What is meant by the term deforestation?
Reveal answer
Removal of large areas of forest.
Key words: deforestation
5(d) HUMAN INFLUENCES ON THE ENVIRONMENT · RECALL
5.14 Human activities and greenhouse gases
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What is meant by the term ruminant?
Reveal answer
A grazing mammal, such as a cow, whose gut bacteria digest cellulose and release methane.
Key words: ruminant
What is meant by the term anaerobic decomposition?
Reveal answer
Breakdown of organic matter without oxygen, which can produce methane.
Key words: anaerobic decomposition
Human sources of greenhouse gases: for Burning fossil fuels, give the gas released and the process.
Reveal answer
Gas released: Carbon dioxide. Process: Combustion of stored carbon.
Key words: Burning fossil fuels
Human sources of greenhouse gases: for Deforestation, give the gas released and the process.
Reveal answer
Gas released: Carbon dioxide. Process: Less photosynthesis; burning and decay of wood.
Key words: Deforestation
Human sources of greenhouse gases: for Cattle farming, give the gas released and the process.
Reveal answer
Gas released: Methane. Process: Gut bacteria in ruminants.
Key words: Cattle farming
Human sources of greenhouse gases: for Rice paddies and landfill, give the gas released and the process.
Reveal answer
Gas released: Methane. Process: Anaerobic decomposition.
Key words: Rice paddies and landfill
Human sources of greenhouse gases: for Nitrogen fertilisers, give the gas released and the process.
Reveal answer
Gas released: Nitrous oxide. Process: Soil bacteria act on excess nitrate.
Key words: Nitrogen fertilisers
Human sources of greenhouse gases: for Old refrigerants, give the gas released and the process.
Reveal answer
Gas released: CFCs. Process: Leakage of synthetic gases.
Key words: Old refrigerants
True or false, and why? “Deforestation only matters because it releases CO₂ when trees are burned.”
Reveal answer
False. It also reduces future CO₂ removal by photosynthesis.
True or false, and why? “Methane comes mainly from cows’ breathing.”
Reveal answer
False. It is produced by gut bacteria and released mainly by belching.
True or false, and why? “Fertilisers only cause water pollution.”
Reveal answer
False. Bacterial action on fertilisers also releases nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas.
How does burning fossil fuels raise atmospheric carbon dioxide?
Reveal answer
Carbon locked in coal, oil and gas → combustion → released as CO₂.
Key words: combustion
Name two greenhouse gases released by farming.
Reveal answer
Methane (cattle, rice paddies) and nitrous oxide (fertiliser).
Key words: methane · nitrous oxide
Why does clearing rainforest for cattle pasture add to the greenhouse effect in two ways?
Reveal answer
Burning trees releases CO₂ and fewer trees remove CO₂; the cattle then release methane.
Key words: CO₂ · methane