Unit 2: What are the causes of global warming? Human Causes Flashcards

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1
Q

mining of fossil fuels emit

A

methane

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2
Q

fossil fuels are being used more in

A
  1. power generation
  2. powering cars
  3. industrial production
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3
Q

burning fossil fuels emit

A

Co2, N2o

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4
Q

what is a primary constituent of natural gas

A

methane

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5
Q

what is released when natural gas is burnt

A

methane

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6
Q

how is methane released when mining/burning fossil fuels

A

when natural gas is burnt

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7
Q

why deforestation

A

obtain land for agricultural purposes

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8
Q

result of burning process

A

releases co2 into atmosphere

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9
Q

deforestation results to

A

fewer trees available for absorbing carbon in the atmosphere
-> increase concentration of co2 in atmosphere

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10
Q

cattle ranching effects

A

release:
co2 during respiration
methane during digestive process

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11
Q

what agriculture activity releases methane into the atmosphere

A

wet rice cultivation + anaerobic decomposition

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12
Q

result of wet rice cultivation

A

release methane into atmosphere

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13
Q

result of anaerobic decomposition

A

releases methane into atmosphere

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14
Q

how is N2o released into the atmosphere for agriculture

A
  1. use of nitrogen fertilisers
  2. burning organic wastes
  3. decomposition of manure + urine produced by
    - pigs
    - chickens
    - cattle
    on poultry and cattle farms
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15
Q

side effect of nitrogen fertilisers

A

release n2o into the atmosphere

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16
Q

side effect of burning organic wastes

A

release n2o into the atmosphere

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17
Q

side effects of production of chemical fertilisers

A

releases co2 into atmosphere

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18
Q

side effects of production of pesticides

A

releases co2 into the atmosphere

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19
Q

what releases co2 into the atmosphere for agriculture

A
  1. production of chemical fertilisers
  2. production of pesticides
  3. use of farm machines
  4. irrigation system powered by fossil fuels
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20
Q

what does decomposition of manure and urine produced by farm animals emit

A

large amounts of n2o

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21
Q

side effects of use of farm machines

A

release co2 into atmosphere

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22
Q

side effects of irrigation system powered by fossil fuels

A

releases co2 into atmosphere

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23
Q

how does agriculture increase concentration of co2 into atmosphere

A

involves change of land cover
-> less co2 is absorbed
-> increase concentration

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24
Q

how is methane released into the atmosphere from garbage treatment

A

garbage decomposition

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25
Q

side effect of garbage decomposition in landfill

A

releases methane into atmosphere

26
Q

side effects of garbage burned in incinerators

A

releases co2 and n2o into atmosphere

27
Q

how is co2 released into the atmosphere from garbage treatment

A

garbage burned in incinerators

28
Q

how is n2o released into the atmosphere from garbage treatment

A

garbage burned in incinerators

29
Q

how is man-made greenhouse gases produced in industrial activities

A

manufacturing activities

30
Q

production of nylon side effects

A

release n2o into atmosphere

31
Q

side effects of manufacturing activities

A

man-made greenhouse gases

32
Q

side effects of aluminium smelting and magnesium production

A

release
1. co2
2. pfcs
3. sf6
into atmosphere

33
Q

side effects of production of foams, refrigerants and aerosol spray

A

release
1. n2o
2. cfcs
3. hfcs
into atmosphere

34
Q

what industrial activity releases n2o

A

production of foams, refrigerants and aerosol spray

35
Q

what industrial activity releases cfcs

A

production of foams, refrigerants and aerosol spray

36
Q

what industrial activity releases hfcs

A

production of foams, refrigerants and aerosol spray

37
Q

what industrial activity releases co2 into the atmosphere

A

aluminium smelting and magnesium production

38
Q

what industrial activity releases pfcs into the atmosphere

A

aluminium smelting and magnesium production

39
Q

what industrial activity releases sf6 into the atmosphere

A

aluminium smelting and magnesium production

40
Q

what greenhouse gase(s) are released after burning fossil fuels

A
  1. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
  2. Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
41
Q

what greenhouse gase(s) are released after Deforestation

A

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

42
Q

what greenhouse gase(s) are released after Cattle ranching

A
  1. Carbon Dioxide CO2
  2. Methane
43
Q

what greenhouse gase(s) are released after Rice Cultivation

A

Methane

44
Q

what greenhouse gase(s) are released after use of nitrogen fertilisers + burning of organic wastes

