Chapter 4- Ecologies And Ecosystems- The Green House Effect

Question 1

How does photosynthesis aid in how carbon can be cycled?

Answer 1

Photosynthesis–> atmosphere carbon dioxide is removed and fixed as organic compounds (eg sugars)

Question 2

How does feeding aid in how carbon can be cycled?

Answer 2

Feeding–> organic carbon is moved from one trophic level to the next in a food chain

Question 3

How does respiration aid in how carbon can be cycled?

Answer 3

Respiration –> all organisms metabolise organic compounds for energy, releasing carbon dioxide as a by-product

Question 4

How does fossilisation aid in how carbon can be cycled?

Answer 4

Fossilisation–> in which carbon from partially decomposed dead organisms becomes trapped in sediments as coal, oil or gas

Question 5

How does combustion aid in how carbon can be cycled?

Answer 5

During the burning of fossil fuels and biomass in oceans carbon can be trapped as limestone

Question 6

Draw the carbon cycle

Answer 6

Do it

Question 7

Explain historical records of the Mauna Loa atmospheric observatory in Hawaii

Answer 7

CO2 has been measured at the Mauna Loa from 1958- since has been measured at many locations, globally

Question 8

What did the Mauna Loa results show?

Answer 8

Annual cycle in co2 concentration, which may be attributable to seasonal factors, data from 2 hemispheres is incoporqted = co2 has risen steadily in the past 30 years

Question 9

What are the long term estimates from Vostok ice core in Antartica?

Answer 9

Shows that fluctuating cycles of CO2 conc. Over thousands of years appear to correlate with global warm age and ice age

Question 10

What are co2 results showing?

Answer 10

That they are currently higher than anytime in the last 400,000 years

Question 11

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 11

Is a natural process whereby the earths atmosphere behaves like a greenhouse to create the moderate Temperature to which life on Earth has adapted

Question 12

What do I coming radiation from the sun come in as?

Answer 12

Short wave ultraviolet and visible radiation

Question 13

What happens to some of the Suns radiation?

Answer 13

Some of it is reflected by the earths surface back into space as long wave infrared radiation

Question 14

What happened when greenhouse gases absorb the infrared Ray’s?

Answer 14

They re-reflect it back into earth as heat, resulting in an increase in temperature

Question 15

What is enhanced greenhouse effect suggested to be linked too?

Answer 15

The increased gas emissions by man and changes in global temps and climatic conditions

Question 16

What are the main greenhouse gases?

Answer 16

Water vapour, co2, methane, oxides of nitrogen

Question 17

What are other factors of greenhouse gases and the reasons why

Answer 17

Deforestation =less trees
Industrialisation= more combustion
Increased farming/agriculture = more methane

Question 18

What are the precautionary principles ?

Answer 18

States that when human-induced activity raises a significant threat of harm to the environment or human health, then precautionary measures should be taken even if there are no scientific consensus regarding cause and effect

Question 19

Why is it hard to provide appropriate scientific evidence for enhanced global warming before consequences escalate to potentially dire levels?

Answer 19

Based on time frames wag beyond human life spans

Question 20

Who does the onus fall into and to do what?

Answer 20

Those contributing to the enhanced greenhouse effect to either reduce there imput or demonstrate their actions do not cause harm

Question 21

What are the arguments for the precautionary principle

Answer 21

• risks of inaction= severe –> increase of severe weather conditions and rising sea level
• loss of habitat= extinction of some species= loss of biodiversity
• changes in global temps my affect food production= Damon in regions
• results in economic burden

Question 22

What are the against precautionary action?

Answer 22

• may delay economic growth in developing countries =poverty
• no guarantee human intervention will help
• carbon reduction schemes =loss in jobs

Question 23

What does the C in credible signify?

Answer 23

Changes in Arctic conditions

Question 24

What does the rR in credible signify?

Answer 24

Rising sea level

Question 25

What does the E in credible signify?

Answer 25

Expansion of temperature species increasing competition with nature species (eg red fox vs artic fox)

Question 26

What does the D in credible signify?

Answer 26

Decomposition of detritus previously trapped in ice will increase has levels

Question 27

What does the I in credible signify?

Answer 27

Increased spread of pest species and pathogens

Question 28

What does the B in credible signify?

Answer 28

Behavioural changes in native species (hibernation patterned, immigration of birds)

Question 29

What does the L in credible signify?

Answer 29

Loss of habitat (so early spring rain)

Question 30

What does the Ither E in credible signify?

Answer 30

Extinction and resultant loss of biodiversity as food chains are disrupted

Question 31

What are the 4 main ‘pools’ of carbon in the environment

Answer 31

Atmosphere, biosphere, sediments, ocean