geo week 4
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Questions and Answers

What was the significance of Bill C-48 passed in 2018?

  • It introduced new regulations for nuclear energy production.
  • It established a new deep ocean drilling rig.
  • It mandated a reduction in tailings generated by the mining industry.
  • It formalized legislation to exclude crude oil tankers from Canadian waters. (correct)

    • Which of the following statements about the Athabasca Oil Sands is true?

  • They are a source of natural uranium.
  • The mining industry generates significant amounts of tailings and waste rock from them. (correct)
  • They were first discovered in the early 1970s.
  • They consist entirely of recoverable materials.

    • What event is associated with the largest oil spill in US waters?

  • Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill in 2010 (correct)
  • Terra Nova oil spill in 2002
  • Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989
  • Hibernia oil rig incident in 1997

    • How does the carbon dioxide emissions from nuclear energy compare to coal?

    <p>It emits one sixth the amount of CO2 as coal.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which year saw the introduction of the Moratorium on crude oil tanker traffic on the West Coast?

    <p>1972</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common environmental impact associated with both nuclear power plants mentioned?

    <p>Production of radioactive waste</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT listed as a driver of deforestation?

    <p>Urban expansion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which of the following years was diamond production in Canada first discovered?

    <p>1991</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What method of mining is specifically described as leaving only stumps behind?

    <p>Clear cutting</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following nuclear power plants experienced a significant disaster in 1986?

    <p>Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of hydraulic fracturing (fracking)?

    <p>To mine natural gas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which natural resource extraction process is being utilized at the Bingham Canyon mine?

    <p>Open-pit mining</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What environmental problem is associated with the removal of trees and clearing land in regions like Myanmar and Brazil?

    <p>Deforestation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which regions were historically known as major contributors to GHG emissions?

    <p>North America and Europe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary purpose of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 1992?

    <p>Rethink economic growth with environmental protection in mind</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which commitment period did the Kyoto Protocol require countries to reduce GHG emissions?

    <p>2008-2012</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main objective of the Paris Agreement signed in 2015?

    <p>To keep global temperature warming below 2 degrees Celsius</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How much oil was estimated to be discharged during the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989?

    <p>38,800 metric tons</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which color on the Kyoto Protocol map represents countries that withdrew from binding targets in the second commitment period?

    <p>Yellow</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which agreement follows the principle of providing assistance to developing countries regarding emissions?

    <p>Paris Agreement</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one major difference between the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement?

    <p>Kyoto Protocol focuses solely on industrialized nations, while Paris Agreement involves all countries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a primary impact of the Three Gorges Dam on ecosystems?

    <p>Habitat destruction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements best describes non-renewable resources?

    <p>They have a finite supply and are replenished slowly.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor is most directly responsible for increased environmental impact due to human activity?

    <p>Population growth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by 'Natural Capital'?

    <p>Natural resources that can be used for profit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch?

    <p>It represents an accumulation of human-induced marine pollution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following statements about renewable resources is accurate?

    <p>They can be replenished as long as they are not overused.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the ecological footprint measure?

    <p>The land area required to sustain a population's consumption habits</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does human consumption affect the environment?

    <p>It contributes to resource depletion and ecological damage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of a migration barrier created by dams like the Three Gorges Dam?

    <p>Physical obstruction that prevents fish from spawning</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many Earths would be needed if current consumption rates continue as they are?

    <p>1.8 Earths</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a goal of sustainable development?

    <p>Maintaining a healthy society while ensuring environmental protection</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one consequence of countries with high rates of consumption?

    <p>Higher ecological footprints</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does sustainable development help to avoid?

    <p>Environmental degradation and poverty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it a challenge to maintain economic growth in a rapidly populating world?

    <p>Finite resources and increased demand for them</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way does the environment contribute to human life beyond monetary value?

    <p>By offering functions necessary for survival</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is sustainable development characterized in the context of economic growth?

    <p>As a responsible approach aligning with environmental and human welfare</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Geographies of GHG Emissions

    • North America and Europe were the major centers of GHG emissions historically
    • Recently, emissions have increased from developing countries

    Emission Regulation

    • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was established during the ‘Earth Summit’ in Rio de Janeiro in 1992
    • The Kyoto Protocol is an international agreement on climate change
    • The Kyoto Protocol's commitment periods were from 2008-2012 and 2012 onwards
    • The Paris Agreement addresses emissions for the years 2020-2030

    Oil Spills

    • The Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, in 1989 discharged an estimated 38,800 metric tons of oil
    • The Deepwater Horizon oil spill (BP Oil Spill), in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, is the largest oil spill in US waters to date, discharging an estimated 780,000 metric tons of oil

    Athabasca Oil Sands

    • The Athabasca Oil Sands contain large deposits of bitumen
    • The Canadian mining industry in this region generates roughly 650 million tons of tailings and waste rock each year

    Nuclear Energy

    • One ton of natural uranium generates the electricity equivalent to 15,000 tons of coal
    • Nuclear energy emits 1/6 the amount of CO2 as coal
    • Chernobyl explosion, Ukraine, 1986
    • Fukushima explosion, Japan, 2011

    Deforestation

    • Deforestation is the removal of trees and clearing of land for other purposes
    • Drivers of deforestation include: revenues from export, debt payments, agriculture, lack of regulations

    Open-Pit Mining

    • Bingham Canyon Copper Mine, Utah
    • EKATI Diamond Mine, NWT
    • Diavik Diamond Mine, NWT

    Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking)

    • Fracking is a technology used to mine natural gas trapped in shale rock formations
    • Jonah Field, Western Wyoming

    Three Gorges Dam

    • Three Gorges Dam, Yangtze River, China
    • Impacts of hydroelectric dams: human resettlement, habitat destruction, migration barriers, less productive wetlands, decreased biodiversity, loss of agricultural land

    Marine Pollution

    • Garbage patches are natural gathering points where rotating currents, winds, and other ocean features converge
    • The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a prime example of floating pollution

    Economic Growth, Consumption & Resources

    • The environment provides resources for the economy and there needs to be a balance between economic development and the need to sustain the environment

    Human Demand and Consumption

    • Consumption patterns have a significant impact on the environment
    • As the human population grows, so does the demand for resources

    Defining Natural Resources

    • Natural Resources are components of nature useful to humans

    Renewable Resources

    • Renewable Resources are replaced by environmental processes as long as they are not used quicker than they are replenished

    Non-Renewable Resources

    • Non-renewable Resources are finite or are replaced at very slow rates

    Natural Capital

    • Natural capital are resources used to produce manufactured goods and support economic activities

    Nature’s Utility

    • The environment is understood as a source of income, livelihoods, material things, and economic activity

    Ecological Footprint

    • The ecological footprint measures the land area required to sustain a population
    • Global footprint is 2.6 hectares/yr (2023)

    Sustainable Development

    • Sustainable development is a way for us to think about development (or economic growth) being the outcome of responsible practices towards the environment and human life
    • Sustainable development seeks to avoid environmental degradation and reduce poverty through economic growth
    • Sustainable development is considered a “middle road” approach to development with the goal to balance economic growth with environmental protection.

    Nature’s Non-Monetary Value

    • The environment provides functions necessary for human life, and this is why the environment needs to be protected

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    Lecture 4 - People & Nature (Week of Sept. 30) PDF

    Description

    Explore the critical topics surrounding greenhouse gas emissions, oil spills, and climate change regulations in this informative quiz. Test your knowledge on historical emission patterns, key international agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement, and significant oil spill events. Dive into the implications of oil extraction activities in regions like the Athabasca Oil Sands.

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