ENVS 120 Final
Holoscene
"wholly recent" started at the end of the ice age. marked by an abrupt change in greenlands ice core
biotic community
(Biotic) community: the grouping of interacting populations in an area All vegetation, animals, and microscopic organisms -It is determined by abiotic (nonliving chemical and physical) factors (water, climate, salinity, soil)
What are the 8 tips for communicating climate information (CRED article)?
-know your audience -get your audiences attention -translate scientific data into concrete experience -beware of the overuse of emotional appeals -address scientific and climate change uncertainties -tap into social identities and afiliations -encourage group participation -make behavior change easier
What were Professor Rochberg's 5 points about climate change ("climate change in 5 sentences")?
.1) Climate change is one of the century's greatest challenges. warmer werider and worse , extreme heat, sea level rise, heavy rainfall, and hurricane intensity, food insecurity, less h2o, less biodiversity, lower economy, and national security, sustainable development goals cant happen 2) 2.To avoid the worst impacts, warming can't exceed 2ºC (ideally 1.5º). 3)That means a net-zero emissions PLANET by 2100. 4).We need manyactions at allscales to cut emissions, espin "big 4." 5)Even when we do, we need to adapt and build resilience to impacts
Understand the 10 main ideas behind resilience thinking,
1) Complex, self-organizing systems changing one piece causes other behaviors-- unexpected 2) Thresholds limits to how much it can be changed and still recover ("tipping point")-sometimes you can cross a threshold and still cross back (flipping regimes) 3) Domains are linked -connections between social, environment, economics that may supersede 4) Adaptive Cycles -natural variations in behavior of system-development mode (rapid growth and conservation) and release + reorganization mode 5) Scales are linked -can't understand the scale of your focus unless you consider scales above and below 6) Specified and General Resilience specific shock vs. ability to absorb disturbances of all kinds, including novel 7) Adapting and Transforming sometimes you don't want to maintain status quo (or can't) 8) Comes at a Cost -cost of actions and indirect costs of lost opportunities (often reduced efficiency) 9) Not Everything is Important not everything is connected-keep it as simple as possible, but not too simple (requisite simplicity) 10) RESILIENCE IS NOT ABOUT NOT CHANGING! -don't have to bounce back to exact same condition
Two Environmental Issues
1) Coral Bleaching: due to increase in ocean temperature, runoff water, pollutants, and ocean acidification, the coral reefs have become in danger of dying out. There has already been some places that have. Bleaching occurs when the coral gets stressed and so the algae that stays on the corals leave, leaving the corals vulnerable. They depend on the algae to survive 2) Precipitation: due to the fact that most precipitation is 60% because of moisture from the oceans. More precipitation means more floods and downpour and a lot of places are getting drier as well with a lack of precipitation.
What are the main climate critiques discussed in class/the Mad World article and how can they be refuted?
1) The climate has changed before its been happening at a faster rate now though, its never been this fast in the last 1000 yrs hockey stick, anthropogenic Co2 coorelation 2) its the sun overall trend doesnt match 3)co2 lags temp the planet warms due to orbital changes, as ocean temperatures rise, oceans release CO2 into the atmosphere. In turn, this release amplifies the warming trend. . In other words, increasing CO2 levels become both the cause and effect of further warming. This positive feedback is necessary to trigger the shifts between glacials and interglacials as the effect of orbital changes is too weak to cause such variation. Additional positive feedbacks which play an important role in this process include other greenhouse gases, and changes in ice sheet cover and vegetation patterns. 4) earth is cooling - overall warming 5) there is no scientific consensus 97% of scientists are in agreement 6) antarctica is gaining ice : the ice which has accumulated over thousands of years on the Antarctica landmass itself through snowfall) is decreasing- land ice! 7) human C02 is a tiny percent of CO2 Manmade CO2 emissions are much smaller than natural emissions. However, natural CO2 emissions (from the ocean and vegetation) are balanced by natural absorptions (again by the ocean and vegetation), keeping atmosphericCO2 levels in rough balance. Human CO2 emissions upsets the natural balance. About 40% of human CO2 emissions are being absorbed, mostly by vegetation and the oceans. The rest remains in the atmosphere. As a consequence, atmospheric CO2 is at its highest level in 15 to 20 million years. 10) its freaking cold
hydrological cycle
1) evaporation of water from oceans surface/ and transpiration from plants 2)moisture is lifted and cools to form clouds in the troposphere 3) condensation, turns back into water vapor when the atmosphere has more vapor than it can contain 4) goes down as precipitation and goes back as runoff into the oceans, or back on land and is obsorbed by the soil
GSSP must have
1) principle coorelation event 2)other secondary markers 3) reginonal and global coorelation 4) an exact location and could be spikes in chemicals, iscotope ratios, and change in biodiversity shown in rocks, ice croes, fossils
What are the external causes of climate change? Which are natural and which are manmade?
