Water And Carbon Cycle: Mitigating The Impacts Of Climate Change Flashcards
How do humans modify industrial combustion?
Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
What is CCS?
uses technology to capture CO2 emissions from coal-fired power stations and industry. The gas is then transported to a site where it can be stored and prevented from entering the atmosphere.
Once captured, the carbon gas us compressed and transported by pipeline to an injection well. Then injected as a liquid into suitable geological reservoirs, such as underground aquifers and depositis of fossil fuels.
How much do scientists estimate CCS could cut?
Up to 19% global carbon emissions
What’s an example of CCS?
The Boundary Dam in Canadas Saskatchewan Province (2014)- became the worlds first commercial carbon capture coal-fired power plant. It aims to cut CO2 emissions by 90% by trapping CO2 underground before it reaches the atmosphere. Saskatchewans state-owned electricity power expects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 1 million tons a year, the equivalent of 250000 cars.
Why is CCS viewed with suspicion by environmental campaigners?
Because its economic viability, so far, depends on the using the CO2 to increase oil production (it can be used to force oil out of the ground). Several projects have been initiated, but face long delays and cost overruns.
How is photosynthesis modified?
Plantation forests, which compromise an estimated 7% of the global forest area, are particularly effective in absorbing CO2 compared to natural forests. For some time, this has been recognised by the IPCC as a legitimate option for countries wishing to reduce their carbon emissions.
What’s an example of photosynthesis modification?
Protecting Mangroves in Sri Lanka - in 2015, Sri Lanka became the First Nation to protect all its mangrove forests. After losing approx 76% during last centuary, the Govt decided to conserve the remaining forests and seek to expand their coverage.
Mangroves absorb more CO2 than other forests and fix it into the soil where it is stored for 100s of years. Also, mangrove forests don’t burn, due to swampy environment and lack of fuel.
The project will cost £2.2 million over 5 years and will protect over 21,000 acres of Mangrove forests. A further 9,600 acres with be replanted.
How is Land Use modified?
Carbon stores can be improved by ensuring that carbon inputs to the soil are greater than carbon losses from it. There are three areas:
1) Grasslands
2) Croplands
3) Forested lands and tree crops
How can Grasslands be modified to help soil carbon storage?
offers a greenhouse gas mitigation potential of 810 million tonnes of CO2, almost all of which would be sequester in the soil. Soil carbon storage can be improved by: avoidance of overstocking of razing animals; adding manures and fertilisers (direct impact on Soil Organic Carbon, SOC, through organic materials, increasing plant productivity and stimulating soil biodiversity); Revegetation (using improved pasture species and legumes can increase productivity, add to SOC stock); Irrigation and water management (improve plant productivity)
How do Croplands help modify and increase SOC?
Mulching (using crop residues so prevents carbon losses from the system);
Reduced or no tillage (ploughing and harrowing) (avoids accelerated decomposition of organic matter and depletion of soil carbon. Prevents the break up of soil aggregates that protect carbon);
use of animal manure/ chemical fertilisers (increase plant productivity thus SOC);
Rotations of cash crops with pasture (or use of cover crops/ green manures- increase biomass returned to the soil);
improved crop varieties (increase productivity above and below ground and increasing crop residues, so increase SOC)
How do Forested lands and tree crops help reduce CO2 emissions?
forests reduce CO2 emissions to the atmosphere by storing large carbon stocks above and below ground:
protection of existing forests (will preseve current soil carbon stocks);
Reforesting degraded lands and increasing tree density in degraded forests (increase biomass density and therefore carbon density, above and below ground);
trees in crop-lands (silviculture- and orchards can store carbon above and below ground. CO2 emissions can be reduced if they are grown as a renewable source of fuel)
How is deforestation modified?
- Consumers encouraged to only buy wood certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) as its grown sustainably.
- Countries, organisations and individuals make carbon offset payments to offset their carbon (e.g. paying for existing forests to be protected, developing renewable energy alternatives or planting trees)
- as well as government policies in Brazil.
What are the government policies in Brazil to help modify deforestation?
Brazil hold the highest rates of deforestation in the world. In 2005, the Gov embarked a plan to drastically reduce rates of deforestation. This involved landowners to preserve 80% of virgin forest, with infringements punishable with large fines or imprisonment. They also created protected reserves. By 2009, the rate of deforestation fell by 75% compared with 2004. In 2019, over 30,000 forest fires raged across the Amazon, due to Bolsondros stripping back of environmental protection.
What is the Paris Agreement?
At the Paris Climate Conference (COP21) 195 countries adopted the first universal legally binding global climate deal, due to be enforced by 2020. The plan;
- Aim to limit the average global temp increase to 1.5 degrees celcius above pre-industrial levels.
- meets every 5 years to set more targets
- report to each other and the public on the implementation of their individual plans to reduce emissions.
- strengthen the ability to adapt to and be resilient in dealing with the impacts of climate change.
- provide adaptation support for developing countries
