Population and the environment - Environment and population Flashcards

Question

how does the tropical monsoon climate impact human activities

Answer 1

more that 60% of population lives in areas affected by monsoon climate mainly due to urbanisation during monsoon seasons spread of waterborne diseases carried by mosquitoes increases warmer temps and shifting weather patterns can worsen air quality - lead to asthma attacks and other respiratory and cardiovascular health affects Agriculture based around monsoon season - beneficial for crops e.g. rice Waterlogged land is perfect for growing semiaquatic rice commercial rice fields that use irrigation have been developed people move to these areas for better opportunities in farming, better food security - leads to overpopulation, causes poor life quality. Floods and droughts caused by the monsoon directly affect the population, e.g. the 2014 monsoon caused nearly 300 people to die in Pakistan and India, mainly due to flooding causing landslides

Answer 2

agriculture likely to be the most venerable economic sector due to dependance on climate and weather

Answer 3

people mainly agrarian 60% of population living in rural areas around 1 billion people face direct impact due to climate change consequences to livelihood and way of life regions population expected to increase by another 850 million by 2050

Answer 4

made in 2012 global conference on agriculture food security and climate change held by FDA approach to address the interlinked challenges related to food security and climate change economic - sustainably increasing agricultural productivity to support equitable increase in farms incomes food security and development social - adapting and building the resilience of agricultural and food security systems to climate change at multiple levels environmental - reducing and/or removing greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture not take roots in the asia pacific region

Answer 5

become warmer rising sea levels - affects growing conditions, affects ability to live on low lying islands changing rainfall, temp, sea levels - severe water shortages or floods, changing to crop growing seasons or reduced yields

Answer 6

Mewat, Haryana low rainfall drought prone area 2020 - 2050 min temp increase 1.87 during monsoon season and 2.72 during dry season IARI developed custom set of interventions to conserve resources, adapt to climate change and improve livelihoods superior seed varities tested and made available at village seed banks heat stress tolerant wheat introduced - increase yields by 12-18% farmland levelled using lasers - improves water efficiency by 5-15% underground pipelines laid in fields - delivers drip integration - 40% savings, irrigated area increase by 45%, labor hours required for irrigation reduced by 28% crop diversification - high yielding varieties of chili tomato and onion accompanied by improving produtction technology (starting seedlings in a nursery, raised bed planting) increases household profits by £320 per hectare 44-86% higher than those who maintain conventional cropping access to info and communications technology platform mkRISHI - connects farmers to weather forecasting and agricultural production advisery services

Answer 7

soil hosts over 1/4 of planets biodiversity takes more than 100 years to build 5mm of soil stores 3x as much carbon as all plant sustain 95% of food prodution

Answer 8

zonal intrazonal azonal

Answer 9

mature soils reflecting climatic conditions and associated vegetation

Answer 10

reflecting the dominance of other factors e.g. characteristics of the parent rocks

Answer 11

generally immature and skeletal with poorly developed profiles

Answer 12

thin litter of pine needles thick black layer of mor (acid) humus dark staining from down washed humus few soil organisms in acidic conditions bleached horizon becoming sands as finer materials are washed downwards increasing acidity as goes further down waterlogging may occur organic matter redeposited hard pan of iron layer of aluminum accumulation of clays stained by iron oxides weathered bedrock - throughflow of soil water loss leads to a loss of nutrients parent material

Answer 13

areas of boreal forest do not receive particularly heavy rainfall podsoilation process requires a genral downward movement of water through soil precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration due to low temps coniferious trees shelter ground from drying winds - moderate precipitation can provide a surplus so allows downward infiltration and percolation very poor nutrient cycle - coniferous evergreen trees do not take up elements such as calcium magnesium and potassium - these are not returned to soil when leaves fall hence a poor mor (acid) humus

Answer 14

accumulation of a hard pan of iron beneath the zone of leaching and marking the highest point of the water table clear differentiation of horizons indicating that there may be fewer mixing agents

Answer 15

soil of taiga - vast continous belt of subtropic climate across North america and eurasia between tundra north and temperate grassland south found in coniferous forests due to harsh withers and cool summers found in heathland and moors of UK due to cool climate

