Unit 2 - Global Climate Flashcards
Natural Greenhouse Effect
Process by which certain gases (such as water Vapor, CO2, Methan (CH4) and Chlorofluorocarbons) allow short wave radiation from the sun to pass through he atmosphere but trap and increasing proportion of outgoing long-wave radiation.
Insulation definition
Incoming solar radiation
What percentage of insulation is absorbed by atmospheric gases, absorbed by the surface, and reflected?
20% absorbed by atmospheric gases
50% absorbed by the surface
30% reflected
How does global dimming occur?
- volcano eruption —> tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere
- absorb and reflect radiation (less evaporation and precipitation)
- THEREFORE cool down!
What are some variations in solar radiation?
- Solar evolution (as the hydrogen is used up, it is marginally getting hotter each year)
- Earth’s orbit - sometimes closer to the sun, more insulation
- Sun spots - dark areas on the sun, zones of lower temperature
The feedback loop of melting permafrost (5 steps)
- Temperature rise
- Polar ice/permafrost melts
- Darker surfaces revealed
- Albedo reduced (less reflection)
- More solar radiation absorbed
Albedo definition
The proportion of insulation reflected by the earth’s surface (ice has high, soil has low)
Causes of the enhanced greenhouse effect (5)
- Fossil fuels
- Deforestation
- Economic activities
- Fertilizers
- Chlorofluorocarbons and Hydrofluorocarbons
Fossil fuels examples - Enhanced greenhouse effect
Which GHG does it produce?
How much of the emissions are absorbed by plants and the oceans?
Coal, petroleum, oil, natural gas
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
Half of emissions absorbed by plants and the oceans
Other half in the atmosphere
How does deforestation contribute towards global warming? (2)
- Decaying dead vegetation (CO2 released)
- Less trees to absorb carbon dioxide (photosynthesis)
How is methane gas produced in cattle raising?
methane gas produced by bacteria in animals’ stomached as a by-product of digesting grass or grain
Externalities definition + 1 example
Consequences of economic activities that affect other parties without being reflected in market prices (ex. Air pollution)
How does globalization cause more externalities, thus more global warming?
Locally based companies attracted to produce in country with weak environmental standards, low taxation rate, low labour costs (China or Mexico)
—> cheaper for company
—> environmental costs, air pollution, consumption of fossil fuels (underlying externality costs that the company does not need to care about or pay for)
Hydrosphere definition
The Earth’s water (whether in solid, liquid, or gaseous form)
—> movement with water cycle
Biosphere definition
Comprises of all living things on Earth
What percentage of ocean water is salty (not useable for drinking)?
97%
How are glaciers retreating?
Global warming, summers are hotter and winters are not cold enough to freeze it back to original state.
Effects of glaciers retreating (3)
- global rise in sea levels
- as the glacier’s supply of ice declines, there is less evaporation of water vapour and decline in precipitation
- exposes bare racks and soils that are vulnerable to erosion, rock falls, and landslides
Large carbon stores on Earth (2)
- Permafrost (frozen organic matter)
- Oceans
How does melting permafrost contribute towards the increase of carbon in our atmosphere?
Frozen organic matter thaws, decaying.
Releases CO2 or CH4, GHG.
Feedback Loop
Which extreme weather events have been increasing in incidence and severity due to climate change?
- Hurricanes —> coastal flooding
- Heavy precipitation events
- Droughts
Biome
World’s total collection of a particular type of vegetation community (rainforests, deserts, grasslands, tundras)
Ecosystem
Interdependent community of living things
Biodiversity
Variety of life forms found in a biome. Measure of resiliency
Limiting factor
Constrains a population’s size and slows or stops it from growing
How has the increasing temperature affected the habitat of animals? What are flaws with this adaptation?
- Shift habitat northwards (less area, more competition for food)
- different vegetation, habitats. May be mountainous.
How is global warming and increased CO2 good for farmers?
