InQuizitive Ch18

True

The water cycle also contributes greenhouse gas to the atmosphere. Water vapor is a greenhouse gas, so transpiration and evaporation contribute greenhouse gas.

Which of the following are greenhouse gases?

Correct Answer: H2O CH4 Incorrect Answer: C6H12O6 N2 H2O2

The average global temperature (shown in this graph) roughly reflects the change in average greenhouse gas concentrations over the last ~150 years. Based on this graph, in approximately what year would greenhouse gas concentrations have been the highest? https://ncia.wwnorton.com/media/57f7e5595e4ef6e50579a9d1/Inq_BN2_18.4-12_BioNow2E_1809.jpg

2016 2016 has the highest average global temperature in the graph at approximately 58.7°F. Thus, one can deduce that greenhouse gas concentrations would have been the highest as well.

Based on the data in the following graph, if carbon dioxide concentrations continue at the current trajectory, which is the best estimate of atmospheric CO2 concentration in 2040? https://ncia.wwnorton.com/media/57f7e5595e4ef6e50579a9d1/Inq_BN2_18.4-13_BioNow2E_1808.jpg

450 ppm At the current trajectory, CO2 concentrations will likely reach 450 ppm sometime before 2050.

Which of the following statements best defines a greenhouse gas?

An atmospheric gas that absorbs heat radiating away from the Earth. Greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane.

False

Biotic factors can increase or decrease growth of biological populations, but abiotic factors can only increase biological growth.

water and carbon cycles

Both the water cycle, or hydrologic cycle, and the carbon cycle consist of the movement of a substance back and forth between the sky and land. In the water cycle, evaporation transports water from the Earth into the atmosphere, and precipitation transports water back to the Earth. In the carbon cycle, respiration transports carbon into the atmosphere, and photosynthesis transports it back to the Earth. In addition, the burning of fossil fuels transports carbon to the atmosphere.

True

Changes in the angle at which sunlight strikes the planet are responsible for the regional differences in temperatures and those among different seasons, but they are not responsible for long-term increases in global temperature.

Which of the following perpetuate the global warming process, making it more and more intense as time passes?

Correct Answer: Increased temperatures increase the decomposition of carbon in previously frozen permafrost, releasing CO2 and CH4 to the atmosphere. An increase in temperature leads to more carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere, which can reemit even more radiation back to Earth, thereby increasing the temperature even more. Increased temperatures lead to the melting of methane clathrates, which releases methane (CH4) to the atmosphere. An increase in temperature leads to more methane in the atmosphere, which can reemit even more radiation back to Earth, thereby increasing the temperature even more. Water vapor is the most potent greenhouse gas and its concentration increases with temperature, up to the point of water saturation. An increase in temperature leads to generally higher humidity in the atmosphere, which can reemit even more radiation back to Earth, thereby increasing the temperature even more. It also leads to increased precipitation. Incorrect Answer: Increased temperatures lead to increased precipitation and flooding. The increased precipitation may lead to flooding, but it does not directly lead to increased warming on Earth. Thus, it is not a perpetual warming mechanism. Increased temperatures cause polar melting and increase the water table. The water table increase may lead to loss of land, but it does not lead to increased warming on Earth. Thus, it is not a positive feedback (perpetual) mechanism.

Which of the following resources, used by humans, are produced by the biosphere?

Correct Answer: Oxygen Oxygen is produced by Earth's photosynthetic organisms, which are a part of the biosphere. Wood Wood is formed by trees, which are part of the biosphere. Water Water is used, produced, and transported by Earth's organisms, which are a part of the biosphere. Incorrect Answer: Rocks Rocks are produced by Earth's geological processes, which influence the biosphere but are not produced by it.

The atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide has markedly increased in recent decades. Which of the following mechanisms have led to this increase in atmospheric CO2?

Correct Answer: burning of fossil fuels Burning fossil fuels, which are made of carbon dioxide, contributes about 75% of the yearly increase in atmospheric CO2. Destruction of forests Destruction of forests, which store carbon dioxide, contributes about 25% of the yearly increase in atmospheric CO2. Incorrect Answer: Rising sea levels Rising sea levels are caused by the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, not the reverse. Global warming Global warming is caused by the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide, not the reverse.

