Whole Module Flashcards
what is an example food chain for polar aquatic ecosystems?
zooplankton -> krill & cod -> halibut/seals/whales
arctic flora and fauna are much more productive as large animals (seals) are sustained by phytoplankton/zooplankton
what percentage of Greenland’s economy comes from fisheries?
92%
name a biodiversity initiative
convention on biological diversity (CBD) in 1993
what does the warmer atmosphere do to the hydrological cycle?
warmer atmosphere = more evaporation and condensation = more cloud formation = more precipitation and runoff
this can affect salinity and therefore thermo-haline circulation
what is the ocean-atmosphere exchange of CO2?
CO2 is dissolved in cold polar water (less energy for molecules to escape the liquid) and temporarily stored in the deep ocean
CO2 is then released in upwelling at the equator
what does the energy balance on Earth depend on?
incoming vs outgoing solar radiation
what is the climate determined by?
the large-scale circulation of the atmosphere and oceans, albedo, vegetation levels, and soil moisture
what is the global energy transfer?
energy is transferred from lower latitudes (energy surplus) to higher latitudes (energy deficit)
what is the overall global temperature change?
some trends of cooling, overall long-term of 1 degrees C in warming
what are some natural drivers of climate change?
solar variations, albedo feedback, orbit/wobble/tilt of Earth, hydrological cycle, glacial cycles, El Niño/ La Niña, volcanic activity
what are some human-induced drivers of climate change?
fossil fuels, urbanization, agriculture, methane emissions, deforestation
what are the physical impacts of climate change?
SLR, ocean warming, ocean acidification, extreme climate events, shrinking of arctic sea ice, changes in glacier mass balance, reduction of BD, intensification of the hydrological cycle
what is habitat destruction?
habitat destruction occurs when the physical environment required by a species is altered so that the species can no longer live there
what is the source for habitat destruction?
global forest watch, 2020
what is an invasive species?
they are non-native organisms that disrupt and out-compete the community they invade
what is genotype BD?
the genetic diversity that enables species to adapts and change
what is population BD?
diversity amongst the individual within a species which occupy a different area
what is community BD?
aka species richness
what was the Antarctic Treaty of 1959?
states that the Antarctic is strictly for peaceful purposes and it shall only be used for international scientific cooperation
what is the significance of the 1990s & Antarctic temperature trends?
up to the late 1990s, some of the highest atmospheric warming in the S hemisphere
since 1990s, has cooled with natural climate variability
what does permafrost contribute to the global CO2 sink?
it holds 1/3 of Earth’s soil carbon, stored in frozen organic matter
what is a DEW line?
Detection Early Warning System
Greenland was an important staging post during the cold war and WW2
what did the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea conclude?
a country has a 10yr period to make claims to an extended continental shelf/EEZ
if validated, they get rights to all resources above and below
what are the key properties of ocean water?
density and heat capacity
what are the effects of ocean acidification?
animals cannot adapt quick enough to build their skeletons in acidic water
reduces reproduction
coral bleaching
what are the effects of SLR?
salt marshes eroding, coastal squeeze, coastal flooding
what is the UN High Seas Treaty?
establishes marine protected areas and applies to 2/3 of the area of the ocean outside of national boundaries
is environmental policy post-political?
no. the problem can be solved through engineering and technology but the science does not align with some political agendas, making it political
what are the top three strategies to reduce CO2 emissions?
- have one fewer child
- live car free
- avoid one trans-atlantic flight
what percentage of global emissions does China emit?
27% - 9.8 billion tons of CO2 (bc they focus on exports)
what are the three main reasons that environmental disruption is worse in the global south?
- resource curse
- waste dumping
- climate injustice
what are the effects of ocean warming?
coral bleaching, increased migration to the north, reduced BD
what percentage of the energy accumulated between 1971 and 2012 was from ocean warming?
90%
what is the source for the energy accumulated between 1971 and 2012 was from ocean warming?