A

Nitrous Oxide N2O

45
Q

what greenhouse gase(s) are released after metal smelting/production

A
  1. PFCs
  2. SFs
46
Q

what greenhouse gase(s) are released after the production of nylon

A

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

47
Q

what greenhouse gase(s) are released after the use of incineration

A
  1. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
  2. Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
48
Q

what greenhouse gase(s) are released in landfills

A

Methane

49
Q

what greenhouse gase(s) are released after mining

A

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

50
Q

what human activities emit greenhouse gases

A
  1. Burning Fossil Fuels
  2. Deforestation
  3. Agriculture (cattle ranching, rice cultivation, use of nitrogen fertilisers, burning of organic wastes)
  4. Industry (Production of foams, refrigerants, nylon, aerosol spray, metal smelting/production)
  5. Waste disposal (incineration + landfill)
  6. Mining
51
Q

what agriculture activities emit greenhouse gases

A
  1. cattle ranching
  2. rice cultivation
  3. use of nitrogen fertilisers
  4. burning of organic wastes
52
Q

what industry activities emit greenhouse gases

A

Production of:
1. foams
2. refrigerants
3. nylon
4. aerosol spray

  1. metal smelting/production
53
Q

Natural causes of temperature change

A

changes in:
1. solar output
2. shape of the Earth’s orbit
3. tilt of the Earth’s axis

amount of aerosols in the atmosphere

54
Q

changes in solar output in temperature change

A

sun follows cycle -> releases different amounts of energy at different times

sun emits more energy -> solar radiation reaching earths surface ⬆️ -> rise in global average temperature

55
Q

amount of aerosols in atmosphere in temperature change

A

tiny particulates (e.g. volcanic eruptions, human activities)

  • can reflect radiation back into space -> reduce amount of solar radiation reaching the earth’s surface (cooling effect)
56
Q

cooling effect

A

aerosols reflect radiation back into space -> reduce amount of solar radiation reaching the earth’s surface

57
Q

examples of when Aerosols are released

A
  1. volcanic eruptions
  2. human activity
58
Q

the three ways volcanic eruptions decrease air temperature

A

1.
strong volcanic eruptions -> ejects large amount of ash + dust + gases -> small ash particles form a dark cloud -> shades sunlight
2. sulphur rich gases -> combines with water to form sulphuric acid aerosols -> make haze of tiny droplets that reflect incoming solar radiation

-» increase sunlight reaching earths surface -> cooling effect -> temperature drop

  1. strong volcanic eruptions -> release Co2 + water vapour -> absorb short wave radiation -> more heat is retained -> decrease in air temperature
59
Q

changes in the shape of the Earth’s orbit in temperature change

A

shape goes from nearly circular -> elliptical and back again in very long cycle

earth orbit most elliptical-> smallest difference in air temperature

60
Q

changes in the tilt of the Earth’s axis in temperature changes

A

obliquity changes over time
range: 22.1-24.5 degrees

61
Q

how does low obliquity affect the global average temperature?

A
  1. cooler Northern summers -> less melting of snow and ice -> more snow and ice accumulated on Earth’s surface
  2. warmer northern winters -> warm air holds more moisture than cold air -> more snowfall

-» albedo of the Earth’s surface increases -> solar radiation received by Earth’s surface reduces -> lower global average temperature

62
Q

how does high obliquity affect the global average temperature?

A
  1. hotter northern summers -> more melting of snow and ice -> less snow and ice accumulated on the Earth’s surface
  2. Colder Northern Winters -> cold air holds less moisture than warm air -> less snowfall

-» albedo of the Earth’s surface reduces -> solar radiation received by the Earth’s surface ⬆️ -> higher global average temperature