Exam Two

Question 1

most accepted explanation of the cycles of the ice ages and interglacial periods (what triggers glacial to interglacial)

Answer 1

• keeling curve
• co2 rise and is trapped as a GHGs
• causes rise sea levels, loss of albedo, loss of ice sheets; glaciers
• reinforcing loop transitioning into interglacial period because of increased trapped GHGs warming the Earth

Question 2

The wiggle explanation

Answer 2

• co2 levels rise and fall: appear to be in oscillations
• co2 builds up in winter due to plant decay
• co2 falls in the summer due to plant regrowth which removes co2 from the air
• causes oscillations pattern and exponential growth is from human induced activities

Question 3

Two ways changing climate due to temperatures increasing on a global scale will impact the water cycle

Answer 3

1.) - increased evaporation causes more frequent storms
- runoff into waterways
- polluting aquifers that charge the water
- death/ disease
2.) increased water vapor
- warmer weather/ varied
- snowpack liquifies causing rise of sea level
- recharge dry wells
possible runoff contamination

Question 4

How systems can become eutrophic due to surface runoff
How and why
CAUSE AND EFFECT

Answer 4

• excessive amounts of nutrients (N2) cause eutrophication because of the nutrients in the runoff that goes into the water
• The runoff is high in nutrients causing algae blooms
• algae blooms blocks sunlight
• no photosynthesis
• plants decay
• bacteria increase
• oxygen decreases due to bacteria
• habitat may fall apart

Question 5

Forces behind thermohaline circulation

Answer 5

• salt and temperature drive density and movement
• high concentrations of salt increase density
• warm water has low density
• cold water has high density
• winds drive the direction and current
• earth’s rotation created gyres that form loop-like patterns