Finial Bio lecture
How do greenhouse gases cause climate warming?
Greenhouse gases prevent radiation of infrared energy back into space, trapping the heat near the earth's surface and causing the climate to warm.
Why is ocean acidification problematic for some marine life?
It decreases the amount of carbonate in the oceans, making the creation of shells and other hard structures difficult for marine life.
Why is solar energy considered to be a better option in mitigating climate change?
It releases far less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere compared to burning fossil fuels.
Because fossil fuels are the remains of once living organisms, they contain reservoirs of _____ that are released into the atmosphere when they are burned.
carbon
The greenhouse effect
is caused by gases such as carbon dioxide trapping heat in the earth's atmosphere.
Which of the following extreme weather events are strongly linked to human-caused climate change?
severe drought coastal flooding volcanic eruptions earthquakes
Distinguish between the terms global warming and climate change.
"Global warming" refers to the rise in global temperatures "Climate change" refers to the increasing changes in the measures of climate over a long period of time
As global temperatures increase, which of the following scenarios is most likely to happen?
Glaciers and snow coverage decrease.
Describe the concept of a carbon footprint.
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities
What do all greenhouse gases have in common?
They have complex structures that allow them to contribute to the greenhouse effect by trapping heat energy and rereleasing it into the atmosphere.
Which of the following is true regarding the benefits of wind energy?
considered to be nonpolluting
According to this figure, arctic sea ice is _____ on average.
decreasing in volume
Which of the following examples best describes how geoengineering may help mitigate global climate change?
developing ways to reflect portions of solar energy before they reach the earth, preventing it from contributing to the greenhouse effect
Agricultural crops are being genetically engineered to be more tolerant of climate change. Which of the following describes a change that would help crops be more tolerant of climate change?
engineer crops to withstand extremely hot temperatures
Which of the following groups is suspected of causing climate change?
fossil fuel usage, deforestation, and agriculture
Which of the following technologies seeks to manipulate components of the environment to bring about positive change?
geoengineering
Which of the following is an example of an alternative energy that uses renewable resources?
geothermal energy
Which of the following is considered to be a "clean" energy source?
geothermal energy
A product of photosynthesis, _____ is a carbon-based molecule that is the chief source of energy for most organisms.
glucose
Photosynthesis takes carbon from reservoirs in the atmosphere and uses it to form _____, the energy source for all animals on earth.
glucose
Which of the following is the most likely cause for the sudden sharp increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels?
human activities, including the use of fossil fuels, changes in agricultural practices, and deforestation
Human society in its current form is unsustainable because
important natural resources are being consumed more quickly than they can be replenished.
Over the past several decades, the overall trend for earth's temperatures has been
increases in overall global temperatures at an accelerating rate, a phenomenon known as global warming.
Which of the following are greenhouse gases?
methane and carbon dioxide
Which of the following sources of alternative energy involves using uranium or other materials to split the nucleus of an atom?
nuclear energy
Is it possible that the carbon atoms in your body may have once made up the living tissues of another person or animal in earlier times? This is
possible since carbon cycles through the biosphere.
Which of the following act as a carbon source within the carbon cycle?
respiration from humans and animals
Select all of the following that lower an individual's carbon footprint.
Heating through passive solar and geothermal energy Carpooling or taking public transportation
In which of the following ways are coral reefs impacted from climate change?
Invasive species are making their way into coral reef ecosystems, displacing existing populations.
In what way is new technologies beneficial as we work to mitigate climate change?
Many technologies have the potential to reduce the impacts of the greenhouse effect and prevent climate change from getting any worse.
What is the main difference in the formation of coal vs. the formation of natural gas and oil?
Natural gas and oil formed mainly from deposits of plants and animals living in oceans and coal formed mainly from the remains of plants and animals in swampy anoxic environments.
Which of the following describes a disadvantage of nuclear energy, especially compared to other alternative energy sources?
Nuclear energy is not always safe because of the radioactivity involved.
Which of the following describes an example of how ocean acidification impacts aquatic communities?
Shellfish cannot calcify their shells, meaning they are at an increased risk of predation, negatively impacting others in the community that depend on their presence.
Summarize the role of photosynthesis in the carbon cycle.
The carbon cycle is the process in which carbon travels from the atmosphere into organisms and the Earth and then back into the atmosphere. Plants take carbon dioxide from the air and use it to make food. Animals then eat the food and carbon is stored in their bodies or released as CO2 through respiration.
Which statement below best summarizes the overall purpose of the light-dependent reactions?
The light-dependent reactions capture the energy from the sun and transfer it to high-energy molecules.
Why is carbon dioxide considered to be one of the most important of the greenhouse gases?
It absorbs other gases, preventing them from becoming greenhouse gases also.
How does climate change affect earth's oceans?
The pH level of the ocean will shift to a more acidic environment, leading to stress and the possible extinction of many species of shellfish and corals.
Summarize the evidence that the climate of the planet is changing.
The planet's average surface temperature has risen about 1.62 degrees Fahrenheit (0.9 degrees Celsius) since the late 19th century, a change driven largely by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made emissions into the atmosphere.
