World at Risk Flashcards

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1
Q

What type of plate boundary is the Philippines bordering?

A

Destructive

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2
Q

What two plates form the Philippines destructive boundary?

A

Eurasian Plate (continental) and Philippine Plate (oceanic)

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3
Q

What island is Mt Pinatubo located on?

A

Luzon

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4
Q

How far is Mt Pinatubo from the Philippine capital of Manilla?

A

55 miles

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5
Q

How long had it been since the previous eruption of Mt Pinatubo?

A

500 years (approx)

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6
Q

When did Mt Pinatubo erupt?

A

June 1991

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7
Q

In early June, how was Mt Pinatubo’s eruption predicted?

A
  • Tiltmeters showed that the volcano was bulging, suggesting a magma buildup.
  • Increase in seismic activity near the surface of Mt Pinatubo.
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8
Q

What area did the ashcloud of Mt Pinatubo occupy at its peak?

A

125,000 square kilometres

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9
Q

What hydro-meteorlogical disaster coinceded with Mt Pinatubo’s eruption?

A

Typhoon Yunya struck the island on the 15th of June, the same day as Mt Pinatubo’s climatic eruption.

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10
Q

What was the impact immediate impact of Typhoon Yunya’s arrival in conjunction with Mt Pintatubo’s eruption?

A

Torrential rainfall was able to mix with ash to form lahars.

Lahars are thick flows of mixed water and ash that are highly destructive.

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11
Q

How explosive was Mt Pintatubo’s eruption?

A

It was a 6 on the volcanic explosivity index (VEI).

It ejected 10 cubed kilometres of volcanic material.

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12
Q

How many were killed in the immediate aftermath of Mt Pinatubo’s eruption?

A

847 people

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13
Q

What was the primary cause of death during Mt Pinatubo’s eruption?

A

Rooftops collapsing under the weight of ash and volcanic material.

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14
Q

How was farmland impacted by the Mt Pinatubo eruption?

A

800 square kilometres of rice-growing farmland were destroyed

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15
Q

How were the forests impacted by the Mt Pintatubo eruption?

A

150 square kilometres of forest were destroyed.

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16
Q

How much was the total estimated damage to crops and property following the Mt Pinatubo eruption?

A

$374 million dollars

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17
Q

How much did Pinatubo’s regional domestic product fall following the eruption?

A

Fall of 3%

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18
Q

How many people had evacuated the 30km zone around Mt Pinatubo?

A

60,000

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19
Q

How many Aeta highlanders were displaced by the eruption of Mt Pinatubo?

A

20,000

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20
Q

What is the population density of people living in Manilla in the Philippines?

A

1,600 people per square kilometre

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21
Q

How many people live in slums in Manilla?

A

2 million

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22
Q

What is GNP per capita in the Philippines?

A

$4,400

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23
Q

What is the HDI of the Philippines?

A

0.75

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24
Q

How percentage of people in the Philippines live on a coastal zone?

A

60%

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25
Q

What is the population of Manilla?

A

8 million

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26
Q

What is the population of the Philippines?

A

91 million

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27
Q

What percentage of people live in poverty in the Philippines?

A

41%

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28
Q

When did Typhoon Haiyan hit the Philippines?

A

8th November 2013

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29
Q

What city was most impacted by Typhoon Haiyan?

A

Tacloban

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30
Q

Where is the city of Tacloban?

A

Island of Leyte

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31
Q

What was the magnitude of Typhoon Haiyan on the Saffir-Simpson scale?

A

Category Five

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32
Q

What was Typhoon Haiyan’s peak wind speed?

A

315 km per hour

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33
Q

What was the largest storm surge that occured during Typhoon Haiyan?

A

5.2m

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34
Q

How much rainfall did Surigao City receive as a result of Typhoon Haiyan?

A

25cm of rainfall in space of 12 hours

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35
Q

Why was the Philippines especially vulnerable at the time of Typhoon Haiyan?

A

The 7.1 magnitude Bohol earthquake had hit the Philippines just one month before, meaning 350,000 people were already placed and living in vulnerable makeshift camps.

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36
Q

How many typhoons, on average, hit the Philippines each year?

A

20 typhoons

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37
Q

How did Typhoon Haiyan impact the Philippines communications systems?

A

All communications into the Visayas region was blocked.

Even the president was unable to contact his Defence Secretary who was staying in Tacloban at the time.