1)Changes in incoming solar radiation(only natural) 2 and 3 could be manmade - Orbit patterns, sunspots, volcanic eruptions 2) Changes in the composition of the atmosphere 3) Changes in the Earth's surface
How has the temperature of the earth changed over different time periods? 60 years? 100 years? Longer? What time period is the "hockey stick" talking about? What is special about the rate of change now?
100yrs: 0.85 degree c increase b/w 1880-2012 Largest increase in temperature of any century during the past 1000 years. Scientists point to carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases as the cause temp was pretty consitent for the past 1000 yrs until the 1900s then it accelerated temp and Co2 wise Earth was 18-27°F warmer 52 million years ago - Hothouse Earth! much higher rate of change
What are consequences of rising sea levels? What other changes can be seen in the oceans (Holthaus Rolling Stone article)? What are the problems associated with ocean acidification?
2 degree sea rise, Even as global ocean temperatures rise to their highest levels in recorded history, some parts of the ocean, near where ice is melting exceptionally fast, are actually cooling, slowing ocean circulation currents and sending weather patterns into a frenzy. unexpectedly sudden Atlantic slowdown, Storms will get stronger, and sea-level rise will accelerate. Water temperatures this year in the North Pacific have never been this high for this long over such a large area — and it is already having a profound effect on marine life.Marine life is moving north, adapting in real time to the warming ocean. Atmospheric scientists increasingly believe that the exceptionally warm waters over the past months are the early indications of a phase shift in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, a cyclical warming of the North Pacific that happens a few times each century. acidifying oceans are likely to have a "quite traumatic" impact on plankton diversity, with some species dying out while others flourish. similar shift in the behavior of the jet stream
How long does CO2 stay in the air? What is the Global Warming Potential of other anthropogenic greenhouse gases?
20-200 yrs. Methane, by contrast, is mostly removed from the atmosphere by chemical reaction, persisting for about 12 years. Nitrous oxide is destroyed in the stratosphere and removed from the atmosphere more slowly than methane, persisting for around 114 years.
What percentage of CO2 emitted each year is due to human emissions?
3-4%
What % of the US thinks global warming is occurring?
69% of the US population thinks that global warming is occurring and 52% think that it is caused by human activities
How does Emory Recycling Work?
95% of Emory's waste being reverted. There are only 2 bins outside: mixed recycling and compost, in the buildings, there are landfill, mixed paper, white paper, compost, plastic and metals, and composting. There are also designated spots around campus for things like aerosols and batteries, things that are not safe to recycle.
Why does a population grow?
A population's size depends on its biotic potential and environmental resistance-A population's biotic potential remains constant-Environmental resistance changes
species interactions
All ecosystems contain autotrophs and heterotrophs•They interact in a food chain/ food web
Know the differences between autotrophs and heterotrophs
Autotrophs:produce organic material from inorganic matter by using an external energy source-Primary producers-Plants, algae, some single-celled organisms and chemosynthetic bacteria-Organic matter created will decompose abiotically Heterotrophs:require organic material to obtain energy-Consumers: eat living prey-Decomposers: scavengers, detritus feeders, and chemical decomposers that eat dead organic material
difference b/w biomes and the biosphere
Biome:a large area with the same climate and vegetation --> characteristic plant community-Can often be predicted by rainfall and temperature -There are no sharp boundaries between biomes•Biomes describe terrestrial systems -Aquatic and wetland ecosystems are determined by depth, salinity, and permanence of water. live desert tropical, erid Biosphere:the huge system formed by all living things
What countries are top greenhouse gas emitters (total and per capita)?
