Barry_Amina ENVS10 Final Exam Essay Questions

docx

School

California State University, Sacramento *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

Subject

Geography

Date

Oct 30, 2023

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by AdmiralPenguinMaster928

Amina Barry Professor Singh ENVS 10-07 15 May 2023 1. Why climate is changing? What are the causes of change? Climate is changing due to both external and internal factors. Some external factors that contribute to climate change are solar radiation, Earth’s rotation, and slow changes in Earth’s orbit. Internal factors that contribute to climate change include oceans, gases in the atmosphere, snow cover, sea ice. Most importantly, greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides , ozone , and chlorofluorocarbons all impact the climate by increasing the Earth’s overall temperature. Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring gas that humans exhale and also can be produced from the burning of coal/fossil fuels. Methane is a gas that is also released from the production of coal and other fuels. Methane is also emitted from livestock as well as the decay of organic waste. Nitrogen oxides are a main pollutant and are released during combustion processes (the fuel releases nitrogen into the air, forming the oxide) and are generated in small amounts during microbial processes in the soil. Nitrogen oxides are a primary factor in the production of ozone and greatly contribute to acid rain. Lastly, chlorofluorocarbons , unlike the previous gases mentioned, are not found naturally. They are synthetic organic molecules that contain one or more of both chlorine and fluorine atoms. Chlorofluorocarbons are known to cause ozone destruction. The ozone is a layer of ozone gas found in the atmosphere which its role is to screen out ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere. However, having an excess amount of ozone gas can be detrimental since it causes a wide variety

of health risks for humans. Greenhouse gases provide a positive forcing factor that traps heat in the atmosphere. The difference between positive and negative forcing factors is that a positive forcing factor causes warming whereas the negative forcing factor causes cooling. The increase in greenhouse gases is primarily due to humans utilizing fossil fuels, fertilizers, and releasing exhaust into the atmosphere. When there is an excess of greenhouse gas, the Earth’s temperature rises. Placing human factors aside, the climate is changing due to several factors: general atmospheric circulation patterns and precipitation, wind and weather systems, rotation and tilt of the Earth (creating seasons), as well as ocean currents. 2. Explain what the IPCC is and what it does. The IPCC is an intergovernmental body open to all member countries of the United Nations (UN). The IPPC was established by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988. The IPCC is currently the leading international scientific body for the assessment of climate change. Some of its duties include reviewing and assessing the most recent scientific, technical, and socio-economic information on climate change and providing a clear scientific view on climate change and its impacts. 3. What are potential impacts of climate change? As of now, the current impacts of climate change are higher temperatures, rising sea levels, heat waves, droughts, intense precipitation events, shifts in seasons, melting ice sheets, and Arctic thawing (as well as the increase of greenhouse gases). Based on the current usage of fossil fuels, emissions of greenhouse gases will increase 35% by 2030. By 2050, emissions will increase 100%. These statistics were determined by the International Energy Agency. It is evident that the continuation of the use of fossil fuels will contribute to greater climate change. Currently, we

have the technology to determine the potential impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on climate change. Climatologists use computer models that combine global atmospheric circulation patterns with ocean circulation, radiation feedback from clouds, and land surface processes to produce atmosphere-ocean general circulation models (AOGCMs) that can simulate long-term climatic conditions. Atmosphere-ocean general circulation models are computer-based models for simulating long-term climatic conditions that combine global atmospheric circulation patterns with ocean circulation and cloud-radiation feedback. Climatologists use these models to explore the potential effects of rising concentrations of greenhouse gases and project how changing concentrations of greenhouse gases will affect the climate in the 21st century and beyond. In IPCC AR5, researchers investigated scenarios representing four different sets of assumptions about the level of anthropogenic emissions . These scenarios are known as representative concentration pathways (RPCs) and project significantly different levels of radiative forcing by the year 2100. Radiative forcing is the amount of additional energy taken up by Earth’s system because of changes to the greenhouse effect. Anthropogenic emissions are the pollution generated by human activities. Representative concentration pathways (RPCs) are models demonstrated in the 5 th IPCC assessment on climate change that are used to project different possible future outcomes. According to chapter 18, “The RCP representing the lowest increase in the emissions of greenhouse gases projected that radiative forcing in 2100 would be 2.6 W/m2 more than preindustrial levels. The other three scenarios projected additional radiative forcing of 4.5, 6.0, and 8.5 W/m2. All four scenarios projected a rise in CO2 concentrations and a corresponding rise in mean global temperature” (Wright 452). Based on this information, the increase/constant usage of fossil fuels will generate a significant excess of carbon dioxide

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

concentrations which result in global warming and climate change. The current climate change impacts that we are witnessing are bound to continue and increase in intensity. - Will impacts be uniform across time and space? Explain and provide examples. Regardless of the amount of warming, the pattern will be uneven across the globe. Future warming is expected to occur in geographical patterns like those of recent years: The warming will be greatest at higher latitudes and in the interior of continents and least over the North Atlantic and the southern oceans. It will be warmer everywhere. 4. Do people in the U.S. believe climate is changing? People around the world? Why, why not? In the U.S., there are both people who believe in climate change as well as those who don’t. These conflicting beliefs are largely due to the political parties they support and what the politicians say regarding climate change. Democratic individuals are more likely to believe in climate change as well as advocate for the conservation of the Earth. However, Republican- voting people tend to disregard/undermine the impact and importance of climate change – there are even those who claim it is all fake. Unlike the United States, people in Europe and other countries do believe that climate change is significant to our wellbeing and that conserving the environment is important as well. - Does this create a barrier to addressing climate change? It can be a bit difficult in addressing climate change to individuals who do not believe in the reality/significance of climate change. However, the majority of the global population does believe that climate change is important and that it should be addressed.

