weather kq2 Flashcards
what is greenhouse effect
→During the day: sun radiates short wave radiation (short wave radiation) -> penetrates layers of greenhouse gases (GHG) in Earth’s atmosphere = Earth’s surface absorbs the solar radiation = Earth gets warmed up
→During the night: Earth re-radiates the heat energy (in the form of long wave radiation - LWR) -> LWR is trapped by greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere - prevent LWR from escaping back into space = Earth will stay warm at night
what is enhanced greenhouse effect
more greenhouse gases are released in the atmosphere = more LWR from the Earth gets trapped by the greenhouse gases = temperature of the Earth increases
how do sunspots contribute to GHG
more sunspots = Hotter areas around the sunspots will emit more solar radiation = - more SWR reaches the Earth and is absorbed by the Earth = air temperature increases
how do volcanic eruptions contribute to GHG?
Contributes to global warming: a lot of carbon dioxide is released into the air during an eruption - carbon dioxide is a type of GHG = more GHG in the air will trap more LWR radiated from the Earth = air temperature increases
Contributes to global cooling: mixture of gases/particles emitted into the air during an eruption (eg ash and sulphur dioxide) = reflect sunlight away from air = less SWR reaches the Earth = air temperature decreases
how does agricultural activities lead to CC
- Cattle farming: to meet increasing demand for beef, milk and hide
Cows produce a lot of methane (a type of GHG, very potent) during digestion = more methane released into atmosphere = more LWR trapped in Earth’s atmosphere = global temp increases
- Rice cultivation: demand for rice increases
Rice plants decompose after rice grains get harvested = methane is released into atmosphere = more LWR gets trapped in atmosphere = global temperatures increase
how does industrialisation lead to CC?
Industrialisation: manufacturing of goods to meet demands from rapidly growing population in world → involves use of machinery
Machinery is powered by fossil fuels like petroleum = more petroleum burnt to power more machines = more CO2 released into air = more LWR trapped in atmosphere = global temps increase
how does deforestation lead to CC?
loss of forests due to removal or clearance of trees in forested areas = done to keep up with growing demand for land to grow food
Trees are major carbon stores: take in CO2 during photosynthesis - when tree decomposes, CO2 stored in different parts of tree (which decompose) will be go into the soil instead
Trees burnt/cut down = stored CO2 is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide = more GHG present in atmosphere = more LWR trapped in Earth’s atmosphere = air temp increases
Trees burnt/cut down - lesser trees in environment = less photosynthesis is carried out = less CO2 absorbed from air - more CO2 present in atmosphere = more LWR trapped in atmosphere = air temp increases
how does CC cause rising sea levels?
CAUSE:
1. Rising temperatures due global warming = gigantic continental ice sheets in the Arctic/Atlantic start to melt into the oceans = sea levels rise
2. Rising temperatures due to global warming = water in oceans gain heat and expand = sea levels rise
IMPACT:
Major cities
→ economic value of homes and properties near coasts may fall = suffer economic losses
→ increase public spending to repair flood damages, strengthen coastal defence = eg in SG citizens may have to pay higher GST and income taxes to fund the cost of protecting SG from rising sea levels
Link: cause economic losses and hardship to countries and citizens
near
Political: coastal cities have a high chance of being submerged = unique history of country will be wiped out, lose identity as nation
Link: causes hardship and suffering to citizen
how does CC cause falling food production?
Rising sea levels - submerge large portions of good farmland - usually found in Asia, at coastal areas
Sea water which submerges the land affects the salinization of the soil = not possible to grow rice = rice farming affected
submergence of rice farm = reduce export of rice to other countries in Asia = export revenue and income of farmers decrease - SG will relies heavily on import of rice may be affected (food insecurity)
→lesser food supply, prices increase - farmers experience lower income = cannot afford basic necessities/food = suffer malnutirition/develop health problems
Link: many would suffer from food insecurity/health problems due to CC
how does CC cause increasing food production?
global warming = increase in temperature = have more days that are warm enough to grow certain crops = gowing season gets lengthened = more crops can be grown = more places will be warmed enough to grow more crops =
how does CC cause spread of pests and diseases?
how does CC cause more extreme weather events?
what is the 1st action in the Kyoto protocol?
what is the 2nd action in the Kyoto protocol?
what is the 3rd action in the Kyoto protocol?
