Hydrosphere
Water is a major cause of erosion on land.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather is short term, climate is long term averages.
What is one of the driving factors of climate change today?
Burning fossil fuels
What is carrying capacity?
The max amount of organisms an environment can sustainably support
Which renewable energy source uses moving air?
Wind energy
What are three components of the water cycle?
- evaporation
- condensation
- precipitation
- storage in lakes/rivers/oceans
What is one source that scientists use to study past climates?
ice cores, sediments, tree rings
How can photosynthesis help slow climate change?
Plants remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store organic carbon
Why does burning fossil fuels increase atmospheric carbon?
It releases organic carbon that was stored underground from dead organisms
Which renewable resource uses moving water?
Hydroelectric power
What term describes the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles?
Turbidity
Which greenhouse gas is most responsible for recent climate warming due to human activity?
CO2
How does melting arctic sea ice create a positive feedback loop?
Ice melts --> lower albedo --> more heat absorption --> increased temperature --> ice melts
How do choices made today affect future generations?
current emissions and environmental decisions influence future climate and resource availability
What is a major disadvantage of nuclear power?
disposal of radioactive material/spent fuel rods
When studying the effects of agricultural runoff on a stream, where would be the best place to collect a control sample?
Upstream of the agriculture (before the runoff meets the stream)
Why do coastal cities typically experience smaller annual temperature ranges than inland cities?
Water heats and cools more slowly than land
How can a growing human population lead to climate change?
Increased urbanization; increased need to energy/electricity (burning fossil fuels); increased need for food (deforestation for agricultural land); etc
What are examples of renewable resources?
Solar, wind, hydro, nuclear, geothermal
Why has coal use declined over the years?
Increased use of natural gas and renewable energy sources
How does water shape a landscape?
erosion and deposition of sediments
Describe the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere trap heat near the Earth's surface.
How would mass deforestation impact the global climate?
Less trees to do photosynthesis, less carbon being removed from the atmosphere
What are ways that urbanization can impact the environment?
- deforestation for homes/crops
- land pollution from poor waste management
- water pollution from poor waste management
- increased atmospheric CO2 from fossil fuel combustion
What would happen to the atmosphere if we switched completely to renewable energy sources?
Lowered CO2 emissions, cleaner air