5. What are the approaches to addressing climate change outlined by the UNFCCC? The FCCC (Framework Convention on Climate Change) is a result of the 1992 Earth Summit and was a start in negotiating agreements on steps to prevent future devastating climate change. Its objective is to stabilize the greenhouse gas content of the atmosphere on a time scale that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. In the FCCC, countries agreed to the goal of stabilizing greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere, with all industrialized nations reducing their emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000. However, 5 years later, all developed countries except those of the European Union had increased their greenhouse gas emissions by 2% whereas the developing countries increased by 25%, proving that the voluntary approach was failing. The FCCC was held again in Kyoto, Japan to create an agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At this meeting, 38 industrial and former Eastern Bloc countries agreed to reduce their emissions to 5% below the 1990 levels, in hopes of achieving this by 2012. This is known as the Kyoto Protocol . The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement among developed countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; it was forged in 1997 and became binding in 2004. However, the developing countries refused to accept any reductions, stating that the developed countries had created the problem and that it was only fair that the developing countries continue their path to development as the developed countries had, energized by fossil fuels. This point of view was in accord with the FCCC principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.” - What does differentiated responsibilities mean? Differentiated responsibilities are the principle that each nation must address climate change, but its priorities and efforts may differ according to national circumstances.

- How are people, industries, and/or governments doing to address climate change? People are addressing climate change by limiting the usage of fossil fuels/oils and are using hybrid or electric vehicles as well as not excessively using fertilizer (can cause an excess of nitrogen, leading to nitrous oxides in the atmosphere). By incorporating renewable energy (solar panels, wind turbines, water-powered dams, etc.), greenhouse gas emissions should decrease over time. Since there are those who refuse to follow protocol/guidelines, the government has laws/acts in place to maintain a healthy environment. As for protecting U.S. waters, there are several acts of legislation passed to do so: Rivers and Harbors Act, Water Pollution Control Act, Clean Water Act , Safe Drinking Water Act , Water Quality Act, and the Great Lakes Legacy Act. The 2 main acts are the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Clean Water Act of 1972 (CWA) is the cornerstone of federal legislation addressing water pollution. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 (SDWA) is legislation to protect the public from the risk that toxic chemicals will contaminate drinking water supplies. This act mandates regular testing of municipal water supplies. Placing water regulations and legislation aside, the government has also passed laws regarding air pollution. Air pollution is the most hazardous of all pollutions given that as humans we constantly and directly breathe the air around us. The most susceptible groups are small children, those with current health complications, as well as the elderly. Asthma is an allergic reaction to the content in the air (dust, mites, mold, pets, ozone, particulates, S ? 2 ). Over the last decade, U.S. asthma has doubled to 25 million people. In the 1950s and 1970s, the U.S. government passed the Air Pollution Control Act (1955) and the Clean Air Act of 1970 (CAA) . The Air Pollution Control Act was the first legislation passed regarding air pollution whereas the CAA was the foundation of U.S. air pollution control efforts whose role is to identify widespread pollutants and establish control methods to meet ambient

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

standards. The CAA has proven to be effective, resulting in better air quality, decreasing presence of ?? 2 , as well as the termination of usage of CFCs. Hydrofluorocarbons do not contain chlorine (CFC substitutes); however, these will be eliminated because they are also strong greenhouse gases. In general, it takes effort to combat climate change and reduce its effects. As mentioned previously, people can own electric or hybrid cars instead of relying on gas-powered vehicles, utilize renewable energy to power their homes, and limit the use of fertilizers in their lawns (can use compost or cow manure instead). The government is here to set legislation in place to regulate the impact of climate change. By abiding by the laws and maintaining healthier habits, climate change can be reduced over time. 6. How could you change your lifestyle to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions? I can reduce my greenhouse gas emissions by altering my lifestyle. I would own an electric or hybrid car instead of the gas-powered one I have now. As for renewable energy, I have solar panels on the apartment complex I currently reside in, so I guess that is one way of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, I don’t waste water or electricity – I turn off the lights in the room I am not in, and I don’t leave the water running (at the highest/most amount) as I do dishes (by hand). 7. How likely are you to make that change? I am highly likely to make that change because I do care about the environment and believe that climate change is a serious matter. I still feel that my effort in reducing the effects of climate change is significant and I would rather aid in improving the environment than harming it.