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38
Q

How many deaths were confirmed as a result of Typhoon Haiyan?

A

6, 300

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39
Q

How was air travel impacted by Typhoon Haiyan?

A

The terminal building of Tacloban’s airport was destroyed by a 5.2m storm surge.

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40
Q

What percentage of Tacloban was damaged by typhoon Haiyan?

A

90%

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41
Q

How far did flooding occur as a result of Typhoon Haiyan?

A

Flooding up to 1km inland

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42
Q

How many homes were destroyed as a result of Typhoon Haiyan?

A

41,000 homes

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43
Q

How many people were displaced as a result of Typhoon Haiyan?

A

600, 000 people

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44
Q

What notable building was submerged during a storm surge during Typhoon Haiyan?

A

The Tacloban City Convention Centre was submerged by a storm surge, resulting in death and injury.

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45
Q

How many bags of rice were stolen during a period of looting following Typhoon Haiyan?

A

33, 000 bags of rice

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46
Q

What environmental disaster occured as a result of Typhoon Haiyan?

A

The typhoon knocked over an oil barge, resulting in a destructive oil spill that hurt the Philippines’ mangrove populations.

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47
Q

How much farmland was destroyed during Typhoon Haiyan?

A

175, 000 acres of farmland destroyed.

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48
Q

How much money was lost to farmland damage during Typhoon Haiyan?

A

$85 million

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49
Q

In 2014, how many people were still homeless as a result of Typhoon Haiyan?

A

1 million people still homeless

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50
Q

How many hotels were destroyed during Typhoon Haiyan?

A

32 hotels destroyed

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51
Q

How many people were evacuated in preparation for Typhoon Haiyan?

A

800, 000 people

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52
Q

How much money did the Asian Development Bank give in aid following Typhoon Haiyan?

A

$500m

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53
Q

How much money did the UK government give in aid to help the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan?

A

£50m

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54
Q

How many storm warnings were issued in the Philippines in preparation for Typhoon Haiyan?

A

Storm warnings issued in 60 out of the Philippines’ 80 provinces.

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55
Q

What warning level was issued by the Philippines government?

A

Escalated up to warning level 4.

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56
Q

When was the Guinsaugon landslide?

A

February 17th 2006

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57
Q

What was the direct cause of the Guinsaugon landslide?

A

A 2.6 magnitude earthquake and a 10 day period of heavy rain (approximately 200cm of rainfall).

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58
Q

How did deforestation increase the Philippines’ risk of landslides?

A

The Philippines’ had several million hectares of forest in 1930, but now has only 600,000 hectares.

This means ground lacks the biological stabilisation provided by trees.

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59
Q

How many people died as a result of the Guinsaugon landslide?

A

1, 126

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60
Q

How many primary school children died as a result of the local school being buried by the Guinsaugon landslide?

A

246 children

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61
Q

How many U.S. troops were available to help with the search and rescue effort after the Guinsaugon landslide?

A

6,000 troops

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62
Q

How much did the U.S. government donate to help with the Guinsaugon landslide?

A

U.S. donates $100, 000 worth of disaster equipment

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63
Q

How did Malysia help the Philippines following the Guinsaugon landslide?

A

They sent a 60 man search and rescue to team to help and find survivors.

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64
Q

When was the Loma Prieta earthquake?

A

October 17th 1989

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65
Q

What is the name of the plate boundary that California sits upon?

A

San Andreas plate

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66
Q

What are the two plates involved on the San Andreas fault?

A
  • North American (continental)

- Pacific (oceanic)

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67
Q

What type of boundary is the San Andreas fault?

A

Conservative

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68
Q

Why was the Marina District in San Francisco Bay particularly vulnerable?

A

Unreinforced masonry buildings were built on top of loose, saturated sediment.

In the event of an earthquake, this loose sediment will be subject to mass shaking and liquefaction - in other words, the ground begins behaving like a liquid.

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69
Q

How many people died in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake?

A

63 deaths

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70
Q

How many people were injured as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake?

A

3,753

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71
Q

How many people were made homeless as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake?

A

3000 people were made homeless

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72
Q

What freeway collapsed as a result of the Loma Prieta earthquake? How many people were killed as a result?

A

Cypress Street Viaduct Freeway collapsed as a result of the earthquake, killing 42 drivers and passengers.

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73
Q

What is the total estimated property damage incurred in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake?

