Week 9 Flashcards
(24 cards)
Atmospheres?
Thermosphere Mesosphere Stratosphere Ozone layer Troposphere
Photochemical and Industrial Smog
Factors which reduce formation
Rain and snow
Salty sea spray
Winds
Factors that increase formation Urban buildings Hills and mountans High temperaturs Grasshopper effect
Harmful effects of acid deposition to humans?
Respiratory diseases
Toxic metal leaching
Decrease atmospheric visibility
Bad acid to aquatic systems?
Fish population declines at pH < 6
7000 acified lakes in Canada
bad acid to plants and soils
Nutrient leaching
Reduced buffering capacity of soils
Harmful synergistic effects of multiple pollutants
Heavy metal dissolution and release
Acid deposition solutions
Prevention reduce coal use burn low sulfur cal improve energy efficiency increase use of renewable energy
Cleanup
Add lime to neutralize acidfied lakes
Add powdered limestone
What is indoor air pollution?
Levels of 11 common pollutatns are 2-5x higher indoors
Pollution levels inside cars 18x higher
Stationary source air pollution solutions
Prevention
Burn low-sulfur coal
Convert coal to a liquid or gaseous fuel
Reduction
Disperse emissions
Remove pollutants from smokestack
Tax each unit of pollution produced
Motor vehicle air pollution
Prevention Walk, bike Less polluting engines and fuels Restrict driving in polluted areas Improve fuel efficiency
Cleanup
Require emission control devices
Inspect car exhaust systems
Set strict emission standards
Why is the Arctic an early warning system?
Temperature increases are greater in polar regions due to convection
Arctic sea ice?
Floating ice and land-based glaciers melting
Many glaciers have disappeared
Factors affecting the earth’s temperature
Coupled global circulation model Moderating effects of oceans Clouds and water vapour Air pollution Changes in solar output
Can oceans store more CO2 and heat?
Oceans remove ~29% of excess CO2 from atmosphere
Absorb heat and transfer to deep ocean for storage
Cloud cover and outdoor air pollution
Increase cloud cover
Causes
Increased temperature
Aerosol and particulate pollution
Increased photosynthesis
Photosynthesis may increase if plants are not limited by water or nutrients
Possible effects of a warmer world benefits
Less severe winters
More precipitation in some dry areas
Increase food production
How might a warmer troposphere affect Canada?
Longer growing season
Warmer in both summer and winter
Higher seas
More droughts in Prairies
Where do we disagree in dealing with the global warming?
Which is higher if greenhouse gases reduced.
Economic costs or economic beliefs
What are out options? Global Warming
Wait and see
Research before we act
Act now
Act now with no regrets
Solutions for global warming?
Preventon
Cut fossil fuel use
Shift from coal to natural gas
Improve energy efficiency
Cleanup
Remove CO2 from smokestack and vehicle emissions
Store Co2 by planting trees
Carbon and energy taxes?
Advantages Simple to administer Clear price on carbon Covers all emitters Predictable revenues
Disadvantages
Tax laws can get complex
Vulnerable to loopholes
Doesnt guarantee lower emissions
Cap and trade policies?
Advantage
Clear legal limit on emissions
Rewards cuts in emissions
Record of success
Disadvantage
Revenues unpredictable
Vulnerable to cheating
Rich polluters can keep polluting
Why should we be worried about ozone depletion?
Stratospheric ozone blocks 95% of UV radiation
Increased incidence and severity of sunburn
Increase in eye cataracts
Increase incidence of skin cancer
Environmental Sustainability
Poor progress in reducing CO2 emissions
