First Year Science Seminar Midterm

What two phenomena work together to establish the north-east tradewinds that we

experience here in Hawaii?

The hadley cell and the Coriolis effect

How did cyanobacteria transform the earth’s biosphere?

by producing oxygen through their oxygenic photosynthesis

In the papal document Laudato si’, it is suggested that science and religion should

work together to address the planet’s dramatic ecological problems. How might this

cooperation be accomplished?

They connect scientific findings with ethical and spiritual values

How did Hurricane Katrina (2005) gain so much strength as it moved northwards

across the Gulf of Mexico towards New Orleans, Louisiana?

It hit warmer waters as it got closer to the Gulf of Mexico, warm water makes hurricanes intensify and speed up. 

Why are there more hurricanes in the vicinity of Hawaii when the El Niño weather

pattern is in effect?

Hawaii had a higher chance of being hit by hurricanes because El Nino caused warmer waters, weak tradewinds, and favorable atmospheric conditions due to the atmospheric shift in weather patterns. All of these attract and create the potential to form storms. 

What is the relationship between atmospheric CO 2 concentrations and ice ages?

they have an inverse relationship. During an ice age period, the CO2 levels are low, and during a warm interglacial period, the CO2 levels are high.

Why is the scientific method (in which hypotheses are created and tested) such a

powerful generator of new knowledge?

it provides a systematic, objective, and repeatable framework for investigating the world, minimizing bias and personal beliefs

Marine microbes began generating oxygen 3.5 billion years ago, but an oxygenic

atmosphere didn’t start developing until 2.0 billion years ago. What accounted for this

1.5-billion year time lag?

early oxygen was consumed by chemical reactions with abundant iron and other "sinks" on Earth, preventing it from building up in the atmosphere

The graph below plots the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere over the

past 1,000 years. What do you think accounts for the increase in atmospheric CO 2 that

started around 1800?

the onset of the industrial revolution

How should Hawaii state and city leaders and planners prepare our coastal communities for a 3-foot increase in sea level? How about a 10-foot increase?

For a 3-foot rise, priorities include elevating infrastructure, creating new wetlands, and updating zoning and building codes. A 10-foot increase will likely require a more aggressive combination of these strategies, alongside a greater emphasis on relocating critical assets and implementing large-scale "retreat" from highly vulnerable areas where adaptation is not feasible. 

During an Ice Age, world-wide sea level was hundreds of feet lower than it is today. What accounts for this?

vast amounts of water were locked up in enormous continental glaciers and ice sheets covering large parts of the Earth's landmass. This process removed water from the oceans, causing sea levels to drop significantly

How might whales contribute to drawing down the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere?

• by acting as living carbon sinks that store carbon in their bodies and sequester it on the ocean floor when they die.

• They also boost phytoplankton growth through the "whale pump" effect, which involves excreting nutrients that fertilize these microscopic algae, enabling them to absorb more CO2 through photosynthesis. 

List 6 of the symptoms that are characteristics of ciguatera fish poisoning.

1. Nausea/vomiting

2. diarrhea

3. tingling or numbness in hands and feet

4. muscle and joint pain

5. reversal of temperature sensation (hot things feel cold and visa versa)

6. Fatigue

7. dizziness and confusion

The british neuroscientist David Crawford maintains that the consumption of seafood by our African ancestors led to the evolution of the large brain of modern humans. What are some of the reasons he cites in support of this idea?

a key part of his work, which focuses on the importance of omega-3 fatty acids like DHA found in fish for brain development

Both humans and dolphins have a high brain-weight to body-weight ratio relative to other large mammals. what accounts for this phenomenon?

their evolution as highly social animals that require complex cognitive skills for navigation, communication, and social interaction

What are the 4 circumstances that contributed to Bermuda being able to avoid having its reef environment turning into a “tragedy of the commons”?

Bermuda avoided a "tragedy of the commons" in its reef environment due to a combination of its unique northern location, high thermal resilience, strong local management policies, and making Bermuda’s exclusive economic zone as a no-take reserve. 

In our consideration of Garrett Hardin’s essay “Tragedy of the Commons”, we discussed why it would appear logical for a shepherdess to add one more of her sheep to an area of common pasture, even though it would damage the pasture. Describe how that is both logical for the shepherdess and tragic for society and the ecosystem.

• Logical for the shepherdess:

  • She gains personal benefit (more wool, milk, or meat) from adding one more sheep.

  • The negative effects of overgrazing are shared among all users, not just her.

  • It seems rational to take advantage of a shared, “free” resource.

• Tragic for society and the ecosystem:

  • If every shepherd adds more sheep, the pasture becomes overused and degraded.

  • The shared resource eventually collapses, harming everyone.

  • Illustrates Hardin’s “tragedy of the commons”: individual self-interest leads to collective environmental destruction.

Why did people on the far right of the political spectrum dislike Garrett Hardin’s ideas?

Because his arguments challenged the belief in individual freedom, limited government, and free-market control. His arguments were regarding limiting resources to make them last and prevent over usage, which limits freedom regarding access to resources. He was worried about maintaining important resources while the far right side people were worried about themselves and using the resources that are there “for them”

Why did people on the far left of the political spectrum dislike Garrett Hardin’s ideas?

the far left disliked Hardin’s ideas because they viewed them as harsh, unfair to the poor, and dismissive of social and economic justice.