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Enviro Science > UNIT 4 - AOS 1 > Flashcards

UNIT 4 - AOS 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

Climate change

A

Changes in patterns of weather, and related changes in oceans, land surfaces and ice-sheets, occurring over decades.

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2
Q

Earths energy budget

A

The tracking of the balance between incoming and outgoing solar radiation from the sun and earth. Important for maintaining earths temp needed to support life.

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3
Q

Points about the sun

A
  • Primary source of energy
  • Earth is in ‘goldilocks zone’
  • Hydrogen gas (72%), Helium gas (28%)
  • Solar energy created -> nuclear fusion
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4
Q

Nuclear fusion

A

Combing 2 hydrogen ions together to create solar energy.
- When the gases move = powerful magnetic field is created

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5
Q

Solar cycle & 2 types

A

The suns magnetic field activity level cycle (11 yrs)
SOLAR MIN: Decreased solar activity (decreased sunspots)
SOLAR MAX: Increased solar activity (increased sunspots)

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6
Q

Sunspots

A

Flares of energy on the sun

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7
Q

Natural cause of climate change (+ notes)

A

VOLCANIC ERUPTION:
Releases greenhouse gases (mostly CO2) into atmosphere
- Also releases, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen halides (toxic at diff concentrations)

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8
Q

Avg amount of CO2 released from volcanoes per yr and there importance.

A

180-440 mill tonnes per yr
- Important for life’s processes and maintaining natural greenhouse effect.

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9
Q

Types of un-natural causes of climate change

A

FOSSIL FUEL COMBUSTION ->for energy (transport, heating etc.)
AGRICULTURE -> (crop production, cattle = methane prod.)

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10
Q

Atmosphere definition

A

Gaseous envelope of air that is held close to the earths surface by gravity

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11
Q

Layers of the atmosphere

A
  1. TROPOSPHERE (15kms)
    - Nitrogen, oxygen, argon & CO2
    - Air is most dense (from gravity)
    - Visible clouds & weather
  2. STRATOSPHERE (35kms)
    - Ozone layer
    - Air is 1000x thinner than sea level
  3. MESOSPHERE (30kms)
    - Meteors & not alot is known
  4. THERMOSPHERE (470kms)
    - Includes ionosphere (layer of ionised air)
    - Satellites, space shuttles & auroras are found
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12
Q

Trends between the layers of the atmosphere

A

As you move further away from earth’s surface:
- Temperature increases
- Air pressure decreases
- Air density decreases

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13
Q

How is solar energy transferred from sun to earth?

A
  1. SOLAR ENERGY is emitted from the sun until it reaches the troposphere
  2. Solar energy becomes VISIBLE LIGHT & INFRA-RED SOLAR RADIATION. (66% of solar radiation is reemitted from earths surface back to atmosphere)
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14
Q

Types of solar radiation + %

A

38% = VISIBLE LIGHT
53% = INFRARED LIGHT (longer wavelengths & lower frequency)
9% = ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT (shorter wavelength & higher frequency) -> what burns you

**Different greenhouse gases in atmosphere will absorb different wavelengths of light

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15
Q

How solar energy interacts with layer of atmosphere and earth

A
  • Ozone in stratosphere absorb most ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT (burns you)
  • INFRARED SOLAR RADITATION is absorbed in troposphere & earths surface (heat)
  • VISIBLE LIGHT travels to earths surface to be reflected, absorbed and reradiated in form of INFRARED RADIATION
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16
Q

Albedo effect

A
  • LIGHT SURFACES = reflect more radiation = higher albedo
  • DARKER SURFACES = Absorb more radiation
  • Range = 0(no reflection) to 1(100% reflection)
  • Diff enviros = diff albedo values
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17
Q

Natural greenhouse effect

A
  • Some of re-emitted infrared radiation is trapped by gases in atmosphere = maintains global temp & life on earth
  • WATER VAPOUR is most responsible for natural GHE
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18
Q

Enhanced greenhouse effect

A
  • 1760-1840 = Industrial revolution
  • Development of machinery = increased burning fossil fuels
    -> ^ GHG in atmosphere (CO2, Methane, nitrous oxide)
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19
Q

Causes of enhanced GHE

A
  • ^ combustion of FF
  • Decreased vegetation cover due to expansion of agriculture
  • Manufacturing of artificial gases -> Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) & Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
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20
Q

