Environment Flashcards

Question

What are the most prominent international agreements

Answer 1

2005 Kyoto Protocol 2009 Copenhagen Accord 2015 Paris Agreement

Answer 2

Health: Increased heatwaves and disease risks. Food/Water: Disruptions in supply and agriculture. Economy: Damage to infrastructure and financial losses. Migration: Forced relocation and potential conflicts. Inequality: Greater effects on vulnerable communities.

Answer 3

Positive feedback mechanisms are processes that amplify or increase the effects of a change in a system. I

Answer 4

The Quaternary Period is the most recent geological period, spanning from about 2.6 million years ago to the present.

Answer 5

Sustainability is the practice of managing resources and activities in a way that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Answer 6

Solar Energy: Sun emits energy as infrared radiation. Greenhouse Effect: Greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation, reflecting heat back to Earth. Volcanic Impact: Eruptions release sulfur dioxide, forming aerosols that reflect solar radiation, potentially cooling the Earth's surface. Milankovitch cycles

Answer 7

The Milankovitch cycles are long-term variations in Earth’s orbit and axial tilt that affect its climate over thousands of years. Eccentricity: Changes in the shape of Earth’s orbit around the Sun, ranging from more circular to more elliptical, occurring over about 100,000 years. This affects the distance between Earth and the Sun, influencing the amount of solar energy received. Axial Tilt (Obliquity): Variations in the tilt of Earth’s axis, ranging from 22.1 to 24.5 degrees, occurring over about 41,000 years. This affects the distribution of solar energy between the equator and the poles. Precession: The wobble in Earth’s rotation axis, which affects the timing of the seasons in relation to Earth’s orbit around the Sun. This cycle has a period of about 26,000 years.

Answer 8

Populations are much bigger - 8 billion Industrial revolution that uses mass amounts of fossil fuels 3 / 4 of energy in UK is fossil fuels Fossil fuels produce CO2 when burned Human race creates 7 gigatons of carbon dioxide a year Greenhouse effect is becoming too effective Trees absorb carbon dioxide - however trees are getting cut down and reducing CO2 stores

Answer 9

Sunspots are temporary, dark spots on the surface of the Sun (the photosphere) caused by intense magnetic activity. Can influence space weather and solar radiation levels.

Answer 10

An ecological footprint is a measure of the environmental impact of an individual, community, or activity, expressed in terms of the amount of biologically productive land and water needed to support their lifestyle and absorb their waste.

Answer 11

Albedo is a measure of how much sunlight is reflected by a surface, expressed as a percentage.

Answer 12

Continent, Country, Coordinates, City, Close to, Compass Distance

Answer 13

L - LIne of best fit A - Accuracy T - Title A - Axis labeled A - Identify anomalies K - key S - scaling

Answer 14

As one variable increases so does the other variable

Answer 15

As one variable increases the other decreases

Answer 16

There is no relationship between the two variables

Answer 17

When describing a scatter plot, highlight the highest and lowest values, rank them, and note any minimal differences (e.g., no more than 1 unit) to illustrate the relationship between data points.

Answer 18

Eating less meat, using solar panels, use sustainable transport, recycle

Answer 19

Burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, agriculture, industrial processes, waste management, urbanisation, Transportation

Answer 20

Afforestation

Answer 21

In summary, urbanization is the overall shift to urban living, urban growth is the increase in size and population of urban areas, and urban sprawl is the uncontrolled spread of urban development into surrounding areas

Answer 22

Biodiversity: Loss of species unable to adapt. Oceans: Acidification and impacts on marine life. Weather: More frequent and severe extreme events. Ice Melt: Rising sea levels and reduced freshwater. Ecosystems: Disruption and species shifts.

Answer 23

Ice-Albedo Feedback: Melting ice reduces reflectivity, absorbing more heat and causing further ice melt. Water Vapor Feedback: Increased temperatures lead to more water vapor, which traps more heat and warms the planet further. Permafrost Thawing: Thawing permafrost releases greenhouse gases, which intensify warming and cause more permafrost to thaw. Vegetation Feedback: Loss of vegetation reduces carbon sequestration, increasing CO2 levels and warming the climate. Ocean Circulation Feedback: Disruptions in ocean currents from warming affect global climate patterns, amplifying the warming effect.

