B- Causes of current climate change on local and global scale
i. Volcanic activity releases a large amount of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) HEY! They’re both non-metal oxides so they’re both acidic! These two greenhouse gases contribute to the greenhouse effect.
i. This affects the global pattern of atmospheric and ocean circulation
ii. Causes change in winds and oceans currents
iii. HOWEVER, this process is too slooooow to have a significant effect
i. Ice caps and snow reflect radiation
ii. This causes a lower overall temperature because the heat is being reflected back into space
iii. A lack of this (shrinking ice caps and glaciers!) will cause the earth to warm up
i. Forests and rainforests are being destroyed, the ecosystem is damaged
ii. Plants and trees carry out photosynthesis which helps offset carbon emissions. Without them, more carbon dioxide is being released into the atmosphere and the greenhouse effect worsens
iii. A lot of the land from deforestation is being cleared for pastures for cattle.
i. Cows produce an average of between 100 and 200 litres of methane DAILY
ii. The huge demand of beef for the market (hamburgers and MCDONALDS) means that people can make money by selling beef. Because of this, people are encouraged to clear land for pastures for cattle.
iii. A second side effect of this is that it reduces the fertility of the land.
i. The number of people who own cars increase, the increased usage of cars also means an increase in the waste gases produced.
ii. Carbon dioxide and water vapour are 2 of the 4 main greenhouse gases; an increase in these two gases therefore, can lead to the worsening of global warming.
iii. One is CO other is CO2. C is forced to bond with ONE O atom, a product of incomplete combustion. Carbon monoxide bonds permanently with haemoglobin to make carboxyhaemoglobin reducing the number of red blood cells that can carry oxygen around the body. The person can suffer from carboxyhaemoglobinemia. This is also why carbon monoxide is said to be poisonous. Geo, chem AND bio J
i. This is a combustion reaction (right?) and products of complete combustion are CARBON DIOXIDE and WATER, both of which are greenhouse gases and contribute to the greenhouse effect.
ii. When oxygen levels are low, this becomes incomplete combustion, producing CARBON (soot), CARBON MONOXIDE and WATER
iii. Fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy = BAD and not sustainable
· Methane is a greenhouse gas, greenhouse gases act as a cloak around the earth; they stop and prevent the loss of heat. Although the greenhouse effect is needed for earth to remain a suitable environment for living organisms, the greenhouse effect is now very extreme and it can get too warm for humans on earth
ii. The growing of rice
iii. Landfills that contain rotting matter
iv. Increase in mining for fossil fuels (as it gets scarce but it is needed for cars and other vehicles)
v. Burning vegetation
vi. Bowels of animals (like COWS and SHEEP!)