APES Unit 9 Flashcards
Ozone in stratosphere absorbs __ and most of ___ but not ___
Absorbs UV-C, most of UV-B but not UV-A
Human Health benefits of stratospheric ozone:
-prevention of skin cancer and cataracts
-UV-B and C mutate DNA (skin cancer) and cause cataracts
____% of sun is reflected back out into space by clouds and atm.
25
___% of sun absorbed by atm and clouds radiated out into space and down to earth
19
The rest of the sun ______
reaches earth’s surface where it can be absorbed or reflected (depending on the albedo of the surface it strikes)
Greenhouse effect idea:
Gases in earth’s atmosphere trap heat from the sun & radiate it back down to earth
Greenhouse gases absorb ______ & radiate it both out into ______ and _______
infrared radiation, space and back toward earth
Portion coming back to earth is _____
the “greenhouse effect”
Why is sea level rising?
-thermal expansion: All the water molecules of ocean moving slightly apart when they are heated leads to sea level rising.
-melting ice: inc GHG ->warmer climate & more melting of continental ice sheets and glaciers and flows into ocean.
Env. impacts of sea lvl rising: (3)
-flooding of coastal ecosystems like estuaries
-loss of species that depend on arctic and tundra ecosystems
-loss of thaw-freeze cycle that glaciers go through, depriving others of water sources
Human impacts of sea lvl rising (4):
-relocation of coastal populations
-Increase in flood frequency = higher insurance and repair costs, lost property
-Saltwater intrusion (salt water pushing into ground water & contaminating wells)
-refugees forced to move inland
As temp. Changes, vector population can expand, thus _____
inc human risk
Eccentricity:
How earth’s orbit changes with regard to how circular it is (oval v circle; affects its proximity to the sun)
More eccentric= _____from the sun
further
obliquity
How tilted earths axis is towards the sun (exposing N latitudes to higher insolation at diff. Times -> melt ice caps)
What are some ways scientists have measured and estimated earth’s temperature & CO2 levels? (3)
-Foraminifera shells in ocean sediments - (using which were alive, different species have diff. temp. tolerance)
-Air bubbles in ice cores that contain ancient atmospheric gas
- 16O vs. 18O isotope concentrations in ancient ice ( ⬆️ 18O = ⬆️ temp.)
melting of permafrost
permanently frozen tundra soils that begin to thaw due to climate change & release methane & CO2 from anaerobic decomposition. Creates PFL bc CO2 inc. temp., thus thawing more. PM added to ice absorbs even more heat due to lower albedo, worsening this.
Continued formation & break down of O3 in stratosphere absorbs _________
all UV-C & much UV-B radiation (protecting org. on earth)
how does anthropogenic ozone depletion work
- sun strikes CFCs and breaks off a chlorine atom.
- chlorine binds with O atoms of O3. (converting ozone back to O2 and O).
- Free O atoms from elsewhere can bond with the O atom that is bonded with the chlorine atom.
- chlorine atom is now free to repeat step 2-3.
how does natural ozone depletion work?
- In presence of PSCs, chlorine nitrate and hydrochloric acid (in atm) react & give off Cl2.
- Cl2 is photolyzed (broken by sun) into 2 free Cl atoms, which can deplete ozone.
what is a polar stratospheric cloud (PSC)
Clouds made of water & nitric acid (HNO3) that can only form in consistent -100 F temp. range found above antarctica
reducing ozone depletion
- CFC’s (high ozone dep. and high GHG)
- HCFC’s (low ozone dep. high GHG)
- HFC’s (zero ozone dep. high GHG)
- HFO’s (zero ozone dep. low GHG)
Nitrous oxide (N2O) comes from what?
the management of agr. soils
global warming potential (GWP)
Measure of how much a given molecule of gas can contribute to the warming of the atmosphere over a 100 year period, relative to CO2
GWP is measures in what 2 ways?
- residence time
- infrared radiation (how good is it at absorbing IR and remitting it back to Earth?)
what is a barrier island
islands that buffer coastal communities/ecosystems from wind & waves, may be lost as sea level rises
climate change can affect what 2 atmospheric currents?
-widening and weakening of Hadley cells (bc equ. is getting warmer and poles are getting warmer, so there is less cold air to push the hadley cell back down, thus widening it).
-Because temperature & pressure diff. between polar & subtropical regions is what drives the polar jet stream, less diff. between them means weaker, wobblier jet stream. leads to really cold in E US randomly and dry in W US.
climate change effects on marine ecosystems
-Altered range of marine ecosystems: some new marine habitats will form by rising sea level flooding coastline
-Some areas of ocean will become too deep to receive sunlight & photic zone (where sunlight reaches) will shift up, further from ocean floor.
-Altered ranges for organisms: warm water holds less O2, so many fish populations have declined, or migrated to cooler waters
how has climate change impacted thermohaline circulation?
-global ocean current that redistributes heat from the equator, salt, and nutrients by mixing ocean waters could slow or stop altogether from this.
1. Ice melt from Greenland ➡️ super cold, fresh water buildup in north atlantic
2. bc freshwater is less dense than salt, it doesn’t sink.