Answer 24

Ice Core Sampling: Scientists drill into glaciers and ice sheets to extract long cylindrical samples called ice cores. These cores contain layers of ice that have accumulated over thousands to hundreds of thousands of years.

Answer 25

Adopted: December 1997 Effective: February 2005 Goal: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change Targets: 37 developed countries (Annex I) to cut emissions by 5.2% below 1990 levels (2008-2012) Notable Absentees: USA, Australia.

Answer 26

2009 Copenhagen Accord was a pledge for financial support to developing notions to help them cope with impacts of climate change. However was not legally binding.

Answer 27

Regulating services directly manage and moderate ecosystem processes that impact human well-being, like flood control and air quality. Supporting services are more foundational and indirect, creating the conditions for ecosystems to function and provide other services, such as soil formation and nutrient cycling.

Answer 28

Paris Agreement 2015 Paris agreement. 195 countries adopted first ever legally binding global climate deal. It aims to peak greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible and balance emissions and absorption in the second half of the century (2050-2100). The goal is to keep global temperature increases below 2°C, with efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Progress will be reviewed every five years. Developed countries committed $100 billion annually by 2020 to support climate initiatives in developing countries, with plans for continued funding Criticisms include that many aspects of the agreement are seen as promises or aims rather than firm commitments.

Answer 29

Definition: Jobs involved in extracting natural resources. Examples: Farming, fishing, mining, forestry. GDP Contribution: Typically lower in developed economies; higher in less developed countries reliant on agriculture or resource extraction.

Answer 30

Definition: Jobs focused on manufacturing and processing raw materials into finished goods. Examples: Factory work, construction, car production, textile manufacturing. GDP Contribution: Moderate to significant in industrialized nations; decreases as economies move toward service-based sectors.

Answer 31

Definition: Service-based jobs that provide support or services to people and businesses. Examples: Healthcare, education, retail, banking, tourism. GDP Contribution: Dominates in developed economies, where services typically account for the largest share of GDP.

Answer 32

Mitigating: switching to renewable energy, carbon capturing, international agreements

Answer 33

Adapting: afforestation, genetically modified crops, water surplus, sea defences

Answer 34

The ‘Great Pacific Garbage Patch’ is located in the North Pacific Ocean, to the West of California and NE of the Hawaii islands. It stretches from approximately 140 - 130W of the Prime Meridian and 25 – 40N of the Equator.

Answer 35

Humans are interconnected with ocean - provide water, oxygen, weather, food, minerals, and resources Allow for transport and habitat for 80% of life on Earth Oceans are under threat due to extraction of resources, dump waste and destring them

Answer 36

The garbage patch is an area of marine debris concentration in the North Pacific Ocean.

Answer 37

covers an estimated surface area of 1.6 million square kilometers, an area twice the size of Texas or three times the size of France.

Answer 38

79000 tonnes of floating debris

Answer 39

Gyres are large-scale circular oceanic currents. They are driven primarily by the global wind patterns and the Coriolis effect, Gyres form as the wind drags water along, causing the surface currents to move in a circular pattern.

Answer 40

Breakdown: Plastic breaks into microplastics but doesn't fully decompose, causing long-term pollution. Impact: Harms marine life, disrupts ecosystems, and can enter the food chain.

Answer 41

Sources: Plastic enters oceans through rivers, beaches, storm drains, and littering. Transport: Currents and winds carry plastic debris across the globe. Accumulation: Plastic collects in large areas like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch due to ocean currents (gyres).

Answer 42

Prevention: Bans on single-use plastics, promoting recycling, and increasing consumer awareness. Improved Waste Management: Better recycling systems, enhanced waste collection, and supporting a circular economy. Cleanup Efforts: Ocean cleanup technologies and community beach cleanups. Innovation: Development of biodegradable plastics and sustainable alternatives. Global Cooperation: International agreements and collaborations among governments, NGOs, and businesses.

