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Earth Life Support System- Pt 4 Flashcards

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1
Q

How are the carbon and water cycles linked by the atmosphere?

A

-CO2 in the atmosphere has a role in the greenhouse effect.
-Water is evaporated from the oceans to the atmosphere and CO2 is exchanged between the oceans and atmosphere.

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2
Q

How does atmospheric CO2 has a role in the greenhouse effect?

A

-CO2 is absorbed from the atmosphere by both terrestrial plants and phytoplankton for photosynthesis.

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3
Q

How are the carbon and water cycles linked by the ocean?

A

-The ocean becomes more acidic when there’s more CO2 within it.
-The more CO2 that there is in the atmosphere means that sea temperatures will increase, so thermal expansion occurs.

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4
Q

What happens to the amount of CO2 that is absorbed in oceans when it is colder?

A

Less CO2 becomes absorbed.

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5
Q

What is the result of thermal expansion occurring because of more CO2 in the atmosphere?

A

Ice from ice sheets begin to melt which will affect the sea level.

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6
Q

How are the carbon and water cycles linked by vegetation?

A

The amount of water can affect rates of photosynthesis, NPP, decomposition and transpiration rates.

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7
Q

How are the carbon and water cycles linked by the cryosphere?

A

CO2 levels will determine the greenhouse effect which determines the degree of ice melt.

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8
Q

What’s the effect of permafrost melting?

A

More CO2 and methane is released into the atmosphere.

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9
Q

What has been the effect of there being more people on the planet for the demand for water?

A

Water demand has increased.

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10
Q

What has water demand increased for?

A

Irrigation (food)
Public supply
Agriculture

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11
Q

What is an example of a river basin which has suffered over abstraction for water?

A

Colorado river basin

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12
Q

What happened to the Colorado River Basin?

A

It suffered from over abstraction from rivers and an evaporation loss from reservoirs. This led to a decrease in water quality supplies.

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13
Q

How has deforestation and urbanisation affected the water cycle as human activity?

A

They both reduce evapotranspiration and precipitation, which can increase surface run-off therefore decreases throughflow.

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14
Q

What are the human activities which cause changes in the water cycle?

A

Over abstraction.
Deforestation
Urbanisation

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15
Q

What are the human activities which cause changes in the carbon cycle?

A

Fossil fuel consumption
Land-use change

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16
Q

How has fossil fuel consumption affected the carbon cycle?

A

It has removed billions of tonnes of the geological store.

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17
Q

How has land use change affected the carbon cycle?

A

Particularly deforestation transfers huge amounts of carbon to the atmosphere per year.

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18
Q

How much carbon is transferred to the atmosphere as a result of land-use change?

A

1 billion tonnes per year.

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19
Q

What are the impacts of human activity of the biosphere store?

A

Deforestation

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20
Q

How has deforestation affected the biosphere store on carbon stores?

A

It has reduced forests by nearly 50%, which reduces the amount of carbon stored in the biosphere.

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21
Q

What are the impacts of human activity of the ocean store on carbon stores?

A

Phytoplankton are important in absorbing CO2. However, ocean acidification is affecting this.W

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22
Q

What is ocean acidification?

A

Where oceans are becoming more acidic, where CO2 dissolves in seawater and creates carbonic acid.

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23
Q

What are the impacts of human activity of the soil store on carbon stores?

A

Deforestation and poor agricultural management
has caused the threat of desertification through soil erosion, depleting the carbon store.

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24
Q

What are the impacts of human activity of the wetland store on carbon stores?

A

Wetlands have been drained for land for agriculture or building on meaning that more carbon is released into the atmosphere.

