Chapter 6- Carbon

What are the factors driving land conversion?

Increasing demand for food fuel and other resources as well as population gross and increased to urbanisation.

What are the impacts of land conversion on the biosphere?

The bias is capacity to sequester carbon dioxide is being reduced due to land conversion .

What are the causes of deforestation?

Agriculture-so, beef and palm oil Infrastructure Dams and reservoirs Mining

What are the impacts of deforestation on the water cycle.

Reduced interception by vegetation means infiltration to soil and ground water increases. Increased aversion in surface run-off increasing sediment, overrated and transported into rivers.

What impact does deforestation have on the carbon cycle?

Reduce storage in soil and biomass. Reduce carbon dioxide intake during photosynthesis. Increased carbon influx to atmosphere by burning in decomposing vegetation

Explain the process of ocean acidification

Oceans acts carbon sinks, increasing uptake, dioxide from the atmosphere, overall pH is decreasing. Carbon dioxide dissolves in seawater to form carbonic acid, increasing acidity of the ocean. Since pre-industrial times ocean acid is increased by 26%

What are the impacts of ocean acidification?

Increases the risk of marine ecosystems are reaching critical threshold of permanent damage.

Coral shellfish sea urchins et cetera or build shells or skeletons from calcium carbonate. As pH levels drop concentration of carbonate ions falls making it harder for these organisms to calcify, also causes existing shells to dissolve

Summarise the Amazons changing climate and what is the global significance of the Amazon

Amazon access global and regional regulator pumping 20 billion metric tons of water into the atmosphere every day. More extreme cycle of drought and flood has developed, linked to shifts in the ITCZ Rainfall notice display decreased down window deforested Darius Amazon rainforest-already affected by deforestation, now being hugely impacted by trouts in 2005 and 2010.

What are the main forest ecosystem services?

Supporting functions – nutrient cycling, soil formation and the production of primary resources. Provision of goods-food, freshwater, wood and fibre and fuel. Regulation earth systems-regulating climate flood in disease, water purification. Cultural value-aesthetics, spiritual, educational and recreational including tourism.

Between 2020 10 how many hectares of forest were affected by deforestation?

An estimated 13 million

What are the changes in attitudes regarding rainforests usually depending on

The wealth of a country? Increasing knowledge of the role that the environment plays in our well-being Aid given to developing countries to reduce exploitation. Political systems and introduction and enforcement of environmental laws. The involvement of locals The power and influence of TNCs

Summarise the environmental Kuznets curve

Suggest the communities reach at tipping point where the exploitation of forests changes to more protection. Can be split into three main sections: pre-industrial, industrial and post industrial (service economy) Re industrial-increasing income lead to greater environmental derogation Industrial-income turning point or tipping point Post industrial Increased income leads to environmental improvement.

What are the impacts of global warming on the hydrological cycle

Changes to precipitation patterns, river regimes and water stores (and drain basin).

How is the Earth cries for being affected by rising temperatures?

Antarctica and Greenland eye sheets-lost mass glaciers are shrinking Permafrost is melting-releasing greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide. Arctic ice is losing it’s albedo effect-once covered the land is replaced by tundra, loss of albedo means less solar radiation is reflected and more is absorbed by the Earth increasing warming.

Define ocean health.

The state of marine ecosystems and they can capacity dysfunction sustainably maintained by a diversity and support human well-being.

What are some of the changes to oceans that have occurred as a result of climate change?

Bleaching Certification Rising sea levels Loss of sea ice.

What is the importance of ocean health?

Many countries benefit from tourism associated coral reefs Countries that rely on the exports of fishing will be affected by depleted stocks Millions of small scale fishing families rely on seafood for income as well as food Coral reefs provide protection to coastal areas from waves specifically low lying islands such as Kiribati

How many people does the FAO estimate are supported by fishing

500 million people, 90% of whom are in developing countries

What are some of the future changes associated with terrestrial carbon sinks?

Model to increase into 2050? When saturation is reached-begin to act as sources: * Throwing of permafrost in the Arctic * Tropical rainforest may reduce storage

What are some of the future changes associated with oceanic carbon sinks?

Increase store in sea grasses in algae overall reduction as a sink due to: * Tropical oceans have decreased carbon dioxide solubility as they’re becoming warmer so absorbed blessed. * Decreased efficiency and slowing down of biological pump.

Some of the key drivers of anthropogenic greenhouse gas submission

Demographics-rising population Cultural lifestyle ideology and attitudes. Political governance regarding climate change policy Economic-industrial structure requires energy to support growing technology and automation.

What are the two types of climate change adaptation strategies.

