Global Change

Explain how an increase of the annual melt season in Antarctica can have global effects.

A longer melt season in Antarctica leads to a greater loss of land-based glacier ice. The water from the melted land glaciers runs into the oceans and leads to an overall increase in volume. This change has global effects.

Explain how local environmental changes can have global effects.

Changes in local environments can have global effects for several reasons. Animals, like birds, migrate from region to region. A change in one of their environments can cause behavioral changes which will affect other organisms living in these environments. Air and water move among regions. Changes to the composition of air in one location will affect other locations as the air moves. The same is true of water.

What are the predicted consequences of legislation for global warming on industry?

It is predicted that legislation for global warming will actually have positive effects on industry. New jobs will be created through the introduction of new technology and processes and businesses should save money through pollution reducing practices and technology.

What are some possible future changes in the global climate?

One likely future change is an increase in the overall global temperature due to global warming caused by an increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This change could lead to other effects such as an increase in sea levels, a decrease in resources, an increase in disease, and ocean acidification.

Explain how scientists can have multiple theories about the effects of global warming.

The global climate is a complex system involving different factors such as temperature, precipitation, pressure, humidity, and wind. The complexity of the system makes it difficult to accurately predict how changes in one region can affect other regions.

In New Hampshire, the length of time ice covers on Mirror Lake each year has declined by _______. a. 1/2 day per year b. 1 day per year c. 1 1/2 days per year d. 2 days per year

a. 1/2 day per year

Which of the following theories concerning global climate change is the most widely accepted? a. Changes in the global climate will lead to an increase in extreme weather and flooding. b. Global climate is changing due to burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. c. Global climate change will happen rapidly. d. Extra carbon dioxide and global warming will be beneficial.

b. Global climate is changing due to burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.

Which of the following predictions about global climate change is directly related to an increase in the burning of fossil fuels? a. increased extreme weather b. decreased food supply c. global warming d. falling sea levels

c. global warming

Which of the following local environmental changes will not have global effects? a. decline of glacial ice in Russia b. an increase in the annual melt season in the Antarctic peninsula c. the early arrival of spring in New Hampshire d. none of the above

d. none of the above

The scientific community disagrees about _______. a. the rate of global climate change b. the occurrence of global warming c. the need for action d. all of the above

a. the rate of global climate change