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Earth's Life Support Systems Case Studies > How Do The Water And Carbon System Operate In The Arctic > Flashcards

How Do The Water And Carbon System Operate In The Arctic Flashcards

1
Q

What is the area of the tundra?

A

8 million km squared

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2
Q

For 9 months of the year what is the heat balance like?

A

Negative

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3
Q

What is the mean temperature?

A

-15 degrees

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4
Q

What is the temperature like in deepest winter?

A

-40 degrees

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5
Q

With climate change increasing temperatures where is there a growth of more vegetation?

A

Northern Quebec

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6
Q

What is annual precipitation like?

A

Low
50-350 mm

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7
Q

What is the relief like and how does this affect the water cycle?

A

Extensive low relief
Very little infiltration

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8
Q

How is the vegetation adapted to the severe climate?

A

Low lying
Small leaves
Few trees

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9
Q

Where is the climate most severe?

A

North
High arctic

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10
Q

What melts in the summer?

A

Active layer

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11
Q

What is the layer of soil that is permanently frozen throughout the year?

A

Permafrost

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12
Q

How does permafrost impact the water cycle?

A

Barrier to infiltration and percolation
Groundwater stores and aquifers are limited

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13
Q

What is the geology of most of the Arctic?

A

Precambrian Igneous Rock

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14
Q

Why is transpiration limited?

A

Limited vegetation

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15
Q

What is the humidity like?

A

Low temperature
Limited moisture
Low absolute humidity

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16
Q

What happens in the summer when the active layer melts?

A

Temporary ponds or lakes form
Sit on surface as can’t infiltrate

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17
Q

Why does the Arctic have poor conditions for photosynthesis?

A

Low temperature
Low moisture
Low nutrients

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18
Q

How long is the growing season?

A

3 months

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19
Q

What is the net primary productivity like?

A

200g/m squared/year

20
Q

How much carbon is in the biomass store?

A

4-29 tonnes/ha

21
Q

What happens to microorganisms during the growing season?

A

More active
Break down more litter
Release some CO2

22
Q

What is the issue with waterlogged conditions from the seasonal pools?

A

Starve decomposers of oxygen
No decomposition/respiration
Limits CO2 transfer

23
Q

How much carbon does the permafrost store?

A

1600 gigatons

24
Q

Currently permafrost is a carbon ____ but there are future possibilities that it will become a carbon ______

A

Sink
Source

25
Q

What is the disadvantage of the climate warming?

A

Active layer deepens
More CO2 and methane released

26
Q

What is the potential advantage of the climate warming?

A

More liquid water
More plant growth and photosynthesis

27
Q

What do scientists say about potential plant growth from climate change?

A

Plants would only offset 20% of carbon/methane released by permafrost melting

28
Q

Where was oil and gas discovered in 1968?

A

The North Slope Alaska

29
Q

Why did the oil and gas industry develop?

A

High global energy prices
US government reducing dependence on oil imports

30
Q

What sorts of things were built for the industry?

A

Roads
Pipelines
Oil production plants
Gravel quarries
Power generators
Power lines
Gas processing facilities

31
Q

In the 1990s how much of the USA domestic oil production did The North Slope account for?

A

Almost a quarter

32
Q

Why does The North Slope account for less than 4% of today’s USA domestic oil production?

A

High production costs
Growth of oil shale industry in USA

33
Q

What is the main impact of human activity?

A

Melting of permafrost

34
Q

What are the three reasons for permafrost melting?

A

Construction
Dust deposition
Removal of vegetation cover

35
Q

How much CO2 is released a year after human activity?

A

7-40 million/tonnes/year

36
Q

How much CH4 is released a year after human activity?

A

24,000-114,000/tonnes/year

37
Q

What has decreased in the carbon cycle because of human activity?

A

Photosynthesis

38
Q

What has increased in the carbon cycle because of human activity?

A

Microbial activity and decomposition

39
Q

What have CO2 emissions increased by since 1975?

A

73%

40
Q

What increases in the water cycle because of human activity?

A

Run off and river discharge
Evaporation

41
Q

What disrupts draining?

A

Artificial lakes
Drainage networks

42
Q

What reduced localised run off?

A

Water abstractions for the industry taken from creeks and rivers

43
Q

What are the five management strategies for reducing human activity impacts?

A

Insulated gravel pads
Buildings and pipelines elevated on piles
Drilling laterally
Powerful computers
Refrigerated supports

44
Q

What is the drill called that can operate from one site?

A

Snake drill

45
Q

What % of supercomputers are used by the oil industry?

A

10%

Earth's Life Support Systems Case Studies (2 decks)

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