19340151
Description
Flashcards by Natania Leong, updated more than 1 year ago
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Created by Natania Leong
almost 5 years ago
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| Question | Answer |
| Climate change | Global climate change is the variation in global climatic patterns in the long term. Changes in temperature patterns, precipitation patterns or wind patterns that occur over several decades or longer |
| Natural Causes Variations in Solar Output (sunspots) | The sun emits varying amounts of solar radiation due to changes in its magnetic activity which lasts about 11 years. Intense solar activity creates more sunspots, which increases the amount of solar radiation and increases global temperature. Areas surrounding the sunspots radiate more energy to make up for the cooler sunspot areas. **When sunspots reached its minimum near 2010, global temperatures were lower tahn that over the past 20 years. |
| Natural Causes Volcanic Eruptions | Dust particles from eruptions form condensation nuclei, creating more cloud cover and reflects more incoming solar radiation. Sulfur dioxide reacts with water to form sulfur-based particles which reflect solar energy back into space. Gradual reduction in the amount of sunlight reaching the earth's surface and temporarily cools the earth **1991 Mount Pinatubo eruption ejected 17 million tonnes of sulfur dioxide over 2 weeks and global temperatures were lowered by as much as 0.6 deg C for as long as 2 years. |
| Natural VS Human | Human activities since the 1980s have resulted in more than 100X the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by volcanoes |
| (Natural) Greenhouse Effect (5 e.g. of greenhouse gases) | The natural process by which the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap longwave radiation emitted from the earth's surface, warming the atmosphere which helps to sustain life on Earth. Greenhouse gases: water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, CFCs, ozone) |
| Enhanced Greenhouse Effect 5 e.g. of greenhouse gases | An increased concentration of atmospheric greenhouse gases, leading to a rise in global temperatures. Generally due to anthropogenic factors (factors caused by human activities) that release an increased amount of greenhouse gases, most notably co2. While nitrous oxide and methane have increased since the Industrial Revolution, the most significant increase is the amount of carbon dioxide Greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, CFCs, sulfur hexafluoride |
| Anthropogenic Factors: Deforestation | Forest loss due to the removal or clearance of trees in the forested areas. Done to resource for timber and wood needed for paper and building materials and need for land (mining, grazing, agriculture, buildings and infrastructure) Fewer trees to absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis causes the destruction of a vital carbon sink. Carbon in soil reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide; higher temperatures due to direct exposure causes this to occur more quickly. ** 142.5 km square of forest is destroyed everyday (4.5x of Jurong Island) |
| Anthropogenic Factors: Changing Land Use: Agriculture | The practice of cultivating land, producing crops and raising livestock: 3rd highest contributor of GH gases. Cattle farming releases millions of tonnes of methane into the atmosphere annually, as gases are released from the digestive systems of cattle when they belch. Machines produce CO2, Inorganic fertilisers release nitrous oxide and cattle rearing releases methane. |
| Anthropogenic Causes: Changing Land Use: Industries | Production of goods and services with a country. Is a major contributor of carbon dioxide through the burning of fossil fuels to create the energy needed to run factory processes. Released when goods are produced. Manufacturing a mobile phone creates 60 kg of CO2, equivalent to a car travelling 7x the length of PIE; computer and monitor: 275 kg, equivalent to a car travelling 31x of PIE |
| Anthropogenic Causes: Changing Land Use: Urbanisation | Process by which an increasing number of people live in urban areas. Various human activities are concentrated or necessary in urban places, energy needed for household activities, industrial activities and transport. Travelling 34%, electricity 58% |
| Impacts: Frequent extreme weather events | Increased occurrence of severe and rare weather phenomena that results in significant economic losses and loss of lives Tropical cyclones flood coastal areas: economic and human losses + displacement Heatwaves: harms vital organs as bodies cannot cool down sufficiently. Young children and elderly are especially vulnerable: loss of lives Droughts: crop failure, water and food shortages: malnutrition and starvation among humans and animals: human and economic losses |
| Impacts: Spread of infectious insect-borne diseases | Positive correlation between infectious insect-borne diseases and climate change Increased rainfall and temperatures: favourable breeding conditions for mosquitoes: spread of malaria and dengue Temperate countries get warmer: mosquito breeding (Nepal and Bhutan dengue 2004) Illness: sudden high fever, severe joint and muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms: lower economic productivity and medical cost May worsen into dengue hemorrhagic fever which causes massive bleeding, shock and death; elderly and young are most vulnerable. May also result in birth defects (e.g. Zika virus) |
| Impact: lengthened growing season in certain regions | Higher temperatures: longer growing seasons for some regions Increased the types of crops that can be grown in the UK, increase in fruit, soybeans, potatoes and wheat in Canada, Germany is now warm enough for vineyards. Increase in food supply: more food lower prices: increased access to food Apple and cherry production is reduced as they need cool conditions, wheat yield has decrease in Canada, grapes are sweeter and wines more alcoholic in Italy (supposed to be delicate; more alcoholic wines are cheap) Lesser grapes produced too. Food shortages: lower food supply: higher food prices: poor in LDCs may not be able to afford higher prices, especially for staple crops: malnutrition and starvation |
| International Response: Kyoto Protocol | Internation agreement to reduce levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, where diff countries have diff targets to achieve. Progress will be tracked and reported for review. Greater responsibility was placed on 27 DC and European countries. 2008-2012: reduce GH gas emissions by at least 5% below 1990 levels DCs also have to help LDCs (money/tech.) |
| Kyoto Protocol Successes | Many countries met/exceeded targets set as there was constant monitoring and reporting by countries for self and peer assessment (Finland, Greece, Ireland) Kyoto mechanisms: clean development mechanism, joint implementation and emission trading: stimulate sustainable development through technology transfer and investment, helps countries with Kyoto commitments to meet their targets in a cost-effective way, encourages the private sector and LDCs to contribute to emission reduction efforts |
| Kyoto Protocol Limitations | Not all countries signed it and continued to contribute to global emissions. Not all countries were able to meet their goals and not all countries have the same emission targets (e.g. Denmark, Austria and Spain) Not a must to help support other countries |
| National Responses: Singapore Green Plan | Launched by Ministry of Environment in 2002, aimed to generate 60% of energy needs using natural gas by 2012. Natural gas is cleaner compared to coal; no smoke. Successes: close to 80% by 2010. exceeded ahead of schedule: effective and efficient Limitations: complex treatment plants and pipelines, high maintenance costs since they need to be laid underground and have to be checked regularly for leakage. |
| National Responses: Green Mark Scheme | Launched by Building Construction Authority in 2005, to evaluate buildings according to how energy-efficient (less energy same service) and environmentally friendly they are. It also aims to encourage more 'green' buildings. Successes: Existing green buildings (e.g. Plaza by the Park, National Library Building) have energy savings of 15-35% compared to conventional buildings. Cuts down GH gas emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity. Limitations: construction companies and developers tend to be more conservative abt adopting new ideas and materials to build 'green' buildings. 'Green' buildings may cost more to build because 'green' materials (i.e. bamboo, recycled material that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable or recyclable, etc.) may be more expensive |
| National Responses: Plant-A-Tree Programme | Started in 1971 as Tree Planting Day, with aim to maintain Singapore's status as a garden city by planting trees. Residents are encouraged to donate money to buy a tree or take part in tree planting events. Successes: contributed an estimated 60,000 trees yearly Limitations: trees take many years to mature; even fast-growing trees take 25 years to mature. Positive effects take a long time to materialise. |
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