Carbon Case Studies Flashcards
Gulf Stream
Atlantic motion from Gulf of Mexico to Europe
Currents are slowing down
Phytoplankton sequesters carbon and keeps the carbon pump going, thus boosting the Gulf Stream and the thermohaline circulation
It has been slowing down due to an increase in Arctic meltwater, which has altered the balance of ocean salinity
As a result, Cold water can’t sink
And warm can’t rise
Mangroves- worldwide
Store 15% of oceanic carbon
Are being deforested for agriculture and ports – Bangladesh and Malaysia
More than 35% of the world’s mangroves have been lost since 1980
Mangrove soil stores 3 times more carbon than rainforest soil
Carbon has a longer residence time due to water content
Peat- worldwide
Found mostly in Asia and North America
An extremely dense carbon store
Stores 33% of terrestrial carbon
High residence time due to water content
Removed to make way for palm oil/ agriculture
Rainforests- worldwide
Ideal for carbon sequestering plants
Wood locks carbon
Emit 28% of global O2
Clean cutting reduces humidity and removes carbon sinks
150,000 km2 cleared yearly
Cleared mainly through illegal practices by TNC’s
Poland
Owns large quantities of coal underground
Has gas reserves but still imports from Russia – Prevents imports and new infrastructure being created
More infrastructure is needed but it is cost & time consuming
There are some renewal incentives
New coal mines have been opened which has provided economic benefit at the cost of not being green
Plans for hydrogen and nuclear energy
UK
Energy prices have risen by 40% in 2 years largely as a result of the Eastern war and Brexit
Energy crisis: Private companies control the prices
Intention to withdraw from Russian gas means Britain has had to look at local sources
An increase in fossil fuel extraction has started to deplete the source
Plans for nuclear facilities
Fracking has been heavily opposed and nuclear takes a long time
Political lobbying by oil companies slows down environmentalism
Energy suppliers could go bust leading to heavy industrial and chemical decline
Issues for food could arise
Yet there are targets for net zero by 2050
Wind, solar and biomass will become main renewable energy source
However there is a restriction on the use of renewables and fracking due to our geology
European energy Crisis
Sanction on Russia have meant there has been a decrease in the supply of energy
There has been a ban on crude oil and petroleum trade
The price of fuel has risen which in effect has risen the domestic price
Consideration have been made to reopen coal plants – this will slow down the EU’s carbon emissions target
Russia was the largest exporter of natural gas of which Europe was highly dependent
The cost for the crisis is estimated to be around $200 B USD
USA
Very dependant on fossil fuels due to high availability
Its energy mix contains 10% Renewable and 8% nuclear, both of which are expensive sources
High levels of development means more demand and more consumption
Us has varying extreme climate zones
It jumped from net exporter to importer in the recent decade
It is possible that the US is energy independent
More pressure has been put on renewables (wind, biomass, hydro)
There is currently 80 years worth of shale available
It produces 160k jobs – huge gains for stakeholders
Could revitalise the Rust Belt – income potential
France
Very developed nuclear sector – 56 operational reactors
Imports many fossil fuels and uranium
Huge consumption from high population and economic development
Currently developing renewables
Norway
Uses less coal & oil and more gas & renewables
Between 55-65% fossil fuel consumption
Large HEP (Hydro-electric-power) industry due to physical geography
Fossil fuels are mainly for export: Deepwater oil drilling
High tax on fossil fuels
Highly developed nation with low spending – energy is expensive
Deepwater oil- global
Located deep within the ocean – largely found of the coast of south America and near the north pole
Development in drilling technology has made them exploitable
It is cheaper than regular oil but the technology behind it is more expensive
Can help countries become net exporters and energy secure – Norway
Huge income and job potential
However, it is unsustainable – increases dependency on fossil fuels
Large environmental risk – Deepwater Horizon Spill 2010 – resulted in marine pollution, and killed 11 people
Governments tend to give permission to large oil companies who pay well, reaping the benefits
Locals, media and environmentalists have strong opinions against it
OPEC see it as a threat to the planet
Tar sands, Alberta, Canada
Highly rich bitumen sands found in abundance
Creates huge economic wins, creates jobs - Canada became net exporter
Causes irreversible environmental damages from clear cutting and mining
Hugely water intensive and creates toxic waste as a biproduct
Carbon heavy and a fossil fuel – not infinite
Very expensive to extract which raises the domestic price
Biofuel- Brazil
Sugarcane is hugely available in Brazil and can be used as a alternative to fossil fuels
An accessible method
Extremely profitable – tackles unemployment
Brazil has the infrastructure to accommodate the shift to biofuels
Export potential
Brazil has levied fossil fuels
Yet this is an industry that can be affected by seasonal changes – questions its reliability
It requires fossil fuels in the production process
Has resulted in 600 mT of CO2 being released
1.8 m acres of rainforest lost for biofuels
Hydrogen- Global
Completely green fuel – water is only waste product
Extremely abundant
Requires fossil fuels to kickstart industry
Very expensive at current moment but will eventually become cheap
Future proof – could solve German reliance on gas from Russia
Madagascar
Deforestation has led to huge desertification and draught
Sedimentation and soil erosion has reduced fishing and caused the main industry to decline
Mass emigration (Climate change refugees)
Mass extinction of wildlife and ecosystem collapse
Flash floods during periods of rainfall
