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Weather and Climate > Unit 6 > Flashcards

Unit 6 Flashcards

1
Q

Since 1880, what has been the global average temperature increase as of 2024?

A

between 1.3 and 1.5 degrees

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2
Q

As of Feb 2025, what had CO2 parts per million risen to?

A

427ppm

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3
Q

What % of methane emissions come from human activities?

A

60%

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4
Q

How many more times potent is methane than CO2?

A

methane = 23x more potent than CO2

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5
Q

What % of nitrous oxides are emitted from human activites?

A

40%

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6
Q

How many more times potent is a nitrous oxide molecule than CO2?

A

290x more potent that co2

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7
Q

What latitudes experience the greatest levels of warming and why?

A

latitudes between 60 and 90 degrees North of the Equator
-> due to arctic amplification

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8
Q

Which biome might be particularly susceptible from global warming and why?

A

Tundra, rapid increase in precipitation and arctic amplification

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9
Q

What was the difference in September sea ice in 1981 compared to 2010?

A

1981 = 7 million sq km
2010 = 4 million sq km

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10
Q

When was the polar bear listed as threatened under the U.S Endangered Species Act?

A

May 14th 2008

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11
Q

What does the World Conservation Union project polar bear numbers will drop by in 2050, if sea ice cover continues to decrease?

A

30%

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12
Q

What is the estimated shift northward of boreal (pine) forests in 2100? (From the Ecological Society of America)

A

up to 500km northward, replacing the tundra biome (up to 77% of biome lost)

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13
Q

What are the implications of the northward shift of boreal forest on the tundra ecosystem?

A

-> less space for predators = increased competition
-> decrease in biodiversity
-> could impact both ecosystems as animals search for new territory
-> could impact human food sources
-> increased risk of disease for humans and animals

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14
Q

How would the decline in the Tundra biome (shift of the boreal forest) impact on Caribou numbers?

A

experience decline (however they are already experiencing a decline in their numbers

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15
Q

What was the number of Caribou in Northern Canada in 2000 to 2015?

A

2000 = 118,000
2015 = 38,600

= significant decline

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16
Q

What is meant by a climate tipping point?

A

is a critical threshold when global or regional climate changes from one stable state to another
-> tipping point can be irreversible

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17
Q

How are ocean current changes affected by the climate changing in the Arctic?

A

Cold, salty, deep water is produced in the North Atlantic, as the North Atlantic Drift flows northwards

When the ice sheets e.g in Greenland melt they release fresh water into Atlantic

makes water less dense and less salty

causes sinking of the current further south

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18
Q

What is the potential impact of the ocean current changes in the Atlantic reaching the tipping point?

A

The ocean becomes less salinated, which will slow down the North Atlantic Drift which means there could be a regional cooling = glaciers could form

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19
Q

How is the Ice Albedo Feedback Mechanism going to lead to climate change in the Arctic?

A

darker surfaces = absorb (not reflect) light

as ice melts in the arctic = more dark surfaces (arctic amplification)

= warming in arctic regions (positive feedback loop

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20
Q

How does methane release link to climate change in the Arctic?

A

a molecule of methane is 23x more efficient at trapping outgoing long wave radiation than co2

release of methane = rapid increase in global atmospheric temperatures

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21
Q

How is permafrost in the Arctic linked to methane release?

A

as the permafrost in the Arctic thaws, the frozen matter within it will start to decay (digested by microbes that release methane as a waste product)

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22
Q

What are Methane Hydrates?

A

are stored organic deposits within the sub-sea permafrost on the Arctic continental shelf ( they’re solid forms of methane, due to being cold and under pressure )

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23
Q

What are some of the potential negative impacts of climate change in Arctic Regions?

A
  • tens of trillions of dollars
  • healthcare costs, due to spread of disease
  • agricultural costs
  • 3/4 of the emissions likely to impact lower income areas
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24
Q

By the end of the century, what is the total release of greenhouse gases estimated to be?