Purpose of ocean circulation

A

(Oceans store & distribute heat energy (majority earths stored heat))
- Ocean currents move circular patterns to distribute the heat energy across the globe & stabilise global climate patterns
- Responsible for local weather patterns, cycling of gases & distribution of nutrients

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21
Q

Types of ocean currents

A

SURFACE:
- Formed by -> wind patterns & rotation of earth
- Move vertically & horizontally
- CORIOLIS EFFECT = Currents formed by winds are deflected by earths rotation & increases circular movement

DEEP WATER:
- Create thermohaline circulation
- Driven by different ocean water densities - this is effected by temp (thermos) & saline (haline) -> e.g. cold, salty water = more dense)
- Moves dissolved CO2
- Currents regulate global climate by counteracting uneven distribution of solar radiation

22
Q

Carbon cycle

A

CO2 is continuously cycled through organisms into the atmosphere

23
Q

Carbon sink

A

Something that stores carbon, such as forests and oceans

TREES: Use photosynthesis to take in carbon dioxide
OCEAN: absorbs carbon
ARTIFICAL CARBON SINKS: Limited & inefficient (not developed enough) & prone to leaks

24
Q

Role of carbon sinks in the carbon cycle

A

removes carbon from the carbon cycle for long-terms storage

25
Q

Carbon sequestration

A

Storage of CO2 in vegetation such as grasslands or forests, as well as in soils and oceans (carbon sinks)

26
Q

Notes about sequestration in forests

A

forests = most widely cited carbon sink
- Tropical & old growth forests = ^ carbon storage potential
- Some can store carbon for centuries
- Bushfires/deforestation = releases the stored carbon
-> not all carbon is released when forests are destroyed

27
Q

When a forest is destroyed what happens to the carbon that isnt released

A
  • Remains: As plants consumed by animals or added to soil as litter
  • Soil: carbon is stored as soil organic matter (stay there for millenia)
28
Q

Notes about sequestration in oceans

A

= major carbon sink
- If water chemistry is altered it decreases ability to sequest carbon
- absorbs and stores 40% of earths carbon emissions
- CO2 dissolves -> carbonic acid

29
Q

ocean acidification

A

When CO2 dissolves into seawater it becomes carbonic acid
– Bleach coral and dissolve animal shells

30
Q

How temperature effects sequestration of oceans

A

COOL = better carbon sinks
WARM = Less carbon dioxide absorbed

31
Q

Shells in terms of carbon and there threats

A
  • Carbon is shells of organisms = calcium carbonate
  • As these organisms die, fall to ocean floor -> over long time period they are compacted into limestone = carbon stored for thousands of years

THREATS:
- Increases acidic ocean & decreases dissolved limestone (the calcium dissolves instead of sinking = ^ carbon dioxide released & less is stored.

32
Q

Global Warming Potential

A

“The ability for gases to trap extra heat in the atmosphere over time & develops comparison of the global warming impact of different gases”
- Provides common unit of measurement for greenhouse gases
(calculated over 100yrs -> relative value compared to CO2)

33
Q

Measurement of GWP

A

“Measure of how much energy can be absorbed, by the emission of 1 tonne of gas over its lifetime, relative to CO2”

34
Q

Absorption of solar radiation & wavelengths effect

A

Gases absorb solar radiation at different frequencies = some gases absorb more heat than others

METHANE:
Absorbs lower wavelengths (closer together) = closer to infrared R = heat

CARBON:
Absorbs higher wavelength radiation = UV = less heat

(the larger the GWP, the more gas can warm earth of a 100yr period compared to CO2)

35
Q

Methane

A

CH4
GWP = 28-26 over 100yrs (26-28x the impact of CO2)

METHANE EMITTED TODAY:
- lasts a decade (less than CO2) but has higher absorption of energy than CO2

36
Q

Nitrous Oxide

A

N2O
GWP = 265-289x the impact of CO2 over 100 years

Stays in atmosphere for 120-150 years

37
Q

How Carbon dioxide concentrations have altered

A

NATURAL CHANGES:
Millions of yrs ago, oceans formed = ^ carbon sequestration

CHANGES IN PHOTOSYNTHETIC RATE:
Daily - ^ during day, decrease at night
Seasonal - ^ summer & spring, decrease autumn & winter

COMBUSTION OF FOSSIL FUELS:
- Since industrial revolution, CO2 concentrations ^ 43%
- CO2 ^ by 0.5% per yr
- Evidence of CO2 ^ in Keeling curve

CEMENT PRODUCTION:
- Concrete prod. = 9% all CO2 prod.
- In cement a component is converted from limestone to lime = released CO2 as a product
- During WW2 limited material = ^ cement prod.