China, India, EU, US and per capita are US Canada, Russia, US, and Japan
how has the concentration of CO2 changed in the past 100 years? 1000 years?
Co2 was consitent until the last 1000 yrs at 280ppm where it startd exponentially increasing to now 400ppm
What is meant by critical number?
Critical number:the minimum population base allowing the survival and recovery of a population-a pack of wolves, flock of birds, school of fish•The group is necessary to provide critical interactions between members-protection and support•If a population falls below this number-surviving members become more vulnerable-breeding fails-extinction is almost inevitable
What is the difference between density-dependent and -independent factors?
Density-dependent factor: increases with increased population density -Disease, predation, food shortages-Environmental resistance increases mortality Density-independent factor: its effects are independent of the density of the population-Spring freeze, fire-Is not involved in maintaining population equilibrium
How much warming will occur with a doubling of carbon dioxide?
Double carbon dioxide levels will cause a surface warming of 2-4.5ºC by 2100
What is ecology?
Ecology: the study of all processes influencing-The distribution and abundance of organisms-Interactions between living things and the environment
difference b/w ecosystems and ecotones
Ecosystem:an interactive complex of communities and the abiotic factors affecting Ecosystems lack distinct boundaries and are not isolated-Species can occupy multiple ecosystems and move between them. Ecotone: a transitional region between ecosystems-Shares species and characteristics of both ecosystems-May have more or fewer species than the ecosystems
Know the relationships between temperature, wavelength, and energy emitted. What are the names of these laws?
Energy from the sun comes in waves (radiation). Solar radiation is shortwaves (visible and UV), infrared radiation from the Earth has a longer wavelength. solar energy is warmer-- wiens displacement law- wavelength length is inversly porportional to the temp. radiation temp dpeneds on the wavelength in which they are emmiting it at. and stephan boltzman law that states that the energy increases as the 4th power of its tempurature
autotroph chemosynthesis energy
Energy source is energy-releasing inorganicchemical reactions•Occurs without the involvement of organisms Occurs at mid-ocean ridges•Hydrothermal vent communities
What is an ensemble?
Ensemble: When each model is run many times with slightly different starting conditions.
What Eon, Era, Period, Epoch are we in now?
Eon: Phanerozoic(541 million yrs), Era: Cenozoic, Period: Quaternary, Epoch: Anthroposcene age of the great acceleration
How are time periods in Earth's history divided?
Eons->Eras->Periods->Epochs->Ages Based on the study of plants rock layers(stratigraphy). Used to show timing and events in earth's history
A fundamental biological principle
Every species has an optimum range, zones of stress, and limits of tolerance for every abiotic factor
When was the first international convention on climate change? What was it called?
February 1979 in Geneva : First World Climate Conference. but the first universal agreement on climate change was the paris agreement in 2015
What are the differences between food chains and food webs?
Food chain:describes where energy and nutrients go as they move from one organism to another-Energy moves "up" the food chain in trophic levels Food web:interconnection of food chains to form complex feeding relationships
Golden Spike
Global Boundary Stratosphere Selection and Point(GSSP). A site that marks a recognized division in the geological timescale by pinpointing the planetary material that justifies the divide. must be makred by stratospheric material like sediments and ice caps. defined by the beginnig. it is a single physical change that marks the time. has coorelated widespread changes
heterotrophs get their energy from
Heterotrophs accelerate the slow abiotic processes•Aerobic respiration- uses molecular oxygen to decompose organic matter through the process of oxidations (organic carbon carbon dioxide) Consumers: live on the production of othersObtain energy from feeding on and breaking down organic matter made by producers Decomposers break down dead or decaying plants and animals. Include bacteria, fungi, woodlice, earthworm
What are biogeochemical cycles? How do these differ from energy flow in an ecosystem?
In contrast, nutrients are recycled and continually reused through biogeochemical cycles (carbon, nitrogen, phosphorous). differs because it can be recycled. energy is lost. Chemicals are conserved. aka carbon cycle's one.
