Unit 2

Question 1

How much is reflected back bro space by CLOUDS + ATMOSPHERE?

Answer 1

26%

Question 2

How much is absorbed by CLOUDS + ATMOSPHERE and radiated back into space of down to earth?

Answer 2

19%

Question 3

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 3

Gases in Earth’s atmosphere trap heat from the sun and radiate it back down to earth

Question 4

Greenhouse Gasses (GHGs)

Answer 4

How much a molecule of any compound can contribute to global learning over a period of 100yrs relative to a molecule of CO2.

Question 5

Natural sources of GHGs

Answer 5

• volcanic eruptions (CO2)
• decomposition + disruption
• denitrification (Nitrogen cycle)
• evaporation + évapotranspiration (H20)

Question 6

Aerobic conditions

Answer 6

CO2 —> w/oxygen

Question 7

Anaerobic conditions

Answer 7

CH4 —> w/o oxygen (wetlands + termites)

Question 8

Évapotranspiration

Answer 8

Moving water from soil to leaves —> less trees —> less rain

Question 9

Anthropogenic sources of GHGs

Answer 9

• burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas)
• agriculture practices
• deforestation
• landfills
• industrial production of CFCs

Question 10

Fossil Fuels

Answer 10

Oil, coal, natural gas

Question 11

CFCs

Answer 11

Man-made; used in refrigeration in air conditioners, freezers, and refrigerants

Question 12

Carbon Cycle

Answer 12

Movement of molecules that contain carbon (CO2, glucose, CH4) between sources + sinks

Question 13

Carbon sink

Answer 13

A carbon reservoir that stores more carbon than it releases (ocean: algae + sediments, plants, soil)

Question 14

Carbon sources

Answer 14

Process that adds carbon to atmosphere (fossil fuels combustion, animal agriculture, deforestation)

Question 15

Photosynthesis

Answer 15

Removes CO2 from the atmosphere + converts it into game (plants, algae, plankton)

Question 16

Glucose

Answer 16

Biological form of carbon + stored energy in the form of sugar

Question 17

Cellular respiration

Answer 17

Use O2 to break glucose down + release energy + releases CO2 into the atmosphere (done by plants + animals to release stored energy)

Question 18

Direct exchange

Answer 18

CO2 moves directly between atmosphere and the ocean by dissolving into and out of ocean water @ the surface

Question 19

Algae + phytoplankton

Answer 19

Takes out CO2 out of the ocean + atmosphere through photosynthesis

Question 20

Coral reefs + marine org. W/shells

Answer 20

Takes CO2 out of the ocean to make calcium carbonate exoskeleton

Question 21

Sedimentation

Answer 21

When marine organisms due, their bodies sink to ocean floor where they are broken down into sediments that contain carbon

Question 22

Burial

Answer 22

Over long periods of time, pressure of water compress carbon

Question 23

Sedimentary stone

Answer 23

Limestone/sandstone

Question 24

Coal

Answer 24

Result of dead ferns + other vegetation but fossilized

Question 25

Oil

Answer 25

Marine algae + plankton

Question 26

Extraction combustion

Answer 26

Digging up or mining fossil fuels + burning them as energy source (releases CO2 in atmosphere)

Question 27

Percent change

Answer 27

(Final-initial)/inital x 100

Question 28

Thermal Expansion of water

Answer 28

Water molecules move slightly further apart when they’re heated

Question 29

Melting polar + glacial ice

Answer 29

Increased GHGs lead to a warmer climate + more melting of ice sheets

Question 30

Environmental impacts of sea level rise

Answer 30

• flooding of coastal ecosystems
• loss of species that depend on arctic + tundra ecosystems
• loss of thaw-freeze cycle that glaciers go through, depriving surrounding ecosystems + human community of water sources

Question 31

Estuaries

Answer 31

Mangroves + salt marshes

Question 32

Human impacts of sea level rise

Answer 32

• relocation of coastal human populations
• increase in flood frequency = higher insurance + repair costs, lost property
• saltwater intrusion (salt water pushing into ground water + contaminating wells)
• refugees forced to move inland

Question 33

Disease vectors

Answer 33

Living organisms (usually mosquitos, ticks, fleas) that can transmit disease from human - human/animal - human; warmer temperatures allows insect-transmitted diseases to spread to parts of the world previously too cold

Question 34

Eccentricity

Answer 34

Earth’s orbit shape - bringing it closer to and further from the sun @ different times

Question 35

Obliquity

Answer 35

Earth’s change in tilt - exposing northern altitudes to higher isolation @ different times

Question 36

Milankowitch cycles

Answer 36

Predictable variations in Earth’s climate

Question 37

Positive feedback loop

Answer 37

If change causes system to respond in the same direction (amplifying)

Question 38

Does Permafrost add to sea level rise?

Answer 38

No

Question 39

Barrier islands

Answer 39

Islands that buffer coastal communities the ecosystems from wind + waves may be lost as sea levels rise

Question 40

Impact of Atmospheric Currents

Answer 40

• widening + weakening of Hadley cell
  Weakening, destabilized jet stream

Question 41

Impacts on Marine Ecosystms

Answer 41

• altered range of marine ecosystems —> new marine habitats bc of flooding coastline
• altered range of organisms + warm water holds less O2 —> fish population declines or migrates

Question 42

Impacts on Ocean Circulation

Answer 42

• suppression of themohaline circulation

Question 43

Thermohaline circulation

Answer 43

Global ocean currents that redistribute surface to depth heat from the equators, salt, and nutrients by mixing plain water could slow/stop all together

Question 44

Polar amplification

Answer 44

Polar regions of earth are warming faster than others

Question 45

Impact on polar ecosystems

Answer 45

Arctic sea ice loss = habitat loss

Question 46

Ocean habitat loss

Answer 46

Coral bleaching w/heating ocean

Question 47

Toxic algae blooms

Answer 47

Toxic blue-green algae prefer warmer waters + warm temperature prevent mixing water, enabling algae blooms