Green house effect
True or False: Greenhouse gases release heat and trap it slowly onto the Earth.
False: Greenhouse gases trap heat and release it slowly back into the atmosphere.
What is the primary cause of climate change?
Increasing Greenhouse gases
What is Albedo?
How much sun/heat is reflected back into space.
Remember:
White surfaces (snow/ice) -> reflect sun
Dark surfaces (ocean ground)->absorbs sun
What are the winters and summers like in Polar Ecosystems?
The winters are bitterly cold and dark. The summers are bright, but cool.
True or False: Oxygen levels are really high in an Alpine Tundra.
False: Oxygen levels are low.
An "Enhanced" Greenhouse Effect
If more greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere, what happens?
More heat will get trapped and less heat will go into outer space.
Describe Arctic(and Antarctic Tundra), Alpine Tundra, and Polar Ecosystems.
Arctic(and Antarctic Tundra): Cold, Treeless, short growing season, with a land-based food web.
Alpine Tundra: Top of high mountains with climate influenced by high altitudes. Not as cold as Arctic Tundra and a longer growing season.
Polar Ecosystems: Overlaps with Arctic and Antarctic Tundra, but the food web is based on the ocean
What are some autotrophs in a Polar Ecosystem?
Algae and phytoplankton.
How many days is the growing season for the Alpine Tundra?
180 days.
Why is the Greenhouse effect a natural process?
Because it doesn't involve any manmade Greenhouse gases and we are using the sun to warm up the Earth instead of any artificial sources.
Name 3 causes and effects of Climate Change
Causes:
Energy use, Pollution, Transportation, Consumer practices, Rapid industrialization, Agricultural practices, Deforestation, Consumer practices, Livestock, Resource Extraction
Effects:
Rising Temperatures, Rising Sea levels, Unpredictable weather patterns, Increase in extreme weather events, Land degradation, Loss of wildlife and biodiversity, Melting Sea Ice
Where is the Arctic Tundra?
Encircles the North Pole, goes south to the conifier forests of the taiga.
In a Polar Ecosystem, where do you think the ocean water is saltier?
Saltwater is more dense so it sinks towards the bottom.
Compare the Alpine Tundras soil to the Arctic Tundras soil.
Name Greenhouse gases that are in the atmosphere and Greenhouse gases that are Anthropomorphic(Man Made):
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are CO2 and Water Vapor.
Greenhouse gases (Man Made) are Nitrous Oxide, Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Fluorinated gases.
Describe Natural Greenhouse Effect and Enhanced Greenhouse Effect
Natural Greenhouse Effect:
Normal Greenhouse gas amount, More heat escapes to space, Less re-emitted heat
Enhanced Greenhouse Effect:
More Greenhouse gases, Less heat escapes to space, More re-emitted heat.
What does sea ice do?
Sea ice is used by some land animals as a 'bridge'.
Can connect populations together, expanding genetic variety.
(Lack of ice keeps animals/populations isolated, increased inbreeding.
Sea ice is like "upside down ______ "
a.)disaster
b.)dirt
c.)soil
d.)cage
What is a treeline?
Edge of the habitat where trees can't grow b/c of high elevation ( alpine tundra) or high latitude(Arctic tundra)
What are the Greenhouse gases that trap the sun's heat and keep the planet warm?
Carbon Dioxide(CO2), Methane(CH4), Nitrous Oxide(N2O), CFCs, and Water Vapor(H2O).
Social impacts of climate change would be?
Poverty, More diseases, Food/Water shortage, Hunger, Malnutrition, Displaced people
Why is the Antarctic Tundra much smaller than the arctic tundra?
Most of Antarctica is covered by ice fields and the land is too cold and dry to support vegetation.
What happens to the krill population when sea ice disappears?
Krill populations decrease, affecting the entire community.
Alpine tundra plants would be...
grasses, lichens, mosses, small-leaf shrubs, and dwarf/stunted trees.