Ocean Warming & Acidification
What is a consequence of ocean warming that would reduce the amount of food we can get from the ocean?
Ocean warming leads to coral bleaching and the loss of coral reefs.
Coral reefs produce a large amount of the seafood that people eat.
Losing coral reefs to warming could reduce the amount of food we get from the ocean
What does extinction mean? Provide an example of an extinct species from modern North America.
When a species has been completely and permanently wiped out.
Passenger pigeon's were wiped out in late 1800's in the US
CCl2F2
What is another name for these molecules?
CFC's or chlorofluorocarbons
What happens to air temperature when carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere increase?
temperature increases
What is the name of the law that protects species in the US that may become extinct?
Endangered Species Act
What do ocean animals like clams need carbonate (CO3) for?
To build sea shells
Silver carp were brought to the US to control algal blooms in catfish aquaculture ponds. How did they become an invasive species in the US?
Flooding allowed them to escape from the ponds into the Mississippi river system where they have wreaked havoc on the food web because they eat all the algae in the water and overpopulate.
Name a greenhouse gas that forms in the lower troposphere from photochemical reactions.
It is also a powerful respiratory irritant.
ozone - O3
What term describes the reflectivity of a surface?
Albedo
What is the name of the international agreement that helped to reduce the size of the ozone hole by limiting the use of CFC's?
Montreal Protocol
What happens to ocean pH levels and what term describes the water when more CO2 is dissolved in the water?
pH levels drop
the water becomes more acidic
Provide an example of a species in the US that has recovered due to the protection of the ESA.
Bald eagles
Peregrine Falcons
Gray Wolves
Black Footed Ferrets
Name a greenhouse gas that is exclusively anthropogenic.
CFC's
CCl2F2
Describe the annual pattern of CO2 change in the atmosphere. What is the seasonal trend for CO2 and why does it occur?
CO2 levels dip in the spring and summer in the Northern Hemisphere due to increased levels of photosynthesis during the growing season.
CO2 levels rise in the winter as plant growth slows and they absorb less CO2 from the air
What is the name of the international agreement that countries (except the US) made to address the global climate change issue?
Kyoto Protocol
What is the non-living process that moves CO2 gas into the ocean water?
physical pump - CO2 diffuses into the ocean water from the atmosphere.
Identify 3 factors that allow invasive species to colonize new ecosystems.
lack of natural predators in the new environment
wide tolerance of environmental conditions
rapid reproduction (r selected)
outcompete native species for resources
Which greenhouse gas is a product of anaerobic decomposition of organic matter and is a particular problem when permafrost melts?
methane
Explain how CFC's in the atmosphere can lead to human health problems.
CFC's in the stratosphere destroy the ozone layer. The ozone layer blocks UV radiation from reaching the Earth. CFC's can lead to health problems by increasing the amount of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, which would increase the prevalence of skin cancers in people.
What is the common name for the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)? This US laws major emphasis is the cleanup of inactive hazardous waste sites.
The "Superfund Law"
Write out the chemical equation that shows how CO2 and H2O combine to cause ocean acidification.
CO2 + H2O = H2CO3
increased melting of sea ice increases the distance that polar bears have to travel to find food, thus leading to their possible extinction
Which greenhouse gas absorbs lots of heat but does not contribute significantly to global climate change because it has a short residence time in the atmosphere?
water vapor
Describe the positive feedback loop in the arctic that is enhancing the global warming in that region.
Use the terms albedo and absorbance in your answer
As the planet warms, more ice melts which decreases the albedo and increases the absorbance of heat.
Warming leads to more melting, which leads to less ice, less albedo and more absorbance.
What is the purpose of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)?
called the "cradle to grave" act;
it gives EPA the authority to control any hazardous waste at all stages
it requires handlers of hazardous waste to keep detailed records