Which of the following types of energy are absorbed by greenhouse gases?

Correct Answer: solar radiation Greenhouse gases absorb indirect solar radiation that is reemitted from the Earth's surface. Infrared radiation Infrared radiation is reemitted from Earth as a result of the absorption of the sun's radiation. Incorrect Answer: Green energy Green energy is also known as renewable energy and may be collected from natural sources such as wind or solar radiation. light Although the sun emits light, the light is not absorbed by the greenhouse gases. Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, not a type of absorbable energy. Entropy Entropy is the thermodynamic tendency for a system to move toward disorder.

Which of the following variables are abiotic factors that affect ecosystems? Abiotic factors are those that are nonliving and affect ecosystems.

Correct Answer: temperature rocks sunlight Incorrect Answer: predation

Increased fire frequency in the Amazon rainforest is likely to cause which of the following? Drought and increased fire frequency contribute to deforestation of the Amazon.

Correct answer: increase in atmospheric CO2 emission Burning of forest timber releases CO2 and other greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. exacerbation or worsening of climate change Loss of rainforest and increases in CO2 emission enhance the impact of global climate change. loss of forested area Deforestation is frequently caused by drought and fire frequency in the Amazon rainforest. Incorrect answer: increase in forest productivity Increased fire frequency leads to deforestation and decreased productivity. increase in agricultural productivity Although the loss of forest may make more agricultural land available, this land may or may not be used for agriculture and does not necessarily increase productivity. Sometimes burning can boost agricultural productivity, as in the biochar found in "terra preta" soils in South America. However, the soil's chemical and biological properties are also disrupted, which can sometimes have an adverse impact.

In the image, identify where gases that absorb and reemit the sun's warmth back to Earth accumulate.

Earth's gravity helps keep gases such as carbon dioxide and methane trapped in the atmospheric layers, where they absorb and reemit the sun's warmth back to Earth.

biotic and abiotic factors

Ecosystems are influenced by both biotic factors, which are the biological components of ecosystems, and abiotic factors, which are the nonliving components of ecosystems. Biotic factors include microbes, and abiotic factors include rainfall.

False

Global warming is largely caused by a change in the angle at which sunlight strikes the planet.

Dark colored surfaces absorb more solar radiation than light colored surfaces. If global warming results in complete melting of the white Arctic sea ice, what effect should that have on Arctic Ocean temperatures?

It should increase the Arctic Ocean temperature even more. Indeed, the temperature of the Arctic ocean is expected to increase faster than many other regions of Earth because the dark blue liquid ocean will absorb more heat than when it was white frozen ocean.

True

Populations are adapted to their environments. Therefore, a change in almost any abiotic factor, for instance the environment becoming too cold, too hot, or too salty, could damage a population to some extent.

consequences of climate change

Short-term atmospheric conditions, such as whether it rains today, are called weather. On the other hand, climate describes the long-term trends in atmospheric conditions, usually over a period of decades. Due primarily to human activities, many of these long-term trends have changed over the past century, resulting in far-reaching consequences, such as the reduction of freshwater glaciers and a rise in sea level.

Which of the following are a part of the biosphere? The biosphere includes all of Earth's species and the physical space they occupy, which includes water, soil, and the CO2 in the atmosphere.

Soil in a forest Soil in a forest is a part of the biosphere. CO2 in the atmosphere CO2 in the atmosphere is a part of the biosphere. Water in a river Water in a river is a part of the biosphere. Frogs in a pond Frogs in a pond are a part of the biosphere.

biosphere

The biosphere consists of allall of Earth's organisms and the physical space that they inhabit. It is the source of many of the resources that sustain human society, like oxygen. The activity of humans impacts natural ecosystems, such as the Amazon rainforest, where much of the land has been turned into farms.

Which of the following would be considered weather and which would be considered climate?

Weather: heavy spring rains and dry summers extreme flooding during a hurricane Climate: warmer average air temperatures since 1910 increases in frequency of flooding in the past century