Unit 3 - Carbon Cycle and Climate Change Flashcards
Where does carbon exist and how does it move?
Carbon exists in;
- coal/fossil fuels (sources of energy)
- plants
- sediments, phytoplankton, algae (ocean is main carbon pool)
- trees
- atmosphere
- humans
- rocks and minerals
How it moves:
1. Burning
2. Photosynthesis
3. Respiration
4. Consumption
5. Decomposition
Carbon Cycle Steps
- Plants use carbon in atmospheric CO2 to make sugars and other carbohydrates to grow and reproduce
- Plants are eater by other organisms supplying them with the building blocks for other biological molecules and fuel
- After being metabolized, the carbon returns to the enviornment in one of several different ways ending up in the air, water, or earth.
- Released naturally or extracted by humans, in either case, returning carbon dioxide to the atmosphere to start all over again.
Greenhouse Effect
- Earth absorbs sunlight and radiates heat back into the atmosphere.
- Greenhouse gases trap this heat, keeping the planet warm.
Refer to notes for diagram
Climate Vs Weather
Climate:
- Long-term patterns, at least 30 years.
- Averages temperature and precipitation.
Weather:
- Short-term, what we see outside.
- Daily changes in temperature and rain.
Both:
- Measure temp and precipitation.
- Include wind patterns.
Climate Change vs Global Warming
Climate Change: Broad range of global phenomena including:
- the increased temperature trends described by global warming
- changes such as sea level rise
- ice mass loss in Greenland, Antarctica, the Arctic and mountain glaciers worldwide
- shifts in flower/plant blooming
- extreme weather events.
Global Warming: The temperature of our earth heating up over time.
- Outside of the range of normal fluctuations that have occurred throughout the planet’s history.
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Increase of greenhouse gases in atmosphere leading to more heat being reradiated to earth
What are some of the GHGs that contribute to the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect (& Climate Change)?
Which are natural vs man made?
Natural: Water vapour, CO2, CH4, NOx,
Manmade: CFC, HFC
Which one lasts the longest in the atmosphere?
Which one has the highest concentration?
What is the controversy with water vapour?
Longest lasters: CO2, CFC’s also last quite a long time, depends on sources
Highest concentration: CO2
Controversy with water vapour: Cycles through the atmosphere quickly and isn’t evenly distrubuted around the globe
What three things does the impact of GHGs depend on?
- Concentration - More particles to trap energy
- How long it stays - longer it stays, more potential damage from trapping and reradiating
- Ability to absorb heat - increases atmospheric warming, amplifying the greenhouse effect
What is global warming potential?
Each greenhouse gas has one unique to it. Definition: Measurement of how much heat a known mass of GHG’s traps (over a number of years), compared to the same mass of carbon dioxide (baseline/one), no units
Example of Methane - DO WE NEED TO KNOW
ALSO DO WE NEED TO KNOW OUR OWN CARBON FOOTPRINT
What are the primary ways climate change will affect an impact?
- Climate change poses serious health risks; flooding, spread of vector borne diseases, respiratory diseases, malnutrition, hunger, or water insecurity
- People with pre existing conditions or those that are older are more likely to get sick, rainfall patterns leading to droughts and therefore more fires, killing many.
- Major benefits like fewer winter deaths, and improved farming in areas
Biodiversity loss and species extinction impact
- Destruction of natural pathways restricts species’ movement.
- Fragmented habitats expose species to harsher conditions, making survival harder.
Changing weather patterns impact
- Intensity of events increased due to climate change and frequency
- unprecedented rain falling/fire
Costal inundation and sea level change
- Coastal habitats like wetlands are submerged.
- Saltwater disrupts freshwater ecosystems.
Human health concerns impact
- More diseases & cross species transfer
- extreme weather events impacting health