Answer 16

associated with upland sheep farming and heather moorland controlled burning of heather in 10-15 years rotation for the breeding of grouse for shooting grouse shooting employs 2500 people and generates £150 million annually - important to UK rural economy

Answer 17

tagia is slowly disappearing due to logging

Answer 18

tropical equatorial rainforest thick litter layer thin humus layer created as litter is quickly broken down giving soil a red grey colour many active biota build up of iron and aluminium oxides gives the soil a dark red colour rapid leaching of silica and dissolved salts some silica is redeposited giving the soil a yellowish colour clays produced as a result of chemical weathering weathered bedrock parent material

Answer 19

5 degrees either side of equator hot wet humid climate without seasons

Answer 20

way of producing food which recognises the essential connections between the soil, plants, animals and people great diversity of farming operations on organic farm e.g. crops and livestock smaller feilds, boundries e.g. hedges kept - proved homes for insects and animals - can help control pests Synthetic fertilisers and pesticides are avoided keep pollution to a minimum

Answer 21

infertile soil deciduous tropical rainforest trees shed leaves at any time of year - constant supply of leaf litter which decomposes with other biota rapidly into humus supplying nutrient to support sustainable new growth very quickly rapid nutrient cycling - if tropical rainforest is cleared the ready supply of new humus is haltered and soil becomes quickly exhausted of stored nutrients then become exposed of excessive leaching of nutrients and to erosion by gullying during the heavy daily rainstorms

Answer 22

deforestation - felling, bulldozing and burning population and economic growth and development - lad for settlements and infrastructure, land for ranching plantations, hardwood timers, access for mineral exploitation

Answer 23

well looked after farmers trying to build up healthy and fertile soil which is rich in fungi and microbes help rot and decompose dead plants and animals, recycling organic material back into the soil. add composted manure and other farm waste to soil in order to increase humus content providing more nutrients for plant growth help increase the amount of soil and maintain the fertility farmers use crop rotations where they grow a variety of crops in different places at different times Crops such as clover and grass help improve soil fertility wheat and potatoes take a lot of nutrients out of the soil The rotation of these crops helps “rest” the soil, build up nutrients, help break the lifecycle of weeds and pests that may thrive if only one crop was grown over a large area of land Clover has special “nodules” on the roots which contain bacteria that are able to change nitrogen gas into nitrate animals - sheep or pigs also used in rotations - graze on the resting land which would be sown with grass or clover They feed on roots of crops and their manure will feed the soil and enrich it.

Answer 24

Chemical pesticides that may damage crops are not used to control flora and fauna farmers rely on natural predator and prey relationships such as hoverfly larvae feeding on aphids make sure predators are present farmers provide food, habitats - example keeping trees and hedgerows for bats and birds

Answer 25

high standards of animal welfare Animals provided with shelters and plenty of space making them less stressed, more content and the ability to behave instinctively With the animals being outside as much as possible and moving around regularly there is no build up of parasites in the soil which reduces likelihood of animals picking up diseases Additionally animals are fed organically grown food of plant origin that comply with regulation set - 90% of cows daily dry food has to be grown organically with the remaining 10% coming for specifically sourced places where the food cannot contain any animal protein or genetically engineered products. Herbal and homoeopathic medicines used to treat diseases, vaccines and antibiotics being used when must.

Answer 26

Healthier animals and healthier meat - Livestock is free to roam and only eat grass and certified organic feed No additives - unknown long term effects on health of regularly consuming additives/preservatives are avoided No GMOs (genetically modified organisms) - Unknown health effects and possibilities of contamination are avoided No chemical pesticides - Toxic residue left on food from pesticides not present so not transferred into bodies - also dangerous to insects. Better for the environment - No chemicals used - cannot contaminate water sources, surrounding habitats and the soil. Machinery used release reduced CO2 emissions, use sustainable methods to protect animals and promote biodiversity maintaining soil fertility

Answer 27

John Alpe 1000 acre farm in Lancashire focus on managing the land organically alongside sheep and cattle farming. bought the farm in 1994 milk prices - 22p/litre, lamb - £40/head 1998 prices dropped - 16p/litre £22/head After drop in price farm not profitable - consider selling the farm or increase output significantly to make his assets work harder or switch to organic John already involved in several countryside stewardship schemes to help make the most of the landscape and wildlife already on the farm move to organic would help him increase what he was already working on. Now nearly 200 acres of heather regeneration, lots of land in ground nesting habitat, 300 acres of species rich botanically imported grassland, 15 acres of wildflower hay meadows and 25 acres of woodland manages the environment to give birds opportunities to feed, nest and breed. still has dairy cattle and sheep with 40 milk cows which conventionally would not be enough to flourish but with the milk prices they receive they are able to flourish.

