EVR1001 Short Answer Questions

Please explain the four main types of climate change mitigation?

The first type is energy efficiency, which reduces the amount of energy needed to perform the same tasks. The second type is switching to renewable or low-carbon energy sources by replacing fossil fuels with solar, wind, nuclear, hydroelectric, or geothermal energy which produce little to no greenhouse emissions. The third type is carbon capture and sequestration by storing it underground or using natural carbon sinks like forests and soil through reforestation and land management. The fourth type is reducing non-Carbon Dioxide greenhouse gases by targeting methane, nitrous oxide, and industrial gases through better practices, regulations, and substitutions.

Please explain the difference between a positive and negative feedback and give examples of each related to the Arctic?

Positive feedback amplifies the original change, pushing the system further in the same direction. Some examples are Ice-albedo feedback and permafrost thawing. Negative feedback counteracts the original change, stabilizing the system. Some examples include increased vegetation in the Arctic and increased cloud cover.

Please draw a diagram of the Carbon Cycle?

Carbon cycle consists of several major pools and fluxes. The major pools are the atmosphere, land plants, soil, fossil fuels, oceans, and marine sediments. The major fluxes are photosynthesis, respiration and decomposition, gas exchange, the biological pump, burial over millions of years, human combustion of fossil fuels, and volcanic outgassing.

Please explain three major ways in which climate change is likely to impact the state of Florida?

The first way includes sea level rise, as Florida is extremely low-lying and flat, making it among the most vulnerable states. The second way is increased hurricane intensity, because warmer ocean surface temperatures in the Gulf and Atlantic fuel stronger hurricanes. The third way is ecosystem disruption, with coral reefs in the Keys being threatened by warming ocean temperatures leading to coral bleaching and ocean acidification.

Describe four negative impacts agriculture may have on the environment?

The first negative impact is eutrophication, where fertilizer containing nitrogen and phosphorous enters waters and causes algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and dead zones. The second negative impact is habitat destruction and biodiversity loss, due to conversion of forests, wetlands, and grasslands to farmland that destroys native habitats and reduces biodiversity. The third negative impact is soil degradation from intensive tillage and erosion that deplete organic matter and nutrients in soil over time. The fourth negative impact is water depletion, because irrigation for agriculture roughly depletes 70% of global freshwater, impacting rivers and aquifers.

Describe five major categories of pollutants and provide an example of a source for each one?

The five major categories are particulate matter, heavy metals, organic compounds/pesticides, nutrient pollutants, and radioactive pollutants. An example of each pollutant includes particulate matter from diesel exhaust by trucks, heavy metals from coal-burning power plants, organic compounds/pesticides from farm pesticide runoff, nutrient pollutants from fertilizer-heavy farms releasing nitrogen and phosphorous into nearby waters, and radioactive pollutants from nuclear power plants.

Outline what determines the impact of mineral exploitation on the environment and describe direct, indirect and social impacts of mineral development?

What determines the impact is the type and scale of mining, location and sensitivity of the ecosystem, type of mineral extracted and processed, regulatory framework and mitigation practices, and duration of mining activity. Direct impacts include habitat destruction and land disturbance, soil erosion and removal of vegetation, water contamination from acid mine drainage, and air pollution from dust and processing emissions. Indirect impacts include downstream water quality degradation, sedimentation of rivers from erosion, disruption of wildlife and migration, subsidence in areas with underground mines.

With respect to genetically modified organisms describe the continuum of plant breeding. Describe three benefits and three concerns of genetically modified organisms?

First, there’s traditional/selective breeding, where humans select and crossbreed plants with desirable traits. Second, there’s hybridization, deliberately crossing two different varieties or species to combine traits. Third, there’s mutagenesis which uses radiation or chemicals to induce random mutations to increase variation. Last, there’s GMOs, which changes specific genes from entirely different species with greater precision and speed than traditional methods. Three benefits are increased crop yields and pest resistance, nutritional enhancement, and drought and stress tolerance. Three concerns are gene flow/ecological impact, corporate control and economic dependency, and unknown long-term health and environmental effects.

Select three sources of energy – one conventional (e.g. coal, petroleum, etc.) and two alternative – and list two advantages and two disadvantages of each in terms of cost, jobs lost or gained, environmental impact, or potential for supplying energy. Of the three, which energy source do you believe is the most desirable?

Coal (Conventional)

Advantages are that it’s abundant and relatively cheap with current infrastructures, and provides reliable, consistent power not dependent on weather conditions. Disadvantages are the largest Carbon emission source per unit of energy produced, and mining causes significant habitat destruction, water contamination, and respiratory health impacts in nearby communities.

Solar (Alternative)

Advantages are zero direct emissions during operations, and creates significant jobs in installation and manufacturing. Disadvantages are it only generates power when the sun shines requiring backup power, and large-scale solar farms can displace habitats.

Wind (Alternative)

Advantages are zero emissions during operations, and land between turbines can still be used for agriculture making it compatible with farming. Disadvantages are that it’s only viable in windy areas, and can impact birds and bats through collusions and visual impacts.

Most desirable is solar, because of its cost and its ability to broadly replace fossil fuel while creating jobs and minimizing environmental harm.

The “tragedy of the commons” provides explanations for why individuals don’t always act in ways that promote the long-term health and sustainability of the environment. Describe the concept behind the “tragedy of the commons”, the problems associated with public use of “a commons” and name three different national or international examples of “a commons?”

Tragedy of the Commons describes how individuals act in their own self-interest, collectively depleting a shared resource even if it’s in no one’s self interest. There’s no incentive to conserve or invest in the resource’s long-term health, resources become exploited without regulation, and the free rider problem, where people benefit from people’s restriction without practicing it themselves. Three examples include ocean fisheries, the atmosphere, and groundwater aquifers.