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Geoengineering as a solution to climate change
Pól, Daniel ; Elcner, Jakub (referee) ; Lízal, František (advisor)
The bachelor thesis contains short summary of current knowledge about the geoengineering methods. The research includes their history and all experiments made so far and describes the behaviour and potential utilization of aerosols in the atmosphere. Following chapters characterize four main methods of active geoengineering together with evaluation of their advantages and disadvantages. The last part of the thesis is devoted to the geopolitical impacts of geoengineering activities on society.
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How will a longer vegetative season affect carbon sequestration in plant biomass
Kasperová, Denisa ; Albrechtová, Jana (advisor) ; Ponert, Jan (referee)
As a result of human activity, a large number of greenhouse gases, especially CO2, is released into the atmosphere, which causes a greater greenhouse effect and an increase in the temperature of the surface of the planet and the air in the atmosphere. Ongoing climate change is one of the great challenges facing society, as rising temperatures on the planet greatly affect the functioning of its ecosystems. Extremes arising from climate change, especially temperature rise and lack of precipitation or a change in the annual distribution of precipitation, affect the physiology and phenology of plants. Higher temperatures cause plant growing seasons to shift and lengthen, which has a direct impact on the sequestration of carbon in plant biomass through a biochemical, physiological plant process called photosynthesis. The increase in CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is slowed down by terrestrial forest ecosystems, as they can retain carbon in their tissues, especially in wood, for a relatively long time before it returns to the atmosphere. However, the efficiency of binding carbon into biomass also depends on other physiological processes, e.g., photorespiration, breathing, gas exchange between the plant and the atmosphere. Stressors caused by climate change can then limit growth, photosynthesis,...
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Role of microbes in the decomposition in headwater streams.
Kociánová, Petra ; Kopalová, Kateřina (advisor) ; Tátosová, Jolana (referee)
The decomposition of organic matter in headwater streams is a key process in stream ecology and an important component of the global carbon cycle. Decomposition rates depend on both abiotic and biotic factors, the former including temperature, discharge, and nutrient chemistry, and the latter including stream community structure and activity, trophic interactions, biodiversity, and productivity. Of the stream community, microbial decomposers play a particularly important role in decomposition by chemically degrading compounds and transferring nutrients and energy to higher trophic levels. These processes are prone to change due to current and future global warming which will affect both decomposer communities and associated decomposition rates. This thesis provides a short overview of the main factors that control stream decomposition rates, including biological factors like microbial activity, abiotic factors such as water temperature and nutrient availability, and how these factors may be altered in the future under a warmer climate. Specifically, I predict that climate change will increase microbial activity and decomposition in headwater streams due to increased water temperatures, changes in surrounding vegetation, and shifts in the hydrological regime due to global warming. .
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Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant modernization action in order to increase the performance and safety of the nuclear facility
Stoklasa, Jakub ; Lisý, Martin (referee) ; Milčák, Pavel (advisor)
During the creation of the bachelor's thesis, the main emphasis was placed on the modernization of the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant. In order to make the importance of modernization obvious, the thesis also contains a description of the main technologies and the affected technological units. The individual realizations that took place at the facility ensured an increase in the performance of the modernized nuclear blocks and also a higher safety of the nuclear facility. The work also analyzes the current state of the energy sector, the main trends and drivers that are shaping the sector now. The evaluation of the current state of the nuclear energy sector, technologies and possible directions in which nuclear energy can go in the future takes its place in the work.
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Vliv různých teplot na konkurenceschopnost raka mramorovaného v agresivních interakcích
KREJČÍ, Miloslav
Crayfish are an important aquatic ecosystems engeneers. Non-indigenous crayfish often decrease the abundance of native species and they affect ecosystem balance. Changes in freshwater ecosystems are usually caused by invasive species of crayfish, especially North American species. These species transmit crayfish plague (Aphanomyces astaci) too. One of these species is marbled crayfish (Procambarus virginalis).Aim of the thesis was an experimental comparison of the competitiveness of marbled crayfish in interspecies interactions with red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii), signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) and spiny-cheek crayfish (Faxonius limosus) depending on water temperature. The experiment included 20 runs of interspecific interactions at 16 °C, 18 runs of interspecific interactions at 20 °C and 19 runs of interspecific interactions at 24 °C. Interactions occurred in individual plastic tanks with tempered water. Interactions in tanks were recorded by camera. Subsequently, the agonistic interactions of crayfish were evaluated from 30 minutes of recordings. In conclusion, marbled crayfish is competitive opponent for psychrophilic and thermophilic crayfish species, especially at higher temperatures. The global warming could increase the success of spreading to new areas for marbled crayfish, as well as the survival of winter. In new areas, marbled crayfish could cause negative impacts for native organisms, especially native crayfish species.
