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Impacts on People
Ocean Impacts
Ozone (again)
Water Impacts
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100
Is climate change expected to increase or decrease pollen allergies?
Increase.
100
Ocean water is expected to warm more than land surfaces in the future. True or false?
False; land is going to warm faster than ocean water
100
Ozone is an air pollutant in the lower atmosphere, a component of smog. True or false?
True. It was the main ingredient of smog in Russia in 2010.
100
Precipitation only includes rainfall, right?
No, it also includes snowfall, sleet, and hail.
100
Your professor did research in which two ecosystems before she came to Florida?
tundra and desert
200
Climate change will affect food security in the US and globally, by reducing crop yields, and what else?
One of the following: by requiring changes in food processing, storage, transportation and retailing.
200
Zooplankton populations are very stable in ocean waters, and in fact, are expected to thrive in a future, warmer climate. True or false?
False. In the longer term, regime shifts can cause zooplankton populations to crash, which has cascading impacts down the food web
200
Ozone also acts as a greenhouse gas in the lower atmosphere. True or false?
True
200
Is precipitation expected to increase or decrease uniformly over the planet?
No, precipitation changes will vary regionally.
300
Extreme weather events like the Moore, OK, F5 tornado will become more common in a warmer climate. True or false?
False; the jury is still out on tornado frequency and intensity.
300
In The Day After Tomorrow, the scientist mentioned a theory where the North Atlantic Ocean Circulation is stopped by the inputs of what kind of water (name 2 characteristics)?
Fresher (less salty), colder water from melting ice. This is called thermohaline circulation.
300
In the upper atmosphere (specfically, the lower stratosphere), the ozone layer traps infrared radiation and warms the air. True or false?
This is true. It also shields the Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation, protecting the health of plants and animals.
300
Where does precipitation come from, most of the time?
Evaporation of ocean water.
400
Meteorologists are predicting a very active hurricane season for 2013. Is this evidence of climate change?
No, there’s no evidence that hurricane frequency is linked to climate change. A warmer climate could produce more intensive hurricanes, though.
400
The N. Atlantic ocean circulation (conveyor belt) is now called Meridional Overturning Current (MOC). Is it in danger of shutting down anytime soon. Does it cycle naturally?
No, the MOC is not in danger of shutting down anytime soon. It cycles naturally, and is entering a slower phase, which should make some regions cooler, like northern Europe.
400
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are the cause of ozone depletion over the south pole. True or false?
True, in the presence of special clouds, and sunlight which releases chlorine from the CFCs, which breaks down ozone into oxygen.
400
California wildfires are under control, but these large fires are becoming more common as the hot, dry summer months unfold. Fire scientists are calling this “the new normal”. What does this mean?
We should prepare for more intense and frequent wildfires as the climate gets warmer and drier in the Southwest US.
400
One member of this class is heading to graduate school soon in chemistry. Who is it?
Alyssa
500
Vulnerability in an environment is determined by age, income, and health. True or false?
True, so people in lower income communities, disabled people, very old and very young people are at greater risk.
500
Coral reefs are likely to expand their range as sea level rises. True or false, and why?
False. The main reasons are that sea level is rising, but warmer ocean water causes coral bleaching. Higher carbon dioxide concentrations is making ocean water more acidic, which damages coral reefs as well.
500
The ozone hole allows more heat to enter Earth's atmosphere, accelerating climate warming. True or false?
False. The breakdown of ozone over Antarctica cools the lower stratosphere. Sometimes this cooler air reaches the surface, causing the interior of Antarctica to remain cooler than coastal areas.
500
The melting of the "snows of Kilimanjaro" is a textbook example of glacial melting that is underway due to global warming. True or false?
False. Air temperatures are still below freezing on Kilimanjaro. The evidence suggests snows are disappearing due to regional drying, rather than warming.