The greenhouse effect

5.2.1 Draw and label a diagram of the carbon cycle to show the processes involved.

The carbon cycle

5.2.2 Analyse the changes in concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide using historical records.
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5.2.3 Explain the relationship between rises in concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, methane and oxides of nitrogen and the enhanced greenhouse effect.
The earths mean average temperature is regulated by a steady equilibrium which exists between the energy reaching the earth from the sun and the energy reflected by the earth back into space. The incoming radiation is short wave ultraviolet and visible radiation. Some of the radiation will be absorbed by the atmosphere and some of it will be reflected back from the earths surface into space. The radiation that is reflected back into space is infrared radiation which has a longer wavelength. Green house gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and oxides of nitrogen tend to absorb some of the reflected infrared radiation and re-reflect it back towards the earth. This is what causes the greenhouse effect and it results in an increase in average mean temperature on earth. It is a natural phenomenon. However, since there has been an increase in the green house gases in the past century, this has resulted in an increase of the green house effect leading to higher than normal average temperatures which could lead to disastrous consequences in the future. Summary: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. The incoming radiation from the sun is short wave ultraviolet and visible radiation. Some of this radiation is absorbed by the earths atmosphere. Some of the radiation is reflected back into space by the earths surface. The radiation which is reflected back into space is infrared radiation and has a longer wavelength. The greenhouse gases in the atmosphere absorbe some of this infrared radiation and re-reflect it back towards the earth. This causes the green house effect and results in an increase in average mean temperatures on earth. A rise in greenhouse gases results in an increase of the green house effect which can be disastrous for the planet.

5.2.4 Outline the precautionary principle.

The precautionary principle holds that, if the effects of a human-induced change would be very large, perhaps catastrophic, those responsible for the change must prove that it will not do harm before proceeding. This is the reverse of the normal situation, where those who are concerned about the change would have to prove that it will do harm in order to prevent such changes going ahead.

5.2.5 Evaluate the precautionary principle as a justification for strong action in response to the threats posed by the enhanced greenhouse effect.
There is strong evidence that shows that green house gases are causing global warming. This is very worrying as global warming has so many consequences on ecosystems. If nothing is done, and the green house gases are in fact causing the enhanced green house effect, by the time we realize it, it will probably be too late and result in catastrophic consequences. So even though there is no proof for global warming, the strong evidence suggesting that it is linked with an increase in green house gases is something we can not ignore. Global warming is a global problem. It affects everyone. For these reasons, the precautionary principle should be followed. Anyone supporting the notion that we can continue to emit same amounts or more of the green house gases should have to provide evidence that it will not cause a damaging increase in the green house effect.

5.2.6 Outline the consequences of a global temperature rise on arctic ecosystems.

Global warming could have a number of disastrous consequences largely affecting the arctic ecosystems:

The arctic ice cap may disappear as glaciers start to melt and break up into icebergs.

Permafrost will melt during the summer season which will increase the rate of decomposition of trapped organic matter, including peat and detritus. This in turn will increase the release of carbon dioxide which will increase the green house effect even further.

Species adapted to temperature conditions will migrate north which will alter food chains and have consequences on the animals in the higher trophic levels. Marine species in the arctic water may become extinct as these are very sensitive to temperature changes within the sea water. Polar bears may face extinction as they loose their ice habitat and therefore can no longer feed or breed as they normally would. Pests and diseases may become quite common with rises in temperature. As the ice melts, sea levels will rise and flood low lying areas of land. Extreme weather events such as storms might become common and have disastrous effects on certain species.

