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Global environmental change Flashcards

1
Q

define global change

A

planetary-scale changes in the earth system

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2
Q

what causes global change (7)

A 
solar variation 
plate tectonics 
volcanism 
proliferation and abatement of life 
meteorite impact 
resource depletion 
changes in the earths orbit
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3
Q

what is the main driver for global change

A

growing population causes increased demand for energy, food, services and disposal of waste

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4
Q

what is the result of global change

A

climate change
species extinction
desertification and ocean acidification
ozone depletion and pollution

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5
Q

define pollution

A

introduction of contaminants into natural enviro that causes adverse change
can be: energy, heat, noise, light or chemical substances

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6
Q

how do we measure toxic?

A

Lethal concentration: concentration of chemicals in the air/water that will kill 50% of test animals in single exposure
lethal dose: the single dose of a chemical that, when fed to group of test animals/ applied dermally will kill 50% of the animals

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7
Q

additive pollution

A

effects of each pollutant add together to produce overall effect (A+B=AB)

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8
Q

antagonistic pollution

A

one pollutant cancels out/reduces the impact of another (A+B+A)

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9
Q

synergistic pollution

A

pollutants combine in a way that the environmental effects are greater than would be expected additively

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10
Q

point source pollution

A

e.g. sewage outlet

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11
Q

multi source pollution

A

e.g. chimney stacks

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12
Q

seeping pollution

A

e.g. fertiliser runoff

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13
Q

spreading pollution

A

e.g. volatiles in air flow

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14
Q

what are the characteristics of acute pollution

A

large volume of pollutant released into enviro

  • often from one point source (one off/accidental)
  • commonly toxic affect
  • afterwards ecosystem begins to recover and return to original situation
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15
Q

what are the characteristics of chronic pollution

A

low level input but almost constant = ecosystem under stress with no chance to recover = cumulative effect

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16
Q

acute pollution: crude oil

A

blend of chemical compounds:

  • aliphatic hydrocarbons
  • aromatic hydrocarbons
  • polar compounds
  • sulphur compounds
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17
Q

biotic effects of crude oil

A

around 90% sunlight intercepted
division of algal cells inhibited at oil levels of 0.1ppm
oceans dependent on phytoplankton
food chains modified (directly and indirectly)

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18
Q

chronic pollution: pesticides

A

toxic chemicals introduced into ecosystem to kill/reduce population size/growth of particular pests or weeds
Benefits:
saves many human lives (improved harvest)
reduces weeds/pests
fewer storage losses
control livestock and crop diseases

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19
Q

what are the different methods of applying pesticides

A 
direct contact
secondary contact
ingested
repellent
lure and kill
fumigant
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20
Q

