APES: Free Response Questions:
Identify and describe TWO ways in which the local hydrologic cycle of urban areas differs from that of nearby rural areas.
Man made urban surfaces absorb little water when compared with rural areas with more vegetation. Which results in more runoff in urban areas, and increased flooding during rainfall. Urban heat island effect causes daytime convection/rainfall to be more vigorous over urban areas.
Describe how the temperature of urban areas like Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Chicago differs from that of surrounding rural areas.
Temperatures in urban areas tend to be higher than temperatures in rural areas. This is called the "urban heat island effect," which is typically larger during the nighttime hours.
Identify and describe TWO differences between urban and surrounding rural areas that contribute to the temperature difference between them.
Asphalt and buildings are two examples between urban and surrounding rural areas. Change in composition causes overall urban albedo to decrease. The energy emission cases the temperature to rise. The absorption of additional solar radiation by surfaces cause the temperature to increase due to increased energy emission by the surfaces.
Urban areas typically have levels of air pollution that are significantly higher then those found in surrounding rural areas. Identify a characteristic of the urban micro climate that leads to higher levels of air pollution and describe how that characteristic contributes to the increase.
Automobiles lead to higher levels of air pollution. Increased temperature along with ozone precursors increase ground level ozone.
Describe TWO human activities related to the rapidly growing world population that are having an impact on Earth's biodiversity.
Deforestation and Fossil-fuel burning are human-related activities that impact the earth. Farming and housing are methods of deforestation that harm earth. Fossil fuel burning releases carbon dioxide which results in climate changes.
Identify and discuss TWO of the causes for the trend in the worldwide TFR that you graphed in part (a)
Improved family planning and more industrialization were causes for the trend in the worldwide TFR. Family planning lead to fewer pregnancies, control of fertility, and choice of number of children. Industrialization reduces the need for children in the workforce.
Identify and describe TWO actions that local governments in urban areas could take to reduce outdoor air pollution.
Incentives and laws or regulations are methods to reduce outdoor air pollution. The majority of the population will be persuaded to follow policies for incentives. Regulations will be able to reduce fossil fuel use and other pollutants.
Consider the data in table 2 above. Identify and discuss TWO economic or societal factors that account for the difference between the TFR of Kenya and that of the United States.
Kenya has a much higher infant mortality rate that the US. There is a shortage of prenatal and pediatric care due to poverty and Kenyans have more children to ensure that some survive. Kenya is more agricultural than the US. In Kenya, more children are needed to help farm.
