The climate is a changing
So much biology
Energy Schmenergy
Eco this
Enviro that
100
These natural cycles cause climate variability and drive ice ages.
What is Milankovitch cycles
100
Define ecosystem
What is community of different species interacting with one another and with the chemical and physical factors making up its nonliving environment
100
What is the first law of thermodynamics?
What is energy is neither created or destroyed, only changes form (energy in = energy out)
100
Human population is growing at an _____________ rate.
What is exponential
100
True or False: water with a pH of 4 is acidic
What is true
200
How do volcanic eruptions affect climate variation?
What is inject gasses and dust (aerosols) into the upper atmosphere which leads to cooling by increasing atmospheric albedo
200
define net primary productivity
What is gross primary productivity minus respiration
200

What is the second law of thermodynamics?

At every energy conversion, some high quality energy is lost to lower quality forms (e.g., heat)

200

What is the source of radon in homes in the Okanagan?

What is granitic bedrock

200

Why is thermal pollution a threat to aquatic organisms such as salmon?

Warmer water holds less dissolved O2 which can suffocate fish

300
define: temperature anomaly
What is the deviation of temperatures from normal over a given base period (typically 1951-1980)
300
provide an example of each a generalist species and a specialist species
What is generalist: coyote, human, fly specialist: panda, polar bear
300

What is one of the major disadvantages of using solar photovoltaics as a primary energy source?

What is no energy when sun not shining

300

Why would you install a white roof on your house?

-less energy needed for cooling in summer


300

Horizontal gene transfer

What is the movement of genetic information across normal mating barriers, between more or less distantly related organisms?

400
How do we expect temperature and precipitation to change in the Okanagan over the next 60 years?
What is increase in temp (~ 3C) and increased precipitation (slight increase, drier summer, less snow more rain in winter)
400

eutrophication is defined as ___________ and leads to _____________.

What is excessive nutrients from human activities accelerate the input of plant nutrients to a lake. It can lead to algae blooms.

400

Current rate of sea level rise

~10cm in last 30 years

400

Endocrine disruptors

What are synthetic chemicals that interfere with production/activity of hormones in the body. Can lead to developmental, neurological and immune problems

400

I am a paleoclimate proxy that works by looking at fossil plant material to connect past plant communities with climates

What is pollen?

500
What are the four types of options available to address climate change.
What is (1) do nothing, (2) mitigation, (3) adaptation, (4) geo-engineering
500

carrying capacity

The number of individuals of a species that can be sustained by the biological productivity of a given area of land is called the

500

Define weather and climate

Weather - local short-term conditions (what is happening now)

Climate - long-term atmospheric conditions, statistics of weather 

500

The 5 factors of soil formation

What are: CLimate, Organisms, Relief, Parent material, Time

500
Why is the loss of topsoil a problem?
What is this part of the soil contains the most organic matter, nutrients and provides the best productivity
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