Water, Carbon, Climate & Life Of Earth Flashcards
(36 cards)
How does climate change impact climate zones? (Give 3 things)
- Rising temperatures shift climate belts
- changing rainfall distribution
- increasing drought-prone areas like Sub-Saharan Africa.
How does climate change impact drainage basins? (3 things)
- Increased evaporation and water vapour
- Snowmelt occurs earlier, altering river discharge
- Thawing permafrost increases groundwater infiltration
What happens when Arctic permafrost melts?
Releases methane and CO₂, contributing to further warming and accelerating permafrost thaw.
How does the thermohaline circulation act as a tipping point? (Give 3 things)
1) TC is the movement of water around the world in an ocean
2) Melting ice adds freshwater to oceans
3) disrupting global ocean currents and potentially cooling parts of Europe.
What is carbon taxation?
Governments tax businesses and individuals to discourage fossil fuel use and lower carbon emissions.
What is the role of mangroves in coastal protection?
Mangroves reduce storm surge impact, prevent coastal erosion, and provide carbon storage.
Why is predicting climate change impacts difficult? (3 things)
- Uncertainty in ocean responses (e.g., sea-level rise, storm intensity)
- Human actions (e.g., renewable energy adoption, population growth)
- Feedback loops affecting carbon storage
How does economic growth affect climate change?
Increased demand for resources (energy, food, land) leads to higher emissions, especially in emerging economies.
How does climate change affect global water stores? (3 things)
- Shrinking glaciers reduce long-term freshwater supply
- Permafrost thawing increases groundwater flow
- Drying lakes reduce water availability for humans and ecosystems
What happens to soils under climate change? (3 things)
- Decreased soil moisture due to droughts
- More runoff in extreme rainfall events, reducing infiltration
- Melting permafrost releases carbon previously locked in soil
How does warming impact extreme weather? (2 things)
- Higher sea temperatures intensify tropical storms
- Changing rainfall patterns increase flooding and drought risks
What is Peat?
A soil formed from vegetation that is partly decayed
What so special about peat?
Since peat has a low decomposition, the soil overall contains high amounts of carbon. Therefore if peat dries out (the water dries out) but also decomposition rates increase
What else in the soil also causes more co2 emissions?
Permafrost in cold regions
What are tipping points?
points where there will be a drastic, sometimes irreversible change.
What is forest dieback?
When drought in rainforests causes enough trees to die and other knock on impacts occur in the tipping point
Can you give a positive feedback loop example of both water and carbon cycles intertwining?
- As increased carbon dioxide warms the atmosphere evaporation rates increase, creating a wetter atmosphere.
- Water vapour is a greenhouse gas, so this leads to further warming in a positive feedback loop.
What is ocean acidification?
refers to the process of more CO2 being absorbed into the ocean, which means the pH decreases (becomes more acidic).
How does ocean acidification occur?
- When there is a higher concentration of CO2 absorbed into the ocean, it converts largely into carbonic acid (H2CO3 ).
- But if there are lower concentrations of carbon dioxide when the CO2 is absorbed, the carbonate ions promote healthy coral growth.
What organism provides brilliant bright colors of corals?
Algae
What temperatures can corals survive in?
23-29 degrees (never below 18)
What is coral bleaching?
happens when the water is too warm, causing the algae to be ejected and leaving the coral white.
What does ocean acidification do the corals?
makes coral disintegrate.
What percentage of marine species live in coral reefs?
25%
