Biodiversity and Climate Change Assessment Questions

Ecosystem services

Benefits ecosystems provide to humans, such as pollination and water filtration.

Biogeochemical cycles

Natural processes that recycle nutrients in various chemical forms from the environment to organisms and back.

Global warming effects

Rising global temperatures and sea levels.

CITES

The trade of endangered species.

Thermohaline circulation

The movement of deep ocean currents.

Sustainable forestry practices

Replanting trees and maintaining biodiversity.

Tipping points in climate systems

Critical thresholds where sudden and irreversible changes may occur.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Primarily from industrialization and burning fossil fuels.

Phosphorus cycle

The movement of phosphorus through rocks, soil, and water.

Biodiversity hotspots

Regions that contain high levels of species diversity under threat.

Deforestation contributors

Logging and agriculture.

Biodiversity loss

Factors contributing to the decline of biological diversity.

The Endangered Species Act (ESA)

A law that protects species at risk of extinction in the U.S.

Ocean acidification

The process by which oceans absorb excess CO2, lowering pH.

Positive feedback loops

Processes that amplify changes in a system.

The greenhouse effect

The warming of Earth due to gases trapping heat in the atmosphere.

Carbon cycle

The flow of carbon through land, water, and atmosphere.

Human activities disrupting the carbon cycle

Cutting down forests and burning fossil fuels.

Nitrogen cycle

The process of nitrogen moving through the atmosphere, soil, and living organisms.

Methane as a greenhouse gas

Is 25 times more effective than CO2 at trapping heat.

Ice cores

Methods to study past climates by analyzing trapped air bubbles.

Ocean acidification consequences

Coral bleaching and loss of marine biodiversity.

Reforestation

The planting of trees to restore forested areas.

Negative feedback loop example

Higher CO2 levels leading to more plant growth, which absorbs CO2.

Landfills and climate change

Emitting large amounts of methane as waste decomposes.

Volcanic eruptions and climate

Blocking sunlight with ash clouds, causing temporary cooling.

Albedo effect

Increasing albedo causes less sunlight to be absorbed by Earth's surface.

Greenhouse effect harm

The greenhouse effect is not entirely harmful to Earth's climate.

Deforestation and carbon cycle

Deforestation contributes to the carbon cycle by increasing CO2 levels in the atmosphere.

Sustainable agriculture

Aims to maximize yield without sacrificing biodiversity.

Climate change models

Show that sea levels will rise if emissions continue to rise.

Methane potency

Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

Trees as carbon sinks

Trees and vegetation are important carbon sinks.

Positive feedback loops stabilization

Positive feedback loops do not help stabilize climate systems.

Nitrogen cycle atmospheric phase

Includes nitrogen gas converted by bacteria into usable forms.

Renewable energy and carbon emissions

Renewable energy sources do not contribute to increased carbon emissions.

Global warming and extreme weather

Global warming has an effect on extreme weather events.

Melting polar ice contribution

The melting of polar ice is a major contributor to sea-level rise.

Coral reefs vulnerability

Coral reefs are highly vulnerable to ocean acidification.

Earth's orbit impact

The Earth's orbit affects the distribution of solar energy and climate patterns.

National parks purpose

National parks are designed to protect biodiversity and ecosystems.