Which of the following statements is true regarding the wavelengths of light used in photosynthesis?
The smaller the wavelength of light, the more energy associated with it. However, the pigments in plants can only absorb light within specific ranges of wavelengths, some smaller and some larger.
Climate can best be described as
the average weather patterns in a given area over long periods of time.
If the downward slope of the line continues, what would be the expected sea ice volume in 2020?
A little over 13.5 millions of square kilometers
Carbon sinks are reservoirs that hold large amounts of carbon. Which of the following are considered to be carbon sinks?
All of the answer choices are correct.
How do invasive species impact ecosystems?
All of the answer choices are correct.
Explain the concept of alternative energy sources.
Alternative energy is any energy source that is an alternative to fossil fuel. Like Marine energy, hydroelectric, wind, geothermal and solar power are all alternative sources of energy.
As climate change continues, the prevalence of vector-borne disease has increased. Why is this?
As climates have warmed and winters have become less severe, the range of mosquitos and ticks has increased, bringing with them the diseases they carry.
In which of the following ways has climate change impacted weather patterns in the United States?
Average precipitation has increased by 4%; however, this has been a very regional change, with some areas seeing significant increases in rainfall and other areas seeing significant decreases in rainfall.
Describe the role of fossil fuels in the carbon cycle.
Carbon moves from fossil fuels to the atmosphere when fuels are burned.
Describe the impact of climate change on global ecosystems.
Changing climate affects ecosystems in a variety of ways. For instance, warming may force species to migrate to higher latitudes or higher elevations where temperatures are more conducive to their survival.
Describe how climate change influences individuals and species.
Climate change can alter where species live, how they interact, and the timing of biological events, which could fundamentally transform current ecosystems and food webs.
Describe the impact of climate change on the community level of biology.
Climate change could affect our society through impacts on a number of different social, cultural, and natural resources.
Describe how new technologies may be used to lessen the impact of climate change.
Climate change has worsened at the hands of human activity for centuries, and many scientific efforts have been made since the first political acknowledgment. In order to avoid the ongoing and potential impacts of climate change, mitigation technologies have been developed in order to adapt to the issue,
A carbon atom can form up to three single covalent bonds with other atoms.
False
Hurricanes and other severe precipitation events have started becoming weaker and less intense as a result of climate change.
False
Place the following levels of biological organization in order, with the smallest, least inclusive level first.
From least inclusive to most inclusive, the levels of biological organization are: species, population, community, ecosystem, and biosphere.
Major regional groups of interacting terrestrial ecosystems, characterized by climate and geography, are called
biomes.
Woolly adelgids are insects that were accidentally brought to the United States from Japan. How have they impacted the ecosystems here in the United States?
They infect hemlock trees, causing their quick deaths.] Mature trees replace hemlocks, increasing shade cover to the underbrush below. Amphibians are displaced because of soil moisture and temperature changes.
Select all of the following examples of extreme weather that are strongly attributed to global climate change.
an increase in extreme flooding events an increase in volcanic explosions an increase in the severity of hurricanes
Desertification is an example of a biome level change that is associated with climate change. Which of the following is associated with desertification?
associated with poor agricultural practices, including the overgrazing of cattle
The light reactions of photosynthesis occur within the _____ of the chloroplast and the Calvin cycle reactions occur within the _____ of the chloroplast.
thylakoid and stroma
A biome characterized by cold temperatures, little precipitation, and ground that is frozen for the majority of the year is called the _____.
tundra
Which of the following is an example of a terrestrial biome?
tundra
Describe the principles of the global carbon cycle.
The global carbon cycle describes the complex transformations and fluxes of carbon between the major components of the Earth system.
Identify the major greenhouse gases and their roles in the atmosphere.
water vapor (H2O)-also the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. Heat radiated from Earth's surface is absorbed by water vapor molecules in the lower atmosphere. ... Some of the heat returns to the Earth's surface. carbon dioxide (CO2)-is an atmospheric constituent that plays several vital roles in the environment. It is a greenhouse gas that traps infrared radiation heat in the atmosphere. It plays a crucial role in the weathering of rocks. ... It is stored in biomass, organic matter in sediments, and in carbonate rocks like limestone. methane (CH4)-is a hydrocarbon that is a primary component of natural gas. Methane is also a greenhouse gas (GHG), so its presence in the atmosphere affects the earth's temperature and climate system. If methane leaks into the air before being used - from a leaky pipe, for instance - it absorbs the sun's heat, warming the atmosphere. For this reason, it's considered a greenhouse gas, like carbon dioxide. nitrous oxide (N2O)-is an important atmospheric trace gas. Changes in the concentration of N2O in the atmosphere have evoked considerable interest because of its role in (i) regulating stratospheric ozone levels, and (ii) contributing to the atmospheric greenhouse phenomenon. ozone (O3)- is a gas in the atmosphere that protects everything living on the Earth from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays from the Sun. ... The ozone layer acts as a shield to absorb the UV rays, and keep them from doing damage at the Earth's surface.