14 Outline the causes of global warming including the role of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane, CH4) in the greenhouse effect. Greenhouse gases reduce heat loss from earths surface. This is known as the greenhouse effect. When radiation from the sun reaches the earth, some is reflected back into space by the atmosphere. Some of this radiation is absorbed and reradiated back to the earths surface by greenhouse gases such as Carbon dioxide, Methane and water vapour. This maintains the temperature of the earth at a higher level. 15 Describe the effects of global warming (rising temperature, changing rainfall patterns and seasonal cycles) on plants and animals (distribution of species, development and life cycles). Change in rainfall patterns - More rainfall leads to increased risk of flooding. Low rainfall means people are short of water for their crops and for drinking. Rising temperature Ice caps melt leading to increased risk of flooding. If the temperature increase beyond the optimum temperature for enzyme controlled reactions in organisms, their enzymes will denature and the reaction rate falls. As a result increasing temperature has an effect on rate of growth and reproduction. If plants grow faster, they will be able to take up more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Organisms between the tropics have little tolerance for change as conditions remain constant all year round. A change of a few degrees can be fatal to some organisms. In higher latitudes, plants and animals reproduce earlier. For some animals, breeding earlier in the year means they can fit more than one breeding cycle in a year. Species distribution Because animals can move more easily than plants, they are able to survive change more easily. So as areas become warmer, organisms extend their range northwards and become extinct in the south. Others may be able to colonise a larger area. There could be an increase in insect-borne disease in the UK. 16 Explain the effect of increasing temperature on the rate of enzyme activity in plants, animals and micro-organisms. Increasing temperature increases the rate of enzyme activity in organisms. This is because the enzyme and substrate increase in kinetic energy. This increase in kinetic energy means that the enzyme and substrates collide more often. More enzyme substrate complexes are formed. 17 Describe how to investigate the effects of temperature on the development of organisms (eg seedling growth rate, brine shrimp hatch rates). Brine Shrimp hatch rates TKOKI1993 Decide on the range of temperatures to be tested Place a tiny pinch of egg cysts onto a large sheet of white paper Wet the piece of graph paper using a few drops of salt water. Dab the paper onto the white sheet to pick up approximately 40 eggs Put the paper with the 40 eggs into the beaker (eggs-side down). After 3 minutes, use a pair of forceps to gently remove the paper, making sure that all the egg cysts have washed off into the water Repeat for all the temperatures that are to be investigated Incubate the beakers at the appropriate temperatures, controlling exposure to light as far as possible The next day count the number of hatched larvae in each of the beakers. Do this for several days Record the number of larvae that have successfully hatched at each temperature 18 Analyse and interpret different types of evidence for global warming and its causes

(including records of carbon dioxide levels, temperature records, pollen in peat bogs and dendrochronology) recognising correlations and causal relationships. Frozen Isotopes Ice cores taken from the antartic and Greenland. Air is trapped in the layers of ice. The records of oxygen isoptopes in the melted ice cores reflect the air temperature of the time (The proportion of O18 to O16). Atmospheric carbon dioxide can be also be measured. Dendrochronology Dating of past events using tree ring growth. When conditions are good (hot and moist) cells are large. As conditions become worse, cells are small. Eventually, growth stops for the year until the next spring. The approximate age of a tree can be found by counting the rings. Many factors such as sunlight, temperature, CO2 levels and rainfall affect tree ring growth making dendrochronology somewhat unreliable. Coral reef data complements dendrochronological data. Peat Bogs Made up of partly decomposed plant material. Pollen grains, moss spores and plant tissue are preserved in it due to its acidity, cool and anaerobic conditions. Different plants grow in the different climatic conditions, therefore analysis of what pollen/spores in the peat gives an idea of what the temperature was like. The lower you go into the peat bog, the longer the time difference. Correlation When one variable changes, another changes Causation when one variable causes change in another. 19 Describe that data can be extrapolated to make predictions, that these are used in models of future global warming, and that these models have limitations. Data can be extrapolated to make predictions. In order to increase the reliability of data, wiggle matching is used. 20 Discuss the way in which scientific conclusions about controversial issues, such as what actions should be taken to reduce global warming or the degree to which humans are affecting global warming, can sometimes depend on who is reaching the conclusions.