A

$6 billion

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74
Q

How many bridges were damaged as a result of the Loma Prieta earthquake?

A

80 bridges were damaged

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75
Q

In the Marina District, how many buildings completely collapsed as a result of soil liquefaction?

A

35 buildings completely collapsed as a result of unstable ground liquefaction.

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76
Q

How many landslides and rockfalls occurred in the Santa Cruz mountains as a result of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake?

A

1000 landslides and rockfalls in the Santa Cruz mountains

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77
Q

In response to the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, how did California improve its ability to monitor potential earthquakes?

A

It expanded its number of accelerometers and seismometers from 75 to over 200.

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78
Q

What sporting event was taking place at the time of the Loma Prieta earthquake?

A

The World Series 1989 Baseball Tournament

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79
Q

What is the average January temperature in the Arctic?

A

-35 degrees celcius

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80
Q

At current rates, what percentage of Arctic ice will be lost by 2100?

A

50-60%

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81
Q

What is meant by ‘positive ice albedo feedback’?

A

This is the positive feedback mechanism whereby warming global temperatures mean that Arctic ice begins to melt. Ice has a high albedo (reflects solar radiation), whereas water has a low albedo. Therefore, melting ice means more solar radiation will be absorbed by oceans.

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82
Q

How much have temperatures in the Arctic risen over the last 50 years?

A

3-4 degree celcius

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83
Q

How has snow cover declined in the Arctic?

A

10% decline in snow cover since 1970s

84
Q

How has precipitation changed in the Arctic?

A

Precipitation has increased by 8% since 1900

85
Q

What percent of the permafrost in the Arctic region is expected to thaw?

A

40% expected to thaw

86
Q

What is the current concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere?

A

400 ppm (parts per million)

87
Q

What is orbital eccentricity? Why is it important?

A

Milankovitch saw that changes in the earth’s orbital eccentricity (the shape of our orbital path around the sun) will affect climate.

If Earth’s orbit becomes more elliptical (more oval shaped), we will orbit closer to the sun and therefore be exposed to more solar radiation = temperature increases on Earth.

88
Q

How regularly to ice ages occur?

A

Every 100,000 years

89
Q

What is the holocene?

A

The geological period covers the last 10,000 years since the last glacial period (ice age).

90
Q

What is albedo?

A

The fraction of solar energy (shortwave IR radiation) that is reflected back into space.

91
Q

When was the ‘Year without a summer’? What caused it?

A

The ‘year without a summer’ happened in 1816 and was caused by the 1815 Mt Tambora eruption.

92
Q

What was the ‘Maunder Minimum’?

A

The period from 1645 to 1715 in which there were very few solar sunspots, resulting in colder temperatures in which the Rhine was frozen until Summer each year in Germany.

93
Q

What was the impact of Mt Pinatubo on global temperatures?

A

Global temperatures fell by about 0.5 degrees Celsius.

94
Q

How much have sea levels risen in the past 100 years?

A

18cm

95
Q

If the Greenland Ice Sheet melted, how much would sea levels rise by?

A

7 metres

96
Q

By how much have global temperature risen on pre-industrial levels?

A

1 degree Celcius

97
Q

What impact would be the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet have upon the ocean’s thermo-haline circulation system?

A

The melting of ice sheets in the Arctic, combined with increased rainfall, would result in increased freshwater and disrupt the sinking of cold, salty water.

This would disrupt the entire circulation system, potentially ending the gulf stream and dramatically cooling Europe.

98
Q

By how much has arctic sea ice decreased since the 1970s?

A

14%

99
Q

How many tonnes of carbon (mostly in methane form) are stored in the northern permafrost?

A

1700 billion tonnes

100
Q

What is happening to vegetation in the Arctic?

A

Vegetation has expanded by around 10%, mostly in the North, as a result of warmer temperatures.

Shrubs and alders are starting to push out moss and lichens in tundra areas.

101
Q

What could become the dominant Arctic shipping route by 2030? Why?

A

The Transpolar Sea Route could become the dominant shipping route by 2030 because of the declining extent of Arctic sea ice.

102
Q

What will happen to fishing the Arctic?

A
  • Decline of freshwater fisheries (e.g. for fish such as near-threatened Arctic char)
  • BUT, greater fishing potential for cod and herring due to warmer waters
103
Q

How is climate change in the Arctic impacting the Inuit?