What are the 5 main potential markers for the start of the anthropocene (know dates, impacts, etc)? Which have GSSPs (and what are they) and which have GSSAs? Which one is the current Anthropocene Working Group leaning towards as a start date?
Invention of Agriculture(early anthroposcene model) 11,000 yrs ago- hunter gatherer - to modifier of landscape. used fire to shape land, cooked meat, caused animal extinction, domesticated animals, irrigation- remanence of early coal burning but very localized wooly mammoth extinction GSSP: fossil pollen Collision of Old and New Worlds 1492 and beyond. gssp at 1610 though increase in trade and travel, globalization- mixing of food and animals - spread of disease, cause 90% of native Americans to die. massive reorganization on life on earth. largest mass extinction in the last 13000yrs. regeneration of forest caused min in CO2 levels Industrial Revoltution 1800s - increase in industrial development from from fossil fuel use, uses 4 to 5 times more energy than the agricultural times -- transition to carbon based energy- population increased- invention of the steam engine- no "peaking" in carbon emissions, the rate at which it went up was relatively constant.. no clear GSSP marker - Fly ash from coal burning Nuclear weapon detonation Atomic bomb 1945- pop doubled, global economy increased 15 fold - motor vehicles inc. peaks in radioactivity followed by rapid decline(1964) GSSP - radio-nucleotides in tree rings C14 peaks THE GREAT ACCELERATION only columbian exchange(orbis spike) and clear ones have a clear GSSP GSSA: great acceleration(sign of the nuclear reduction treaty), industrial revolution(invention of the steam engine) Plastic in rocks - hawaii- new stone formed(plastiglomerate)- mostly confetti plastic (another possible one) could have a GSSP in the future no GSSP: rocks, ind revolution, invention of agriculture ---> have coorelation to direct impact though more coorelated with intentinonsl overuse of resoruces
What is a tipping point?
Is there a tipping point from which there is no return?These elements are components of the climate that may pass a critical threshold, or "tipping point," after which a tiny change can completely alter the state of the system. Moving past tipping points may incite catastrophes ranging from widespread drought to overwhelming sea level rise.
What about biocapacity? How many Earths are we currently using each year? When did this number get above 1 (ecological overshoot)?
It currently takes the Earth one year and six months to regenerate what we use in a year. Biocapacity represents the planet's biologically productive land areas including our forests, pastures, cropland and fisheries. These areas, especially if left unharvested, can also absorb much of the waste we generate, especially our carbon emissions.he Ecological Footprint tracks the use of six categories of productive surface areas: cropland, grazing land, fishing grounds, built-up land, forest area, and carbon demand on land.The 1960's
What do major climate models predict (temperature, precipitation, ice)? Where will warming be worst?
It will be worst on the poles. For RCP 2.6 w'ell stay below 450 and temp inc 1 degrees . 4.5 = inc in 1.5 degrees 6.0 is 2 degrees, and 8.5 is 3+ degrees more drought in the equatorial regions and soil erosion in the americas and west europe will have record lows and highs in temp Sea ice melting, also ice sheets breaking off
What are the characteristics of life?
Life spreads exponentially -Exponential growth....but growth is limited by resources •Life needs energy-Photosynthesizers (energy=sun)-Chemosythesizers (energy=chemicals) •Life pollutes-Waste products are released during metabolism-Can be used by other organisms, can affect environment •Life is versatile-Many metabolic activities, scales of interactions
What are the differences between mitigation and adaptation?
Mitigation: "avoiding the unmanageable" by how much should we reduce emissions to prevent things we cant manage. avoid getting to catastrophic consequences by making sure we dont get about 2 degrees Adaptation: "managing the unavoidable" adapt to the consequences of already increasing to percent more temp
How do climate models predict future climate conditions?
