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Geography O level 2236 > Weather and Climate KQ2 > Flashcards

Weather and Climate KQ2 Flashcards

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1
Q

What is Global Climate Change?

A

Variations in the global climate or climatic patterns in the long term as a result of human and/or natural causes. (e.g. changes in temp, precipitation and wind patterns over time)

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2
Q

What is Global Warming?

A

Increase in Global temperature over long periodes of time

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3
Q

Natural Factors affecting climate change

A

1) Variations in Solar output

2) Volcanic Eruptions

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4
Q

NF: Variations in Solar output

Only accounts for fluctuations in temp, not long term global warming

A
  • Solar Output varies according to magnetic activity of sun
  • More magnetic energy = increase solar output
  • Sun has magnetic cycle of 11 years

1) Magnetic activity bunches gases around sun, forming sun spots where no light/heat is able to pass through
2) Area around sun spot radiates more energy to compensate for cooler sunspot regions
3) Increase in magnetic activity = increase in sun spots = increased solar radiation = increased temperature.

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5
Q

NF: Large Scale Volcanic Eruption

Short-Term. Once ash and dust settle, global climate returns to normal

A

> Global dimming
-Gradual reduction in amount of sunlight reaching surface of earth. Temporarily cooling earth.

1) Cloud cover
- Dust particles form condensation nuclei, creating cloud cover,
- Prevents sun rays from reaching earths surface, reflects away
incoming solar radiation

2) Sulfate Aerosols
- SO2 reacts with compounds in air, forming sulfate aerosols, reflecting large amounts of shortwave radiation back into space.

3) Fine particles
- Suspended in upper atmosphere/stratosphere
- Less subjected to gravity = able to reflect radiation for longer time

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6
Q

Large Scale Volcanic Eruption example

A

1991, Mount Pinatubo, Philipines

- 20 million tonnes of SO2 emitted and lowered temp by 0.6c for 2 years.

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7
Q

Define Greenhouse effect

A

Greenhouse gases trap heat in atmosphere, keeping atmosphere warm to sustain life

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8
Q

Describe the Greenhouse effect

A

1) Shortwave radiation from sun passes through atmosphere
2) Most radiation absorbed by earths surface
3) Warmed earth surface re-emits heat in form of longwave radiation.
4) Greenhouse gases trap the heat, remain in the atmosphere, warming it.

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9
Q

What is the Enhanced Greenhouse effect?

A
  • Rapid increase in GHGs in the atmosphere
  • Occurs when human activity releases GHGs at far greater rates than natural emission.
  • Since 2000s, GHGs have increased >15% worldwide
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10
Q

Anthropogenic Factors / Human Factors leading to enhanced greenhouse effect

A

1) Deforestation
2) Burning of Fossil Fuels
3) Changing Land use
- Agriculture
- Industries
- Urbanisation

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11
Q

AF: Deforestation

A

Def: Loss of forests due to removal of trees in forested areas
- Cut for wood, paper, building materials

1) Carbon Cycle
- Reduces number of trees able to absorb CO2, increasing CO2 levels in atmosphere

2) Carbon Oxidation
- Soil is greatest source of carbon (accumulation of organic matter)
- Clearance of trees expose soil to sunlight.
- Increased temperature increases rate of soil oxidation.

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12
Q

Deforestation examples

A
  • 6 million hectares of forest lost yearly
  • 15 billion trees cut yearly
  • Deforestation for agriculture, industrial and commercial activities such as cattle ranching, soybean farming and commercial logging
  • South America highest deforestation rates
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13
Q

AF: Burning of Fossil fuels

A
  • Petroleum, coal, natural gas (mainly hydrocarbons)
  • Burning releases large amounts of energy
  • Supplies >80% of energy for essential human activities (e.g. transport)
  • Produces large amounts of CO2 when burned
  • Greatest contributor to increase in CO2 in atmosphere
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14
Q

Burning of fossil fuels examples

A

e. g. Burning of FFs supply >80% energy for essential human activities (i.e. transport, domestic & commercial activities)
e. g. 2019, 36.7 billion metric tons of CO2 released into atmosphere
- Largest consumers: China, USA, Canada, UK

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15
Q

What are the main factors of Changing Land Use contributing to climate change?

A

1) Agriculture
2) Industries
3) Urbanisation

Due to:

  • Rise in population = rise in demand for agri. and indust.
  • Rise in population = more land converted to urban areas for housing
  • Lead to more fossil fuels burnt to meet energy demands
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16
Q

CLU: Agriculture

A

Def: Practice of cultivating land, producing crops and raising livestock

  • Third highest contributor of greenhouse gases

1) Fossil fuels
- Machinery require fuels and energy = derived from fossil fuels
(e. g. tractors run on petrol, release carbon dioxide)

2) Nitrous oxides
- Inorganic fertilisers increase amounts of nitrous oxide in soil.
- Nitrous oxides (a GHG) released when it rains

3) Methane (decomposing)
- Organic matter (i.e. manure) releases methane when decomposing.
- Rapid in high moisture environments (i.e. paddy fields)

