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1
Q

Limitations of Soil Management

A

Extension and intensification of agriculture create carbon losses
Atmospheric changes - decreased acid rain
Climatic changes - temperature and precipitation
All contribute to soil carbon loss and instability of soil as a carbon sink

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2
Q

6 Features of a Net-Zero Tranisiton

A
  1. Universal and Comprehensive - all sectors transform
  2. Significant - substantial economic transformation
  3. Front-loaded -
  4. Uneven - some sectors exposed most to transition
  5. Risk exposure - new challenges
  6. Opportunity - new technologies
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3
Q

Top 3 sectors contributing GHGs

A
  1. Electricity and Heat - 25%
  2. Agriculture and Forestry - 24%
  3. Industry - 21%
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4
Q

2 regions that are most vulnerable to climate change

A

Arctic
Mid-latitude regions

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5
Q

Which pollutants contribute most to observed warming?

A

Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide

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6
Q

6 Climate active pollutants vs 6 air quality pollutants

A

Climate active: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, SVOC, black carbon, and ozone
Air quality: NOx, ammonia (NH3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), SVOC, black carbon, and ozone

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7
Q

How does the greenhouse effect work?

A

Sunlight passes through atmosphere and warms earth
Heat is radiated back
This heat is absorbed by GHGs and re emitted
This warms earth again

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8
Q

3 main drivers of increasing GHG emissions

A

Growing global population
Increasing GDP
Growing global energy demand

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9
Q

2 reference pathways for IMPs

A

CurPol - impacts of policies implemented
ModAct - impacts of implementing NDCs

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10
Q

What is the lime-soda process?

A

Removes hardness from water using chemical precipitation
Calcium hydroxide (lime) removes temporary hardness and then sodium carbonate removes permanent hardness

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11
Q

What are IMPs?

A

They denote implications of different societal choices

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12
Q

What are the 5 different IMPs?

A

IMP-Ren - heavy reliance on renewables
IMP-LD - energy demand reduction
IMP-Neg - CO2 removal and net negative emissions
IMP-SP - sustainable development
IMP-GS - gradual strengthening of mitigation

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13
Q

What is Malthusianism?

A

The idea that population growth is exponential while resource growth is linear
Results in population death

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14
Q

6 strategies to achieve Net-Zero with agriculture

A
  1. Scope 3 emissions
  2. Improving livestock management
  3. Change in product and import of soy
  4. Changes in farm practices
  5. Agroforestry
  6. Changes in diet
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15
Q

5 strategies for regenerative agriculture

A
  1. Zero tillage
  2. Intercropping
  3. Cover cropping
  4. Rotation grazing
  5. Organic management
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16
Q

3 crop adaptations for climate change

A
  1. Fertiliser management
  2. Increasing legume and cover crops
  3. Improving rice management
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17
Q

3 grazing adaptions for climate change

A
  1. Fire management
  2. Nutrient management
  3. Adding deep rooted species
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18
Q

5 measures to improve freshwater quality

A
  1. Restoring environmental flows
  2. Improving water quality
  3. Protecting and restoring critical habitats
  4. Managing exploitation of freshwater species
  5. Controlling non-native species invasion
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19
Q

Porosity VS Permeability

A

Porosity: % of open space in an unconsolidated sediment or rock
Permeability: measure of the ease of flow of fluid through porous solid

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20
Q

What is a baseload and why is it important?

A

Facilities that use electricity 24/7 so energy demand never drops below 0
This is the baseload
It accounts for 1/2 of total demand

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21
Q

Define carbon sink, stock, pool, and sequestration

A

Carbon sink: mechanisms that remove CO2
Carbon stock: quantity of CO2 in a pool at one time
Carbon pool: system that can store and release CO2
Carbon sequestration: removal of CO2 through physical/biological processes

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22
Q

6 limitations to global tree planting

A
  1. Time required for growth thus carbon sequestration
  2. Climate feedback affects the stability of stored carbon
  3. Protection and management needed to prevent loss
  4. Not all locations suitable
  5. New woodlands have low biodiversity
  6. Plants require monitoring to ensure successful establishment
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23
Q

3 greenhouse gas reporting standards

A

Scope 1 - direct GHG emissions
Scope 2 - indirect GHG emissions
Scope 3 - emissions from things not controlled by reporting organisation but the organisation indirectly affects its value and supply chain

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24
Q

What are negative emission technologies?

