AP Environmental Science El Nino FRQ
What occurs meteorologically BEFORE an el Nino event begins.
Before el Nino occurs there is high winds and a change in water temperatures. Warm water moves towards the Americas
What happens to the depth of the warm water during el nino events on the East and West sides of the Pacific Ocean?
East - less deep West - more deep
How does temperature changes affect the spread of Malaria?
Temperature can increase the lifespan, population and patterns of mosquitos.
What is el Nino?
Water near the equator moves east towards Central and South America. The movement of water is caused by easterly trade winds. Normal Conditions: warm water is on the west El Nino: warm water moves east >> Warm water is more likely to evaporate, rise then cool and condense then start to rain >> Which causes coastal flooding and erosion >> On the western side they have cooler than normal temperatures no rain
What are the ecological consequences of the change in upwelling that accompanies an el nino event in the eastern Pacific ocean?
- El Nino slows the ocean current that draws surface water away from the coast of South American and reduces upwelling. This stops nutrient water from coming to the surface to phytoplankton which will alter the food web. Warm water sloshes towards the americas (east) causes rain and causes flooding causes erosions and result in a loss of habitat which leads to a loss of biodiversity On the west side because water is cooler water is less likely to evaporate causing drought causing fires causing loss of habitat leading to less biodiversity
How and why does upwelling for the deep ocean change in the eastern Pacific ocean during an el nino event?
- El Nino warms surface water and this deepen the thermocline. This thick layer of warm water prevents upwelling to occur. Without upwelling fish populations decrease or migrate. - No upwelling cuts off the score of nutrients to phytoplankton which will alter the food web
Where specifically does the ENSO phenomenon occur? .
Along the equator in the pacific ocean
Discuss the chain of events that must occur for tsunami generation
First, oceanic plates are subducted into the mantle this causes the water to rush into the empty space creating strong waves until it turns into a tsunami. - Seafloor shifts down - Water rushes in and displaces the empty space - Creates big wave
How does temperature changes affect the spread of Yellow Fever?
Increase in rainfall can increase the spread and population of mosquitos thus spreading the rate the disease is transmitted.
How does temperature changes affect the spread of Cholera?
Increase in rainfall causes flooding which in turn causes the rapid spread of cholera to other areas.
Discuss the ecological (not human) consequences of a tsunami wave striking land.
Loss of vegetation Destroyed ecosystems from flooding due to changed/demolished landscapes Devastating effects on insects, plants, animals and natural resources
How do scientists review scientific findings?
Peer Review
How does soil form eventually on bare rock to help establish a plant community?
Rock physics weathers and creates small fragments and over time and species like lichen die and decompose and create organic material for the soil.
What is seduction?
The downward movement of a tectonic plate into the earth's crust into the mantle beneath another plate.
How do plates move along a transform boundary and how does this lead to large earthquakes?
Transform boundary is when two plates move horizontally past one another. The friction caused by the movement of plates causes an earthquake to occur.
Secondary Succession
an area that was previously occupied by living things is disturbed, then re-colonized following the disturbance. Still soil - hurricane, deforestation
How is cholera transmitted?
contaminated water
How is Rift Valley Fever transmitted?
mosquitoes
How is Dengue Fever transmitted?
mosquitos
How is malaria transmitted?
mosquitos
How is yellow fever transmitted?
mosquitos
Primary Succession
newly exposed or newly formed rock is colonized by living things for the first time No soil left - volcanic eruption