Science part 6
What actions can be taken by humans on a local level, as well as on a larger scale, to mitigate global climate change?
Reduce, reuse, recycle.
How does deforestation contribute to global climate change? And how does the burning of fossil fuels (industrialization) contribute to global climate change?
Trees take in CO2 and limit climate change; so deforestation increases climate change. Burning fossil fuels release CO2 into the atmosphere.
How do changes in global temperatures affect the biosphere? Address each of the following: agriculture, species diversity, ecosystem balance.
•Agriculture: forces us to change what grows where •Species diversity: leads to mass extinction •Ecosystem balance: more deserts; fewer tundras
Explain how each of these natural processes can affect global climate(particularly El Nino, La Nina, volcanic erruptions, sunspots, shifts in the earth's orbit, and carbon dioxide fluctuations)
•El Nino & La Nina can temporarily alter climate. •El Nino: mild US winters; rainy in Gulf; dry mid-west, & Pacific. •La Nina: west jet stream; warm Gulf; cool NW US.
How do changes in global temperature impact sea level?
•Ice caps melt ---> rises sea level •White ice caps disappear •The darker the ocean, the more solar energy it will absorb
List several biotic/abiotic factors that impact biodiversity and describe the effect of each.
•Soil pH~abiotic: affects plant life •changes in rainfall~ abiotic: alters type of vegetation and type of animals •human activity limits habitats of animals
List several biotic and abiotic factors and determine biome classification (temperature, rainfall, altitude, type of plant, latitude, type of animals). Designate each as biotic/abiotic.
•temp:abiotic •rainfall:abiotic •vegetation: biotic •latitude: abiotic •animals: biotic
Define the biosphere.
•the part of Earth where life can exist Troposphere--> Earth's surface--> top layers of soil
What Earth processes (other than global temperature) can affect sea level?
Angle of earth's rotation; sunspot activity
How do changes in atmospheric composition contribute to ocean acidification? Analyze its effect on ocean life and its connection to global climate change.
CO2 dissolves in ocean---> becomes carbonic acid; kills off coral reefs
Explain the concept of the greenhouse effect. Name at least 4 specific greenhouse gases and tell why CO2 is most often the focus of public discussion.
CO2 traps in solar energy and other greenhouse gases; make earth warm enough to live here.
How does large-scale development contribute to regional changes in climate? (ex. heat islands in large cities)
City buildings add heat to the atmosphere; asphalt absorbs more heat than a grassy field or forest.