Models calculate natural phenomena. They characterize the conditions in each square on the grid and then set the model in motion at certain time intervals to simulate climate evolution. Complexity of the model (e.g. grid size, # levels, time step) -Scientific forcings (e.g. how do aerosols interact with clouds, how does CO2 concentration change with time) -Feedbacks, always uncertainty
What are positive and negative feedbacks? Be able to identify examples of each
Negative feedback loops: when a system responds to change by returning to its original state, or at least by decreasing the rate at which the change is occurring.(Population of predators and prey - If the numbers of prey decreases, then some predators will starve, and their numbers will decrease.) Positive feedback loops: when a system responds to change by increasing the rate at which the change is occurring. (births)
How can we regulate a population's size?
Only density-dependent factors can regulate a population (keep it in equilibrium)-Top-down regulation: control of a population (species) by predation-Bottom-up regulation: control of a population occurs as a result of scarcity of a resource (i.e. food) Removal of a species can even affect species that don't directly interact with it
What was the problem with the ozone hole, and how was it "fixed"? Why do we need that ozone?
Ozone hole: an area of reduced ozone (O3)The ozone layer is Earth's own sun block system that stops 97-99 % of the harmful incoming ultraviolet rays from reaching the planet's surface. CFCs are used in refrigeration and air conditioning, as propellants in aerosol cans, and as "blowing agents" to inject air into foam products like Styrofoam. The Cl atom can now react with (and destroy) more ozone! 80% of chlorine in the stratosphere comes from CFCs Global ozone concentrations have decreased by more than 10% Depletion is greatest at the poles In 1978 per the Montreal Protocol the US banned aerosol sprays containing CFCs and phased out their production. Ozone formation and destruction are temperature dependent phenomena
What are reasons people don't believe in/agree with climate change (psychology video)?
PAIN(only respod to threats that are personal, abrupt changes in our enviornment, immoral, and are now . if wr have uncertain threats, our brains will make a lot of excuses not to act on them today
What are the 5 types of species interactions?
Predation: one member benefits, the other is harmed (+ −)-Includes parasitism •Competition: both species are harmed (− −) •Mutualism: both species benefit (+ +) •Commensalism: one benefits, the other is not affected (+ 0) •Amensalism: one is unaffected, the other is harmed (0 −)
How much would sea level rise if all the ice on Earth melted?
Presently glaciers cover only 10% of the earth's surface. If all this ice melted, the oceans would rise about 213 feet!
autotrophs are ...
Producers: convert low-potential-energy raw materials (CO2, H2O, N, P) to high-potential-energy organic molecules•Chlorophyll in plants absorbs kinetic light energy to power the production of organic molecules•Green plants use the process of photosynthesis to turn carbon dioxide, water, and light energy into:-Sugar (glucose—stored chemical energy)-Oxygen is released as a by-product
What are RCPs? What do each of the 4 represent? Which scenarios predict the most/least extreme changes?
Representative Concentration Pathways:Named after a possible range of radiative forcing values in the year 2100 relative to pre-industrial values (+2.6, +4.5, +6.0, and +8.5 W/m2, respectively CONCENTRATIONS, NOT EMISSIONS RCP 2.6 assumes that global annual GHG emissions (measured in CO2 equivalents) peak between 2010-2020, with emissions declining substantially thereafter. Emissions in RCP 4.5 peak around 2040 and then decline. In RCP 6.0, emissions peak around 2080, then decline. In RCP 8.5, emissions continue to rise throughout the 21st century.
what is resilience
Resilience is the ability of an interdependent social and ecological system to absorb disturbances and maintain the same structure and function. adaptability
What contributes to future sea level rise (locations and reasons)? How much sea level rise is predicted?
Rising Sea Level - already occurring Main contributors: Melting of Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets Thermal expansion of ocean surface waters Melting of land glaciers and ice caps Thermal expansion of deep-ocean waters Will severely affect areas with gently sloping coastlines U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Coasts Models predict rise between 0.5 and 1.4 meters (1.6 and 4.6 feet) by year 2100
What are (positive and negative) consequences associates with climate change?
Sea level rise Possible effects on the jet stream and global circulation patterns Earlier, hotter summers - may be good for agriculture More severe droughts in some places, flooding in others Retreat of mountain glaciers Water contamination issues Ecosystem changes and extinctions
What are the differences between a population and a species
Species: a group of individuals that share certain characteristics -But are distinct from other groups The official species name is Latin and has two parts -The genus name and species descriptive term Population: all members of a single species that live in a certain area
What is the scientific premise of The Day After Tomorrow? Is it possible that this will occur?
