Chapter 16: Environment(1) Flashcards
Define climate change.
Refers to any long-term significant change in the “average weather” that a region experiences
What are the changes in the earth’s atmosphere that are included as climate change?
Changes includes variations in the Earth’s atmosphere:
- Temperature
- Humidity of the air
- Rainfall
- The strength of winds and clouds
- Variation in solar radiation
- Earth’s orbit
- Greenhouse gas concentrations
THe RAIN had STRONG WINDS and the sun
What are the greenhouse gases?
Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and water vapour, which make up the Earth’s atmosphere and makes our planet livable
What is the greenhouse effect?
Greenhouse effect: when solar radiation bounces back into space
Define climate forcings.
Climate forcings: physical factors that force a net increase or a net decrease of heat in the climate system as a whole
Define enhanced greenhouse effect.
Enhanced greenhouse effect: the atmosphere is covered with a thick, heat-trapping blanket made up of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, NO2), which is causing overheating
What are the impacts of global warming?
- Extreme heat and temperature
- Climate extremes threaten to reverse food security gains
- Droughts, floods and storms
- Ocean coral bleaching and loss of oxygen
- Intense tropical cyclone activity
- 821 million undernourished in 2017
Define carbon offsets.
Carbon offsets: a credit for greenhouse gas reductions, promoted as one way to achieve carbon neutrality
Define carbon priciing
Carbon pricing: a cost linked directly to carbon pollution
Define cap and trade.
Cap and Trade: when an organization, region, province, or country sets responsible limits on GHG emissions and attempts to lower the emissions over time
What are the 4R’s?
- Reduce – Buy products packaged in recycled materials or purchase products that have little or no packaging
- Reuse – Repair items instead of purchasing new ones
- Recycle – Collect, reprocess, market, and use materials once considered trash
- Recover – Refurbish, salvage items (e.g., old computers)
What is pollution? differentiate between the acute and chronic effects of pollution.
Pollution: any change in the air, water, or soil that could reduce its ability to support life
Acute effect: severe, immediate reaction after a single large exposure
Chronic effect: may take years to develop or may be recurrent after repeated exposures
What are mutagens
Mutagens: environmental agents that trigger changes (mutations) in the genetic material of living cells
Changes can lead to cancer.Many mutagens are carcinogens
What are teratogens?
Some mutagens (called teratogens) can cross the placenta of a pregnant woman and cause a spontaneous abortion or birth defects in the fetus
