greenhouse effect & global warming

the greenhouse effect is a natural process global warming animation the greenhouse effect is a natural process global warming is not

carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour trap more of the UV light increased levels of carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour trap more of the UV light increasing the temperature of the atmosphere CAUSING GLOBAL WARMIMG

causes carbon dioxide

respiration of organisms sources respiration of organisms

combustion of fossil fuels sources combustion of fossil fuels

sources deforestation, so less CO2 taken up in PS

remedies reduce the use of fossil fuels i.e. use other energy sources, preferably renewable

remedies plant new forests to act as carbon sinks

causes methane

marshes and rice paddy fields sources bacteria living in marshes and rice paddy fields

sources bacteria in the guts of cows and other ruminants

sources decomposition of organic material in landfill sites

remedies use digesters to decompose organic waste and burn the methane produced

causes nitrous oxide

denitrifying bacteria sources denitrifying bacteria acting on nitrates

sources combustion of fossil fuels

remedies reduce the use of artificial fertilisers, especially on soils liable to waterlogging

remedies reduce the use of fossil fuels

causes chlorofluorcarbons (CFCs)

sources coolant in refrigerators

sources propellants in aerosol cans

sources burning styrofoam packaging

remedies use alternatives to CFCs

causes ozone

sources produced by the action of sunlight on gases from vehicle exhausts

remedies reduce vehicle exhaust emissions

effects rise in sea levels due to melting polar ice caps & glaciers thermal expansion of water causing flooding of low-lying areas and coastal erosion

effects disruption of climate & weather patterns due to a change in wind patterns causing changes in the distribution of rainfall & greater extremes of weather

effects changes in crop production due to a gradual increase in temp at the Earth's surface leading to massive reductions in grain crop yields in N America

effects altered distribution of wild animals & plants due to temperature changes e.g. less ice at N Pole reduces polar bear territory starfish, Solaster endeca, now present in NI, originally its habitat was further north

acid rain

causes sulphur dioxide

mainly by power stations sources burning coal and oil mainly by power stations

causes nitric oxide

sources produced in internal combustion engines & released in vehicle exhaust emissions

causes nitrogen dioxide

sources produced in internal combustion engines & released in vehicle exhaust emissions

which has lower sulphur levels remedies increase the use of natural gas which has lower sulphur levels than coal

remedies remove sulphur dioxide from waste gases produced by burning coal in power stations by using scrubbers or filters

remedies use of catalytic converters in car engines, oil burners etc to remove nitrogen dioxide

effects sulphur dioxide, ntric oxide & nitrogen dioxide dissolve in rain water to form sulphuric and nitric acids these acids are carried in clouds for long distances often having effects in other countries

effects directly toxic to leaves and pine needles causing defoliation & death

effects inhibits the action of decomposers in the soil & therefore the cycling of nutrients

effects influences the solubility of mineral ions in the soil which are needed as plant nutrients e.g. calcium, magnesium, potassium

effects in very acidic conditions aluminium becomes soluble & is released into soil water where it is toxic to roots

effects aluminium leaches into waterways and causes gills to become covered in a thick mucus which prevents oxygen uptake and so kills invertebrates and fish

if exposed to pH levels below 5.5 effects fish eggs fail to hatch if exposed to pH levels below 5.5

Ozone depletion

Ozone Ozone is found in a thin layer between stratosphere and troposphere ozone absorbs UV light from the Sun animation CFCs

BUT creating holes CFCs in the layer increase conversion which allow Ozone O3 Oxygen O2 Natural conversion BUT creating holes in the layer which allow UV through CFCs increase conversion of O3 to O2

causes chlorofluorcarbons (CFCs)

sources coolant in refrigerators

sources propellants in aerosol cans

sources burning styrofoam packaging

remedies use of sun blocks & wearing a hat to reduce skin cancer

remedies use alternatives to CFCs although they have been phased out in most countries CFCs remain in the stratosphere for about 100 years, & each molecule can break down hundreds of thousands of ozone molecu

effects thinning of the ozone layer in the stratosphere, & a hole in the ozone over Antarctica more harmful UV radiation reaches the earth's surface causing skin cancers, cataracts & reduced photosynthesis in crop plants