A
  • Herd animals such as reindeer are changing migration routes, impacting hunting for the Inuit.
  • Melting ice means Inuit will be more exposed to exploitation of natural resources as region becomes more accessible (e.g. oil drilling)
104
Q

What percentage of Africans live in coastal zones?

A

60%

105
Q

What issues does climate change pose on the River Nile?

A
  • Demands outstrips supply of water for 25% of Africans

- Nile is internationally-shared, so water stress could lead to conflict

106
Q

What are the potential health impacts of climate change on Africa?

A
  • Vector borne diseases such as Malaria could increase

- 80% of healthcare in Africa relies on natural remedies from wild plants, which could disappear with climate change.

107
Q

What event happened in 2007 that illustrated the impacts of climate change on coastal areas in Africa? What was the economic impact?

A
  • 2007 floods + cyclone in Mozambique

- $171 million in infrastructure damage

108
Q

What percentage of Africans are subsidence farmers?

A

70% of people are in Africa are subsidence farmers

109
Q

What has happened to agriculture in West Africa?

A

Countries such as Togo have seen a fall in Coco production of around 30% due to declining pasture quality and the Miridae crop pest.

110
Q

What impact would be a 1m rise in sea levels have on Egypt?

A

It could potentially affect 15% of Egypt’s habitable land which would impact 7 million people.

111
Q

Why is there uncertainty surrounding the rise in global temperatures?

A
  • Role of feedback mechanisms
  • Inertia (there is a delay before impacts materialise)
  • How quickly and the path countries develop on
  • How effectively we limit emissions intenationally
112
Q

What did the Climate Change: 2007 report by the IPCC predict for global surface warming?

A

The IPCC predicts global surface warming of between 1.5 degrees and 4 degrees depending on our response and development.

113
Q

What is adaptive capacity in terms of climate change?

A

The ability to adjust in order to cope with climate change

114
Q

Since 1970, how far have CO2 emmissions grown?

A

By 70%

115
Q

What is the UNFCCC? When was it agreed?

A
  • United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

- 1994

116
Q

What is meant by Annex 1 countries?

A

Rich, developed countries (mostly OECD members) that the UNFCCC decided had to play a greater role in limiting climate change. They were required to reduce emissions back to 1990 levels by 2000 - they met this goal in aggregate.

117
Q

When was the Kyoto Protocol added to the UNFCCC?

A

1997

118
Q

What did the Kyoto protocol do differently to the UNFCCC?

A
  • Legally binding, individusalised emissions targets

- Group, as a whole, required to reduce emissions to 5% below 1990 levels

119
Q

Which country refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol?

A

USA

120
Q

What is mitigation?

A

Reducing global warming by cutting emissions and increasing carbon sinks.

121
Q

What is the Inuit’s population size?

A

130,000

122
Q

Give an example of how countries have traded emissions.

A

The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) allows countries such as Greece and Portugal to continue to develop with fossil fuels but demands countries such as Germany and Luxembourg reduce their emissions.

123
Q

Give an example of a local project to help adapt to climate change.

A

The UK Homes and Environment Agency funds zero-carbon housing initiatives such as Hanham Hall in Bristol.

186 energy-efficient homes with passive solar heating and effective insulation.

There is an on-site biomass power plant which gives electricity to all homes.

124
Q

Give an example of NGOs working to mitigate climate change.

A

Tearfund provides drought-resistant crops to villages in Niger.

In Niger, 2.5m people suffer from food shortages.

125
Q

What happens to polar bears in the summer as a result of climate change?

A

Polar bears lose 80kg of fat during the summer due to declining fish stocks

126
Q

What percent of Inuit hunt caribou, fish, or marine mammals?

A

80%

127
Q

How many hectares of forest burn in Arctic Russia? What type of forest is this?

A

10 million hectares of Boreal forest burn each year

128
Q

What did the United Nations Environment Programme report in 2007?

A

14 countries in Africa are suffering from water scarcity, and 11 countries will join them by 2032

129
Q

When was the Stern Review?

A

2006

130
Q

How low-lying is land in Bangladesh?

A

75% of the country is less than 10m above sea level

131
Q

What percent of land in Bangladesh is classed as a ‘food plain’?

A

80%

132
Q

What delta does Bangladesh sit upon?

A

The Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta

133
Q

What rivers join at the Ganges-Brahmaputra Delta?

A

The Ganges, Meghna, and Brahmaputra rivers

134
Q

What is the average monthly rainfall in Bangladesh?

