Planetary Boundaries

Question 1

Planetary Boundary definition

Answer 1

• a threshold value for global processes that are affected by human activity
• crossing these boundaries could generate abrupt or irreversible environmental change

Question 2

what state is the climate change planetary boundary?

Answer 2

Crossed

Question 3

what are the causes of climate change?

Answer 3

• rising greenhouse gas levels
• burning of fossil fuels
• deforestation
• leading to global warming

Question 4

what are the consequences of climate change?

Answer 4

• increased global temperatures
• impacts on wind currents / ocean current / rainfall
• thermal expansion
• melting of polar ice caps
• extreme weather
• habitat destruction reduction in biodiversity

Question 5

what are some possible remedial measures for climate change?

Answer 5

• reduce fossil fuels -> alternative fuel
• reduce biodiversity

Question 6

what state is the biodiversity planetary boundary?

Answer 6

Crossed

Question 7

what are the causes of loss of biodiversity?

Answer 7

• habitat destruction
• deforestation
• coral reef
• hunting (overhunting)

Question 8

what are the consequences of loss of biodiversity?

Answer 8

• species interact - cannot evolve quickly enough to adapt
• reduction in species extinction
• limits available and potential medicine

Question 9

what are some possible remedial measures for loss of biodiversity?

Answer 9

• monitor biodiversity
• species conservation
• seed/sperm banks
• education

Question 10

what is the state of the land use change planetary boundary?

Answer 10

-Crossed

Question 11

what is the causes of land use change?

Answer 11

• land use change
• for food
• biofuel
• urbanisation
• livestock farming

Question 12

what are the consequences of land use change?

Answer 12

• exploitation -> biofuel crops take away from food grown to eat
• reduce biodiversity

Question 13

what are some possible remedial measures for land use change?

Answer 13

• concentrate farming in most high yield areas
• reduce meat consumption
• more efficient crops

Question 14

what is the state of the nitrate phosphate (biogeochemical flows)

Answer 14

crossed

Question 15

what are the causes of rising nitrate and phosphate levels

Answer 15

• use of fertilisers containing nitrate and phosphate

Question 16

what are the consequences of rising nitrate and phosphate levels?

Answer 16

• eutrophication (run off into bodies of water)

Question 17

what are some possible remedial levels for rising nitrate and phosphate levels

Answer 17

• use less fertiliser
• use organic manure
• rotate crops

Question 18

what is the state of the ozone planetary boundary?

Answer 18

Avoided

Question 19

what are the causes of depleting ozone?

Answer 19

• manufacture of CFCs in aerosols refrigerator and coolants etc

Question 20

what are the consequences of depleting ozone?

Answer 20

• ‘hole’ in the ozone layer
• harmful UV is not absorbed
• DNA mutations

Question 21

what are remedial measures for depleting ozone levels

Answer 21

• Montreal protocol

Question 22

what is the stage of the ocean acidification planetary boundary

Answer 22

Avoidable

Question 23

what are the causes of ocean acidification

Answer 23

• greenhouse gases released from fossil fuels
• CO2 dissolves in seawater forming H2CO3 carbonic acid
• releases H+ ions lowering pH

Question 24

what are the consequences of ocean acidification?

Answer 24

• reaction of calcium carbonate damages coral arthropod exoskeleton and mollusc shells
• more valuable to predators

Question 25

what are some remedial measures for ocean acidification?

Answer 25

- reduced fossil fuel usage - reduced deforestation

Question 26

what stage is the freshwater planetary boundary

Answer 26

Avoidable

Question 27

what are the causes of loss of freshwater?

Answer 27

- increased in water use - irrigation - water pollution - wetland draining - sewage

Question 28

what are the consequences of loss of freshwater?

Answer 28

- reduction in available freshwater

Question 29

what are some remedial measures for loss of freshwater?

Answer 29

- stop irrigation of fresh water for biofuel group - water waste irrigation - desalinate water

Question 30

what stage is the aerosol planetary boundary

Answer 30

unknown

Question 31

what are the causes of aerosols?

Answer 31

- minute ash and soot particles from combustion and coal power stations and quarrying

Question 32

what are the consequences of aerosols?

Answer 32

- increased respiratory problems and lung cancer - can build up on leaves and reduce photosynthesis

Question 33

what is the stage of the inorganic pollution planetary boundary?

Answer 33

unknown

Question 34

what are the causes of inorganic pollution?

Answer 34

- inorganic pollutants - synthetic organic pollutants microplastics and radioactive material

Question 35

what are the consequences of inorganic pollutions?

Answer 35

- bioaccumulation in the food chains

Question 36

what are some possible remedial measure of inorganic pollution?

Answer 36

- banned DDT - regulation on microplastics