The concept of Abrupt Climate Change forms the scientific underpinnings of the movie "The Day After Tomorrow" Premise of movie is that Global Warming triggers a new Ice Age Cold, salty water sinks near Greenland driving warm water north If the conveyor stops much colder over Europe Ocean Conveyor Belt The premise of The Day After Tomorrow is that global warming leads to a melting of the polar ice cap and the reduction in salinity shuts off the "North Atlantic Current". The disruption of heat delivery to the North Atlantic leads to an abrupt refrigeration of the Northern Hemisphere (with lots of special effects thrown in!). The linkage: Global warming Ice melting Ocean circulation change
Uncertainties:
The effect of water and land on rising levels of carbon dioxide Amount of greenhouse gases Population growth and industrialization Is there a tipping point from which there is no return?
what is the difference b/w biotic and abiotic factors
The non living parts of an ecosystem are called abiotic factors. In an ecosystem some abiotic factors are sunlight, temperature atmospheric gases water and soil. The living things in an ecosystem are called biotic factors. Living things include plants, animals, bacteria, fungi and more. interaction b/w both example: plants. The plants use sunlight, water, and CO2 to make food. Without these abiotic factors plants would not be able to grow.
What is albedo? Know the average albedo of the Earth, as well being able to compare the albedo of some common surfaces.
The reflectivity of a surface earth: 30%, sea ice 50-90%, asphalt: 10%forst: 10-20%
What is the Milankovich Theory? Know the 3 Milankovitch cycles (names, what changes, and time frames).
Theory that 3 separate cyclic movements combine to produce variations in the amount of solar energy that reaches the earth. Eccentricity- shape of earth's orbit 100,000 yrs Obliquity- variation in tilt 41,000 Precession- wobble around rotation axis 23,000
What is the IPCC report and what main ideas are conveyed in the Summary for Policymakers (all 4 sections)?
This Synthesis Report is based on the reports of the three Working Groups of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), including relevant Special Reports. It provides an integrated view of climate change as the final part of the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report SPM.1. Observed Changes and their Causes Human influence on the climate system is clear, and recent anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are the highest in history. Recent climate changes have had widespread impacts on human and natural systems. PM.2. Future Climate Changes, Risks and Impacts Continued emission of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and long-lasting changes in all components of the climate system, increasing the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems. Limiting climate change would require substantial and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions which, together with adaptation, can limit climate change risks. SPM.3. Future Pathways for Adaptation, Mitigation and Sustainable Development Adaptation and mitigation are complementary strategies for reducing and managing the risks of climate change. Substantial emissions reductions over the next few decades can reduce climate risks in the 21st century and beyond, increase prospects for effective adaptation, reduce the costs and challenges of mitigation in the longer term and contribute to climate-resilient pathways for sustainable development. SPM.4. Adaptation and Mitigation Many adaptation and mitigation options can help address climate change, but no single option is sufficient by itself. Effective implementation depends on policies and cooperation at all scales and can be enhanced through integrated responses that link adaptation and mitigation with other societal objectives.
Who are the "Big 4" countries? How much of the global emissions do they make up? What does each country's emission curve from 1990-2015 look like?
US, Europe, India, China 50% of global emissions. EU has been on the decline, US peaked at 200's and is on the decline, china is at a high increase, inida is too but not at the rate of china. india has the lowest emissions rn
Interglacial periods What is an interglacial? How long over time do we have to look to see repeated patterns of interglacials and glacials (ice ages)?
Warmer periods between glacial advances (glaciers temporarily retreat) Last 10,000+ years Last glacial period ended 12,000 years ago (holocene)
What's happening in the Marshall Islands (article)?
YOU'RE MAKING THIS ISLAND DISAPPEAR It's one of the clearest injustices of climate change: The Marshall Islands likely won't exist if we warm the planet 2 degrees. I traveled to the remote Pacific to learn what it's like to try to process that doomsday forecast. And why some people already are making the painful decision to leave. You voted for this coverage as part of CNN's two° series.
