Global Climate System Links to Carbon & Water Cycles (Edexcel A Level Geography): Flashcards
Exam code: 9GE0
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Define enhanced greenhouse effect.
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Define enhanced greenhouse effect.
An increase in the natural greenhouse effect caused by human emissions of greenhouse gases, leading to global warming and climate change.
How can climate change affect global drought frequency?
Warming and shifting climate belts can increase drought frequency, reducing rainfall and altering the role of forests as long-term carbon stores.
True or False?
Climate zones are fixed and do not shift with warming.
False.
Rising global temperatures can shift about 5% of Earth’s land into a new climate zone, expanding subtropical deserts and moving storm tracks poleward.
The Amazon pumps about metric tonnes of water into the atmosphere every day.
The Amazon pumps about 20 billion metric tonnes of water into the atmosphere every day.
How has rainfall changed downwind of deforested Amazon areas?
Rainfall has decreased downwind of deforested areas, contributing to problems such as São Paulo’s water crisis.
Define biosphere (in the carbon cycle).
The global sum of all living organisms and their organic matter that together sequester carbon, including vegetation, soils and microorganisms.
How much fossil fuel carbon do biospheres sequester each year?
The biosphere sequesters about one quarter of annual fossil fuel carbon emissions, slowing the rate of global warming.
Deforestation reduces by vegetation and increases and .
Deforestation reduces interception by vegetation and increases erosion and surface run-off.
True or False?
Land conversion generally increases long-term carbon storage.
False.
Land conversion usually reduces carbon storage in soils and biomass and increases carbon influx to the atmosphere through burning and decomposition.
Define ocean acidification.
The ongoing decrease in ocean pH caused by increased uptake of atmospheric carbon dioxide by seawater.
Why does ocean acidification threaten coral reefs?
More acidic water reduces carbonate ion availability, weakening coral skeletons, increasing risk of bleaching and permanent ecosystem damage.
Average ocean acidity today is about greater than in pre-industrial times.
Average ocean acidity today is about 26% greater than in pre-industrial times.
Define deforestation.
The removal or clearing of forests, usually by humans, leading to loss of forest cover, biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Define forest ecosystem services.
The benefits people obtain from forests, including supporting, provisioning, regulating and cultural services that underpin human well-being.
Name the four main types of forest ecosystem services.
The four types are supporting functions, provision of goods, regulation of Earth’s systems and cultural value.
Forests are the source of about \% of global .
Forests are the source of about 80\% of global biodiversity.
What does the environmental Kuznets curve suggest about forests?
It suggests that after a certain income level, societies shift from exploiting forests towards greater protection and conservation.
Currently, about \% of the world’s forests are classed as .
Currently, about 18\% of the world’s forests are classed as conserved.
List two climate-related threats to ocean health.
Two threats are coral bleaching and ocean acidification. Others include rising sea levels and loss of sea ice.
True or False?
Millions rely on healthy oceans for food and income.
True.
Many people depend directly and indirectly on marine ecosystems for food security, jobs and income.
Define global warming.
A long-term increase in Earth’s average temperature mainly due to rising greenhouse gas concentrations from human activities.
How does global warming affect the hydrological cycle?
It increases evaporation and atmospheric water vapour, altering precipitation patterns, river regimes and water stores such as the cryosphere.
Why is the Arctic described as an early warning system?
Changes in the Arctic cryosphere occur rapidly, signalling wider environmental impacts of fossil fuel burning and global warming before other regions.
Arctic temperatures have risen about as fast as the average in recent decades.
Arctic temperatures have risen about twice as fast as the global average in recent decades.
Define carbon sink.
A carbon sink is a natural store that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases, such as forests, oceans or peatlands.
What is a climate tipping point?
A tipping point is a threshold where small additional warming triggers irreversible, self-reinforcing changes, such as forest dieback or collapse of thermohaline circulation.
Thawing and carbon release from are examples of positive feedback mechanisms.
Thawing permafrost and carbon release from peatlands are examples of positive feedback mechanisms.
How are terrestrial carbon sinks projected to change by 2050?
They are modelled to increase until about 2050, then may saturate and start acting as carbon sources as permafrost thaws and forests shift.
True or False?
Warming tropical oceans will strengthen oceanic carbon sinks.
False.
Warmer tropical oceans have lower carbon dioxide solubility, so they absorb less CO\(_2\) and weaken the oceanic carbon sink.
Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation meant overtook as the top carbon dioxide emitter.
Rapid urbanisation and industrialisation meant China overtook the USA as the top carbon dioxide emitter.
Define adaptation strategy.
An adaptation strategy is an action that adjusts societies or environments to cope with the impacts of climate change, reducing vulnerability and damage.
What is the difference between hard and soft adaptation strategies?
Hard strategies use technology or infrastructure (e.g. wind farms). Soft strategies use policies or legislation (e.g. land-use zoning, building regulations).
and management aims to reduce water use and abstraction.
Water conservation and management aims to reduce water use and groundwater abstraction.
True or False?
Solar radiation management removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
False.
Solar radiation management reflects some incoming solar radiation to cool the Earth but does not remove greenhouse gases or stop ocean acidification.
Define mitigation strategy.
A mitigation strategy is an action that reduces greenhouse gas emissions or enhances carbon sinks to limit the extent of climate change.
What are the five main mitigation methods identified by the IPCC?
They are carbon taxation, renewable switching, energy efficiency, afforestation and carbon capture and storage (CCS).
The IPCC states limiting warming to no more than °C requires significantly reduced and then eliminated fossil fuel use by .
The IPCC states limiting warming to no more than 2°C requires significantly reduced and then eliminated fossil fuel use by 2100.
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