falkin unit 9 test

Explain why stratospheric ozone is necessary for life, while tropospheric ozone is harmful to life.

the stratospheric ozone absorbs UV-C and much of UV-B radiation - without this life wouldn't be possible as it provides protection against tissue damage and mutates DNA. The tropospheric ozone is a respiratory irritant, damages plant tissue, and a precursor to photochemical smog

Identify the anthropogenic, ozone-depleting compound. Identify a natural cause of ozone depletion.

CFCs chlorofluorocarbons is an anthropogenic depleting compound. natural cause of ozone depletion =Ozone is destroyed when it reacts with molecules containing nitrogen, hydrogen, chlorine, or bromine.

Identify ONE human health impact and ONE environmental impact of stratospheric ozone depletion.

stratospheric ozone can lead to high amounts of UV radiation and which is high risk for cancer

ozone depletion reduces the likelihood of the majority of plants to survive bc its so hot

Propose a solution to reduce the anthropogenic depletion of ozone.

Avoid buying and using aerosols and sprays composed of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC).

Identify FOUR major greenhouse gases.

1. methane

2. CO2

3. Nitrous oxide (N20)

4. Chloroflucarbons

Explain why water is considered a greenhouse gas, but why it is not a driver of climate change.

water vapor classifies as a green house gas bc of its heat trapping ability but does not increase temp

Describe what the global warming potential of a greenhouse gas refers to.

global warming of a green house gas refers to the measure of how much a molecule can contribute to the warming of the atmosphere over a 100 year period

based on:

Residence time: how long molecule stays in the atmosphere

Infrared absorption: how well the gas absorbs & radiates Infrared radiation (IR)

Identify ONE greenhouse gas with a global warming potential greater than 1. Describe one factor that leads to this greenhouse gas having a GWP above 1.

nitrous oxide has a gwp of 300 bc it remains in the atmosphere for 115 year and absorbs infrared light

Explain how an increase in CO2 levels in the atmosphere can lead to rising sea levels.

As humans burn fossil fuels, we release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, which warm the Earth and the oceans. Because water expands as it warms, the oceans are rising higher as they heat up. Climate change is also melting glaciers and ice sheets, adding more water to the oceans.

Describe ONE environmental impact of melting glacial ice or antarctic ice sheets.

Loss of species that depend on arctic and tundra ecosystems (polar bears, penguins, reindeer) & Loss of thaw-freeze cycle that glaciers go through, depriving surrounding ecosystems and human communities of water source

Explain how an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can lead to an increase in the spread of disease such as Malaria.

warm temperature allows insect-transmitted diseases to spread to parts of the world previously too cold & s the insect vectors expand their range further from equators, toward poles, new human pops. are at risk

Describe thermal expansion.

When water molecules move further away from each other as they are heated

Identify TWO sources of data that scientists use to study earth’s climate tens to hundreds of thousands of years in the past.

scientists use variations of the earth's orbit around the sun and they can study sample cylinders of ice taken from the ice caps called ice cores.

Describe the positive feedback loop that results from the melting of the permafrost.

temp rises, which laws permafrost soils and thawed soils release CO2 which warms the atmosphere

Describe TWO changes that occur in marine ecosystems as a result of global warming.

as more water fills the ocean the sunlight will not be able to reach as far so the photic zone will be further away from the bottom of the sea & there is less O2 in warm water so many fish populations have migrated or are declinng

Describe the effect that global warming has on the polar jet stream.

as the artic warms faster than other places on Earth, the temp difference between the equator and poles weakens. bc of this difference in temp and pressure between polar and subtropical regions is what drives the polar jet stream, less difference between them means weaker and wobblier jet stream

Explain how global warming may slow down or halt the thermohaline circulation of the ocean.

the global ocean current that redistributes heat from the equator, salt, and nutrients by mixing ocean waters could slow or stop altogether.

freshwater is less dense than salt, preventing it from sinking

cold north Atlantic water slows warmer gulf stream waters, cooling Europe and slowing the thermohaline circulation

Identify a region on earth that is warming faster than earth’s average increase in surface temperature.

the artic is heating up faster than the global temperature

Describe why this region is warming faster than other regions.