Hard strategies-which require technology e.g. wind farms Soft strategies-Which involve legislation e.g. Lang use zoning

Some examples of adaptation strategies

Water conservation management Resilient agricultural systems Land use planning Flood risk management Solar radiation management.

What are the pros and cons of water conservation and management?

Pros: * Less resource resources used * Less groundwater abstraction * Changing attitudes – use of more grey water Cons: * Efficiency and management cannot match any increases in demand for water. * Motion and enforcement of strategies by government needed to change habits e.g. smart metres

What are the pros and cons of resilient agricultural systems?

Pros: * High-tech drought tolerance species helps resistance to climate change and increase diseases. * Low tech methods and better practices lead to healthier soils which may help carbon frustration and water storage * More indoor intensive farming, e.g. vertical hydroponics Cons: * Expensive technology, seats and breeds unavailable to subsistence farmers and developing countries. * Indoor and intensive farming as high energy costs. * Genetic modification still controversial but still used to create resistant strains of rice and soy

What are the pros and cons of land use planning?

Pros: * Involves enforcing strict run-off controls and takeaways. * Building restrictions in areas vulnerable to flooding. * Reduces chances of flooding. Cons: * Public dislike. * Abandoning high risk areas is often impossible as they are commonly large industrial areas and megacities. * We need strong governance enforcement and compensation

What are the pros and cons of flood risk management?

Pros: * Simple changes can reduce flood risk e.g. permeable tarmac. * Reducing deforestation and increasing rotation upstream reduces flood risk downstream. * Effective hard managing strategies often used e.g. river dredging and flood defences Cons: * Funding sources are often debated. * Land owners will often demand compensation. * Constant maintenance is required for hard management e.g. dredging of river

What are the pros and cons of solar radiation management?

Pros: * Involves using scientific technology to counteract global warming. * Idea to use orbiting satellites to reflect some radiation back into space like a giant sunshade, would cool the Earth within months be relatively cheap compared to medication strategies Cons: * and tried and untested * Would not eliminate the worst effects of greenhouse gases such as a certification. * Involves messing with very complex systems which could have unintended consequences. * Would need to continue engineering for decades or centuries as there will be a rapid adjustment in the climate system

What are the five specification strategies/methods used to tackle climate change?

Carbon taxation Renewable switching Energy efficiency Forestation Carbon capture and storage.

What are some examples of carbon taxation in the UK?

Lower road taxes for low carbon cars (scrapped in 2015) 2015-oil and gas exploration tax relief was expanded fossil fuels, led to fracking debate ULEZ zones

What are some examples of renewable switching in the UK?

Renewable energy e.g. solar wind and wave provide intermittent electricity which needs to be stored, feels provide continuous power which is vital for our current demands. Increased investment into renewable energy sources

What are some examples of energy efficiency in the UK?

Green deal scheme? Encourage energy saving improvements in homes e.g. energy efficient boilers and lights and improved insulation. Energy suppliers must comply with the energy company obligation scheme to deliver energy efficient methods to households.

What are some examples of afforestation in the UK?

Planting in the UK is increasing which helps carbon sequestration. Involves forestry commission charities such as the National Trust and woodland trust, land owners and local authorities. The big tree plant campaign encourages communities to plant 1 million new trees (mostly in urban areas).

What are some examples of carbon capture and storage in the UK?

Few actual geological carbon capturing storage projects exist in the world 2015 – UK cancelled its investment into full scale projects. Canada’s boundary dam is the only large scale working scheme

How does water carry heap from the equator to the cold parts of the world?

Water vapour can hold Laighton heat in its molecules. As vapour circulation around the world logical regions, energy is taken with it causing heating and cold.

As he gets warmer, what impact will this have on the water cycle and the rate which this occurs?

As the Earth gets warmer causes heating in the lower atmosphere resulting in higher rates of evaporation. Results in increase in the amount of moisture circulating the atmosphere, can increase the amount of moisture circulating the atmosphere, can increase frequency of intense precipitation events and storms.

Summarise the impact the climate change is having on the Great Barrier Reef and what is being done to medicate this

See what the temperature is rising and ocean certification is led to mass bleaching events damaging over 50% of shallow corals. High economic sensitivity, tourism industry supports thousands of jobs and contribute significantly to the national GDP. Very high adaptive capacity, Australia has very bust governance significant funding for research. Reef 2050 long-term sustainability plan aims to manage threats to the reef

summarise the impact of climate change on the Kiribati Islands (linked to coral reefs)

Low income country Extremely high exposure Vulnerable to climate change causing increased certification and rising sea levels. Reducing coral cover which is natural barrier protecting the islands Lack of infrastructure and/ or policies which aim to mitigate impacts Leading to high economic costs in the form of destruction to infrastructure and displacement of people