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25
What is ocean acidification a result of?
The absorption of CO2 that's been emitted into the atmosphere by human activity.
26
What are the impacts of global warming on the water cycle?
-The cryosphere decreases as ice begins to melt. -More evaporation so there's more water vapour in the atmosphere which is a greenhouse gas, warming the climate even more.
27
What are the impacts of global warming on the carbon cycle?
More carbon will be released from the permafrost as it melts. Higher temperatures increase the rate of decomposition.
28
What are the 5 management strategies to protect the carbon cycle?
1-Wetland restoration 2-Afforestation 3-Sustainable agricultural practices 4-International agreements 5-Cap and Trade
29
How much percent do wetlands cover of the Earth's surface?
6-9%
30
How much percent do wetlands store of terrestrial carbon on the Earth's surface?
About 35%
31
Why are wetlands important?
They are a large store of carbon.
32
How is carbon sequestered in wetlands?
It is sequested and stored by photosynthesis and the accumulation of organic matter in soils, sediment and plant biomass.
33
Why are we concerned for wetlands?
Human activity such as urbanisation and population growth has increased the pressure on wetland areas for agriculture.
34
What are peatlands?
They are a type of wetland.
35
What does the word 'peatland' mean?
It refers to the peat soil which inhibits wetland growth.
36
How much percent do peatlands cover of the Earth's surface?
3%
37
What is the issue with peatlands?
Peatlands are becoming severely over exploited through: -drainage -mining for fuel -Agriculture conversion
38
What are examples of initiatives who have recognised the need for protection of wetlands?
RAMSAR and the European Union Habitats Directive.
39
What has to be done to try to restore wetlands?
It focuses on raising the water table to recreate waterlogged conditions.
40
How do you raise water tables?
Removing flood embankments and flood controls. Diverting or blocking drainage ditches and installing sluice gates.
41
What does removing flood embankments and controls enable?
It enables wetlands on floodplains to reconnect to rivers.
42
What are our 2 examples of wetland restoration?
Ouse Fen Nature Reserve Yorkshire Peat Partnership
43
What is Ouse Fen Nature Reserve aim as an example of wetland restoration?
To recreate the habitats that have been lost.
44
What is Ouse Fen Nature Reserve done as an example of wetland restoration?
The quarry site that it was once agricultural land has been created into a wetland area.
45
What does the Yorkshire peat partnership involve?
Organisations working together to restore peatlands as a carbon sink.
46
What is afforestation?
The planting of a new forest which hasn't had a forest on it previously.
47
Why are trees important carbon sinks?
They are important in regulating the global climate but also help to reduce soil erosion, reduce flood risk and increase biodiversity.
48
What is an example of a project that is trying to reduce emissions from felling trees?
UN-REDD Programme
49
What is the UN-REDD Programme?
An example of a project that is trying to reduce emissions from felling tress by providing incentives to developing countries to conserve rainforests.
50
What type of agricultural practices are the cause of large quantities of carbon being released into the atosphere?
Overcultivation, overgrazing and intensive agriculture results into soil erosion.
51
What is overgrazing?
Too many animals eating grass in one area.
52
What can be done to reduce emissions from agriculture?
Land and crop management Livestock management Manure management
53
What are examples of land and crop management?
Zero tillage Polyculture
54
What is zero tillage?
Crop growing without ploughing.
55
What are the benefits of growing crops without ploughing the land?
It protects the soils organic matter so reduces the risk of soil erosion.
56
What is polyculture?
Growing animal crops with trees.
57
What is an example of livestock management?
Improvement of quality of animal feed.
58
What is the purpose of Improving the quality of animal feed?
To reduce enteric fermentation so less food is converted into methane.
59
Why do we manage manure?
So that we control the way methane decomposes to reduce the emissions.
60
What are 2 key international agreements?
Kyoto 1997 Paris 2015
61
How many countries were part of the Kyoto agreement?
37
62
What was the aim of the Kyoto agreement?
That by 2012 we would have reduced emissions by 5.2%
63
What was the issue of the Kyoto agreement?
China and India decided to not agree with this as they believe that they are still developing countries and need the fossil fuels to do this.
64
What were the 2 aims of the Paris 2015 agreement?
Keep global warming increase below 2 degrees. Reduce global CO2 emissions below 60% of 2010 levels by 2015
65
What are the issues with the Paris 2015 agreement?
Its not legally binding. No rigid timelines so no penalties. Pledges vary between countries.
66
What were the successes of the Paris 2015 agreement?
All nations commit to reducing emissions. US and Europe donate to help develop LIDCs to reduce emissions.
67
What is cap and trade?
An example of how countries are aiming to reduce their carbon emissions..
68
How does cap and trade work?
Permits are given to emitters such as power companies where they can only use a certain amount of carbon. These can be bought and traded with others.
69
What are the 3 ways to manage and protect the water cycle?
Forestry Water allocations Drainage basin planning
70
What is forestry?
Protecting the forest that are there, or restoring them.
71
What are 2 examples of projects which are trying to protect and maintain the forests?
UN-REDD programme World Bank Forest Carbon Partnership Facility
72
How does forestry prtect the water cycle?
Reduces erosion. Enhances infiltration. Reduces flooding.
73
How does forestry reduce erosion?
The vegetation stabilises the soil.
74
How does forestry enhance infiltration?
The forest floor allows water to soak into the ground, which recharges aquifers.
75
How does forestry reduce flooding?
Trees can soak up excess rainfall so reduces overland flow.
76
What is water allocations?
The practice of deciding how water will be shared between the users and and the uses that have demands for it.
77
What are the 2 stages for how water allocation is done?
1- Systems analysis is done. 2- Water is then allocated on the availability and demands.
78
Why is a systems analysis done for water allocation?
To understand the river basin and how it affects the livelihoods/ economic activities in the basin.
79
What is salinisation?
Where land becomes salinated due to high evaporation rates.
80
What is an issue as a result of water wastage?
Salinisation.
81
What is an example of water allocation in an area of water scarcity?
Indus Water treaty
82
What countries is the Indus Water Treaty between?
India and Pakistan
83
What is the purpose of the Indus Water Treaty?
To understand who has the water that flows between India and Pakistan.
84
What was the result of the Indus Water treaty?
India received about 20% of the total water from the Indus system and Pakistan gets the remaining 80%.
85
What is the advantage for India with the Indus water system?
They have 5 of the main tributaries which flow into Pakistan starting in India.
86
Why is having river tributaries starting in India an advantage?
Because they can block the water supply to Pakistan at any point, leading to droughts and food scarcity.
87
What is the concern for the Indus Water Treaty?
India is violating the treaty by planning on building dams to stop water reaching Pakistan.
88
What does drainage basin management enable?
A holistic approach to managing the demands from all users to look at the impact that these users have on he surroundings.
89
What is a holistic approach?
Where the issue will be looked at with all of its different parts.
90
What are the 3 types of drainage basin management?
Run-off management Surface water management Groundwater management
91
What are examples of Run-off management?
Reforestation programmes Urban greening
92
What are examples of surface water management?
Restoring wetlands Temporary storage facilities on floodplains
93
What are examples of groundwater management?
Limit abstraction artificial recharge
94
What's an example of a drainage basin management plan?
Anglian River basin
95
What are things that have been done in the Anglian river basin management plan?
Monitoring and controlling how rivers are modified. Manage pollution from waste water, rural and urban areas. Applying legislations and policies with regards to changes of natural flow.

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