Increases crop productivity (plants grow quicker in warm climates, CO2 acts as a fermitilizer)
How can soil quality be affected by climate change
Soil erosion (weathering breaks down rock mass and top soil, thin soil forms)
Diseases-related health hazards of climate change
- diseases caused by radical temperatures
- mental health issues (trauma from extreme disasters like hurricanes)
- anxiety and depression about the future
Physical health hazards of climate change (4)
- malnutrition
- pests
- ocean acidity affecting fish
- algae blooms
Economic impacts of climate change (3)
- expensive food
- unpredictable farming and fishing
- carbon taxes (gov place economic value on externalities)
How are migration patterns affected by climate change
- increased number of environmental emergency migrants
- people displaced by emergency disasters (hurricanes)
Why are the rising sea levels in Kiribati affecting the people? What are the side effects?
- tidal fluctuation —> flooding, damaged infrastructure
- scarce water reserves, rainwater, erosion of land
- saltwater encroachment —> sea water absorbs into land and freshwater ponds killing trees and food
- ocean acidification (less coral reefs and mangroves)
How does the melting ice sheets in the arctic affect ocean transport routes?
Expand possibility for water transport, fishing, etc… New shipping routes. (North-West Passage)
Risk definition
Likelihood that a particular type of event will occur in a specific location; uncertainty of effects/implication of an event
Vulnerability definition
The adaptivity against risks; refers to the inability to withstand the effects of a hostile environment
How are poorer people at more risk and vulnerability to climate change? (4)
- affording food
- cheap housing in coastal areas
- less capacity to migrate
- susceptible to disease (access to healthcare, diet)
How are women have more risk and vulnerability to climate change? (4)
- lower income, less likely to be employed
- underrepresented in community politics
- required to transport water (drought), fuelwood (deforestation)
- less education/access to information about climate change
How are older people more vulnerable to the affects of climate change? (3)
- not working, less financial resources
- medical conditions, difficult to relocate
- stress of heat wave, pollutants, vector bourne diseases.
How does the Kiribati government mitigate rising sea levels? How is this a problem?
- build sea walls
- creates more erosion and pressure
How do the rising temperatures in Turkmenistan affect the people? (3)
- drier, water shortages
- droughts/floods —> less flow in the river
- different extreme weathers; increased rainfall and evaporation vs. Shrinkage of Aral Sea —> water deficit
How does Kiribati’s vulnerability to climate change compare to Turkmenistans?
- enough money and resources from oil and gas industry —> contributor to GHG
- Turkmenistan has no incentive to improve
- Kiribati felt the immediacy —> policies implemented, forced migrants, country disappearing
Carbon emissions offsetting
Place price on carbon emissions to enable the market to change the way carbon fuels are used through the price mechanism
Carbon tax
Defines a taxation rate for carbon emissions or the carbon component of fossil fuels
Carbon emissions trading
Sets limit on carbon produced/factory. If factory produces less than permitted limit. Can sell carbon credits to other companies. Price determined by supply + demand.
Carbon offsetting
Carbon emissions trading —> focuses on carbon-reduced activities
Emissions Reduction Fund
Pays companies that achieve carbon reduction targets
Carbon catching
Removing CO2 from atmosphere at site —> renews or stored in deep underground geological
Geo engineering
Large scale manipulation of the Earth’s atmospheric system to mitigate GCC
Carbon dioxide removal method (5)
- afforestation and reafforestation
- biochar
- geosequestration
- desert greening
- genetically modified crops
Afforestation
Increase area of trees to reduce CO2
Biochar
Charcoal made by converting agricultural wastes. Absorb carbon that would have been burned.
Geosequestration
Storage of compressed near liquid CO2 underground (consequences in future)
What are the 6 areas of risk for corporations that are posed by climate change?
- Physical risks - climate-change related hazards (hurricanes, floods, wildfires)
- Price risks - change in the cost of raw materials
- Product risks - ex. Ski resorts lose businesses bc not enough snow cover
- Rating risks - higher costs of borrowing money because of changes like carbon pricing, disruption to supply chain.
- Regulation risks - government imposes new requirements on companies due to climate change (ex. Pay for pollution)
- Reputation risks -Public perceives corporations activities as harmful for environment —> consumer boycott & protests
5 corporation responses to risks and threats due to climate change
- Denial
- Adapt
- Diversity/shift product range
- Marketing
- Modify infrastructure
How did the Amity Foundation help villages reduce GHG emissions?
- use biogas tanks (pig manure and human excrement)
- no fossil fuels and fuelwood
- low cost $$$ and saves time gathering fuelwood
- organic fertilizer —> more crop yield & food production
