Fragile Environments and Climate Change Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is a fragile environment?
An ecosystem highly sensitive to small changes, where human or natural disturbance can cause large, often irreversible impacts.
Name two examples of fragile environments.
Polar regions (Arctic/Antarctic) and tropical rainforests.
Define climate change.
Long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns on Earth, largely driven by greenhouse gas emissions.
What is the greenhouse effect?
Warming that occurs when greenhouse gases (CO₂, CH₄, H₂O vapour) trap infrared radiation from Earth’s surface.
Give two natural and two human causes of climate change.
Natural: volcanic eruptions, variations in Earth’s orbit
Human: burning fossil fuels, deforestation
What is permafrost, and why is its thawing a concern?
Permanently frozen ground in polar/sub-polar regions; thaw releases stored carbon as CO₂/CH₄, intensifying warming.
Explain desertification.
Land degradation in arid/semi-arid areas due to drought, deforestation, overgrazing, and poor irrigation—turning fertile land into desert.
What is a carbon sink? Give an example.
A reservoir that absorbs more carbon than it releases (e.g., tropical rainforest, oceans).
Describe one strategy to manage fragile environments sustainably.
Ecotourism—low-impact tourism that educates visitors and funds conservation, while benefiting local communities.
What role do mangroves play in climate change mitigation?
They sequester carbon in biomass and soils (“blue carbon”) and buffer coastal erosion and storm surges.
Define “adaptation” in the context of climate change.
Adjusting practices, processes, and structures to reduce harm from climate impacts (e.g., drought-resistant crops).
Define “mitigation” in context of climate change.
Actions to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., renewable energy deployment).
What is the Paris Agreement?
2015 UN treaty where nations committed to limit global warming to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels.
Explain how overfishing can make marine environments fragile.
Removes key species, disrupts food chains, reduces resilience to environmental stress, and can cause ecosystem collapse.
How does urbanisation contribute to heat island effect?
Dark surfaces (asphalt, concrete) absorb heat; lack of vegetation reduces cooling; densely built areas remain hotter than surroundings.
