasingly difficult for farmers in many areas to cultivate the crops that they currently grow
crop types may need to change and the availability of water resources will determine what will be grown and how successfully

55
Q

one benefit of climate change

A

new sea routes as sea ice melts
Russia’s arctic coastline and North-West passage could open up new trade routes

56
Q

three main factors associated with climate change vulnerability

A
  • the degree to which people are exposed to climate change
  • the degree to which they could be harmed exposed to climate change
  • the degree to which they could mitigate the potential harm by taking action to reduce their exposure or sensitivity to climate change
57
Q

population groups more vulnerable to climate change than others

A
  • women
  • the very young
  • elderly
  • disabled
  • the poor
  • minority groups
  • refugees
  • indigenous people
  • people with mobility problems
58
Q

locations more at risk than others

A

low lying islands
river mouths
coastal areas
regions that derive their water supply from glaciers

59
Q

the problems that low lying areas face

A
  • increased coastal erosion
  • salt-water intrusion into groundwater
  • damage to coral reefs
  • out-migration of people
  • a decline in economic activities and infrastructure
60
Q

the main obstacle to a global agreement on climate change remains

A

the bargaining power of major fossil fuel countries such as the USA, Canada, Middle East, Russia and countries from the Middle East

61
Q

kyoto protocol

A

in 1997 183 countries signed an agreement that called for the stabilisation of greenhouse gas emissions at safe levels that would avoid serious climate change
the agreement aimed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 5% of their 1990 levels by 2012
the protocol came into force in 2005 and was extended until 2015

62
Q

the Paris agreement, 2015, 174 countries

A

The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

63
Q

human adaptation to climate change

A

flood defences
vaccination programmes
desalination plants
planting of crops in previously unsuitable climates

64
Q

mitigation

A

involves the reduction and/or stabilisation of GHG emissions and their removal from the atmosphere
strategies include:
- reducing energy consumption
- using alternative sources of energy to fossil fuels
- geo engineering

65
Q

carbon capture and sequestration

A

capturing the CO2 before it is related into the atmosphere
two main ways of doing this:
- capture the CO2 at the site of where it is produced (the power plant) and then store it underground in a geologic deposit
- allow the CO2 to enter the atmosphere but then remove it using specially designed removal process, this process is called direct recapture of CO2

66
Q

carbon taxes

A
  • taxes could be imposed relative to the proportion of carbon burnt
  • users of fossil fuel could pay an extra carbon tax equal to the social cost of CO2 emitted by fuel, raising the costs of oil gas and coal relative to wind and solar therefore shifting energy use towards the low carbon options
67
Q

carbon trading

A

an attempt to create a market in which permits issued by governments to emit carbon dioxide can be traded

68
Q

carbon offset schemes

A

designed to to neutralise the effects of carbon dioxide human produce by investing in projects that cut emissions elsewhere

69
Q

geo-engineering

A

large scale engineering schemes that alter natural processes

70
Q

ocean fertilisation

A

carbon dioxide absorption can be increased by fertilising the ocean with compounds of iron, nitrogen, and phosphorus

71
Q

WWF is attempting to tackle climate change through

A
  • pressurising major economies and emerging economies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
  • calling on Govs to sign up to international agreements to reduce the use of fossil fuels and and work towards 100% renewable energy by 2050
  • trying to encourage ppl to se new technologies and live a greener lifestyle
72
Q

albedo

A

the amount of incoming solar energy reflected back into the atmosphere by the Earth’s surface

73
Q

energy balance

A

the balance between incoming short-wave radiation and outgoing short-wave and long-wave radiation

74
Q

what Is the difference between the ozone layer and the greenhouse effect

A

the ozone layer protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation whereas the greenhouse effect is responsible for rasing the temp on earth and amking life on earth possible

Geography (25 decks)

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