Managing the atmosphere
Define acid deposition
A mix of air pollutants that deposit from the atmosphere as acidic wet deposition or acidic dry depositio.
define greenhouse gases
gases in the
atmosphere that absorb infrared radiation and
identify some common greenhouse gases
classify energy resources as renewable or
non-renewable
renewable resources:
– biofuels (biomass including wood,
bioethanol and biogas), geothermal energy,
hydroelectric dams, tidal energy, wave
energy, solar energy, wind energy
• non-renewable resources:
– fossil fuel (oil, natural gas, coal), nuclear
energy using uranium as a fuel
describe the world’s major terrestrial biomes in
terms of their climate, soil type and vegetation
limited to: desert, forest, grassland and tundra
define the term water security
as the ability
to access sufficient quantities of clean water
to maintain adequate standards of food and
manufacturing of goods, adequate sanitation and
sustainable health care
Describe the two types of acid deposition
Wet deposition- snow,rain,hail,fog
Dry deposition- dust and gases
explain how increased concentrations of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere cause
the enhanced greenhouse effect leading to global
warming
define food security
when all people, at all
times, have physical, social and economic access
to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets
their dietary needs and food preferences for an
active and healthy life
describe and explain the benefits of conserving
biodiversity
• resources of potential medicines
• food, wood, fibres, oils and fuels
• diversity in genes
• ecological services
• cultural and recreational value
describe the distribution of the Earth’s water
salt water in oceans
• surface fresh water
– ice sheets, glaciers, lakes, rivers, swamps,
marshes, permafrost
• sub-surface fresh water
– soil moisture, ground water, permafrost
• atmospheric water
Define photochemical smog
A mixture of air pollutants and particle, including ground level ozone, that is formed when oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds react in the presence of sunlight.
state the impacts of climate change on the
environment
• temperature and precipitation
• sea level
• ocean and wind circulation
• melting of sea ice, ice sheets, glaciers and
permafrost
• species distribution and biodiversity
outline the impacts of food insecurity
• regional food scarcity
• nutritional deficiency and malnutrition
• poverty
• forced migration
• conflict
• famine
• death
describe and evaluate legislation and protocols as
methods of conserving biodiversity
• protection of species
• regulation of sustainable harvesting
• international trade in endangered species (CITES)
• International Whaling Commission (IWC)
• European Union Common Fisheries Policy (EU
CFP)
• International Tropical Timber Organisation
(ITTO)
• International Union for Conservation of Nature
(IUCN) Red List
detailed knowledge of international agreements is
not required
explain the causes of water insecurity
climate change, including changes in rainfall
• natural disasters, including drought and flooding
• pollution events
• inadequate sanitation
• population growth, changes in land usage
including deforestation and urbanisation
• competing demands from agricultural, industrial,
energy and domestic sectors
• mismanagement of irrigation, including
salinisation
Describe strategies for managing air pollution
reduced use of fossil fuels,restricting vehicle use in urban areas, • legislation
– local, national and international legislation
(detailed knowledge of specific legislation
and agreements is not required)
describe the impacts of climate change on
human populations
• increased frequency and severity of extreme
weather events leading to flooding and loss of
land, drought and wild fires
• damage to property and loss of life during
extreme weather events
• forced migration
• impacts on crop yields and increased pest
outbreaks
• impacts on food, energy and water security
define energy security
as the reliable availability
of energy sources at an affordable price with a
consideration of the environmental impacts
describe and evaluate habitat conservation and
creation as methods of conserving biodiversity
rewilding and management and conservation of
habitats:
– extracted reserves
– protection of habitats
– nature reserves
– protected areas
– conservation zones
– national parks
explain the impacts of water insecurity
reduced crop yield and crop failure
• livestock death
• food shortages, malnutrition and famine
• illness caused by contaminated drinking water,
limited to diarrhoea and cholera
outline how ozone depletion occurs
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from aerosols and
refrigerants are unreactive compounds and are
not broken down in the troposphere
• CFCs move into the stratosphere and break down
in the presence of ultraviolet light to release a
chlorine atom
• rapid reactions between chlorine atoms and
ozone breaks down ozone (O3) to oxygen (O2),
causing ozone depletion
• chlorine atoms remain in the stratosphere and
can continue to destroy ozone
detailed chemical mechanisms are not required
outline geo-engineering strategies to counteract
climate change
solar radiation management (SRM)
– albedo enhancement, space reflectors,
stratospheric aerosols
describe methods of waste disposal and
treatmen
limited to:
• landfill sites
• incineration
• storage
• disposal at sea
• recycling
• exporting waste
describe and explain the impacts of human
activity on Antarctica
• climate change
• ozone depletion
• tourism
• overfishing
• future mineral and oil extraction
• scientific research
describe and evaluate strategies for managing
water security
sustainable water extraction and improved
supply (piped supply, aquifers and artesian wells,
boreholes, gravity-fed schemes, reservoirs and
dams)
• reduction in water usage (improved irrigation
techniques, growing crops less dependent on
high water supply, recycling and rain water
catchment)
• education on sustainable water use
• poverty reduction