3. This cold north atlantic water slows warmer Gulf Stream waters, cooling Europe & slowing global thermohaline circulation
why is the Arctic (N Pole) and S Pole warming faster than other regions
because there is more land & less water to absorb heat
Describe how atmospheric warming relates to ocean warming.
The ocean absorbs heat radiated back to earth by GHG.
THC distributes heat
But, heat absorbed by ocean can transfer back to ATM for decades slowly.
migratory routes and mating seasons can be ______due to temp. change
altered, especially for whales.
how can climate change affect coral reefs?
-thermal pollution
-sedimentation
-stronger, more frequent storms
-inc. runoff (inc. rain)
-ocean acidification
-altered ocean currents
increased CO2 in ATM leads to ____
inc. CO2 in ocean (direct exchange)
how does ocean acidification work?
- CO2 combines with ocean water to form carbonic acid (H2CO3)
- Carbonic acid dissociates into bicarbonate ion (HCO3) (H2CO3 -> H+ and CO3 (carbonate ion) = HCO3)
- Bc carbonate ions provide so much for marine organisms, when we acidify the carbonate ions, marine life is not able to make shells as well.
SIMPLE: Carbonic acid ➡️ increased H+ ions which bond w/carbonate to form Bicarbonate (HCO3-)
Invasive species characteristics
-no nat. pred.
-highly competitive for resources
-can thrive in non-native habitats
-often r-selec., generalized
what do marine organisms make their shells out of?
calcium and carbonate
zebra mussel
-transported by ship ballast water
-agressive filter feeders, eat algae other species rely on
-1 mil. egg/yr
-clog pipes
Kudzu vine
-planted to limit soil erosion in S US
-grows quick
-outcompetes natives for sun, grows over them
-
Asian Carp
-Brought to control algae growth in aqu. farms
-Escaped to miss. river; outcompete native fish for food & space
-dec. fishery prod. and value
Emerald Ash Borer
-spread by wood packing mat.
-disrupts tree nutrient transport
-expanding range (global warming)
what are some ways to control invasives?
-laws about transport
-boat inspection
-physical removal
-introduce a nat. pred.
what are some ways that species can become endangered?
-poaching
-special food/habitat needs
-invasives
-climate change
what are some ways to protect Endangered Species?
-legislation (CITES)
-poaching prevention
-protect wildlife habitats (national parks)
what is CITES?
International agreement for countries to set up agencies to monitor import and export of endangered species (as specified by IUCN Red List)
what is an example of an endangered animal competing with a non endangered Species?
Shenandoah salamander: endangered species, limited to ranges on 3 specific mountains bc of fiercely territorial red-backed salamander
what does the acronym HIPPCO stand for (things that affect biodiv)?
H-Habitat fragmentation/loss
I-Invasives
P-Population growth
P-pollution
C-Climate Change
O-Over exploition (over poaching)
examples of habitat fragmentation
-roads and pipelines (Roads & oil/gas pipelines disrupt movement & lead to fatal collisions with vehicles)
-agr. & urban land use (deforest.)
-logging (
🏔️Breaking of larger, continuous habitats into smaller, isolated patches; disrupts ______
breeding, hunting, migration
what can fragmentation do to habitats and what can combat it?
-it can create smaller, isolated, subpopulations (has less gen. div., more prone to inbreeding depression, & less resilient to env. dist./ disease)
-Metapopulations are mostly isolated, subpopulations connected by habitat corridors; (can allow some gene flow (mating between populations) and improve genetic diversity)
What is the edge effect?
when 2 ecosys. like forest-grassland or ocean-river (estuaries) meet have diff. characteristics than the middle of each ecosystem
what are some pos. and neg. of the edge effect?
-Some species thrive in the edge habitat & biodiv. is often higher bc of diversity of food, shelter, and nutrient resources.
-but, Edge habitats can expand range of potentially disruptive species
edge effect potentially disruptive species example
brown headed cowbird (Brood parasite that leaves its eggs in the nests of songbirds for them to raise, unknowingly)
what are some ways that climate change can impact habitat range?
-temp. change (warming temp. can shift biomes. Boreal forest & temperate coniferous forests may shift N; tundra may decrease).
-precip change (Warming global. temp. will Dec. precip. in some areas, leading to soil desertification. Will inc. in some areas, expanding tropical ecosys.)
-sea lvl rise (Estuary habitats (salt marshes, mangroves) become fully submerged & more saline; coastal ecosys. become flooded)
how does domestication of species for agriculture generally decreases genetic and species biodiversity?
-less plant species are grown as selective breeding and GM results in only the highest yield species
-GM use and selective breeding also lead to less gen. div. in crops, =more vulnerable to disease or env. disruptions
-Breeds (livestock) were uniquely adapted to local climate
-Many breeds are now extinct, or at risk due to selection for only highest productivity
what are 3 ways to mitigate biodiversity loss?
- protecting and connecting hab. (wildlife corridors, nature parks)
- sustainable land use (green roofs, sus. agr., expanding parks, reduc. urban sprawl)
- restoring lost hab.
