Unit 9 Stuff You Should Know with Solutions

Climate Change and Greenhouse Gases

• Relationship Between Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Atmospheric Temperatures

  • Direct correlation: Higher emissions lead to increased global temperatures.

• Impact of Melting Ice Sheets on Ocean Currents

  • Introduction of cold fresh water decreases temperature and salinity of ocean water near the poles, influencing ocean currents.

• Impact of CFCs on Ozone in the Stratosphere

  • Chlorine is introduced from Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), leading to the breakdown of ozone.

• Montreal Protocol and Stratospheric Ozone

  • Established in 1987, the Montreal Protocol aimed to phase out CFCs, resulting in increased ozone concentrations around the poles.

• Comparison of Ozone Effects

  • Troposphere: Contributes to photochemical smog.

  • Stratosphere: Absorbs all UV-C radiation and most UV-B radiation from the sun.

• Greenhouse Gases and Their Warming Potential

  • Order from lowest to highest warming potential:

  1. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

  2. Methane (CH4)

  3. Nitrous Oxide (N2O)

  4. CFCs (contribute to greenhouse effect but not global warming directly)

• Main Sources of Greenhouse Gases

  • CO2: Fossil fuel combustion, deforestation.

  • CH4: Decomposition, livestock emissions.

  • N2O: Denitrification from excessive fertilizer use.

  • CFCs: Aerosols, refrigerants.

• Impact of Sea Level Rise on Coastal Ecosystems

  • Flooding of coastal wetlands destroys habitats, reduces land area, and decreases photosynthesis for marine flora.

Effects of Climate Change on Ecosystems

• Impact of Roads and Pipelines on Natural Habitats

  • Fragmentation of habitats leads to isolation of organisms and increases risks of mortality (e.g., vehicle impacts, oil spills).

• Impact of Increasing Atmospheric Temperatures

  • Range of Tropical Diseases: Expansion of disease vectors due to shifting biomes towards northern and southern latitudes.

  • Severe Weather Events: Enhanced intensity due to more energy in the atmosphere.

  • Crop Damage: Higher temperatures expand the range of pests and pathogens affecting crops.

• Positive Feedback Loop in Arctic Ecosystems

  • Increased temperatures lead to melting permafrost, resulting in decomposing materials that release more methane and further increase temperatures.

• CO2 Emissions and Ocean pH

  • Elevated CO2 levels lead to increased formation of carbonic acid (H2CO3) in oceans, resulting in lower pH.

• Mitigation of CO2 Diffusion into Oceans

  • Transitioning from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources (nuclear, wind, solar) is critical.

• Impact of CO2 on Calcium Carbonate Availability

  • Elevated CO2 leads to high carbonic acid levels, which increases hydrogen ions that bond to carbonate ions, decreasing the availability of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) for marine organisms to construct exoskeletons.

Invasive Species and Endangered Species Characteristics

• Characteristics of Invasive Species

  • Generalist species, r-strategists, lack natural predators in their new environments.

• Characteristics Leading to Endangered Species

  • Niche specialists, small population sizes, often k-selected, typically higher trophic level (apex predators).