IPCC, 2013
give an example of climate resilient infrastructure in SE Asia
indonesia sea walls and japan raising railroads
describe high vs low income emissions in the global south
the top 20% are responsible for 7x the emissions of poorer households
what is the source for high vs low income emissions in the global south?
research institute for humanity and nature, 2021
what are some NBS examples in the UK
peatlands, woodlands, salt marshes, arable landscapes, urban street trees
what are mobile sources of pollution?
cars, buses, planes, trucks, trains
what are stationery sources of pollution?
power plants, oil refineries, industrial facilities, factories
what are area sources of pollution?
farms, cities, wood burning fireplaces
what are natural sources of pollution?
dust, wildfires, volcanoes
describe the relationship between LMIC/pollution/children
in LMIC 98% of all children under 5 are exposed to PM2.5 levels above WHO guidelines
kids breathe faster (take in more pollutants)
closer to pollution sources (car exhaust)
what is PM 2.5?
fine inhale-able particles with a diameter generally 2.5 micrometers or smaller
they come from construction sites, unpaved roads, smokestacks, and fires
they can cause lung damage, immune system effects, and cardiovascular disease
what is the source for PM 2.5?
US environmental protection agency
what are 6 ways to restore and conserve wetlands?
protective netting, trees, herbaceous fields, flood ponds, phytodepuration plants, and a buffer edge
what is the source for the 6 ways to restore and conserve wetlands?
Benites, 2023
impacts of oceanic pollution?
more than 8 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year
80% of all of the debris in the ocean is plastic
what is a fjord?
a fjord is a deep, high latitude estuary which has been excavated or modified by land-based ice
why do fjords make excellent sediment traps?
bc they have over-deepend basins and are relatively young
they have spring blooms and autumn booms that increase PP
how much does the arctic ocean contribute to the global carbon sink?
5-14%
why is the polar ocean so good at uptaking CO2?
because the enhanced bioproductivity draws CO2 from the atmosphere to the ocean
the production of organic matter consumes dissolved inorganic carbon and decreases the oceanic effective partial pressure of CO2
what are two example results of arctic climate change?
opening of the NW passage (NASA,2016)
collapsing of the NADW (Liu, 2017)
what does an increase in GLIC surface runoff cause?
larger runoff sediment plumes in fjords and coastal oceans - this causes a negative impact on summertime marine productivity
sea surface temperature is…
the most important determinant of overall coastal and oceanic marine BD
how is the deep ocean affected by CC?
deep ocean ecosystems are sensitive to climate variability through its influence on the quantity and quality of surface primary production which controls the minimal amount of organic carbon that reaches the deep ocean
what is the source for sustainable fishery management?
Costello, 2016
what is the source for coral bleaching?
Sully, 2019
what is the source for the importance of global environmental meetings?
Cambell, 2013
what is the source for climate change in Greenland?
Nuttall, 2020
how much does the top 1% emit compared to the poorest 50%?
the top 1% emits twice as much CO2 as the poorest 50%
what is the source for the top 1% emit compared to the poorest 50%?
Oxfam, 2020
what is the source for academics and flying?
Wynes, 2019
what are some alternatives for academics to practice instead of flying?
more videoconferencing
changing promotional requirements so they don’t have to pick between giving a talk and getting a raise
more events packed into fewer, longer trips
more ground-based travel
carbon accounting fee
what are some effects of antarctic tourism?
soil degradation, decrease in fauna, invasive species, ship striking marine mammals and ice, chemical pollution
what is the source for antarctic tourism?
Tedejo, 2022
describe the case study in Huanchaco, Peru
Coastal Huanchaco focuses on recreational fishing
The upland settlements have grown in a disorderly fashion and are particularly exposed to flash flooding and landslides on the steep hillsides north of the coast.
In 2017, a phenomenon called the “coastal El Niño” brought torrential rain to the town causing multiple casualties and property losses.
the key is to reforest and maintain the uplands of the coast so there is no erosion/mudslides that will cause flooding and property damage
what is the source for PM 2.5?
Anderson, 2012
what percentage of annual marine carbon burial do fjords contribute to?
11%
