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5.

2 THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

5.2.1 DRAW AND LABEL A DIAGRAM OF THE CARBON CYCLE TO SHOW THE PROCESSES INVOLVED
Carbon cycle includes : - Photosynthesis - Cell respiration - Combustion - Fossilisation Only Photosynthesis removes 2 , the others add to levels of 2 .

5.2.2 ANALYSE THE CHANGES IN CONCENTRATION OF ATMOSPHERIC

CARBON DIOXIDE USING HISTORICAL RECORDS

Increasing since 1960

Image: Wikipedia

Graph is not smooth goes up and down to reflect the changes in the amount of 2

Reasons : * Seasons Autumn Atmospheric 2 - Spring Atmospheric 2

5.2.3 EXPLAIN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE RISES IN CONCENTRATION OF ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE, METHANE AND OXIDES OF NITROGEN AND THE ENHANCED GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The existence of correlation does not establish a causal relationship

Image : http://tenerife-training.net/Tenerife-News-Cycling-Blog/category/science/

SCIENTISTS IN ANTARCTICA
Take samples of the ice, which contain small amount of air Principle : The deeper you drill to get the ice, the older the air will be. When the ice is crushed, you can get the air and use a gas chromatograph to measure the level of 2

RESULTS

Image : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Vostok-ice-core-petit.png

Energy from the sun enters the Earth in the form of light radiation (short wavelengths)

30% is reflected back into space

Remaining 70% warms up the Earths surface

Radiate out as infra red radiation (much longer wavelengths)

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT


The name greenhouse effect is based on - The temp. inside a greenhouse (made of glass) is higher than outside. - The heat is trapped inside Most of the atmosphere is made of nitrogen (2 ) and oxygen (2 ) which does not absorb much infra red radiation. None of the gases in the atmosphere absorbs the shorter wavelength light radiation coming in from the Sun

Examples of greenhouse gases : - Carbon dioxide (2 ) - Methane (4 ) - Oxides of nitrogen ( )

They absorb the longer wavelength infrared radiation which prevents it from escaping into space
Temp. of atmosphere

5.2.4 OUTLINE THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE


Precautionary principle : the concept that someone wishing to take a certain kind of action should prove that the action does not cause serious or irreversible harm to the public if there is no specific consensus about the outcome of the action E.g legislation of new medicine producer needs to prove that the medicine will do what it promises and that it has no serious and/or lasting side effect

Proof needs to be given by the person resisting the change, they will then need to prove that the change will cause harm

5.2.5 EVALUATE THE PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE AS A JUSTIFICATION FOR STRONG ACTION IN RESPONSE TO THE THREATS POSED BY THE ENHANCED GREENHOUSE EFFECT Ethical questions - in poorer countries, it may not be possible to reduce greenhouse emissions without delaying economic growth - which may cause hunger and large number of people to die. Industries which make the effort to invest money in new techniques to reduce greenhouse gases may find themselves less economically viable than their polluting competitors.

Unless preventive measures are taken across the board by countries worldwide, there will always be polluting competitors who can offer products at a lower price

Risk of driving the ecologically conscious companies out of business

OR
Consumers could choose products or services which are provided by ecologically minded companies. Companies would provide eco-friendly products and services to attract customers Companies which did not practice this would be shunned by customers and go out of business.

5.2.6 OUTLINE THE CONSEQUENCES OF A GLOBAL TEMPERATURE RISE ON ARCTIC ECOSYSTEMS


Increased rates of decomposition of detritus previously trapped in permafrost - detritus which is frozen in the tundra will thaw and begin to decompose, releasing even more 2 and methane into the air. Expansion of the range of habitats available to temperate species - As T , the habitats of organisms from more temperate climates extend northwards. (which is how mosquitoes and robins have arrived in parts of the Arctic where they were once unknown)

Loss of ice habitat - Polar bears may face extinction as they loose their ice habitat and therefore can no longer feed or breed as they normally would. Changes in distribution of prey species affecting higher trophic levels - E.g polar bears rely on seals as their main food supply. When T , ice will become less and seals will have plenty of open water to come up for air. Thus, making it hard for polar bears to catch them. Increased success of pest species, including pathogens. - Pests and diseases may become quite common with rises in temperature.

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