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Biology HL IB 2020-22 > 4.4 Climate Change > Flashcards

4.4 Climate Change Flashcards

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1
Q

Greenhouse gases

A

Gases found in the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect

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2
Q

What are the main greenhouse gases?

A

Carbon dioxide and water vapor

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3
Q

What are other significant greenhouse gases besides water vapor and carbon dioxide?

A

Methane and nitrous oxides

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4
Q

How do gases remain and circulate in the Earth?

A

Earth absorbs radiation and doesn’t allow gases to escape. Even though carbon dioxide and water are finite they can change state allowing it to be recycled

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5
Q

How is CO2 released into atmosphere?

A

Released by autotrophs and heterotrophs through respiration + combustion of (in)organic matter

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6
Q

How is CO2 taken out of atmosphere?

A

Through photosynthesis or dissolving in water bodies

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7
Q

How is water vapor formed?

A

Through evaporation

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8
Q

How is water vapor returned to cycle?

A

Through precipitation

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9
Q

What do greenhouse gases absorb?

A

Longwave or infrared radiation

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10
Q

Why is methane not a main greenhouse gas but still significant?

A

It doesn’t contribute as much as CO2 or water but it can trap 20x more heat so it causes faster warming

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11
Q

How is methane released?

A
  • Occurs naturally
  • Escapes from melting Arctic ice, landfills, marshes and ruminants
  • Also emitted from fossil fuel extraction
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12
Q

How are nitrous oxides emitted?

A
  • Car engines
  • Certain bacteria
  • Lightning can also produce small quantities
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13
Q

What is CO2-EQ? Brief explanation

A
  • Carbon dioxide equivalent
  • Used to describe different greenhouse gases with a single, specific unit
  • Signifies amount of carbon dioxide there must be to have equivalent global warming impact of said greenhouse gas
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14
Q

Wavelength of solar radiation

A

100-4000nm

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15
Q

Which radiation can reach surface after passing through ozone layer?

A

Shortwave although some is reflected

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16
Q

What is absorbed radiation re-emitted as?

A

Longwave radiation (infrared) upto 10000nm

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17
Q

What happens to longwave radiation when remitted?

A

Part of it escapes Earth’s atmosphere into space however most is absorbed by greenhouse gases

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18
Q

What do greenhouse gases re-emit absorbed longwave radiation as? How does it impact the Earth?

A

Re-emit absorbed light in all directions as heat. This leads to excess retention of heat and hence global warming

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19
Q

Why is retention of heat required for the Earth?

A

It helps sustain life. Otherwise average surface temp. would be -18C

20
Q

Why do water vapor and CO2 have the greatest impact?

A

They don’t have as much warming effect as methane but they’re available in highest atmospheric concentrations so impact is more

21
Q

What is the result of depletion of ozone layer?

A

A decrease in the Earth’s ability to block harmful UV rays

22
Q

Why is ozone not a greenhouse gas?

A

It doesn’t absorb longwave radiation

23
Q

UV radiation

A

Ultraviolet radiation that is shortwave

24
Q

Shortwave radiation

A

Comes from the sun. It is absorbed by the Earth and re-emitted as longwave

25
Q

Global warming

A

Warming of Earth and its atmosphere due to intensified greenhouse effect

26
Q

Climate

A

Long term weather patterns in an area or region

27
Q

Climate change

A

Changes in long term weather patterns due to intensified greenhouse effect

28
Q

Are all peaks in average global temp. increase due to higher CO2 concentration?

A

Mostly they correlate however other factors like sunspot activity and variation in Earth’s orbit also influence

29
Q

List some effects of increasing global temperatures

A
  • Climate change
  • Rising sea levels
  • Loss of habitat
  • Biotic factors
30
Q

Effects of increasing global temp. on: climate change

A
  • Higher temp. means increase in evaporated water from water bodies. More water in atmosphere means more rainfall.
  • The effect on wind and ocean currents can cause stronger hurricanes and typhoons as well
31
Q

Effects of increasing global temp. on: rising sea levels

A
  • Increase in water evaporation= more precipitation

- Melting effect on polar ice caps and glaciers

32
Q

Effects of increasing global temp. on: loss of habitat

A
  • Decrease in ice habitats + ice melt= loss of polar habitats
  • Ice melt= rise in sea levels= destruction of coastal habitats
33
Q

Effects of increasing global temp. on: biotic factors

A

Warming of habitat changes species that live there including change in migratory patterns

  • Temperate species may move to warmer arctic areas = more competition + change in distribution + decrease or complete extinction of species
  • Melting permafrost = increase in decomposition = increase in methane = increase in pest species and pathogens
  • Severe impacts on food chains of an ecosystem
34
Q

Largest cause of increasing average global temp.

A
  • Increase in combustion of fossil fuels + deforestation
35
Q

How does deforestation impact carbon cycle and greenhouse effect?

A

Less autotrophs to remove CO2 from atmosphere

36
Q

What is a possible reason for why CO2 produced currently is less than what it should have been?

A

It may be due to the ability of oceans and other water bodies to absorb CO2 however it may lead to acidification

37
Q

What is precautionary principle? (eg. fossil fuel combustion)

A

It states that even without concrete evidence of a causal relationship, precautionary measure should be taken to ensure we are not causing further harm. Eg. We are not completely sure fossil fuel combustion is exact cause of global warming however it is probably and so people should atleast be educated and put on alert

38
Q

Coral reefs

A

Ridge in the ocean where living coral polyps attach and secrete calcium carbonate. Found in warm shallow waters

39
Q

How does heavier rainfall, pollution and CO2 affect oceans?

A
  • Heavier rainfall = more atmospheric molecules being dissolved and falling into water bodies as acid rain.
  • Denser CO2 combines with water to form carbonic acid which dissociates and lowers pH of water
40
Q

Ocean acidification

A

Drop in pH due to absorption of CO2 which forms carbonic acid and makes water more acidic

41
Q

How does lowering of pH affect coral reefs and its organisms?

A

It increases solubility of calcium carbonate decreasing amount available to organisms.

  • This will slow building of coral reefs and make them more brittle
  • As coral exoskeletons of crustaceans, mollusks and corals dissolve, they will become less resilient to other factors influencing survival
42
Q

What will happen if corals are killed off?

A

Habitats will be replaced by non-calcifying organisms like seagrass resulting in underwater grasslands

43
Q

What happens if shells of marine organisms becomes weaker due to less calcium carbonate available?

A

They might die and if they are important food sources for other organisms and humans, they may disrupt food chain

44
Q

How does increase in water temp. affect marine organisms?

A

They are sensitive to temperature changes so they will either need to adapt or go extinct, decreasing ocean biodiversity

45
Q

Calcification

A

Process used by marine organisms to build their shells and exoskeletons using calcium carbonate

Biology HL IB 2020-22 (24 decks)

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