A

625mm

135
Q

Each year, how much of Bangladesh is inundated by flooding?

A

18%

136
Q

If sea levels rise by 1m, what percent of land in Bangladesh could become permanently flooded?

A

10%

137
Q

How much forest cover has the Himalayas lost? Why?

A

15% of forest cover has been lost since the 1970s due to deforestation

138
Q

How many trans-boundary rivers are there in Bangladesh?

A

57

139
Q

What is a trans-boundary river?

A

A river that spans through multiple countries

140
Q

What percentage of land was inundated by the 1998 Bangladesh floods?

A

60%

141
Q

How many people were made homeless as a result of the 1998 Bangladesh floods?

A

30 million

142
Q

What health impacts followed the 1998 Bangladesh floods?

A

Typhoid and cholera outbreaks

143
Q

What was the death toll of the 1998 Bangladesh floods?

A

1000+

144
Q

How many hectares of crops were destroyed in the 1998 Bangladesh floods?

A

700,000 hectares

145
Q

How many factories were forced to close as a result of the 1998 Bangladesh floods?

A

400 factories forced to close

146
Q

How much did economic production decline in Bangladesh following the 1998 floods?

A

20% decline in economic output/production

147
Q

What is name and date of the largest wildfire in California?

A

The Cedar Wildfire that occurred in 2003

148
Q

How many people died as a result of the 2003 Cedar Wildfire?

A

15 people died

149
Q

How much economic damage was caused by the 2003 Cedar wildfire?

A

$27 million

150
Q

How many acres of land did the 2003 Cedar Wildfire burn?

A

800,000 acres

151
Q

How many buildings were burnt by the 2003 Cedar Wildfire?

A

2,800

152
Q

What is food security?

A

The availability and accessibility of food

153
Q

What drought crisis occurred in Africa in recent years?

A

The East African Drought of 2011

154
Q

Which countries were affected in the 2011 East African drought?

A

Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia

155
Q

What were the two main causes of the 2011 East African drought?

A
  • La nina conditions

- Global warming

156
Q

How far did precipitation fall during the 2011 East African drought?

A

Precipitation fell to just 30% of the 1990-2010 average

157
Q

What happened to crops as a result of the 2011 East African drought?

A

Crop failure rates grew to 40-60% (6/10 crops would fail to grow)

158
Q

What crisis was declared in Somalia by the UN?

A

A famine

159
Q

What was the biggest political implication of the 2011 East African Drought?

A

Al-Shabaab, an Islamist group, expanded significantly and was able to prevent aid being delivered to around 1m people.

160
Q

How did the 2011 East African Drought drive conflict?

A

Armed herders (people who raise livestock) fought over grazing territory. Over 100 people were killed in the conflict.

161
Q

How many people were at risk of malnourishment in Kenya as a result of the 2011 East African Drought?

A

3.5 million

162
Q

How many Somalian refugees were there as a result of the 2011 East African Drought?

A

900,000 Somalian refugees

163
Q

How many Ugandans were affected by food shortages as a result of the 2011 East African Drought?

A

1.2 million Ugandans affected by food shortages

164
Q

What happened to the price of staple foods as a result fo the 2011 East African Drought?

A

Prices rose by 68% overall, but over 240% in Somalia

165
Q

What is carbon sequestration?

A

The long-term storage of carbon (e.g. reforestation).

166
Q

What was the objective of the Kyoto Protocol?

A

To reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases below 5.2% of the emissions produced in 1990.

167
Q

What target did the Kyoto Protocol set for the European Union?

A

8% reduction in emmisions

168
Q

What are the six main greenhouse gases?

A

Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride, HFCs and PFCs

169
Q

Give an example of how the Kyoto Protocol has succeeded.

A

Overall, Annex 1 countries have reduced emissions to 3% below 1990 levels in the year 2000.

170
Q

Give an example of ow the Kyoto Protocol has failed.

A

The world will be producing 10% more emissions above 1990 levels due to growth in China and elsewhere, so the Kyoto Protocol has ultimately failed.

171
Q

In 2007, what target did the EU set to reduce its GHG emissions by 2020?

A

The EU set a target to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020.

172
Q

What is carbon offsetting? Give an example.

A

The idea that you reduce your carbon emissions to allow for new emissions elswhere.

An example can be found in emissions trading schemes.