Answer 28

food availability food access food use food stability

Answer 29

along equator central africa - Chad landlocked countries low risk - europe north america

Answer 30

unstable governments conflicts landlocked - harder to trade and more expensive to trade LIC - no infrastructure and technology lass at risk HIC - have technology and money

Answer 31

green revolution economic growth and expansion of social protection different types of farming hydroponics urban farming reducing food waste

Answer 32

use of high yielding varities of seeds, agrochemicals, machanisation and irrigation in drylands, drainage of swamp and bog lands, land clearance. Most been in LICs and NEEs 1960-1980 in EU farmers offered grants by the common agricultural policy if they increased food production. resulted in surplus of food (wine lakes and butter mountains) emphasis on creating a balance between food production and environment

Answer 33

help increase food supply aquaculture - farming of aquatic plants and animals fish farms allow species to be controlled and boosted sustainable fishing - traditional fishing techniques, but catching fewer fish avoiding bycatches

Answer 34

food grown in cities give people more direct access to fruit, veg and meat allotments

Answer 35

cash transfer to venerable households food vouchers health ensurance school meal programs FAO estimated that 150 million people worldwide are prevented into falling into extreme poverty due to social protection 2/3 of worlds poor do not have access to regular and predictable forms of social support

Answer 36

growing plants without need for soil grown in other materials with water and nutrients flowing through them bring food security with areas that have poor soil or high levels of erosion need money and technology

Answer 37

more food available for consumption

Answer 38

a measurable qualitative and quantitative food loss along the supply chain starting at the time of harvest till it is consumed or other end uses

Answer 39

due to food waste or due to inadvertent losses along the way

Answer 40

the inadvertent loss in food quantity because of infrastructure and management limitations of a given food value chain

Answer 41

poor infrastructure poor temperature management low levels of technology low investment in the food production systems e.g. fridges

Answer 42

poor understanding of harvest and how maturity is related to quality and shelf life poor sorting and grading practices, allowing damaged/decaying food to enter the supply chain and spread decay to other foods poor temperature management lack of control of relative humidity - leads to deterioration of food poor quality packaging - provide little or no protection delays in transport without proper storage lack of education on post harvesting practices leading to rough handling, mechanical damage

Answer 43

biotechnology and development in genetic modification taking genetic DNA from one plant and introducing it to another to make it more resistant to drought, specified pests or diseases by 2014 about 18 million farmers in 28 countries were growing GM crops on 181 million hectares - 13% of worlds arable land concerns - possible, largely unknown, implications for human health and the environment no GM crops grown commercially in the UK, nearly 40 countries have banned cultivation imported GM crops used mainly for animal feed and some food products

Answer 44

wild species closely related to common food crops vital to food security - contain greater amounts of genetic diversity making them more resilient in the face of climate change, waterlogging, salinization, pests and diseases and other new threats Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change project - collect seed from the wild plant relatives of 29 common crop plants. used to breed new and useful traits into commercial crops so that the can adapt better to future climates and other threats. aims to safeguard the wild relatives of food crops before they disappear - useful plant are not lost or before we learn how they might be useful to us

Answer 45

hybridisation (cross breeding of crops) creating new varieties mexico - hybrid wheat and maize strains developed to withstand heavy rain, strong winds and disease, maize yeilds doubled and wheat tripled animals also cross bread - improve tolerance to difficult environmental conditions e.g. aridity Phillippines - development of rice varities - IR8 - six fold increase in yeilds reported from first harvest, since 1961 when first introduced Asias rice yeilds more than tripled, 10% of India's padi fields planted with it, venerable to new pests and diseases consequently requiring onging development - IR64 introduced in 2010