A

300 - 500 million tonnes

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25
What are some of the potential positive impacts of the warming in the arctic?
- numerous resources such as oil and gas ( untapped ) = short term - agriculture = long term
26
What is the importance of the Amazon in the carbon cycle?
helps regulate the global climate, absorbs 20% of atmospheric carbon emitted by burning fossil fuels
27
What is the importance of the water cycle in the Amazon rainforest?
Through transpiration rainforests are the source of 1/5 of all fresh water on the planet
28
What is the percentage of deforested Amazon that is considered to be the tipping point?
20%, currently 18% has been deforested
29
What are the impacts of warmer global temperatures and deforestation in the Amazon?
= less precipitation deforestation = less transpiration, interception ... not enough rainfall to support the trees that are left ... more trees die = increased forest fired and dry areas (positive feedback loop)
30
What could happen to the Amazon Rainforest if it continues to dry, due to less precipitation?
-> change into a tropical grassland process known as savanahisation
31
What % of the wider area was affected by the Amazon forest die back event in 2010?
60%, with even harsher dry season
32
In 2005, how much carbon did the Amazon rainforest fail to absorb (less than in a normal year)?
1.5 billion tonnes of carbon
33
In 2010, how much carbon was estimated to be released, not including forest fires, due to die back?
8 billion tonnes
34
In an average year, how many trees in the Amazon die?
4 billion
35
In 2019, how many forest fires were there in Brazil? How many in the Amazon?
72,000 forest fires, which over half were in the Amazon
36
What was the % increase from 2018 to 2019 in wildfires in Brazil?
84% increase
37
In July 2019, how many sq miles of the Amazon Rainforest was cleared everyday?
73sq km everyday
38
How many days longer is the Amazon's dry seasons, compared to 30 years ago?
20 days longer than it was 30 years ago
39
What did the IDB (Inter-american Development Bank) predict the cost of the Amazon tipping point in 2050 would be?
$256.6 billion in GDP, if the Amazon rainforest reached its tipping point
40
What is meant by runaway climate change?
the idea of there being no point of return, at some point the amount of greenhouse gases released is going to cause devastating long term impacts on the climate of Earth
41
What would be some of the consequences if runaway climate change was to occur?
- heating of water = 1/3 reduction in freshwater - increased storms and sea ice melting -grand economic transformation needed, this could improve our economies
42
What is being predicted, in terms of how much more carbon we can release to keep global temp average below 2 degrees?
can only release 800 gigatonnes of carbon -> 20 years of 'business as usual'
43
To what extent is it possible to stop climatic tipping points and runaway climate change?
- possible to stop, have both the research and the technology but weak in terms of political will power to make the change
44
Which countries are the 2 largest emitters of greenhouse emissions?
China -> most overall (larger population) America -> most emitted per person
45
Why might it be difficult to achieve a global agreement on controlling greenhouse gas emissions?
countries may argue over who did it first, every country should be allowed the right to develop their economies
46
What are the three examples of international level strategies to manage climate change?
1. The Kyoto Protocol - 1997 2. The UN Paris Climate Conference 2015 3. COP 26 Glasgow 2021
47
How many countries signed t1he Kyoto Protocol? When did the Protocol come into force?
signed by 168 countries came into force in 2005
48
What was the aim of the Kyoto Protocol?
to cut global emissions of greenhouse gases by 55% by 2012, compared to 1990 levels
49
Under the Kyoto agreement, by what % did industrialised countries have to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases by?
5.2%
50
What were the successes of the Kyoto Protocol?
-> was the first major global agreement in which binding time bound targets were set to reduce greenhouse gas emissions -> lead to the UN Paris Climate Conference
51
What were the failures of the Kyoto Protocol? (in terms of India and China)
Newly industrialising and highly populated countries e.g. India and China, set no targets for CO2 reductions Since 1977, China's C02 emissions have doubles, and are now the single largest emitter of carbon dioxide
52
What were the failings of the Kyoto Protocol? (in terms of the USA)
2001 = US President Clinton who attended the meetings was replaced by President Bush = didn't ratify (consent to) the agreement, refused to adhere to the reduction of CO2 targets
53
Why was the USA leaving the Kyoto Protocol particularly a major failure?
they release 25% of global emissions they are a superpower, have influence over other countries = other countries feel less inclined to meet the agreed reduction
54
When was the UN Paris Climate Conference?
December 2015
55
How many countries signed the UN Paris CC? (success)
195 countries in attendance
56
How many countries were legally bound to reduce their emissions at the UN Paris CC? (success)
