Studied by 4 peopleWhat is the cause of the natural greenhouse effect?
Incoming short-wave solar radiation is absorbed by the earth and long wave radiation is re-emitted by the earth. The long wave radiation is reflected by greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide and methane in the earth’s atmosphere.
Insolation
Incoming solar radiation
How is energy from the equator redistributed to the poles?
Wind and air circulation, ocean circulation
What are the two reasons that insolation is less intense at higher latitudes?
Because the concentration of sunlight is lower because it is spread over a wider area
Because the sunlight passes through more atmosphere before it reaches the ground
What is the formula for calculating albedo value?
(Intensity of radiation reflected from surface/ amount of incident radiation) x 100 = albedo value (%)
Factors that can change albedo value
Land-use change
Smoke
Pollution
Windblown dust
Loss of ice
What three natural factors can change the Earth’s climate?
Cycle of sunspot activity, volcanic activity, the Earth’s changing orbit
How does the Earth’s changing orbit affect global temperature and climate?
The Earth’s orbit changes from circular to elliptical about once every 100,000 years
Cycle of sunspot activity
There is an 11-year cycle of sunspot activity
Sunspots send out flares of solar radiation including UV rays and X-rays
More sunspots means the Earth receives more radiation
‘Solar minimum‘ is when there are fewest sunspots
Volcanic activity
The expulsion of material from volcanoes can heat or cool the Earth depending on the substance.
Sulfur dioxide can cool the Earth by reflecting incoming solar radiation (as per mount Pinatubo eruption, 1991)
Carbon dioxide and other ghgs can warm the atmosphere
What was the Maunder minimum?
Aka the “little ice age“
A period in the late c17th where Europe experienced extremely harsh winters due to a prolonged period of very low solar activity
After this there was a gradual increase in sun activity over 300 years
What is blocking in terms of global climate?
A meteorological phenomenon that affects the dynamics of jet streams (very strong winds 7-12km above the Earth’s surface)
There is one jet stream in each hemisphere and they majorly influence weather systems
A blocking event occurs when the jet stream forms an S-shape over the North-Eastern Atlantic
Could also be responsible for Maunder Minimum
Can be modulated by solar activity
What is the case study for pollution?
Linfen in China
Linfen, China
-20 years ago called the “fruit and flower town“, now named the most polluted city in the world by the World Bank
-One day breathing its air is equivalent to smoking three packs of cigarettes
-Called a “cancer village“ because of the higher incidence of diseases like stomach and lung cancer
-Water pollution from factories and mines
Pollution in China, stats
-Over half of Chinese rivers and a third of Chinese lakes are polluted
-70% of Chinese cities cannot meet the air quality standards
-16 of the world’s 20 most polluted places are in China
Named example of reshoring
Trunki
Definition of reshoring
The reverse of offshoring: a business returns its production to the host company having been offshore previously
Crowdsourcing
The process of sourcing ideas, services, finances and information from the public on the internet to benefit from a large group of people
Aerosol
A colloidal suspension of particles dispersed in air or gas
Named example of a volcanic eruption leading to global dimming
Pinatubo, 1991
Pinatubo eruption, 1991
17 megatons of sulfur dioxide entered the stratosphere
Changed weather systems and cooled the atmosphere measurably for almost 2 years
Parts of the Northern hemisphere experienced cooler summers while other places experienced milder winters
How can atmospheric pollutants actually mitigate global warming in the short term?
In air polluted by aerosols, water is spread out over more particles leading to increased surface area which causes more sunlight to be reflected
What evidence is there that vapour trails from planes could be mitigating global warming?
After 9/11, when all planes were grounded, the diurnal temperature range decreased by 1 degree C, sparking debates as to whether vapour trails could be causing global warming in the short term
Carbon sequestration
The process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere or other sources. This can be an artificial process of CCS or through the natural carbon cycle.
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
Draws greenhouse gasses and heat straight into the oceans, helping alleviate early impacts of carbon emissions
What is REDD?
A strategy to reduce the rate of deforestation. To get money for forest protection by placing a monetary value on the forests and then selling forest carbon credits on a carbon market
Named example of drought
In San Paulo Brazil there was the worst drought in 80 years
How do trees reduce drought?
Rainforests import rain, transpire (releasing their own moisture) and lower the atmospheric temperature
Named example of flooding
In Germany scientists concluded that the flood that happened was made 9x more likely because of climate change
Effects of 1 degree C increase in global temperature
Arctic sea ice will disappear during the summer months
Most of the world’s coral reefs including the GBR will die
Climate related diseases such as malaria and diarrhea will affect 300,000 people/year
Effects of 2 degree C increase in global temperature
The Southern UK will regularly sea summer highs of 40 degrees C
1/3 of the world’s species will become extinct
The Amazon rainforest will become dessert and grassland
Effects of 4 degree C increase in global temperature
Arctic ice cover would permanently disappear
Permafrost would release methane and CO2 currently locked in soil
Many island nations would be submerged by a 5m rise in sea level
Much of Europe (Italy, Spain, Turkey and Greece) would become desert
Positive impacts of global climate change for the UK
Potential increased opportunity for recreation and tourism with higher summer temperatures and reduced precipitation in the south
Pastoral farming in the North-West could improve
Up to 25% increase in timber yields in the North by 2050
Negative impacts of global climate change for the UK
Increased probability of floods, droughts and storm surges
Rising sea levels
Describe an example of the effects of global climate change/water shortage on an HIC
California, USA
Hotel owners’ water bills doubled because of the drought
Changing irrigation methods/restricted times of water
Price of many foods increasing
Water no longer served in restaurants except by explicit request
Better surfing conditions
Describe an example of the effects of global climate change/water shortage on an MIC
Water crisis in Brazil
No water in some communities’ pipes for a month
Reservoirs have reached rock bottoms
Deforestations in Amazon means fewer trees to ‘import’ rain
Open sewers → polluted rivers
Describe an example of the effects of global climate change/water shortage on an LIC
Desertification in Burkina Faso
Land is less fertile
Chronic food insecurity due to poor crop yields
Harvests from rain-fed agriculture could decline by 50%
What changes in biomes can be predicted due to climate change?
