EVSC 100 SFU MidtermEVSC 100 SFU Midterm LATEST EDITION 2024 GUARANTEED GRADE A+

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Define environmental science - the study of how the natural environment works -how the environment affects us and vice versa What is earth's four main spheres? - lithosphere - hydrosphere - atmo... sphere - biosphere What is the lithosphere realm of rock What is the hydrosphere realm of water What is the atmosphere realm of air: gases, air, atmosphere what is the biosphere realm of life: living organisms What is a control variable how we measure if a boundary has been crossed What is a planetary boundary Thresholds that we must not cross to ensure that we operate in a safe living space What is the control variable for global freshwater use? -global: maximum amount of consumptive freshwater use (km^3/yr) -basin: freshwater withdrawal as % of mean monthly river flow What is the planetary boundary for global freshwater use? global: 4000km^3 / yr basin: 25% for low-flow months, 30% for intermediate flow months, 55% for high-flow months What is the current value of the global control variable for freshwater use ~2600 km^3 /yr What percentage of earth's water is freshwater? 2.8% is freshwater What percentage of earth's water is available for human use 0.023% What are the storehouses of Earth's water groundwater, oceans and seas, ice caps and glaciers, soil moisture, lakes and reservoirs, swamps, river channels, atmospheric water, biospheric water How does water move through the hydrologic cycle 1) moisture moving into the atmosphere 2) moisture moving through the atmosphere 3) moisture returning from the atmosphere to earth What is the hydrologic cycle? a model that shows the flow of water as it moves between Earth systems Define groundwater water beneath the earth's surface in pore spaces in soil and fractures in bedrock Define aquifer an underground layer of granular sediments that has high porosity, permeable, and stores water huge source of freshwater What is the water table the level of water in soil the top or surface of the waterlogged zone measurement of depth below the ground surface What is the relationship of groundwater, aquifer, and water table to the hydrologic cycle They are all part of the underground section of the hydrologic cycle What does the most available water come from globally 20% of freshwater in all the world's lakes is in Canadian lakes most of groundwater Where does Vancouver's water supply come from? Capilano, Seymour, Lower Seymour, and Coquitlam watersheds Define watershed An area surrounded by a topographic high, so all precipitation falls within topographic boundaries stays within What is the control variable for stratospheric ozone depletion Stratospheric ozone concentration (DU) What is the planetary boundary for stratospheric ozone depletion? <5% reduction from preindustrial level of 290 DU What is the current value of control variable for stratospheric ozone depletion Only transgressed over Antarctica in Antarctic spring What is the hole in the ozone layer? A hole that appears over Antarctica during Antarctic spring Why does the hole in ozone layer only exist over Antarctica? CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) destroy the ozone and 3 key conditions are occur in the Antarctic What three conditions are needed for CFCs to destroy ozone? UV radiation (solar radiation), extremely low temperatures, and polar stratospheric clouds/ a surface for the reaction to take place at How was the hole in the ozone layer discovered? A device that was used by scientists since the 1950s What is the structure of the Earth's atmosphere? Exosphere Thermosphere Mesosphere (85km+) Stratosphere (20-50km) Trophosphere (6-20km) As you increase in altitude in the stratosphere, what happens to the temperature? Increases As you increase in altitude in the troposphere, what happens to the temperature? Decreases What is the role of stratospheric ozone in the atmosphere? Protects against 100% of UCV 90% of UVB 50% of UVA How is stratospheric ozone created? When high energy ultraviolet radiation from sun breaks apart molecular oxygen; atom of oxygen then forms O3 with oxygen molecule How is stratospheric ozone destroyed? Chlorofluorocarbons attack and destroy ozone molecules when there is low temperature and higher amounts of UV radiation When was the Montreal Protocol developed 1987 What is the goal of the Montreal Protocol? Phase out and stop the use of CFCs What is adaptive management A plan that allows you to alter strategies as new information becomes available or the situation changes What is residence time regarding CFCs How long a CFC stays in the atmoshpere By what year will ozone return to pre-industrial levels? ~2075 What are the control variables for climate change? -Atmospheric CO2 concentration (ppm) -Energy imbalance at top of atmosphere W/m^2 What is the planetary boundary for climate change -350 ppm CO2 -+1 W/m^2 (relative to pre-industrial levels) What are the current values of the control variable for climate change? CO2: 408ppm Energy imbalance 2.3 W/m^2 What is the difference between climate and weather Weather is short-term atmospheric conditions Climate is the long-term average of weather conditions in a region over time What is climate change Refers to altered patterns of weather over decades - warming, cooling, rainfall, etc. What are the 5 lines of evidence to support the claim that Earth's climate is changing 1. Warming air-temperatures 2. Warming ocean-temperatures 3. Rising sea level 4. Shrinking glaciers/ice 5. Changes in biosphere What is the trend in the graph of global air temperatures Getting hotter, temperature is increasing worldwide What is the trend in the graph for ocean temperatures? General increase in temperature, especially in the atlantic ocean What is the trend for the graph of changes in arctic sea ice General decrease in sea ice extent Increase in ice mass loss What is the general tend for the graph of changes in biosphere animals are leaving from where they usually are to northern regions What are the 5 natural longterm causes of climate change plate tectonics ocean circulation changes changing atmospheric chemistry changes in earth's orbit long-term volcanic eruptions What are the 4 natural short-term causes of climate change changes in albedo (reflectivity) of oceans and continents ocean circulation changes short-term volcanic eruptions sunspot cycles variations in solar radiation What is are the natural and human caused changes of the climate greenhouse gas emissions (specifically CO2) True or False: Greenhouse gas emissions have increased to unprecedented levels True Define adaptation regarding climate change taking measures to reduces negative impacts/increase benefits from actual or expected climate conditions does not solve problem way to manage consequences What are the three components of climate risk 1. likelihood: probability of climate hazard 2. exposure: geographic factors so some people are affected and some aren't 3. vulnerability: how prone people are to suffering effects of a hazard How does adaptation reduce climate risk prepares people for climate hazards and manages the consequences What is mitigation regarding climate change? lessening the effects of climate change Why is it local context important when assessing impacts -contextual to the local community -locals solutions -different places have different problems that will arise What are the two strategies to reduce fossil fuel consumption 1. market-based approach 2. regulatory approach What is a market-based approach to reducing fossil fuel consumption -introducing a carbon tax things to do with businesses What is a regulatory-based approach to reducing fossil fuel consumption -paris agreement -kyoto accord regulating countries by setting goals What is the free rider problem Individuals/organizations to not contribute to help because they can still benefit without contributing What is the Kyoto Protocol (purpose and outcome) -first international global agreement (1997) -reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 5% by 2012 compared to 1990 -china and india were omitted, USA, Australia never signed, Canada withdrew - a failture in general When was Paris agreement singed signed 2015 into for in 2016 What is the purpose of the Paris Agreement [Show More]

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