PPT.9.APES

These flashcards cover vocabulary and concepts related to stratospheric ozone depletion and the greenhouse effect to aid in studying for the exam.

Ozone Layer

A protective layer in the stratosphere that absorbs the sun's harmful UV rays.

Stratospheric Ozone

Ozone found in the stratosphere that protects life on Earth from harmful UV radiation.

Good Ozone

Ozone that exists in the stratosphere and protects us from UV radiation.

Bad Ozone

Ozone found at ground level, created by pollution, which can harm health and the environment.

CFCs

Chlorofluorocarbons, harmful chemicals found in refrigerants and aerosols that deplete ozone.

Montreal Protocol

An international treaty aimed at phasing out substances that deplete the ozone layer.

Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

Chemicals that contribute to ozone depletion, including CFCs and HCFCs.

Catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed.

Ozone Depletion

The reduction of the ozone layer due to the breakdown of ozone-depleting substances.

Ozone Hole

A significant thinning of the ozone layer that occurs over Antarctica during the spring.

Greenhouse Effect

The trapping of the sun's warmth in the planet's lower atmosphere due to greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases in the atmosphere, such as CO2 and CH4, that trap heat.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

Methane (CH4)

A potent greenhouse gas released from wetlands, agriculture, and fossil fuel extraction.

Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

A greenhouse gas emitted during agricultural and industrial activities, as well as during combustion.

Water Vapor

The most abundant greenhouse gas, which contributes to the greenhouse effect.

Infrared Radiation

Heat radiation emitted from the Earth's surface that greenhouse gases can trap.

UV Radiation

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun that can cause skin cancer and cataracts.

Troposphere

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere where weather occurs and greenhouse gases are found.

Anthropogenic Sources

Human activities that contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

Natural Sources of GHGs

Sources of greenhouse gases that occur naturally, such as volcanic eruptions.

Sea Level Rise

Increase in the level of the world's oceans due to melting ice and thermal expansion.

Ocean Acidification

The decrease in pH of oceans caused by the absorption of excess CO2.

Thermal Expansion

The increase in water volume that occurs as water warms.

Climate Change

Long-term changes in temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.

Emission

The act of releasing a substance, usually referring to greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO2.

Population Dynamics

Changes in population size and composition over time.

Food Webs

A network of interlinked food chains in an ecosystem.

Extinction

The permanent loss of a species from Earth.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that spread rapidly and cause harm to local ecosystems.

Habitat Fragmentation

The disruption of habitats into smaller, isolated pieces.

Biodiversity Hotspots

Regions with significant levels of biodiversity that are under threat from human activities.

Endangered Species

A species considered at risk of extinction.

Inbreeding Depression

Reduced biological fitness in a given population due to inbreeding.

Selective Pressures

Environmental factors that influence which individuals survive and reproduce.

Buffer Zones

Areas surrounding a protected area that help to protect the ecosystem.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits humans derive from ecosystems, including clean water and pollination.

Pollen Spores

Tiny grains that carry male gametes of seed plants, important for plant reproduction.

Ozone Layer Formation

The process by which ozone is created in the stratosphere through the interaction of UV rays and oxygen.

Feedback Loops

Processes in which the output of a system influences its own operation.

Albedo Effect

The reflection of solar radiation by the Earth’s surface.

Fossil Fuels

Natural substances formed from decomposed plants and animals that release greenhouse gases when burned.

Sustainable Practices

Methods of using resources that meet present needs without compromising future generations.

Ancient Climate Data

Historical climate information derived from proxy data like ice cores and tree rings.

Climate Models

Simulations used to understand and predict climate changes.

HFC Alternatives

Hydrofluorocarbons, which are synthetic compounds that are less harmful to the ozone layer than CFCs.

Biodiversity Loss

A decrease in the variety of life on Earth, mainly due to human activities.

Bio-indicator Species

Species whose health reflects the overall health of their environment.

Conservation

The preservation and protection of natural resources and biodiversity.

Wildlife Corridors

Protected paths that enable animals to migrate safely between habitats.

Restoration Ecology

The scientific study of restoring ecosystems that have been degraded.

Species Adaptation

Changes in species traits in response to environmental changes.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems.

Integrated Pest Management

A sustainable approach to managing pests that minimizes the use of harmful chemicals.

Habitat Loss

The destruction or alteration of the natural habitat of a species, leading to population decline.

Trophic Levels

The hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, comprising producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Pollution

The introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse changes.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

A measure of how much energy the emission of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given time, compared to carbon dioxide.

Crying Wolf

A situation where someone warns of a threat that isn't existent, leading to disbelief when a real threat emerges.

Coral Bleaching

A phenomenon where coral loses its color and health due to stress factors, including temperature changes.

E.O. Wilson

An American biologist known for his work on biodiversity and conservation.

Ecosystem Resilience

The ability of an ecosystem to recover from disturbances.

Geological Time Scale

A system of chronological dating that relates geological strata to time.

Oxygen Cycle

The biogeochemical cycle that describes the movement of oxygen within and between its three main reservoirs.

Denitrification

The bacterial process of reducing nitrates and nitrites into nitrogen gas.

Biomagnification

The increasing concentration of toxic substances as they move up the food chain.

Natural Selection

The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Svalbard Global Seed Vault

A facility that preserves seed samples from around the world for future generations.

Extinction Crisis

The rapid loss of species due to human impact on the environment.

Environmental Stewardship

The responsible use and protection of the natural environment through conservation practices.

Wildlife Refuge

Protected areas of land for the conservation of wildlife.

Ecosystem Diversity

The variety of ecosystems within a certain region.

Conservation Biology

The study of the preservation of biodiversity and the protection of ecosystems.

Ozonation

The process of treating water with ozone to remove contaminants.

Genetic Variation

The variety of genetic makeup within a population.

Measurable Parameters

Observable and quantifiable characteristics used in scientific analysis.

Habitat Restoration

Efforts to restore natural habitats that have been degraded by human activities.

Species Range

The geographical area where a species can be found.

Sea Turtle Conservation

Protective measures aimed at preventing the decline of sea turtle populations.

Climatic Zones

Regions of Earth that have similar climate characteristics.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits provided by ecosystems to humans, such as clean air and water.

Algal Blooms

Rapid increases in the population of algae in water bodies, often harmful to aquatic life.

Coral Reefs

Diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals.

Battery Farming

An intensive animal farming method that raises livestock in confined spaces.

Dominance Hierarchy

The organization of individuals in a group that determines access to resources.

Reintroduction Programs

Conservation projects aimed at reintroducing captive-bred species to their natural habitats.

Behavioral Adaptation

Changes in behavior that help an organism survive in its environment.

Ex situ Conservation

The conservation of species outside their natural habitats.

Niche Differentiation

The process by which competing species use the environment differently in a way that helps them coexist.

Apoptosis

The process of programmed cell death that occurs in multicellular organisms.

Capture-Recapture Method

A method used to estimate an animal population where some individuals are captured, marked, and released.