Answer 46

chemical fertilisers doubled crop yields in tropical areas locust plagues controlled by the pesticides synthetic hormones developed to control plant size and growth rates - allows growing seasons to be adjusted punjab - crop spraying helped india double farm yeilds in 50 years but the agrochemicals have infiltrated into water sources contaminating soils and food - alleged that 34000 deaths from cancer in Punjab between 2008 and 2013 may be related to increase use of pesticides

Answer 47

very high economic and social costs - only richer farmers could afford to run and buy tractors - increases unemployment and rural depopulation poorer farmers took out loans to buy new seeds and fertilisers needed by the improved varities but were often unable to repay them leading to debt and forcing sale of land demand for agrochemicals created industrial jobs but theor production could be dangerous education needed to ensure productive cultivation of HYVs - frequant irrigation and agrochemicals required

Answer 48

geological process - materials worn away and transported Soil erosion - deterioration of soil happens due to: ice, wind, water, gravity Soil particles loosened and washed away in the valleys, oceans, rivers and streams worsened due to human activities such as agriculture and deforestation a continuous process that occurs either slowly or at an alarming rate results in a continuous loss of topsoil, ecological degradation, soil collapse, etc.

Answer 49

removal of natural vegetation cover, leaving the ground directly exposed to the elements

Answer 50

Increased demand for agriculture and converting forests and soybean and wheat - increase soil erosion beyond the soil’s ability to maintain itself Half of the topsoil on the planet has been lost in the last 150 years soil quality is affected by other aspects of agriculture impacts - compaction, loss of soil structure, nutrient degradation, and soil salinity deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, - soil left unprotected high amounts of rainfall in the area soil is rapidly eroded Between 1960 and 2019 soil erosion in the Amazon increased by 600%, and deforestation of 411,000km2 deforestation is leading cause of soil erosion in this area.

Answer 51

planting trees around the Amazon, in an attempt to give the soil something to hold on to There is a current project in place to plant 73 million trees in the amazon rainforest which started in 2017 - slowed down due to the pandemic and many forest fires being set on newly growing trees.

Answer 52

areas with many pedestrians, stepping stones or a gravel or mulch path used to cover and protect eroded areas layer of mulch or compost also can be used in tree and shrub beds or in areas where vegetation is difficult to grow. Cover crops ‘cover’ the soil between the harvest and establishment of main (cash) crops Crops ‘catch’ available soil nitrogen and prevent nutrient losses (via run-off and leaching). Soil can be managed is all about conservation - preserving and protecting vegetation cover afforestation and reforestation provides the best long term solution to soil erosion - once the trees have grown the foliage shades the soil from the sun and intercepts rainfall, and their roots help to bind the soil together and reduce surface runoff.

Answer 53

build-up of soluble salts in soil arises in the areas with limited rainfall and high evaporation rates where the upward groundwater brings dissolved salts to the surface salts are deposited via dust and precipitation In well-drained areas with sufficient precipitation or efficient irrigation, these salts are leached out of the soil by infiltration and percolation, increasing salinity in the soil.

Answer 54

affects crop production and water supply industries induces the risk of floods and soil erosion decreases biodiversity It prevents plant reproduction Crops grown on saline soils suffer on account of high osmotic stress, nutritional disorders and toxicities, poor soil physical conditions and reduced crop productivity.

Answer 55

almost 100 cities in China are located in areas that contain saline - alkali soils almost 33.3 million hm2 of agricultural land has been abandoned or become less productive due to soil salinisation. China is an important grain producing are but soil salinity has been an environmental problem Grain production is important - provides economic stability relieve the pressure of land shortage, large areas of land have been reclaimed around Bohai Bay.

Answer 56

when soil becomes oversaturated with water no longer oxygen in the soil plants unable to respire aerobically

Answer 57

rainfall exceeds the rate soil can absorb or atmosphere can evaporate gentle relief restricts throughflow of inflitrating soil water relief basins or depressions encourage accumulation of water seepage from rivers, canals and reservoirs infiltrate soils soils include and impermeable clay layer or iron pan excessive irriagtion water is used to flood feilds

Answer 58

limited oxygen supply to the roots and prevents co2 from diffusing root function is reduced or stops - roots start to die allowing for rotting and decay waterlogged soils may have nautally dense texture lacking drainage channles - soil remains wet after rain