Answer 43

Gyres are vast rotating ocean current systems that trap debris in their circular flow. Once plastic enters a gyre, it accumulates in the center, forming large patches like the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Plastics break down into microplastics but rarely degrade, posing a persistent environmental threat.

Answer 44

The global distribution of ecological footprints (EF) is highly uneven, with wealthier, industrialized nations like the USA, Canada, and Western Europe showing the highest EF, far exceeding the 1.6 gha per person threshold for resource regeneration. In contrast, much of Africa, Southeast Asia, and South Asia have significantly lower EFs, indicating lower resource consumption. Notable outliers include Australia, which has a much higher EF than its Southeast Asian neighbors, and Mongolia, which has a higher EF compared to China and Russia. Overall, the map highlights stark disparities in environmental impact across different regions.

Answer 45

Sea levels have risen by 17cm in the last 100 years

Answer 46

Glaciers Melt a Madagascar's worth of landmass each year - 1.2 trillions tons of ice per year

Answer 47

Artic sea ice has thinned by 65% since 1975 and in 2014 its extent was at an all-time low.

Answer 48

The earth’s average surface air temperature has increased by approximately 1 degrees over last 100 years

Answer 49

If deforestation continues at the current rate, the world's forests could disappear completely within 100 years.

Answer 50

Fossil fuels make up 50% of Green house gasses

Answer 51

The current global average concentration of carbon dioxide (CO 2) in the atmosphere is 421 ppm (0.04%) as of May 2022. This is an increase of 50% since the start of the Industrial Revolution, up from 280 ppm

Answer 52

Global temps are expected to increase by 2 - 5%

Answer 53

Western cattle produce 120kg of methane per year per cattle

Answer 54

Only 9% of plastic is recycled

Answer 55

1.6 million km2 79,000 tonnes of floating debris - an amount of plastic the same size as texas

Answer 56

The global food system is responsible for ~21–37% of annual emissions

Answer 57

generally 2, can add facts in and need to explain why

Answer 58

Hawksbill One piece of plastic = 20% chance of death Fourteen pieces of plastic = 50%

Answer 59

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth’s surface. It occurs when certain gases in the Earth's atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases, trap heat from the Sun. Here's how it works: Solar radiation from the Sun reaches the Earth in the form of light and heat. Some of this energy is absorbed by the Earth's surface, warming it. The Earth then emits heat energy in the form of infrared radiation back toward space. Greenhouse gases—such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), water vapor (H₂O), and nitrous oxide (N₂O)—trap some of this infrared radiation, preventing it from escaping into space. As a result, this trapped heat warms the Earth’s atmosphere, creating a more hospitable climate for life.

Answer 60

Human race creates 7 gigatons of carbon dioxide a year

Answer 61

DO deforestation and CO2 emissions

Answer 62

An estimated 18 million acres of forest is lost each year.

Answer 63

DO increased sea levels / melting ice caps and temperatures

Answer 64

Trend: Identify positive, negative, or no correlation between variables. Clusters: Look for groupings of data points. Outliers: Highlight points that deviate from the trend. Strength of Correlation: Describe if the relationship is strong or weak. Shape: Note if the pattern is linear, non-linear, or follows another shape. Axes Description: Explain what the x-axis and y-axis represent. Direction: Describe the slope or direction of change (upward, downward, flat).

Answer 65

Trend: Identify if values are increasing, decreasing, or staying constant over time. Peaks and Troughs: Highlight the highest (peaks) and lowest (troughs) points. Rate of Change: Describe if the changes are rapid, gradual, or fluctuating. Comparisons: Compare different data series (if applicable) or time periods. Shape: Note the overall shape (steady, zigzag, bell curve, etc.). Axes Description: Clearly explain what the x-axis and y-axis represent. Anomalies: Point out any unexpected or unusual data points.

Environment Flashcards

(89 cards)