Natural Sources of GHG
Adds Carbon Dioxide to the atmosphere over the long term. In the short term, adds Sulfur Dioxide which acts like a cloud, reflecting solar radiation back to the atmosphere, cooling the Earth.
Volcanic Eruptions
Coal produces the most CO2. Oil produces 2nd most. Natural Gas produces the 3rd most. Can also release methane and nitrous oxide.
Burning Fossil Fuels
makes it hard for corals and other marine animals with shells to form because of the loss of carbonate ions in the water, which is needed to help calcify shells.
Ocean Acidification
Over time, animals and plants will continue to accrue POPs in their fatty tissues.
Bioaccumulation
Describe a method of carbon sequestration.
Wetlands are the largest natural source of methane. High oxygen conditions result in decomposing organic matter to release CO2. Low oxygen conditions result in decomposing organic matter to release Methane.
Decomposition and Digestion
Household waste slowly decomposes in low oxygen environments, like wetlands, producing methane.
Landfills
Cities replace natural land cover with lots of pavement, buildings, and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat.
Urban Heat Island Effect
Increased temperatures cause algae to be kicked out of coral.
Coral Bleaching
White clouds have a high or low albedo? Explain.
High - Lighter colors have higher albedo, reflect more.
Nitrate is converted to Nitrous oxide gas in low oxygen conditions, which acts as a powerful greenhouse gas.
Denitrification
Fields that are over irrigated create low oxygen environments similar to wetlands and produce nitrous oxide and methane.
Raising livestock can produce large amounts of methane, such as cattle.
Agricultural Practices
As places that used to freeze do not freeze anymore, mosquitoes expand their yearly range
Disease Vectors
As an animal eats a producer, a tertiary consumer eats a secondary consumer, and a top predator eats a tertiary consumer (moving up the food chain),
Biomagnification
Rank GHG GWP in order.
CFCs have the highest global warming potential (GWP), followed by nitrous oxide, then methane, then carbon dioxide.
Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas.
Evaporation and Evapotranspiration
Some industries make new chemicals such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) which have a high greenhouse warming potential.
Industry
results in less flood protection for surrounding areas
decreases biodiversity of an area
Loss of Wetlands
Bacteria decompose dead algae and while doing so remove dissolved oxygen from the water.
Dead Zones
Explain the greenhouse effect.
Visible light from sun hits Earth, warms it up, infrared is released, and bounces off of infrared photons, heat is trapped and warms Earth.
What day is the AP Test?
When is your APES packet due?
15th
13th
Forests destroyed but not replaced will contribute to a net increase in CO2 as less plants are available to take in CO2.
Deforestation
Impacts of Sea Level Rise
Shallow zones become deeper, and communities may no longer be in the photic zone.
Coastal communities and habitats are displaced.
Ways to reduce urban heat island effect
Trees/Green Roofs
This is one of the most important pieces of evidence that shows amounts of CO2 over thousands of years ago.
Vostok Ice Cores.