Explain the interrelationships between land cover change and climate, including changes to surface reflectivity (albedo) and the process of natural carbon

Question 1

Surface Reflectivity

Answer 1

• Surface reflectivity, or albedo, ranges from 0 to 1, with Earth’s average albedo being 0.31, reflecting about one-third of incoming solar radiation.
• Surfaces like snow and ice have high albedo (up to 0.85), making them highly reflective.
• ice sheets and glaciers melting rapidly 273 billion tons lost each year in 2021
• increase absorbed energy increase temp creates a positive feedback loop, more ice melt
• Deforestation main cause - removal increases inso by 20-50% , short-term localised cool effect
• construction of infra such as roads and building decrease albedo, more absorption. 12 climate increase

Question 2

Intro

Answer 2

• Landcover changes on Earth impact and interact bi-laterally with climate, often creating positive feedback loops.
• Landcover changes result in changes to surface reflectivity, the amount of solar energy reflected into space and natural carbon sequestration.

Question 3

Carbon Sequestration:

Answer 3

• natural sequestration involves the cycling of c02 into trees and other vegetation through photosynthesis, where it is stored for the organism’s lifetime
• LCP such as deforestation disrupt the process, as common slash-and-burn practices release CO2 from burned biomass into the atmosphere (up to 1 ton per tree) Deforestation, particularly in regions like Brazil and Indonesia, releases greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.
  -supports greenhouse effect and warming climate
• soils are another sequestration process and are one of the largest ‘sinks’ with the ability to sequest 20% of annual emissions
• through deforestation and agricultural practices like soil tilling. co2 release