Vocabulary 1
Necessary process by which the atmosphere traps heat radiated up from Earth’s surface
What is the greenhouse effect?
“It’s hot and sunny today. The temperature is 93°F at 3:00 pm.”
What is weather?
The average temperatures are lower at high elevations than they are at the base of the mountain best describe the effect of a mountain range on this.
What is the climate of a region?
The ozone layer protects living organisms on Earth by doing this.
What is by blocking solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation?
Of the following gases list, the one that is NOT a greenhouse gas is this.
Carbon dioxide
Sulfur dioxide
Methane
Water vapor
What is sulfur dioxide?
Trade winds, westerlies, and polar easterlies are examples.
What are prevailing winds?
“Cool summers, cold winters with lots of snow- about 75 cm of precipitation each year.”
What is climate?
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Describe 4 factors that determine climate in an area.
Answers will vary, but may include:
Latitude- location-- how far above or below the equator a place is can affect the climate in an area. Low latitudes (areas closer to the equator) gets most sunlight, night & day are about 12 hrs each, temperatures are high year round and no summers or winters. Higher latitudes get less sunlight, night & day vary during summer & winter; Summer- 12 hrs daylight in our area; 2-4 hrs of nighttime at poles; Winter- 8 hrs daylight in our area; 24 hrs; 2-4 hrs of daylight at poles
Atmospheric circulation patterns:
Cold air sinks, compresses, and warms b/c it is denser than hot air.
Warm air rises, expands, and cools as it rises.
Warm air can hold more water vapor than cold air. As warm air cools it condenses and makes rain
The rotation of these 3 properties creates wind.
Uneven heating of Earth & Earth spinning alter the movement of wind on Earth and create wind patterns.
At equator, cool air cannot sink due to all the warm air rising up.
This cool air is forced away from the equator & moves toward the poles.
At about 30° N and S of equator, the cool sinks
The cool air starts to warm and sucks moisture from ground below.
This is what creates deserts at 30° N & S latitude.
Same basic process happens at 60° latitude.
Oceanic circulation patterns: Have large effect on climate because water holds lots of heat; Movement of ocean water caused by
Winds; Earth’s rotation- Moving ocean water redistributes warm and cold surface water,
Can have an effect on local coastal climates.
Local geography/Topography:
Height above sea level influences climate.
Temperatures fall 11°F for every ½ mile increase in elevation.
Rain shadow effect
As air moves east toward Rocky mtns, the height of the Rockies block the weather. Rain falls on the western side of the mountain making the eastern side drier.
Solar activity- Solar maximum- sun emits an increased amount of UV radiation, warming the surface of the earth a little
Volcanic activity- Produce sulfur dioxide that can react with dust & water vapor to make haze that reflects light and cools global temperatures
Even though companies have developed a less destructive replacement for CFCs, ozone depletion will likely continue because of this.
What is CFCs already in the atmosphere take a long time to break down?
At the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, scientists have discovered that CO2 levels have done this.
What is increased steadily since 1958?
Has strong effect on climate due to the tilt of the Earth’s axis.
What is latitude?
International agreement that seeks to limit CO2 emissions from developed countries.
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
All of the following will occur if the ozone layer continues to be depleted EXCEPT:
Disruption of photosynthesis
Disruption of ocean food chains
Increased amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Birth defects in amphibians
What is "Increased amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Which home appliance is most likely a source of CFC leakage?
refrigerator
clothes dryer
dishwasher
coffee maker
What is "refrigerator"?
Cooler water temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean that affects global weather patterns during certain years.
What is La Niña?
Compounds that contain chlorine and destroy ozone molecules in upper atmosphere.
What are Chlorofluorocarbons?
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Explain the process by which chlorofluorocarbons destroy ozone molecules in the stratosphere. Use the following terms in your answer: O3, CFC, chlorine, UV light.
Answers should include something similar to:
When CFC's are released into the atmosphere, they get carried up by the polar vortex (winds in the Antarctic) in the stratosphere, where ozone is located. UV light breaks off a chlorine atom from the CFC molecule. The chlorine molecule is then free to break apart the ozone molecule, where the chlorine bonds with the oxygen. One chlorine molecule can destroy up to 100,000 ozone molecules. As a result, the ozone layer over the Antarctic has greatly thinned, resulting in what we call a "hole".
Scientists have determined that as carbon dioxide levels increase, global temperatures will do this.
What is "increase"?
Elevated water temperature in the eastern Pacific Ocean that causes increased rainfall in the southern part of the United States
What is El Niño?
Established international limits on CFC production
What is the Montreal Protocol?
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
If ozone thinning continues, doctors will most likely see a rise in human health problems. Identify 3 threats to human health caused by thinning ozone and propose 2 ways to protect yourself from these threats.
Other possibilities you could mention are:
*premature aging (again sunscreen, staying indoors or in the shade, and wearing sunglasses can help protect a person)
*weakened immune system (same protection as mentioned above)
*damage to DNA- leads to mutations, which could possibly lead to cancer (Same protections as mentioned above)
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
Describe 4 ways an increase in temperature due to global warming will affect living things and/or the environment on Earth.
Answers will vary. One possible answer is:
1)Kill phytoplankton (plant-like creatures in the ocean)- phytoplankton are producers in the ocean. If phytoplankton die off, it could disrupt the ocean food chain, leading to the dying off and extinction of many oceanic species.
2) Kill phytoplankton- if phytoplankton die or decrease in number, marine animals wouldn't have enough oxygen to take in, and therefore would die off.
3)A decrease in the number of phytoplankton-- wouldn't be able to remove as much CO2 (carbon dioxide) from the air, therefore the ocean would absorb more heat, and become warmer.
4) Kill amphibian eggs (such as frogs and salamanders); survivors often suffer mutations and don't live long enough to reproduce, thereby leading to a major decline in amphibians
5)Interferes with land plants- longer growing seasons, but drier-- creating a drought, therefore would require more water/irrigation, water tables/aquifers would be depleted, and therefore plants would be begin to decrease in number, significantly reducing the food supply (crop yield). Would also interfere with photosynthesis-- would not have enough plants to take in the carbon dioxide from the air, and release oxygen.