Earth Systems & Interactions
Which Earth system includes all living organisms?
Biosphere
What is the difference between weather & climate?
Weather - short term atmospheric conditions
Climate - long term weather patterns
What are fossil fuels?
Nonrenewable energy sources formed from ancient, decomposed life
Which resource is renewable: coal, oil, wind, or natural gas?
Wind
Climate change mitigation aims to:
Slow down or reduce the severity of climate change
Which Earth system includes rocks, soil, and landforms?
Geosphere
What do greenhouse gases do?
Trap heat in the atmosphere
How does burning fossil fuels affect the atmosphere?
It releases greenhouse gases, which leads to the greenhouse effect (increase in global temperature)
What are two examples of renewable energy sources?
Solar power, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, & biomass (biofuel)
Climate change adaptation aims to:
Help us adjust to, or live with, the current (& predicted) impacts of climate change
Melting glaciers add freshwater to the ocean. Which Earth system is most directly involved?
Hydrosphere
What type of data do scientists use to study climate: short-term weather events or long-term patterns?
Long-term patterns
How does deforestation contribute to climate change?
When we cut down trees, we lose capacity to absorb CO2, so more carbon dioxide remains in the atmosphere, contributing to global temperature rise
What is the difference between renewable & nonrenewable energy?
Renewable - naturally replenishes in a short time
Nonrenewable - takes millions of years to form, so it can be used up before it's replenished
Is switching from coal to solar energy mitigation or adaptation?
Mitigation
Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Which two Earth systems are interacting in this process?
Biosphere & Atmosphere
Why doesn't one cold winter disprove climate change?
Climate related to long term weather patterns, so one season is a weather event, not (necessarily) indicative of the climate
How can melting glaciers impact coastal communities?
Increased flooding - property damage, habitat loss, human health harms
Which type of energy is more sustainable long term: renewable or nonrenewable?
Renewable
A farmer switches to drought-resistant crops. Is this mitigation or adaptation?
Adaptation
Heavy rainfall causes soil to wash into a river (erosion). Which two Earth systems are interacting?
Hydrosphere & geosphere
What is the main greenhouse gas released by burning fossil fuels?
Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
What human activity contributes the most to increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
Burning fossil fuels
What is one major advantage of renewable energy?
It doesn't run out, produces less pollution, less greenhouse gas emissions
How does planting trees help mitigate climate change?
Trees help pull CO2 out of the atmosphere, which would help to reduce the greenhouse effect (& bring global temps down)