What are ways to add CO2 to atmosphere? What about remove? What processes dominate each?
add: *respiration*, fossil fuels, volcanic activity remove: *photosynthesis*, oceans absorbing
What are aerosols? What are some natural and manmade examples? How are these different from pollutants?
aerosols are tiny solid or liquid suspended particles. natural: dust, sea salt, smoke.. manmade: fossil fuel burning in cars. pollution is just having a lot of bad aerosols that causes health hazards
How do organisms get names (and the order of taxonomy)?
and domain is top with eukarya
How do humans impact each of the 3 biogeochemical cycles we talked about?
carbon: The most serious intrusion comes from burning of fossil fuels•Breathing!•Deforestation phosphorus cycle, not connected to atmosphere: The most serious intrusion comes from fertilizers•When added to soil, it can stimulate production•Human applications have tripled the amount reaching the oceans, accelerating the cycle•Excess phosphorus in water causes severe pollution-Can cause overgrowth of algae, too many bacteria, and the death of fish nitrogen cycle: Humans significantly affect the nitrogen cycle•Many crops are legumes and draw N from the air-Peas, beans, soybeans, alfalfa-Increases the rate of nitrogen fixation•Nonleguminous crops (corn, wheat, potatoes) are heavily fertilized with nitrogen from industrial fixationWe are more than doubling the rate of nitrogen moving from air to land
What are some personal choices you can make to reduce your contribution to climate change that are low impact, moderate impact, and high impact? What are the top 3 impacts?
changing lighbulb, eat a plant based diet,, having one less child. the top 3 impacts are 1) having one less child, living car free, and avoiding transatlantic flight
What are primary and secondary consumers, decomposers, etc?
decomposers: bacteria and fungi --> deal w/ dead stuff organic materials
What are the differences between ecological and carbon footprints? How (generally) is each calculated?
ecological footprints represents the productive area required to provide the renewable resources humanity is using and to absorb its waste. How much space do I take up?( a measure of falure) less direct The term carbon footprint is often used as shorthand for the amount of carbon (usually in tonnes) being emitted by an activity, individual, or organization( a measure of a measure of carbon, of unsustainable energy use. measure direct emissions of gases that cause climate change into the atmosphere.
co2 cycle
enters atmoshpere through decay of vegetation, volcanos, deforestation buring of fossil fuels and leaves through photosynthesis and the ocean
What was the first atmosphere made up of? How did the current atmosphere come about?
first atmoshere was made up of gasses from volcanos including hydrogen and helium- evolved due to outgassing of Co2 and H20 from cooling center of the earth causding rain and lakes. they acted as a sink and obsorbed Co2
example of mutualism
fungus, alga -- corals and algae. polyps and zooxanthallae
What is the greenhouse effect? How does it work? What are the main greenhouse gases? Why is anthropogenic CO2 a problem?
gasses that trap heat in the atmosphere. sunlight is radiated to the earth, 30 of it is radiated back into space while the other is absorbption in the oceans and land and green house gasses(Co2 H20 and methane that keep theenergy in the atmosphere). exchange of radiationin and out of the atmosphere. Greenhouse effect is due to atmospheric absorption of infrared radiation by trace gases (CO2, H2O, CH4).The greenhouse effect occurs naturally - they re emmit the radiation back to the earth - inc in Co2 means more energy absorbing GHG. GHGs selectively absorb IR radiation leaving Earth and re-emit it, warming the surface temperature
trophic categories
he total mass of organisms in a given area or volume.