As the darkest natural surface on the planet, the ocean absorbs 90 percent of solar radiation. When covered with sea ice, the Arctic Ocean acts like a large reflective blanket, reducing the absorption of solar radiation, however with the ice melting its warming up at an alarming rate

Describe a positive feedback loop that occurs as ice sheets at the poles melt.

melting sea ice exposes more dark sea that absorbs more heat and causes more ice to melt

Describe an ecological impact of melting ice sheets in polar regions.

Seals use it for resting and find holes for breathing

Algae grow on ice, forming base of arctic food web

Polar bears use ice for hunting seals at breathing holes

Explain how an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to an increase in average ocean temperature.

the ocean absorbs heat radiated back to earth by GHG's -Oceans absorb much of earth's heat due to high specific heat of water & Thermohaline circ. distributes heat absorbed at surface to depths & other areas of earth

Explain how increased atmospheric CO2 levels causes ocean acidification.

As Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases it sinks to the ocean and dissolves in water creating carbonic acid which is bad for marine organisms. the PH decreased in the ocean and the ocean water becomes more acidic.

Explain why carbonate ions are important for marine organisms that build shells and how ocean acidification impacts the availability of carbonate ions in the ocean.

carbonate ions are used in the shells of sea life as protection and shelter and as ocean acidification increases carbonate ions are less available - Marine shells breakdown as pH decreases and carbonate ions are less soluble in ocean water - Fewer carbonate ions = less calcification; weaker shells of coral, mollusks, and urchins

Describe TWO characteristics of invasive species.

adapt to new areas easily and rapid reproduction

Identify a specific example of an invasive species. Describe a human activity that could result in the introduction of this invasive species into a new ecosystem.

Burmese pythons

humans released them into the wild after no longer wanting them as pets and they have altered many ecosystems

Propose a solution to control the spread of the invasive species identified above.

fine/or illegalize releasing these animals

Explain why r-selected species are more likely to become invasive than K-selected species.

r-selected species are more invasive because they have way more offspring compared to the few k-selected species have

Describe a specific effect that invasive species may have on native species in an ecosystem.

invasive species can bread quickly and take over an ecosystem

Describe TWO factors that can lead to a species becoming endangered.

loss of habitat and loss of genetic variation

Describe ONE characteristic of K-selected species that makes them more likely to become endangered than r-selected species.

k-species are more likely to be endangered because they have fewer offspring

Identify a piece of international or US legislation that protects endangered species and describe how it can prevent extinction of endangered species.

Endangered Species Act of 1973 protected the endangered/threatened species with conservative efforts

Explain how natural organism interactions in an ecosystem can lead to species endangerment.

Interspecific competition: competition for resources (food, nest sites, water) amongst members of different species

Can cause species to become threatened, especially when combined with general habitat fragmentation or loss due to human land use

Can further threaten species already vulnerable to habitat disruption due to climate change

Identify a taxon with an especially large portion of its members that are endangered.

41% of amphibians ar3e considered endangered due to climate change - Especially vulnerable to climate change due to biphasic life (relying on water and land) and highly permeable skin

Identify each of the threats to biodiversity in the acronym HIPPCO.

habitat fragmentation/loss, invasive species, population growth, pollution, climate change, over-exploitation

Describe an anthropogenic activity that directly causes habitat fragmentation and describe an ecological impact that results from this fragmentation.

roads and oil/ gas pipeline,( agriculture land use, and logging) destroys habitats and ecosystems

Propose a solution for the cause of habitat fragmentation identified above.

Protecting important habitats by creating national parks, nature preserves, or preventing them from being developed

Describe how anthropogenic climate change can lead to the loss of a specific habitat.

anthropogenic climate change leads to a rise in sea level and temperature that alters the specific range for organisms to survive

Describe how animal agriculture has contributed to a loss of biodiversity.

Climate change can shift the range of habitats, or increase/decrease their range altogether which decreases biodiversity

Describe TWO ways in which humans can mitigate the loss of biodiversity.

dont overexploitation (overfishing, overhunting and overharvesting) for things like food, medicines and timber

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