A

Technologies that remove CO2 from atmosphere

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25
5 examples of negative emissions technologies
1. Direct air capture 2. Lime-soda process 3. Ocean alkalinity enrichment 4. Ocean iron fertilisation 5. Biochar
26
Define black carbon
A product of incomplete combustion
27
Why is black carbon bad?
It absorbs solar radiation and results in positive radiative forcing (warming)
28
What are the precursors of secondary aerosols and their effects?
Nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, VOC Negative radiative forcing (cooling)
29
Compare diesel with petrol
1. Diesel emits less GHG 2. Diesel cars have larger engines which reduces the benefit of less GHG emissions 3. Diesel is in higher demand so production costs raise emissions 4. Diesel leads to black carbon emissions
30
3 measures that reduce both AQ and CA pollutants
1. Combined heat and power 2. Low emission zones 3. More efficient appliances
31
3 measures that reduce CA but increase AQ pollutants
1. Increasing aircraft efficiency 2. Forests as a carbon sink 3. Waste incineration
32
What is a lifecycle assessment?
Systematic analysis of environmental impacts of a product Includes: resources, processing, manufacturing, distribution, use, and end of life
33
What are the limitations to life cycle assessments?
Does not consider whole system change Doesn’t offer social/economic implications Time consuming Requires a degree of speciality Lack of primary data
34
6 mitigation categories
1. Conservation 2. Efficiency 3. Abatement 4. Fuel switching 5. Demand management 6. Behavioural change
35
Mitigation VS Adpation
Mitigation is about the source or sink of carbon Adaptation is about adjustment in response to climate change
36
2 mitigation methods for livestock
1. Feed additives like oils, seaweed, and fat can decrease methane emissions 2. Spillage that is harvested earlier has shown lower methane emissions
37
Top 3 carbon terrestrial stocks
1. Wetlands - 643 gt 2. Boreal - 344 gt 3. Temperate grassland - 236 gt
38
Top 3 carbon stores
1. Soil - 2500 gt 2. Atmosphere - 800 gt 3. Plants and animal life - 560 gt
39
3 nature based solutions
1. Wetland restoration 2. Afforestation 3. Mangrove protection
40
Define 4 types of carbon
Green carbon: stored in plants and soils of natural systems Blue carbon: stored in oceans and coastal ecosystems Grey carbon: stored in offsite fuels Black carbon: product of incomplete combustion
41
What is social capital?
Network of relationships among people who live in a society
42
Outline 3 pillars of sustainability
Economic Social Environment
43
Outline the 5 capitals approach
Approach to sustainable development, includes: Manufactured Financial Human Natural Social
44
Afforestation VS Reforestation
Afforestation: establishment of forest in area with no previous forest cover Reforestation: establishment of forest in area with a history of forest cover Reforestation
45
3 technical solutions
1. Solar radiation management 2. Cloud thinning 3. Marine cloud brightening
46
Define GWP*
Metric that accounts for short lived climate pollutants Links temperature impact to a pulse emission of CO2
47
5 types of green finance
1. Green bonds: debt issued by public/private institution to fund mitigations and adaptations 2. Debt swaps: swap debts for development of mitigation 3. Guarantees: guarantor fulfils obligation to lender in context of mitigation 4. Concessional loans: loans for mitigation with longer repayment plan 5. Grants and donations: money that doesn’t have to be repaid
48
3 principles of a circular economy
1. Eliminate waste and pollution 2. Circulate products and materials 3. Regenerate nature
49
Components of soil organic matter
Complex compounds Simple compounds Microbial communities Stabilised carbon
50
Define peatlands
Partially decomposed organic matter accumulated in water-logged conditions
51
What are 3 anthropogenic impacts on peatlands?
Extraction and burning as fuel Deforestation Agricultural expansion
52
Define carbon credits
Certificates that represent quantities of GHGs that have been removed or kept
53
What are the conditions of carbon credits?
Must represent additionality Doesn’t have to represent cobenefits Can’t be claimed by multiple organisations Doesn’t reduce need to reduce emissions