3) Methane (cattle)
- Release methane as waste gas
- Up to 8,000 liters of emissions a day

17
Q

Agriculture releasing GHGs example

A

e. g. Machinery = fossil fuels = GHG
e. g. Nitrous oxides in soil
e. g. Decomposition = methane
e. g. Cattle = methane
e. g. Cattles produce >30% of Argentinas total GHGs emissions

18
Q

CLU: Industries

A

Def: Production of goods and services

  • Secondary industries (manufacturing) involve heavy machinery which burn fossil fuels resulting in GHG emissions
  • GHGs released as by-products when goods are produced
19
Q

Examples of industries releasing GHGs

A

Mobile phone - 60kg CO2 /each

Computer - 275kg CO2 /each

20
Q

CLU: Urbanisation

A

Def: Increasing people come to live in urban areas like towns/cities

1) Domestic
- Large amounts of fossil fuels burnt to provide energy for household activities (e.g. heating, cooking, lighting)

2) Transport
- Urbanisation = transportation development
- Vehicles all release GHGs into atmosphere
- Higher pop. = increased need for transport

3) Development of infra.
- Require materials, transport and clearing of land
- GHGs released at more all stages of developement

21
Q

Impacts of Climate change

A

1) Sea level rise
2) More frequent extreme weather events
3) Spread of infectious insect borne diseases
4) Lengthening of growing seasons

22
Q

Impacts: Sea Level Rise

A
  • Higher temp = water expands
  • Higher temp = glacial melting = meltwater into sea, desalinising it = uninhabitable for certain species
  • Increased sea level erodes coasts and wetland habitats
  • Threatens low lying coastal communities
23
Q

Sea level rise impacts examples

A

e.g. (IPCC) 33% coastal land and wetland habitats likely to be lost in 100 year.

e. g. Melting Greenland = 6m sea level rise
e. g. Melting Antartic = 6.5m sea level rise

e.g. Singapore = 1.5m sea level rise by 2100

24
Q

Impacts: More frequent extreme weather events

A

1) Heatwaves
- Vital organs at risk and death results when body cannot cool itself down sufficiently
- Heat exhaustion and illnesses (esp. in young & elderly)

2) Storms and droughts
- Higher land & sea surface temps.
- Greater amounts of latent heat released = encourages EWE
- Steeper pressure gradient = more extreme storms
- Longer periods of dry season followed by extremely wet seasons

25
Q

More frequent EWE examples

A

Heatwave: 2003, Europe, killed 70,000

26
Q

Impact: Spread of infectious insect borne diseases

A
  • Warm and wet, encourages thriving of insects
  • Increased storms = increased aquatic breeding grounds
  • Spreads malaria and dengue
  • Increased temp up outside of tropics = increased distribution of areas allowing breeding of mosquitoes
27
Q

Spread of IBD examples

A

e. g Nepal
- No dengue cases until late 1990s
- Global warming increased temp, mosquitioes introduced
- Dengue epidemic in Nepal 2004-2006

28
Q

Impact: Lengthening of growing seasons

A
  • Rise in temp = longer periods for which crops can grow
  • Increased yield

A: Increase in types of crops able to be grown in certain areas

L: Crops which require cooler climates no longer able to be grown in certain places

29
Q

Lengthening of growing season examples

A

e. g. Blackberries and maize now suitable to be grown in UK
e. g. increased fruit, soybean and potato harvests in Canada
e. g. Apples and cherry production in Yunan reduced
e. g. Wheat yield in Canada decreased

30
Q

Responses to climate change

A

1) International agreements

2) National responses

31
Q

Kyoto protocol (UNFCCC)

A
  • United nations frameworks convention on climate change
  • Goal to reduce GHGs emissions in atmosphere
  • 2008-2012, 37 countries aimed to decrease GHG emissions by 5% below 1990 levels
  • More developed countries to aid less developed countries

Success:

  • Many countries met/exceed targets
  • Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) gave Certified Emission Reduction (CER) to countries that initiated emission-reducing projects
  • CDM promoted sustainable development and helped DCs minimise carbon emissions while aiding LDCs

Limitations:

  • Some countries did not achieve targets
  • Not compulsory for countries with low GHG emissions to provide support for other countries
  • Countries that did not sign KP continued to contribute significantly to GHG emissions
32
Q

SG green plan 2030

A

1) City in Nature
- 1000ha of green spaces and 160km of park connectors to be added
- Every household to live 10mins for park
- 1 million trees to be planted across SG

2) Sustainable living
- 2/3 reduction of net carbon emissions from schools sectors
- 20% of schools to be carbon neutral

3) Energy reset
- HDB Green towns project to reduce energy consumption by 15%
- All newly-registered cars to be of cleaner-energy models

33
Q

Plant a tree programme

A
  • Since 1971, residents can donate or participate in tree-panting activities that happen monthly around SG
  • Initiated by SG Environmental Council
  • Funded by Garden City Fund

Successes: 60,000 trees planted annually
- Remove CO2, greener city

Limitations: Trees take up to 25 years to mature and environmental benefits take longer to be effective

Geography O level 2236 (25 decks)

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