Yr9 Climate Change, Rainforests And Cold Environments Flashcards
Evidence of climate change?
- historical records
- Ice cores
- pollen analysis
- instrumental records
- dendrochronology (studying tree rings)
- glacial retreat and sea ice
- extreme weather
- changing sea levels
- natural warning signs
Define mitigation
Preventing/limiting something from happening
Define adaptation
Changing to make something work with a problem
What are food miles?
How far your food has come from to you
How much water can a pair of jeans use in production?
15,500
What is the greenhouse effect?
Greenhouse gases trap radiation from sun in the earth’s atmosphere, slowly warming up the earth
What are examples of greenhouse gases?
- CO² (carbon dioxide)
- CH⁴ (methane)
- H²O ( water vapour)
What activities release greenhouse gases?
- burning Fossil fuels
- agriculture
- industry
- deforestation
How does agriculture release greenhouse gases?
- growing and rearing crops/animals releases greenhouse gases, particularly CH⁴ from cattle
- shipping food products releases lots of greenhouse gases
- food waste releases lots of methane
- also agriculture quickly renders soil infertile due to lack of nutrients, and no new litter to keep cycle continuing
Did you know?
Concrete releases ~5% of all greenhouse gases in the world
How does deforestation release greenhouse gases?
- deforestation relied on for agricultural expansion
- burning down trees releases stored CO² and other greenhouse gases
- also deforestation means less trees to extract CO² from the air
How does the greenhouse effect work?
- short wave solar radiation from the sun enters atmosphere
• some is reflected straight back into space
• some hits earth and is reflected off as long wave radiation escapes
• some long wave radiation is reflected off earth, but then trapped in atmosphere by greenhouse gases, warming earth
How does deforestation erode soils?
- soil takes a long time to form, but can be washed away very quickly if tree roots can’t bind together soil any more
Deforestation destroys habitats of biodiversity
Yeah
How does deforestation contribute to climate change?
- trees absorb CO² and release O², so destroying trees releases stored CO² and means less CO² can be stored
- trees give off moisture by transpiration, which keeps climate wetter and regulates temperature, and deforestation causes a drier climate and hotter temps.
How does deforestation affect the economy?
Can increase short term profits from logging, agriculture and mining, and can also improve infrastructure, but means medicinal plants will be lost, tourism could decrease and they have to adapt to a warmer world
Did you know?
25% of all medicine comes from rainforest plants
Features of polar environments?
- temp can get down to -50°c in winter
- permafrost soils
- some mosses and lichens and a few adapted animals
Features of a tundra environment?
- can get down to -20°c in winter, but up to 5 ot 10°c in summer
- frozen soils, but top part melts in summer
- waterlogged and infertile soils due to permafrost trapping water, and infertile as water removes the nutrients
- low flowering plants, some small bushes and trees in warmer parts
- more animals
Causes of deforestation?
- cattle farming
- arable farming
- subsistence farming
- logging
- mining
- roads
- hydroelectric power
- urban growth
What is subsistence farming?
Growing crops just to feed your own family
Why do plants grow close to the ground and close together in cold environments?
Reduce damage by wind and ice
Why do plants have small leaves in cold environments?
Limit water loss via transpiration?
Why do plants have shallow root systems in cold environments?
Allows plant to grow in the active layer and avoid the permafrost
Why do polar bears have a small SA:V ratio and large feet?
To prevent heat loss, and to grip snow better
Why do trees have buttress roots in rainforests?
For stability
Why are leaves in the shrub layer of the rainforest very dark green?
Large amount of chlorophyll to maximise photosynthesis in darker conditions
Opportunities for development in cold environments?
- tourism
- energy production
- fishing
- mineral extraction
Effects of coal mining?
- slope deformation
- pollution of air, water and soil with heavy metals
- change snow melting patterns
- coal dust particles affect heliotropism capabilities of flowers
Effects of tourism in cold environments?
- oil spills
- underwater noise disturbs marine life
- litter
- off road vehicles can damage vegetation, cause nutrient leaching, further permafrost melting and soil erosion WHEN SOIL IS NOT FROZEN
How ro manage cold environments?
- stilts to lift pipes to prevent melting permafrost
- relocate houses in avalanche risk zones
- steel piling to strengthen houses built on melting permafrost
- strict tourism rules
- reducing emissions and banning heavy fuel
What is the antarctic treaty?
A treaty signed in 1959 to control tourism and prevent territorial disputes there.
Bans nuclear waste and explosions there
No military use
Freedom of scientific investigation there
