Physical theories Flashcards
(7 cards)
Tectonic theories
Continental drift = Wegner
Hess = sonar and radar - shape of ocean floor
Wilson = Sea floor spreading
Wilson and Hess = sea floor spreading plus continental drift = plate tectonics
Hazard risk equation = hazard x vulnerability/ capacity to cope
Pressure and release model = Pressures are the vulnerabilities and release are the ways to reduce them
Hazard management cycle = response, recovery, mitigation, preparedness
Parks model = disaster response curve - how a hazard affects people’s QOL over time
Deggs model = hazard + vulnerable population = disaster
Benioff zone = the area within the subduction zone where most friction and pressure build up occurs
Carbon mitigation and adaptation strategies
Mitigation:
Clever
Rabbits
Eat
All
Carrots
Carbon taxation
Renewable switching = COP21 agreed in Paris 2015 which aims to rebalance the carbon cycle by cutting global emissions to below 20 Gt per year by 2040
Energy efficiency
Afforestation
Carbon capture and storage/Hydrogen fuel cells/Electric cars
Adaptation:
Wolves
Run
Fast
Like
Shadows
Water conservation and management = use of more grey water, magic stones
cannot match any increases in demand for water
Re-use water - Singapore has cutting edge technology to re-use its grey-water called NEWater = requires stringent purification and treatment using advanced dual-membrane (micro filtration and reverse osmosis) and ultraviolet technologies.
Resilient agricultural systems = hydroponics, selective irrigation, GM resistant crops = only effective if global warming is gradual
Flood-risk management
Land-use planning
Solar radiation management
IPCC 2 degrees
2C threshold that most scientists agree initiates uncontrollable positive feedback loops
Difficulties with implementation
Few European countries even met their Kyoto agreements
latest Paris 2015 agreement is based on each country setting its own targets which are not binding or enforceable in international law.
no consequences if countries do not meet their commitments
withdrawal of US might lead to the collapse of the agreement
Climate agreements
Kyoto = first legally binding agreement in 1997
Paris agreement in 2015 = first agreement with nearly all countries participating
Real world applications
Amazon switching from carbon sink to source
10% of global species in Amazon
Kuznets curve
Describes the relationship between environmental degradation and economic development
It suggests that as a country’s economy grows and industrializes, environmental degradation initially increases, peaks, and then decreases as the country becomes wealthier.