What are the 4 positive points Professor Rochberg made about the Paris Agreement?
how business and concerned citizens stepped in to preserve progress and save an agreement in peril. ripple effect and moon
What is the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement? What pledge did the US and China make?
increase in temp well below 2% below preindustrial levels 6-28% below 2005 levels by 2025•(2x pace of reductions from 2020-2025)•Trajectory for 80% reduction by 2050 Peak emissions around 2030•~20% non-fossil energy by 2030•(800-1,000 gigawattsnew nuclear, wind, and solar, ~= all current U.S. power generation)
What is "bending the curve"? How much of a reduction in emissions do we need by 2020 in order to be on the target curve for Paris?
it means we bend our business as usual emissions rate and try to make a difference that curves it downward. 15 billion tonne reduction - to a net zero emissions path 2degree emissions path
In order for the anthroposcene to be justified
it needs to be scientifically validated, and be a formal term used in the scietific community
pros and cons of setting a date for the anthroposcene
it would make it more useful as a term in the sceintific community, were offically declaring that were shaping the earth, scientific distinction. howver, if you keep it informal, then you can allow it to be a more normalized term such as the word industrial. then you dont have to use it at a specific time interval and can be used as a process in all times such as the indistrial. it can define a process
atmospheric co2 concentartion over the yrs
jagged but constant increase over the years- lower during the summer cause of more plants increased 30% sicne 1800s. Co2 riing at .4% annualy
Be able to identify "moon shot" vs "ripples of hope" approaches to climate change.
moonshot: Global Treaty?Global or U.S. Price on Carbon?Game-changing technology/ies? ripple of hope: Leading by example"Getting your own house in order"Local ActionIncremental improvements in:Public discoursePolitical buy-inPoliciesTechnologies
energy is a ---
one way street through ecosystems, energy decreases from level to level. cannot be recycled and reused
What are the main 5 gases that make up the atmosphere? What are their % contributions? Which are permanent and which are variable? What are the concentrations of CO2, CH4, N2Oand O3?
permanent gases: N2(78%) and O2(21%) and Arg(1%) for variable gases all below 1%: CO2(90%) 400ppm, H2O, ozone(.04%), methane 1.8ppm particles: aerosols, pollutants
example of amensalism
plant makes a poison that accidentally poisons another plant
What are the main proxies used to study past climate? How does each (generally) work?
proxy data to reconstruct past climate conditions. These proxy data are preserved physical characteristics of the environment that can stand in for direct measurements. Paleoclimatologists gather proxy data from natural recorders of climate variability such as tree rings, ice cores, fossil pollen, ocean sediments, corals and historical data. fossil: looking at shells of orgs sediment cores/ice cores(colder air means more o2 in cores):Sediment layers can indicate sedimentation rate through time. Remains of organisms such as diatoms, foraminifera, microbiota, and pollen within sediment can indicate changes in past climate, since each species has a limited range of habitable conditions. oxygen iscotope ratios: Oxygen comes in heavy and light varieties, or isotopes, which are useful for paleoclimate research. The ratio (relative amount) of these two types of oxygen in water changes with the climate. By determining how the ratio of heavy and light oxygen in marine sediments, ice cores, or fossils is different from a universally accepted standard, scientists can learn something about climate changes that have occurred in the past. dendrochronology:can be counted to determine age. The thickness of each ring can be used to infer fluctuations in temperature and precipitation, since optimal conditions for the particular species will result in more growth, and thus thicker rings for a given year
What types of wavelengths come from the sun and the Earth (general name and peak emission wavelength)?
the sun gets visible and UV short waves while the earth gives infared long wavelength
What is biomass?
the total mass of organisms in a given area or volume.
What about changes from extreme weather events ("global weirding")? Why can you not attribute one major weather event to climate change?
there are consistent natural variations of weather. As noted above, it's very hard to attribute a single weather anomaly to climate change. more intense natural disasters
Ecosystems have a ---
tipping point! A situation in an ecosystem where a small action causes major changes in the state of the system. feedback loops amplify it Predator removal is the tipping point that allows positive feedback of prey reproduction
example of competition
two rabbit species eating the same grass Interspecific competition:between different species- Intraspecific competition:between the same species
How does the size of the atmosphere compare to the size of the earth?
very thin sheet, not very significant at all a very thin membrane around the earth 1% of the radius of the earth
example of commensalism
water buffalo and egret. birds that eat the grasshoppers of the buffalo. perched on their backs
6th mass extinction
we might be causing one b/c of coral reefs, endangred species- in an extinction faster than the KT period
example of predication
wolf eats moose
Anthroposcene working group
working on officially declaring this epoch but they need to find the "golden spike" they are more leaning towards the nuclear one