Answer 59

Dhaka, Bangladesh 21.09.23 Dhaka heavily affected with persistent flooding followed by heavy rains - over 30% urban areas experienced severe waterlogging impacted 3 million people - disruptions and residants had difficulty commuting and acessing essential services impacting livelyhood poor drainage systems, canals clogged and poorly maintained contributed to flooding government initiated projects - seweage system upgrades to better manage rainwater and prevent overflow

Answer 60

crop rotation - alternate between deep-rooted and shallow-rooted crops deep-rooted crops (clover) - penetrate deeper soil layers creating channels for water to move more freely shallow rooted crops (lettuce) - grown in shorter rotations to aviod excessive water accumilation

Answer 61

the arrangement of soil particles determines the workability and characteristic soil

Answer 62

Granular and crumb structure - Individual particles of sand/silt/clay grouped together in small circular grains Water circulates very easily Blocky structure- Soil particles clinging together in nearly square blocks, almost sharp edges Large blocks -> resists penetration and movement of water - Prismatic and columnar structure- Soil particles formed in vertical columns or pillars Water circulates with great difficulty and drainage is poor Platy structure - Soil particles aggregated in thin plates/sheets, piled horizontally Piles can overlap which greatly impairs water circulation

Answer 63

prevent movement of water f=through soil results in large environmental consequences as it increases risk of flooding

Answer 64

desertification - can wipe out acres of arable land and heavily affect agriculture

Answer 65

Soil erosion - wind can detach the fertile topsoil layer and transports it elsewhere then water washes away mass amounts of dirt, resulting in soil deterioration Overgrazing - increase in demand of food and meat products which leads to crops not given enough time in between grazing sessions-> can cause deforestation Urbanisation indirectly causes soil deterioration - largely populated cities create mass amounts of pollution and less agricultural productivity which then affects soil deterioration

Answer 66

Cultivation causes physical fracturing and mixing of the soil plus increased aeration - leads to a break down of the organic matter in the soil During harvest of arable crops, much of the plant matter is removed meaning less organic matter (in the form of decaying plant) is returned to the soil- cause a total reduction in organic matter in the topsoil, therefore few nutrients available to crops, less water holding capacity, soil more at risk of wind erosion, there is less root growth. decrease in organic matter results in deterioration of the structure of the soil, involving particles of soil splitting-off from the aggregates as bonds between the particles become weak due to less organic matter, so can no longer withstand disruptive forces (e.g. rain, wetting and drying). This therefore means that when these degraded soils are exposed to heavy rain, a surface crust is formed which prevents movement of water into the soil and/or emergence of seedlings through the soil. combination of pressure and sliding forces on the soil cause compaction. forces often applied through driving and grazing livestock. Soils react differently to pressure of these forces depending on their texture (how wet/hard, its depth, shape of contact area) Most farm vehicles are heavy and travel repeatedly on the same ground, this concentrated weight compacts the wheel ruts which become impermeable to water. Rainwater gathers in roots and then travels downslope causing serious gully erosion. Ploughs specifically can cause an impermeable layer called a plough pan by the bottom of the machine smearing soil immediately below the depth of a plough furrow

Answer 67

Crop rotation - allows for different types and varieties of plants to grow in the soil each year, allowing the soil to recover from the previous crops, replenishing itself of any nutrients lost. Permaculture - sustainable form of farming that respects and acknowledges nature. includes practices such as creation of integrative space and the collection of rainwater to recycle, meaning that the soil will not be overgrazed and over farmed. Agroforestry - Involves growing trees and other plants like bushes around crops as they create their own microcultures which is favorable for crops and also provides protection from wind and heavy rainfall. trees also protect topsoil and help increase fertility of the soil by encouraging growth of other vegetation. Adapting agricultural practices - Farmers opt for more sustainable practices - prioritising organic farming by reducing or stopping the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Intensive tillage methods avoided - disturbs the structure of the soil, avoid over irrigation - using methods such as drip irrigation to avoid the soil becoming flooded. Leaving the soil alone - It can take over 500 years for 2.5cm of topsoil to be created, leaving soil alone it may allow for topsoil to slowly replenish, also allow for the nutrients and carbon in the soil to replenish and become stable means soil will stay fertile and is less likely to be eroded as easily

Population and the environment - Environment and population Flashcards

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