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stratospheric ozone
ozone in the stratosphere absorbs UV-C and much of UV-B radiation
UV-B and UV-C
dangerous radiation for humans that can cause tissue damage and mutate DNA
how ozone absorbs UV-B and UV-C
UV-C breaks O2 into 2 free O atoms, which them bond with O2 to make O3, which then gets broken up, etc.
anthropogenic ozone depletion
CFCs are a primary anthropogenic cause of O3 breakdown
natural ozone depletion
antarctica spring melt forms polar stratospheric clouds (PSC)
polar stratospheric clouds (PSC)
clouds made of water and nitric acid, reacts with stuff to give off Cl2, which gets broken by the sun into 2Cl, then breaks down ozone
reducing ozone depletion
main way to reduce anthropogenic O3 depletion is phasing out and replacing CFCs
montreal protocol (1987)
a global agreement to phase out CFCs from production
solar radiation
not all incoming solar radiation reaches earth's surface
the greenhouse effect
gases in earth's atmosphere trap heat from the sun and radiate it back down to earth
GHG examples
CO2, CH4, N2O, CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs
global warming potential (GWP)
measure of how much a given molecule of gas can contribute to the warming of the atmosphere over a 100 year period, RELATIVE TO CO2
residence time
how long a molecule stays in the atmosphere
infrared absorption
how well the gas absorbs and radiates infrared radiation (IR)
thermal expansion
water molecules move slightly further apart when they're heated, which leads to sea level rising
environmental impacts of sea level rising
flooding of coastal ecosystems like estuaries
human impacts of sea level rising
relocation of coastal human populations
historic climate change
earth's climate has varied over geologic time, largely due to variations in earth's orbit around the sun
how scientists have measured earth's historical temp. and CO2 levels
foraminifera shells, air bubbles in ice cores, 16O vs 18O isotope concentrations in ice
effects of climate change
rising temp, rising sea level, melting of permafrost
impact of global warming on coastal communities
property loss, damage, potential relocation; loss of barrier islands
impact of global warming on atmospheric currents
widening and weakening of hadley cell; weakened, destabilized jet stream
impacts of global warming on marine ecosystems
altered range of marine ecosystems; altered ranges for organisms
impact of global warming on ocean circulation
suppression of thermohaline circulation
unequal global warming
polar regions of earth are warming faster than other regions (polar amplification)
melting of permafrost
permanently frozen tundra soils that begin to thaw and release methane and CO2 from anaerobic decomposition
impact of global warming on polar ecosystems
arctic sea ice loss = habitat loss
atmospheric warming = ocean warming
as the atmosphere warms, heat is transferred to the ocean
effects of ocean warming on marine species
warmer water holds less O2, causing respiratory stress or suffocation
ocean acidification
increased CO2 in atmosphere = increased ocean CO2 (direct exchange)
calcium carbonate and marine organisms
marine organisms that make shells use calcium and carbonate ions to build their calcium carbonate shells (calcification)
anthropogenic causes for ocean acidification
ff combustion, deforestation, and coal/gas combustion
invasive species
species not native to an area, often introduced by human transport
zebra mussel
transported by ship ballast water; aggressive filter feeders, eating algae that many other species rely on; 1 mil. eggs/year; clogs intake pipes
kudzu vine
planted to limit soil erosion in southern US; grows very rapidly; outcompetes antives for sunlight by growing over them; no herbivore control in the US
asian carp
brought in to control algae growth in aquatic farms; escaped to mississippi river; outcompetes native fish for food and space; decreases fishery production and value
emerald ash borer
spread by wood packing materials of ships/planes and firewood; larvae lain in bark, eat their way into phloem; disrupts tree nutrient transport, killing them; expanding range due to global warming
can toad
introduced to eat cane beetles causing sugarcane crop loss in australia; became invasive due to huge appetite; drove declines in other amphibians and small reptiles
pythons (florida)
brought to florida as pets, released into wild by owners; decimated mammal populations in everglades (~90-95%); aggressive hunters with no natural predators
control/removal methods for invasive species
laws preventing transport; removal of hosts; careful boat cleaning and inspection; introduction of nat. pred.; physical removal
how species become endangered
poaching, invasives, special food/habitat needs, climate change
poaching
poachers hunt exotic species for fur, tusks, horns; may also be over harvested or hunted for food; removed from wild and sold as pets
invasives (endangered species)
invasives can outcompete natives for resources
special food/habitat needs (endangered species)
niche specialists are more prone to endangerment due to specific food/habitat needs; less tolerant of changing climate, habitat loss, wildfires, deforestation, urbanization, etc.
climate change (endangered species)
shifts habitat of many species (migration is harder); changes in temp/precip. can occur too rapidly for some species to migrate or adapt
protecting endangered species
poaching prevention, legislation, protect wildlife habitats
CITES
international agreement for countries to set up agencies to monitor import and export of endangered species
endangered species act
US law giving USFWS power to designate species as endangered or threatened, monitor trade, and purchase land critical to these animals
IUCN red list
EX (extinct), EW (extinct in the wild), CR (threatened), EN (threatened), VU (threatened), NT (near threatened), LC (least concern)
interspecific competition
competition for resources amongst members of different species
HIPPCO (human threats to biodiversity)
habitat fragmentation/loss, invasive species, population growth, pollution, climate change, over exploitation
habitat fragmentation
breaking of larger, continuous habitats into smaller, isolated patches (roads, pipelines, agri/urban land use, logging)
metapopulations
isolated, subpopulation connected by habitat corridors
edge effect
where two ecosystems meet and have different characteristics than the middle of each ecosystem
mitigating biodiversity loss
protecting and connecting habitats; sustainable land use; restoring lost habitats