54
Define GWP
Measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of gas will absorb over given period of time Relative to 1 ton of CO2
55
Define eutrophication
Enrichment of water by inorganic plant nutrients to increase primary production
56
3 impacts of eutrophication
1. Species diversity decreases 2. Rate of sedimentation increases 3. Plant and animal biomass increases which impedes water flow
57
Describe the water cycle
Water body evaporates up and condenses Clouds precipitate when they become too heavy This water enters land and bodies of water again More precipitation from larger bodies of water
58
Outline the 9 planetary boundaries
Climate change Novel entities Stratosphere ozone depletion Atmospheric aerosol loading - microscopic particles in atmosphere Ocean acidification Biogeochemical flows - phosphorus and nitrogen cycle Biosphere integrity - biodiversity loss and species extinction Land system change - deforestation Freshwater change
59
How many planetary boundaries are we crossing?
6 Biosphere integrity Climate change Land system change Freshwater change Biogeochemical flows Novel entities
60
What is the IPCC, UNFCCC, and COP?
IPCC - intergovernmental panel on climate change (under UNFCCC) UNFCCC - United Nations framework convention on climate change COP - conference of parties (body of UNFCCC)
61
Define the Paris Agreement
Legally binding agreement on climate change by 196 countries at COP21
62
Define NDCs
Nationally determined contributions Communicate actions countries take to reduce emissions and build resilience to climate change
63
What does each component in the rate of water change equation mean?
P - precipitation Qin - water into water shed ET - evapotranspiration /\S - change in water storage Qout - water out of water shed
64
What are NAPs?
National Adaptation Plans Identifies long-term adaptation needs and implementing strategies to meet these
65
What are 4 ecosystem services?
Supporting Provisioning Cultural Regulating
66
Describe the 4 ecosystem services
Supporting: necessary for delivery of other services Provisioning: human material benefits from ecosystems Cultural: human non-material benefits from ecosystems Regulating: processes that moderate natural phenomena
67
Outline 3 direct air carbon capture technologies
DACCS LUC BECCS
68
3 ways to manage black carbon emissions
1. Increasing renewable energy use in the Arctic 2. Improving forest fire management 3. Getting rid of kerosine wick lamps
69
How is ozone (O3) formed?
Reaction between methane (or CO or NMVOC) and NOx
70
How do increased temperatures affect ozone formation?
Increase ozone formation due to increased solar radiation
71
What is a GHG inventory?
A list of emission sources and associated emissions
72
Who needs a life cycle assessment?
A business looking to understand the carbon footprint of a new product to supporting marketing and sales
73
How is solar radiation management achieved?
Reflects solar radiation back into space Can be done with ocean mirrors, satellites, marine cloud brightening
74
How does direct air carbon capture (DACC) differ from carbon capture storage (CCS)?
DACC removes CO2 from atmosphere using chemical processes CCS captures fossil fuel CO2 from point sources (reduction not removal)
75
What is ocean alkalinity enhancement?
Uses lime to trap carbon dioxide in mine form in oceans Lowering ocean pH increases absorption of CO2
76
What is oceanic iron fertilisation?
Putting iron containing particles in ocean Stimulates plankton growth so more CO2 is absorbed
77
What is biochar?
Charcoal from plant matter stored in soil to remove CO2
78
What is bioenergy and carbon capture and storage (BECCS)?
Combustion of fuels in a conventional power plant fitted with CCS
79
What are primary forests?
Naturally developed forest of native species with no visible indication of human activity
80
What are naturally regenerated forests?
Regenerated forests with visible signs of human activity
81
What are aquifers?
Geological layer that can store and transmit groundwater (Gravel, sand, silt)
82
What is abstraction?
Taking groundwater out of the ground Must be replenished by precipitation

Climate Change Mitigation (1 decks)

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