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Changes in distributional range and ecology of bats realated to climate change
Pavlíková, Barbara ; Lučan, Radek (advisor) ; Bartonička, Tomáš (referee)
In the last few decades bats are affected by climate change. Changes in average temperatures affect their morphology, phenology, diversity and distribution. Changes in biotopes caused by anthropogenic influences are responsible for the loss of shelters and connectivity of habitats. Empirical data show us that the range expansion of many bat species are gradually shifting to higher latitudes or altitudes. Mathematical models predict that the bat diversity and richness around the world will decline. Some species will shift their ranges and some will shrink their range or even become extinct. Key words: chiroptera, bats, range shift, bioindicators, climate change
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Representation of the problem of climate change in the print media
Trunečková, Daniela ; Novák, Arnošt (advisor) ; Hájek, Roman (referee)
This diploma thesis on Representation of the problem of climate change in the print media is a content analysis of Czech quality daily newspapers, namely Hospodářské noviny, Lidové noviny, Mladá fronta DNES and Právo. It deals with the way the selected daily newspapers presented debate on global climate change in 2013-2014. The theoretical part informs readers about the basic concepts and definitions and introduces them to the problem. The empirical part answers the question of whether the media coverage of global climate change in Czech quality daily newspapers is consistent with scientific findings of the international climate discourse represented by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) or whether it relies equally on opinions of the small group of so called climate skeptics who question the general consensus of the scientific comunity regarding the causes and consequences of climate change or the need of adequate measures. The results of research indicated that most of analyzed articles informed about climate change the same way as the main climatological research. The largest number of skeptical articles appeared in Lidové noviny. A considerable number of articles didn't comment on the causes of climate change, their seriousness or decisions regarding action.
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Rational Irrationality in the USA
Kleňha, Jan ; Kozák, Kryštof (advisor) ; Calda, Miloš (referee)
In this thesis, the theory of rational irrationality is used to explore the incentives behind seemingly irrational beliefs held by a large part of the contemporary American society towards anthropogenic climate change. Applying causal analysis, three questions are answered: "is it rationally irrational for people to be indifferent towards climate change?" "Are Americans inherently more likely than others to hold irrational beliefs about global issues such as climate change?" If so, "is this phenomenon rooted in certain values that constitute the American identity?" The author focuses on specific "American values" and uses statistics and recent empirical studies to find correlations and causality between those values and the exhibited behavior of individuals, while discussing its possible causes and implications. The study concludes that the root cause of irresponsibility of the American citizen towards climate change is a lack of social mechanisms rewarding individuals for holding epistemologically accurate beliefs. The author then proposes a set of general measures to be prioritized in order to improve social reward mechanisms in the American society. If implemented, those measures should be able to effectively enforce epistemic rationality in the U.S. political debate, which is desirable...
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Success Factors and Barriers for Climate Protection Projects in the Selected Czech Cities
Hejralová, Eva ; Rynda, Ivan (advisor) ; Sutlovičová, Klára (referee)
Cities are important actors in global climate protection. Almost 80% of global CO2 emissions are produced in urban areas. At the same time cities are in a good position to bring out innovative solutions. Local initiatives in the Czech Republic often take an implicit form: they don't aim directly at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This paper analyses nine projects in the building sector, which have been implemented by Czech cities. It looks for factors that have contributed to the initiation of studied projects and facilitated or inhibited its implementation. Factors have been gathered throughout semi-structured interviews. The research have revealed two relevant barriers and twelve success factors, which have been classified according to the thematic categories: "Economics," "Livability," "Politics," "Institutions," and "Information." Most of them concern the category "Information," while none of them concerns the category "Livability." The research outcomes can serve as an inspiration for other cities and also for actors shaping conditions for local climate protection, in particular NGOs and central government.
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Legal Protection of the Earth's Climate
Vaverka, David ; Snopková, Tereza (advisor) ; Franková, Martina (referee)
In accordance with its title, this Thesis Aims to Analyse Legal Aspects of Climate protection. Therefore its structure comprises of Five major sections dedicated to offer substantial amounts of information on the topic of Climate Change and its Protection. The first section describes the Issue of Climate Change, the History of its Protection as well as necessary measures and certain difficulties to achieve a consensus usually occurring during international negotiations. The second, third, and forth sections address Legal Climate Protection at International, European Union, and National Levels. Finally, the closing fifth section not only summarizes all that has been stated in previous sections but also evaluates Efficiency of actions taken at the three levels mentioned. Furthermore, the last section suggests where the major efforts should be focused on in the forthcoming years. All in all, the main objective of all the sections introduced is to Highlight the Urgent Need for Effective and Coordinated Action taken by the Whole International Community based on Conscious and Mindful Doings of each and every Individual. This requirement is the very crucial precondition in order to keep the global rising temperature below 2 degrees celsius by the end of the 21st Century so that potential negative and...
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