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APES Unit 9 Flashcards

1
Q

What radiation does stratospheric ozone absorb?

A

UV-C and most UV-B radiation.

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2
Q

Why is the ozone layer crucial for life on Earth?

A

It prevents harmful UV-B and UV-C radiation, which damage tissues and mutate DNA.

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3
Q

Health benefits of stratospheric ozone?

A

Prevents skin cancer and cataracts.

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4
Q

What is tropospheric ozone?

A

A respiratory irritant and plant toxin; contributes to photochemical smog.

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5
Q

How does ozone absorb UV-B and UV-C?

A

UV-C splits O₂ → O + O. Free O + O₂ → O₃. UV-C also breaks O₃ → O₂ + O.

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6
Q

What is the anthropogenic cause of ozone depletion?

A

CFCs from aerosols and refrigerants.

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7
Q

How do CFCs destroy ozone?

A

UV frees Cl from CFCs → Cl reacts with O₃ → O₂ + ClO → Cl continues cycle.

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8
Q

How long can 1 Cl atom destroy ozone?

A

50–100 years; up to 100,000 molecules.

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9
Q

Natural ozone depletion source?

A

Polar Stratospheric Clouds (PSC) in Antarctic spring form CI₂ → UV splits into 2 Cl atoms.

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10
Q

Main way to reduce ozone depletion?

A

Phase out and replace CFCs.

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11
Q

What is the Montreal Protocol (1987)?

A

Global agreement to ban CFCs in aerosols, fridges, etc.

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12
Q

What replaced CFCs?

A

HCFCs (temporary) → less harmful than CFCs, but still deplete ozone.

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13
Q

What replaced HCFCs?

A

HFCs – don’t contain Cl, so don’t deplete ozone, but still GHGs.

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14
Q

What’s the best current replacement?

A

HFOs – HFCs with C=C bonds → shorter lifetime and lower global warming potential (GWP).

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15
Q

How much solar radiation is reflected by clouds/atmosphere?

A

0.26

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16
Q

How much is absorbed by atmosphere/clouds?

A

0.19

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17
Q

What is albedo?

A

The ability of a surface to reflect sunlight. Dark = low, light = high.

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18
Q

How does the greenhouse effect work?

A

Earth absorbs solar radiation → emits IR → GHGs trap IR → radiate back to Earth.

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19
Q

Important greenhouse gases (GHGs)?

A

CO₂, CH₄, N₂O, CFCs, HCFCs, HFCs, water vapor (H₂O).

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20
Q

What is Global Warming Potential (GWP)?

A

How much a gas contributes to warming compared to CO₂ over 100 years.

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21
Q

GWP comparisons:

A

CH₄: higher IR absorption, lasts 12 years.
N₂O: lasts 115 years, strong IR absorption.
CFCs: 50–500 years, very high IR absorption.
CO₂: baseline GWP = 1.

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22
Q

Why is sea level rising?

A

Thermal expansion and melting of land-based ice (glaciers and ice sheets).

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23
Q

What doesn’t cause sea level rise?

A

Sea ice (e.g., North Pole ice).

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24
Q

Environmental effects of sea level rise?

A

Flooded estuaries, loss of polar ecosystems, disrupted freshwater from glaciers.