173
Q

Give an example of how Shell, the oil company, has tried to offset its carbon emissions.

A

Shell pumps CO2 from one its refineries in Botlek in the Netherlands into 500 greenhouses (growing fruit and vegetables) to avoid annual emissions of 170 000 tonnes of CO2

174
Q

How has London reduced emissions from vehicles?

A

A congestion charge was introduced in 2003 that now charges drivers £11.50 per day for driving in Central London.

175
Q

How has traffic fallen in London after introducing a congestion charge?

A

Traffic fallen by 15%

176
Q

How far have nitrous oxide and CO2 emissions fallen in Central London as a result of the congestion charge?

A

They have fallen by 12%

177
Q

What % of global GDP did Sir Nicholas Stern estimate that the global economy could lose if it fails to tackle climate change?

A

10%

178
Q

What % of global GDP did Sir Nicholas estimate that it would cost us to mitigate climate change?

A

1%

179
Q

What percentage of UK energy is generated by nuclear power plants?

A

20%

180
Q

What is a CHP system?

A

A combined heat and power system that makes use of a heat engine/power station to generate both electricity and useful heat energy.

181
Q

What percent of Copenhagen’s properties are heated by its CHP system?

A

97%

182
Q

Between 1995 and 2000, how far did CO2 emissions fall in Copenhagen as a result of its CHP system?

A

Emissions were reduced by 1 million tonnes.

183
Q

When was the Thames Barrier first operational?

A

1982

184
Q

What was the total construction cost of the Thames Barrier?

A

£534 million

185
Q

How wide is the Thames Barrier?

A

520m

186
Q

How many steel gates does the Thames Barrier have?

A

10

187
Q

How does the Thames Barrier work?

A

The Thames Barrier is made up of rotating gates that can be raised using hydraulic cylinders when incoming tidal surges are predicted from oil rigs and the Met Office.

188
Q

What is the total size of the area that the Thames Barrier protects?

A

125 square kilometres

189
Q

In the last 100 years, how far has forest cover declined in the Philippines?

A

63%

190
Q

What winds are the cause of wildfires in California?

A

The extremely dry Santa Ana winds

191
Q

How many slum dwellers are there in Manilla?

A

4 million

192
Q

How many islands are the in the Philippines?

A

7000

193
Q

What is the population density in the Philippines?

A

240 people per square kilometre

194
Q

What is the Philippines GDP per capita?

A

$2,800

195
Q

What was a major historical flooding event in Bristol?

A

The 1607 Bristol Channel Floods

196
Q

What are the two possible explanations of the 1607 Bristol Channel Floods?

A
  1. A Tsnumai caused by strain on a subductive fault SW of Ireland
  2. A storm surge similar to the 1953 floods
197
Q

What major piece of infrastructure makes Bristol vulnerable to a technological or quasi-natural hazard?

A
  1. Hinkley Point B Nuclear Power Station in nearby Somerset
198
Q

What event illustrates that major flooding is possible in modern Bristol?

A

‘The Great Flood of 1968’

199
Q

What weather pattern developed that caused the Great Flood of 1968?

A

A ‘Spanish plume’ weather pattern features warm air and high rainfall

200
Q

What factors make Bristol a possible site for flooding?

A
  • It sits on the confluence between the River Avon and Frome

- Bristol’s CBD features lots of impermeable land

201
Q

What chronic hazard risks might impact Bristol?

A
  • Colder temperatures due disruption of thermo-haline circulation (no more gulf stream)
  • Flash floods or storm surges resulting from rising sea levels
202
Q

What event happened in 2010 that illustrated the impact on desertification Africa?

A

The 2010 Sahel famine

203
Q

What are the main causes of desertification?

A
  1. Overgrazing
  2. Over-cultivation
  3. Increased surface temperatures due to enhanced greenhouse effect
  4. La Nina
204
Q

Between the 1950s and 1980s, how far did rainfall decline in the Sahel region?

A

40%

205
Q

What major adaptation strategy has been proposed to deal with desertification in the Sahel Region?

A

African Union has proposed building a ‘Great Green Wall’ of trees to prevent expansion of desert.

206
Q

What social enterprise has helped with the Great Green Wall Project?

A

Ecosia, an eco-friendly search engine based in Germany, has planted 3 million trees in Burkina Faso.

207
Q

How has the summer melt on the Greenland ice sheet increased since 1979?

A

30% increase in summer melt on Greenland Ice Sheet