Climate Change

Outline the relationship between global warming and climate change in terms of: Land and sea temperatures; patterns of weather events: floods, droughts, hurricanes; and the extent of glacier and snow coverage.

· Global warming is primarily associated with increases in the surface temperature. · Climate is the average weather patters in an area over time, and climate is often recorded as temperature and precipitation · Global Warming on Climate = Several weather events, such as extreme precipitation and heat waves, are correlated with climate change, while for others (such as tornadoes), the connections are still being investigated.

Describe how molecules in the atmosphere create the greenhouse effect and list the two gases most responsible for this effect

· Greenhouse gases are chemical compounds that trap heat in the Earth's lower atmosphere and play an important role in maintaining the climate of the planet within a range that supports life. Carbon Dioxide and Methane are the two biggest contributors to global warming

Define geoengineering and give an example of such a project

· Technology to alter climate. · Carbon dioxide removal (CDR), centers on removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. · Includes reforestation and attempts to create "carbon sinks" in the soil and oceans.

Summarize the effects of climate change on biomes such as the Amazon rain forest and the Great Barrier Reef.

· Tropical coral reefs are experiencing a dual threat from invasive species and global warming on a global scale. · Desertification - An increase in temperature and a decrease in precipitation can lead to the formation of a desert biome. · Deforestation for agriculture (palm oil, cattle) can also lead to the conversion of grasslands to deserts.

Explain how future crops may be engineered to be more tolerant of climate change.

· They will have already adapted o the extreme climates they are growing in

Define the term biome.

· A biome describes characteristics of similar ecosystems across the globe. The main factors affecting what lives in a given biome are temperature and precipitation.

Describe how invasive species disrupt community and ecosystem function.

· An invasive species is one that has been introduced into places outside its natural habitat. · Most invasive species are introduced by humans (lionfish). · Invasive species disrupt community structure (food chains). · Climate change creates conditions that allow invasive species to move into new habitats

Diagram the carbon cycle and identify carbon sources and carbon sinks

· Carbon sinks - Carbon is stored in fossil fuels, the oceans and the atmosphere. · Carbon sources - The natural source of carbon dioxide is cellular respiration in all living organisms

Explain the evidence of how climate change has altered weather patterns in the US.

· Climate change is causing some areas of the United States to be drier (west and southeast), while other regions are experiencing increased precipitation (central and northeast). · Changes in precipitation patterns in the western United States have amplified the instances and severity of droughts. o These events disrupt agriculture production o More people die each year in the United States from heat waves (and related illnesses) than any other climate-associated factor.

Define the terms climate and biosphere.

· Climate is the average weather pattern in each area over time. o Average temperature and rainfall are the two most important characteristics used to define climate. · Biosphere are the regions of the surface, atmosphere, and hydrosphere of the earth (or analogous parts of other planets) occupied by living organisms

Understand how the processing and use of fossil fuels contribute to global warming.

· Fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, and coal) are formed within the Earth by submerging organic material (plants and animals) over long periods of time and subjecting them to the heat and pressure of the Earth's crust. · The burning of fossil fuels represents one of the biggest contributors to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations.

Explain the meaning of the term global warming and the trend seen in the past several decades.

· Global warming was one of the first used by the scientists who discovered the upward trend in temperatures in the 1980s. The term is often still used interchangeably with climate change. o Global warming is associated with increases in temperature.

Explain how climate change is related to the spread of vector-borne diseases.

· In biology, a vector is something that moves an infectious agent (bacteria or virus) from one organism to another. · Many vectors of disease are insects, like mosquitoes. (Zika, West Nile) · As climate changes, new areas become more habitable for these vectors

Summarize the role of the light-dependent and light-independent reactions in photosynthesis.

· Light Reactions: The purpose of the light reactions is to capture the energy from the sun and transfer it to the high-energy molecules NADPH and ATP · The first set of reactions are called the light-dependent reactions because they require sunlight energy. o Here are the major events in this pathway: o Chlorophyll molecules absorbs energy from the sun. This energizes electrons (e-) forming high-energy particles. o Water is broken down, releasing electrons, hydrogen ions (H+), and oxygen. The oxygen is a waste product and is released back into the atmosphere. o Some of the high-energy electrons are used to produce ATP from ADP + P. o NADP+ accepts some high-energy electrons to produce NADPH. · The second set of reactions is called the Calvin cycle. o Here are the major events in this pathway: o CO2 is taken up by one of the molecules at the start of the cycle. o ATP and NADPH from the light reactions is used to attach energized hydrogen and electrons to CO2 to form CH2O. o After six turns of this cycle, the result is C6H12O6 (Glucose)

Describe the pros and cons of alternative energy such as wind, solar and nuclear.

· Only a tiny fraction of the solar energy that strikes the Earth is currently converted into electricity o Solar panels are becoming more efficient an less expensive. o Requires batteries to store energy during the night. o Panel production creates toxic waste · Wind farms can kill birds and disrupt migration patterns. The cost of building windfarms if high, but the maintenance is low. · Geothermal plants use the heat of the earth to generate steam for turbines. Some plants give off CO2 and toxic gasses

Explain the main cause of the rise in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere in the past several decades

· Recent increase in CO2 concentration is due to human activities, including the use of fossil fuels (oil and coal), changes in agricultural practices, and deforestation.

Summarize the role of photosynthesis in the carbon cycle

· Some cells in plant leaves contain structures called chloroplasts. · Chloroplasts are organelles that perform the chemical reactions of photosynthesis. · The inputs and outputs of photosynthesis and cellular respiration are connected by the carbon cycle. · All life is dependent on this relationship.

Describe the effects increased carbon dioxide in the ocean can have on ocean life

· The world's oceans act as a heat sink, or a temporary storage location for heat from solar radiation. · When carbon dioxide enters the oceans, it produces carbonic acid, which leads to ocean acidification and negative impacts on shellfish.