AGRICULTURE:
- Trees cut down for land use = CO2 in tissues (sequested) is released
- Machinery used in agriculture = combust fossil fuels

38
Q

How methane concentrations have been altered

A

NATURAL CHANGES:
- Volcanic eruptions
- break down of organic material (occurs in enviros of low O2 where CO2 cant form)

AGRICULTURE AND LANDS CHANGES:
- Methane released from coal seams during extraction & breakdown of coal
- Humans (garbage breakdown, rotting vegetation, burning biomass
- Ruminant animals ^ (cows, sheep, goats etc) = produce methane during digestion

39
Q

Nitrous oxide & concentration alteration causes

A

Found in low concentrations but high GWP (265-289)

NATURAL EVENTS:
- Soils under vegetation, tundra and ocean

ANTHROPOGENIC FACTORS:
- ^ manufacturing chemical, fertilizer, cultivation of soil, legume crop agriculture

40
Q

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) & Halons

A
  • Synthetic
  • Breakdown ozone layer
  • GWP = 125-152
  • last 100yrs (resist chemical breakdown)
  • Currently being phased out

CFC’s = from 1930s refrigeration & air conditioning
Halons = fire extinguishers

41
Q

Perfluorocarbons (PFC)

A
  • Synthetic
  • GWP = 6,500
  • Last 50,000 yrs (extremely stable)
  • Produced during -> prod. aluminium, electronics & refrigerants
  • Emissions decreased 90.4% in Aus since 1990
42
Q

Ozone

A
  • Greenhouse Gas & in stratosphere
  • Becomes apart of enhanced greenhouse effect when produced in troposphere
  • Ultraviolet light interacts with hydrocarbons (CFC, PFC) & nitrous oxides in troposphere = TROPOSPHERIC OZONE
  • (currently = low concentrations but increases from non-renewable energy usage)
43
Q

Water vapour

A
  • Decreased dramatically 4 bill yrs ago when earths temp decreased
  • Global warming increased earths temp = increased atmospheric WV
44
Q

Aerosols

A
  • Produced through fossil fuels
  • Aerosols produce haze & change cloud formation = scatters and reflects short wave radiation
45
Q

Mitigation

A

Action to reduce emissions that cause climate change
e.g.
- Development of sustainable transportation
- Clean energy technology
- Energy efficiency

46
Q

Adaptation

A

Action to manage the risks of climate change impacts
(happens after CC)
e.g.
- Disaster management & business continuity
- Flood protection
- Infrastructure upgrades

47
Q

Examples of both mitigation and adaptation

A
  • Water conservation
  • Development of new energy systems
  • Growth of local food
  • Education programs
  • Urban forests
48
Q

Risk and opportunities of climate change

A

INCREASE IN RANGE OF EXOTIC SPECIES:
Enviro changes = species moving to other enviros = ^ competition with native species.

CHANGES IN LENGTH OF PLANT GROWING SEASONS
Colder enviros warmer climates = longer summer = ^ growing time and absorbing more CO2

CHANGES TO ANIMAL BREEDING CYCLES
^ climate temp = some species breed earlier = less time = more competition

PHENOLOGICAL CHANGES FOR PLANT=POLLINATOR INTERACTIONS
^ in chance of plants & pollinators coming out of sync

INCREASED RISK TO COASTAL INFRASTRUCTURE
- Damage
- Degrdation of structures

REDUCTION IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION FROM WARMER CLIMATES
Enviros are less favourable (e.g. drought) = farmers ^ $ if stock numbers decrease.

49
Q

Ways to measure current changes in climate

A
  • Changes in snow and ice coverage
  • modeling of atmospheric and ocean temperatures
  • sea level rise
50
Q

Ways to measure changes in climate from the past

A
  • Ice core sampling
  • Paleobotany
  • Tree Rings
  • Deep sea sediments
51
Q

Technologies

A

CCS = capture, transport, storage

ELECTRIC PLANES

METHANE SATELLLITE

52
Q

Climate change projections

A
  • International Panel on climate change - Modell to predict future
  • Ratings of confidence

Enviro Science (24 decks)

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