Upwards altitudinal shift in biomes as most regions become hotter
More desert cover and melting of ice in polar/tundra regions
Organisms unable to migrate or adapt will become extinct
Give two examples of species that have shown physical/genetic adaptations to climate change
Tawny owls have changed from being majority-white to majority-brown as the recessive allele for white feathers declines due to less snow
Two-spot ladybirds: now exist almost exclusively in their non-melanic form so that they don’t overheat
Examples of species movement
The range of the British comma butterfly has shifted 137 miles North in two decades
Migratory birds are arriving in the UK earlier
Examples of species’ behavioural change
Dormice come out of hibernation 8 days earlier each decade
Breeding and flowering seasons change
What is the importance of soil?
Used to grow crops (carbon-rich soils increase crop yields)
Store massive amounts of carbon (3x as much carbon as trees)
Carbon-rich soils act as sponges protecting the earth from floods and droughts
Causes of soil erosion
Population growth: more demand for food
Industrial agriculture and monocrop practices
Deforestation (plant cover and their roots protect the soil)
Effects of soil erosion
In the USA soil loss is 17x faster than the normal rate
Nutrient loss from soils requires harmful fertilisers and pesticides to be injected into the soil
How can atmospheric carbon be transferred back into the soil?
Keeping soil covered in plants
Composting
keeping animal grazing to a minimum
What are the three main factors associated with vulnerability to climate change?
Exposure
Sensitivity (potential to be harmed)
Adaptive capacity (whether they could mitigate the effects)
Give some examples of mitigation strategies for climate change
Carbon tax
CCS
International agreements
Aforestation
Investment in renewable energies
Give some examples of adaptation strategies for climate change
Building houses on stilts to protect from flooding
What is carbon offsetting?
A way of compensating for daily emissions such as driving through getting companies to plant trees or an equivalent service
Critics say there is an insufficient monitoring of these schemes
What is the example of a global treaty on climate change?
The 2015 Paris agreement (COP21)
Aims to limit global temperature increase to 1.5 degrees C max
Addresses adaptation to climate change, financial and other support to developing countries, losses and damage
Strengths of COP21 (the Paris agreement, 2015)
195 countries agreed
Potential to end dangerous climate change
Justice for LICs affected by HICs’ GHG emissions in the past
Frequent account regarding emissions targets
Legally binding
Weaknesses of COP21 (the Paris agreement, 2015)
Requires massive (unrealistic) GHG reductions by 2050
Climate change is a low priority for some countries
Requires massive investment and innovation in renewables
Merely a ‘statement of interest‘
What is the EU’s emissions trading system?
Countries and companies are given a tradable emissions allowance
1 credit=1 tonne of CO2 or equivalent
Polluters who exceed their credits must buy more or incur fines from the EU
The number of credits issued decreases year on year
What is the proposed sunlight reflection method of mitigating climate change?
Some scientists have suggested injecting sulfur dioxide directly into the stratosphere to mimic the cooling effect of the mt Pinatubo eruption 1991
Potential strengths of the sunlight reflection method of mitigating climate change
Could buy time to cover transition to renewables
Could work as a last resort
Sulfur dioxide has been proven to have a cooling effect (though the side effects are unknown)
Potential weaknesses of the sunlight reflection method of mitigating climate change
May distract countries from transitioning to renewables
Unsustainable, requires millions of tonnes of sulfur dioxide to be released annually
Controversy has limited possible research
Could make holes in the ozone layer
Could cause 50 years’ worth of warming in a decade
What is the role of NGOs in controlling global warming?
Put pressure on companies and governments to reduce their carbon emissions
Call upon governments to sign international agreements to preserve forests, conserve resources, reduce fossil fuel dependence etc
Encourage individuals to make changes
Give an example of how an NGO is helping to reduce carbon emissions
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) set up the ‘one-in-five challenge‘ encouraging companies to cut 20% of their business flights within 5 years.
This is achievable by videoconferencing technology and promotion of rail travel.
Companies that meet the target receive the NGO’s formal recognition and a specially-designed panda logo.
Give an example of how a company or TNC is reducing carbon emissions
ExxonMobil, which denied climate change in the 1970s, now expresses support for a carbon tax and the Paris Agreement. ExxonMobil now reduces greenhouse gas emissions in its own operations, encourages consumers to reduce theirs, and supports research.
What are fluxes with reference to the global carbon cycle?
Processes that transfer carbon between stores
What are pools with reference to the global carbon cycle?
Places where carbon is stored
What is meant by geoengineering?
The deliberate large-scale manipulation of an environmental process that affects the earth's climate, in an attempt to counteract the effects of global warming
Give two examples of geoengineering strategies.
Injecting sulfur particles into the stratosphere, delivering millions of small mirrors into space.
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