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25
Human effects of sea level rise?
Coastal relocation, property loss, saltwater intrusion, higher insurance costs.
26
What are disease vectors?
Living organisms (mosquitoes, ticks) that spread disease.
27
Climate change and disease?
Warmer temps = vectors expand range (malaria, Zika, dengue).
28
What are Milankovitch cycles?
Predictable changes in Earth’s orbit/tilt causing climate changes every ~100,000 years.
29
How do we know ancient climate conditions?
Foraminifera shells, ice core bubbles, and isotope ratios (¹⁸O ↑ = warmer temps).
30
Effects of climate change?
Rising temps, sea level rise, drought, permafrost melt, shifting biomes.
31
Permafrost thaw effects?
Releases methane & CO₂ → more warming.
32
How does climate change affect atmospheric currents?
Weakens Hadley cells → expands tropics. Weakens jet stream → cold/dry spells in U.S.
33
Ocean circulation impacts?
Thermohaline circulation slows → cold fresh water from ice melt blocks Gulf Stream → cools Europe.
34
Why are poles warming faster?
Positive feedback: melting ice → more dark ocean → more heat absorbed → more ice melts.
35
Effects on polar ecosystems?
Habitat loss for polar bears, seals, algae → food web collapse.
36
What causes ocean warming?
Heat absorbed from atmosphere (GHG effect), oceans absorb 90% of global warming heat.
37
How does ocean warming affect marine life?
Less O₂ = respiratory stress. Alters migrations/reproduction. Coral bleaching. Toxic algae blooms = hypoxia & toxins.
38
What is coral bleaching?
Heat/pollutants make zooxanthellae algae leave coral. Coral loses color, food source, and becomes vulnerable.
39
Causes of coral bleaching?
High temps, sediment/pesticide runoff, sunscreen.
40
Describe the process that leads to ocean acidification.
Increased CO2 in the atmosphere leads to increased ocean CO2 through direct exchange.
41
Explain what happens when CO2 combines with ocean water.
CO2 forms carbonic acid (H2CO3), which dissociates into bicarbonate (HCO3-) and hydrogen (H+) ions.
42
How does ocean acidification impact marine organisms that create shells?
Ocean acidification reduces the availability of carbonate ions, affecting the process of calcification, which weakens shells of marine organisms like coral, mollusks, and urchins.
43
Define the anthropogenic causes of ocean acidification.
Fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and coal/gas combustion contribute to increased CO2 and other pollutants, leading to ocean acidification.
44
Explain the relationship between atmospheric CO2 and ocean pH.
There is an inverse relationship: as atmospheric CO2 increases, ocean pH decreases (more acidic).
45
How has ocean pH changed over the last 150 years?
Ocean pH has decreased from 8.2 to 8.1 in the past 150 years, and it could decrease to 7.8 by 2100.
46
Describe what invasive species are.
Invasive species are not native to an area and are often introduced by human transport. They have no natural predators and can outcompete native species for resources.
47
What characteristics make a species more likely to become invasive?
R-selected, generalist species with high biotic potential, low parental care, and adaptability are more likely to be invasive.
48
Quantify the economic impact of invasive species in the US.
Invasive species are estimated to cost the US $120 billion per year due to agricultural loss, tourism, and other economic impacts.
49
What are some methods to control invasive species?
Methods include laws preventing transport, biological control (using natural predators), physical removal (hunting, cleaning boats), and habitat restoration.
50
Explain how species can become endangered.
Species can become endangered due to invasive species, poaching, climate change, and special habitat or food needs.
51
Describe the impact of poaching on species.
Poaching removes exotic species for fur, tusks, or as pets, and can lead to overharvesting, putting species at risk.
52
Explain how climate change threatens species.
Climate change shifts habitats, and species may struggle to adapt or migrate due to rapid temperature or precipitation changes.
53
Define niche specialists and their vulnerability to endangerment.
Niche specialists depend on specific food or habitat and are less adaptable to changes in climate, habitat loss, or urbanization.
54
What is the role of legislation in protecting endangered species?
Laws like CITES and the Endangered Species Act protect species by regulating trade, preserving habitats, and setting up monitoring agencies.
55
How can wildlife habitats be effectively protected?
Creating national parks, wildlife preserves, and preventing hunting or habitat destruction can help protect endangered species.
56
Differentiate between generalists and specialists in terms of endangerment.
Generalists adapt better to new conditions and are less likely to be endangered, while specialists are more vulnerable due to their specific needs.
57
What does HIPPCO stand for in the context of biodiversity threats?
HIPPCO stands for Habitat Fragmentation, Pollution, Invasive Species, Population Growth, Climate Change, and Over Exploitation, which are major threats to biodiversity.
58
How does habitat fragmentation impact biodiversity?
Habitat fragmentation disrupts movement, breeding, and migration, leading to smaller populations with less genetic diversity.
59
Explain the threat of pollution to biodiversity.
Pollution, such as oil spills and pesticides, can harm or kill non-target species, reducing biodiversity.
60
Describe the impact of population growth on biodiversity.
Population growth leads to habitat loss due to urbanization, agriculture, and the increased need for resources.
61
How does climate change affect biodiversity?
Climate change shifts biomes, changes temperature and precipitation patterns too rapidly for some species to adapt, leading to population decline or extinction.
62
What is the effect of over-exploitation on biodiversity?
Over-exploitation, like excessive hunting or poaching, can deplete species faster than they can reproduce, causing population decline or extinction.
63
Define the edge effect in habitat fragmentation.
The edge effect occurs where two ecosystems meet and has different characteristics, which can be advantageous or disruptive to certain species.
64
Explain the impact of roads and pipelines on habitats.
Roads and pipelines fragment habitats, disrupt animal movement, and increase collisions with vehicles.
65
What is a metapopulation?
A metapopulation is a group of smaller, isolated subpopulations connected by habitat corridors that allow gene flow and improve genetic diversity.
66
How does domestication affect biodiversity?
Domestication reduces genetic diversity in crops and livestock, making them more vulnerable to disease and environmental changes.
67
What is calcification?
Calcification is the process where marine organisms build their calcium carbonate shells using calcium (Ca+) and carbonate (CO32-) ions.
68
How do carbonate ions get affected by ocean acidification?
Carbonic acid increases H+ ions, which bond with carbonate ions to form bicarbonate (HCO3-), making fewer carbonate ions available for shell formation.
69
How does decreased carbonate ions affect marine shells?
With fewer carbonate ions, calcification decreases, leading to weaker shells in organisms like coral, mollusks, and urchins.

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