General Knowledge
What do greenhouse gases do?
They trap heat in the atmosphere and act like a blanket. The more greenhouse gases we have in the atmosphere, the higher our average temperatures rise.
What is an invasive species? Explain and give an example
An organism that finds its way from one environment to another, usually by human interference. They take over because they have no natural predators.
Examples: Zebra mussels, Starlings, and common blackberry bushes.
What do climate graphs show us?
They show us changes in the Earth's climate over small and large periods of time.
What do CO2 emissions per capita mean?
Per capita is a Latin term that means per head or per person.
Per capita emissions mean how much CO2 each person creates in a particular country.
Renewable energy sources are one solution to reducing greenhouse gas production. Explain renewable energy and list 3 renewable energy sources.
Renewable energy is power generated from sources that replenish themselves over time.
Examples: wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectricity
What is over-harvesting? Explain and give an example
Over-harvesting is taking a resource faster than the earth can replenish it.
Examples: Overfishing and deforestation.
What are 3 ways humans impact climate change?
Air pollution, Soil pollution, Water pollution, Habitat destruction and over-harvesting
What do these graphs from the early 1900's to the present day have in common?
1) Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
2)Yearly Surface Temperature Abnormalities
3) Sea Level Changes
All 3 are showing a rise in connection with each other.
Name 3 countries that have the highest per capita CO2 emissions.
Canada, Russia, USA, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE
What is field sampling?
When scientists collect soil, water, air, plant or animal samples to test in a lab.
What is deforestation?
The removal of large areas of trees/ forests.
How does habitat destruction harm the Earth's biodiversity?
When habitats are taken away, organisms that rely on them will die off.
As ice mass is lost in places like Greenland, what happens?
Sea levels rise in connection with the ice loss.
What factor do all the higher per capita CO2 countries have in common?
They are all more developed countries with lots of roads, cities and industry.
What is bioremediation?
The process of using living organisms like bacteria, fungi or plants to clean up pollution.
The 2 major greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming are.
What are C0 2 and Methane
Explain how invasive species harm biodiversity
Invasive species take over the habitat and spaces of native ones, so they can eventually kill species and reduce biodiversity.
What other global warming problem happens when large ice masses melt?
Lost ice means less sunlight is reflected back to space. The exposed dark land absorbs more sunlight causing more warming.
Do all countries have the same rules for how much CO2 they can produce?
No, different countries have different laws about this. Also, some countries, based on their climate, have higher energy needs for survival.
What are constructed wetlands?
Human-made systems that work like natural wetlands to treat wastewater and runoff.
What medicine comes from the Himalayan Yew tree, and what is its use?
Taxol comes from the Himalayan Yew tree, and it is used as a cancer medicine.
Explain how deforestation affects climate change.
With fewer trees and plants, there are fewer species left to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it to Oxygen. More CO2 means higher average temperatures.
How do the C02 levels of Earth thousands of years ago compare with today?
Thousands of years ago, the levels reached a max of about 300 PPM. Today, they are around 400 PPM.
(Parts per million)
Not considering per capita CO2, but just looking at total emissions. Which countries produce the most CO2?
Name at least 2
China
USA
India
Russia
Japan
What is ecosystem restoration?
When scientists apply ecological principles to bring natural ecosystems back to health.