Module 55
This two-legged chordate is largely responsible for ozone depletion through the use of CFC's
What is a human being?
These are the 2 most common gases in the atmosphere.
What are N2 and O2?
Scientists once thought that this greenhouse gas, when present in large numbers, was absorbed by oceans and vegetation.
What is Carbon Dioxide?
These chemicals disrupt the endocrine system by interfering with hormones.
What are endocrine disruptors?
Species that are likely to go extinct in the near future.
What are endangered species?
Stratospheric ozone is essential to life because it prevents harm from this type of radiation.
What is UV-C radiation?
This is the type of global change focused on changes in the average weather in an area over time.
What is Global Climate Change?
Seasonal variations in CO2 show that which natural plant process plays a role in the increase of CO2 in the Spring?
What is Photosynthesis?
An international agreement that sets a goal for global emissions of greenhouse gases from all industrialized countries to be reduced by 5.2 percent below their 1990 levels by 2012
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
Chemical control method for invasive species
What are pesticides?
Despite having a bad rap, this pale blue gas is important because it absorbs most of the UV radiation from the Sun.
What is Ozone?
This is the absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases and reradiating of energy back toward Earth.
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
When these melt, they contribute to rising sea levels.
What are glaciers?
A process in which an increase in ocean CO2 causes more CO2 to be converted to carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of the water
What is Ocean Acidification?
A non native species that that has been introduced to a new area and has the ability to establish a population and spread
What is an invasive species?
A commitment by 24 nations to reduce CFC production by 50 percent by the year 2000
What is the Montreal Protocol.
This source of natural greenhouse gases expel vast amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere.
What is a volcano?
Global warming can cause increased range for disease vectors, which is bad news if we dislike mosquitoes carrying this/these disease(s).
West Nile virus and/or Malaria.
This greenhouse gas is the primary driver of ocean warming.
What is Carbon dioxide?
A 1973 treaty formed to control the international trade of threatened plants and animals.
What is CITES?
These were favored over CFC's because they supposedly cause less damage.
What are HFC's?
This process produces Nitrous oxide, a natural component of the nitrogen cycle, in agricultural practices.
What is denitrification?
Scientists measure past greenhouse gas levels by analyzing bubbles trapped in these.
What are ice cores?
As ocean pH decreases, it becomes difficult for marine organisms to form shells made of this mineral.
What is calcium carbonate?
A pledge by 196 countries to keep global warming less than 2C° above pre-industrial levels. Also known as the Paris Climate Accord.
What is the Paris Climate agreement?