direct contact pesticide

A

spraying pest

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21
Q

secondary contact pesticide

A

spraying plant

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22
Q

ingested pesticide

A

taken in by root = killed when pest eats it

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23
Q

repellent pesticide

A

deters pest

problem: pest may relocate

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24
Q

lure and kill pesticide

A

artificially toxic and attracts pest to ingest it

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25
fumigant pesticide
fumes are toxic | don't need to ingest or have contact
26
what are the 3 main types of pesticides
organochlorine: - broad spectrum toxins - remains in enviro for a long time chlorophenoxy: - chemistry resembles plant auxins - broken down in soil in matter of days organophosphates: - highly toxic to humans - biodegradable and non-persistent, readily broken down
27
chronic pollution: DDT and peregrine falcons
- peregrine egg thickness decreased and breaking - high levels DDE (metabolite of DDT) found in fatty tissues peregrine carcasses - more DDE = thinner shells - realised DDT was reducing calcium deposition
28
biomagnification
when element/chemical moves from one compartment to another and occurs at higher concentration in the second occurs when concentration factor > 1
29
concentration factor
concentration of the pollutant in the consumer / concentration of the pollutant in the diet
30
pollution: plastic
accumulation of plastic in enviro neg impact wildlife/habitat/humans slow to degrade affects: bodies of water, marine animals, humans, wildlife
31
pollution: microplastics
usually <5mm in diameter | sources include: cosmetics, clothing, industrial processes
32
primary microplastics
manufactured | direct result of human material and product use
33
secondary microplastics
fragments derived from breakdown of larger plastic debris
34
what are the main causes of extinction
``` habitat fragmentation agriculture human over population deforestation poaching and hunting ```
35
genetic diversity
total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species
36
genetic variability
tendency of genetic characteristics to vary
37
species diversity
number of different species | consists of species richness and evenness
38
species richness
count of species
39
species evenness
quantifies how equal the abundances of the species are
40
ecosystem/ecological diversity
variation in ecosystems found in region or variation in ecosystems over the whole planet is the largest scale of biodiversity
41
gamma diversity
total species diversity in a landscape | determined by alpha and beta diversity
42
alpha diversity
the mean species diversity in sites or habitats at a more local scale
43
beta diversity
the differentiation among habitats
44
endemism
describes usually limited geographical distribution of a taxonomic group. usually at family, genus or species level (group only found in a certain area)
45
biodiversity hotspot
area of species richness and high level of endemism | have high conservation value
46
direct use value
direct role of biological resources in consumption and production e.g. food, medicine, ecotourism, biocontrol, industrial resources
47
indirect use value
derives form the function biodiversity perform and is critical to human well being e.g. pollination
48
non use value
aspects of biodiversity that do not aid human life e.g. aesthetics
49
what is biocontrol
use of natural enemies to control species regarded as pests | would avoid pollution and toxicity aspects of pesticides
50
give to e.g. of poor sustainability today
global fish harvest | fuel wood
51
what are the pros and cons of ecotourism
``` pros: education tourism improving economy enriching life ``` cons: damage caused via travel indirect environmental harm due to poor awareness
52
ecosystem processes
actions or events that link organisms to their environment | e.g. decomposition, nutrient cycling, primary productivity
53
ecosystem services
``` the benefits provided by ecosystems to humans grouped into: provisioning regulating supporting cultural ```
54
provisioning service e.g.
production of food and water
55
regulating service e.g.
control of climate and disease
56
supporting service e.g.
nutrient cycles and crop pollination
57
cultural service e.g.
spiritual and recreational benefits
58
climate change definition
large scale long term shift in planets weather patterns or average temp
59
earths climate temp
14c but recently increasing
60
what are the natural causes of climate change
solar activity earths orbit - Milankovitch cycles continental drift
61
describe solar activity
sunspot activity and how strong it is e.g. little ice age when reduced
62
describe Milankovitch cycles
cyclical movement related to earths orbit around the sun combines to affect solar heat eccentricity cycle = ellipsical axial tilt = between 22.1 and 24.5 degrees precession = wobbles like a tilt
63
describe continental drift
continents once joined and now drifting apart due to circulating heat of earths interior and has large effect on climate
64
recent causes of climate change
el nino = water in eastern/central pacific warmer due to winds. change in ocean conditions changes weather volcanic eruptions greenhouse effect
65
1827
jean baptiste joseph fourier 1st recognised existence of greenhouse effect
66
1860
john tyndall measured absorption of infrared radiation by carbon dioxide
67
1896
svante Arrhenius calculated effect of increasing concentration of greenhouse gases
68
1940
G S Callender first to calculate the warming due to increasing CO2 from burning fossil fuels
69
1957
Roger revelle and Hans suess first expression of concern about climate change
70
pre industrial global average concentration of CO2
260-280 ppm
71
1990 level CO2
350ppm
72
predicted level co2 in 2060
600ppm
73
what are the greenhouse gases
CO2, H20, CH4, CFCs | - co2 major contributor and less effective absorber
74
signs of climate change in wales
sea levels at Holyhead increased over past 50 yrs wheat crops at Aberystwyth flower 1-2 weeks earlier blackcap arriving earlier on skokholm island
75
sea level rise in the netherlands
50% country below sea levels 400km of dunes provide protection 10,000 million estimated cost of protection against 1m sea level rise
76
sea level rise in bangledesh
30% of land 2m below sea level estimated 1m rise by 2050, 2m by 2100 120 mil people located in delta region
77
sea level rise low lying islands
0. 5 mil people | 0. 5 m rise would remove 50% groundwater
78
how sea level rise would affect freshwater
effect ground water supplies and reserves yet increasing pop worlds major water sources shared
79
co2 effects on plants
- c3 plants respond positively and increase photosynthesis but do acclimate. growth increase about 40% (vs C4 plant by 20%) - plants commonly increase ratio of carbon to nitrogen = more nitrogen based defences against herbivores - insects that eat plants limited by nitrogen, need to eat more and would develop more slowly - causes partial closing of stomata making plants more efficient in water usage - leaves of plants may become thicker and have more starch
80
effects of climate change on agriculture
- neg effect partially compensated by increased productivity from fertilization effect of co2 - increased disparity in cereal production between developed and less developed countries (developed increased 5%, less developed declined by 10%) - some crops require cold to germinate
81
impacts of climate change in human health
- impacted by pollution, inadequate water supplies and poor soil - main direct effect = heat stress - potential increased spread of disease e.g tropical diseases could spread mid latitude (malaria) - 150 mil environmental refugees
82
define invasive species
living organism that's not native to an ecosystem and can harm the enviro, economy or human health
83
E.g invasive species Japanese knotweed
introduced from eastern asia now across most of uk forms dense strands and hard to control illegal to sell house and not inform buyers its present
84
e.g. invasive species rhododendron
introduced from Iberian peninsula blocks light carries diseases fatal to native trees
85
characteristics of invasive species
``` fast growth rapid reproduction high dispersal ability phenotypic ability (alter growth to suit conditions) tolerance of enviro conditions can live of wide range of food types association with humans prior successful invasion history ```
86
define urbanisation
pop shift from rural to urban areas | how towns/cities formed
87
environmental effects of urbanisation
urban heat islands (urban areas retain and produce heat) rural areas solar energy evaporated by eater from soil/vegetation cities often warmer
88
define land use
management and modification of natural enviro impacts local and global biodiversity greatest cause of extinction e.g. deforestation
89
different types of land use
``` recreational transport agricultural residential commercial ```

Organisms and The Environment (9 decks)

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