Global Change
What is the primary greenhouse gas emitted by human activities?
What is carbon dioxide (CO₂)?
Define carrying capacity.
What is the maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely?
hich type of plate boundary is characterized by two tectonic plates sliding past each other, often causing earthquakes?
What is a transform boundary?
What is monoculture, and why is it used in agriculture?
What is the cultivation of a single crop over a large area for efficiency?
What is the primary source of energy worldwide?
What is fossil fuels?
Name one consequence of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems.
What is the loss of shells on ocean organisms and coral reef discoloration?
What is the Rule of 70, and how is it used?
What is a formula to estimate doubling time: 70 divided by the annual growth rate?
Identify the three main soil particle sizes.
What are sand, silt, and clay?
Name a method to reduce soil erosion in farming.
What are cover crops, terracing, and many other methods?
Compare renewable and nonrenewable energy sources.
What are renewable sources that replenish naturally, while nonrenewable sources are finite?
Explain how the melting of Arctic sea ice contributes to a positive feedback loop in global climate change.
What is the reduction of Earth's albedo due to melting sea ice, leading to increased absorption of solar radiation and further warming?
Compare r-selected and K-selected species in terms of reproductive strategies.
What is r-selected species produce many offspring with low survival rates, while K-selected species produce fewer offspring with higher survival rates?
What are the four layers of the Earth, starting from the surface?
What are the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core?
Explain the concept of the tragedy of the commons with an example.
What is the overuse of a resource shared by the public, such as overfishing in international waters?
What is hydroelectric power?
What is power pertaining to the generation and distribution of electricity derived from the energy of falling water or any other hydraulic source?
What is habitat destruction and fragmentation?
What does a age structure diagram with a wide base mean, and what does an age structure with a narrow base mean?
What is a borad base indicates rapid growth while a narrow base indicates decline?
The part of the atmosphere where the hottest temperature occurs.
What is the thermosphere?
Describe how urbanization affects the water cycle.
What is increased runoff and reduced infiltration due to impervious surfaces?
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy.
What are low greenhouse gas emissions but concerns over radioactive waste and accidents?
What is the compound that led to the depletion of the ozone layer, and what treaty banned them?
What is Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and what is the montreal protocol?
Discuss the demographic transition model and its four stages.
What is a model describing population changes over time through four stages: pre-industrial, transitional, industrial, and post-industrial?
How do El Niño events impact weather patterns in the eastern Pacific Ocean?
What is the warming of ocean surface temperatures leading to increased rainfall and storm activity in the eastern Pacific?
Discuss the environmental consequences of clear-cutting forests.
What are habitat loss, increased erosion, and disruption of carbon and water cycles?
Describe how energy efficiency can be improved in buildings.
What is using insulation, energy-efficient appliances, and passive solar design?