agreement was legally binding for over 50 countries (which totaled to 55% of the world's greenhouse emissions
57
What was the main goal of the UN Paris CC? (success)
set a goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees compared to pre-industrial levels
58
What were the failures of the UN Paris CC?
- Trump pulled USA out - again superpower, has influence over others - America could lose out on growing green economies (China has a green economy)
59
What % of China's GDP come from green economy?
40%
60
How many countries are part of the UN Net-Zero Coalition (a consequence of the Paris 2015)?
130 countries considering a target of reducing emissions to net 0 by 2050
61
Why is it questionable that the U.K will reach the target of Net 0?
in the UK, finance, imports, manufacturing (including aviation) and transport all of these have carbon footprints that are quite significant
62
What was the aim of COP 26 Glasgow?
an agreement to fase out coal usage and emissions also an agreement pledged to significantly increase the amount of money given by MEDC'S to LEDC'S to allow them to develop by switching to greener energy
63
When was the COP26 Glasgow?
2021
64
What were the successes of COP26 Glasgow?
-> schemed to cut out 30% of methane emissions by 2050 in more than 100 countries -> more than 100 countries, with 55% of the world's forests promised to stop deforesting
65
What were the failures of COP26 Glasgow?
-> global warming target of 1.5 degrees is on track to reach higher soon -> India is 'fazing' out coal emissions = not getting rid of = changed wording -> the deforesting did not stop in several countries
66
When was COP28 UAE?
2023
67
Why has COP28 been criticised?
- criticised by human rights groups over the treatment of low skill, low paid migrant workers in the UAE - environmental groups criticised the location of UAE, due to its reliance on oil and gas exports - the conference chairperson (Sultan Aj Jaberal) is the C.E.O OF Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
68
What are the COP meetings?
(held every year since 1995) conference of the parties: annual meeting of gov's aiming to get to an agreement on how to prevent dangerous changes to the climate
69
How effective are the COP meetings?
-- critical to the goal of reducing threat from dangerous climate change - assessment reports published, to summarise the current science - 195 states attend
70
How ineffective are the COP meetings?
-> agreements = not legally binding -> political conflicts = dominated by Western countries and the infuence of TNC's -> 30 years of COP meetings have produced some, but quite limited progression in emission reductions -> encourages 'green washing'
71
What is meant by 'green washing'?
making something appear more environmentally friendly than it actually is
72
What is the UK doing to reach NET 0 target? (national level)
focusing on different areas to reduce overall emissions transport renewable energy land use policies
73
What are the different transport strategies put into place by the UK?
- put a ban on being able to by petrol/diesel cars by 2035 - clean air zones (ULEZ) = short term - intergrated transport links e.g. trains and buses
74
How much of the UK's total greenhouse gas emissions does transport account for?
20%
75
What have other national governments done, in terms of changing their transport systems?
Denmark - Copenhagen - Cycling initiative - reduces the number of cars on the road Germany - decrease in aviation - increase in trains (lots of high speed railways)
76
How much of the UK's energy comes from renewable sources?
20%
77
What is the UK's target in terms of renewables by 2035?
to use 100% renewable energy
78
What has been the change in wind turbine use in the U.K between 2000 and 2019?
(onshore) = cheapest way to use energy -> increase from 1,000 onshore in 2000 -> to 32,000 both onshore and offshore in 2019
79
What is an example of a renewable energy scheme in the UK?
London Array - provides energy to over 500,000 homes in London
80
What is an example of how the UK has changes its land policies to reduce emissions?
(Plan to restore 50% of upland peat and 25% of lowland peat) Knepp Estate, established in 2001 = UK could start farming regeneratively
81
How is the UK trying to reduce food waste?
encourage bioenergy crop = expand the planting in UK energy crops around 23,000 hectares every year
82
How much food waste is produced annually in the UK?
13.6 million tonnes
83
What are the actions that can be taking on an individual level?
recycle don’t leave the lights on at home walk or cycle where you can only buy what u need buy local - reduces food miles
84
What is carbon offsetting?
when you pay more on aviation ticket to offset carbon dioxide, by carbon capture and afforestation
85
How much was carbon offsetting worth in 2020?
£30million = growing industry
86
Is carbon offsetting effective?
delays the responsibility taken from wealthy countries, government will feel that they do not need to take action
87
How does joining an environmental pressure group address climate change?
signing petitions give donations become a volunteer

Weather and Climate (6 decks)

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