global warming

Question 1

how is acid rain formed

Answer 1

acidic gases such as SO2 and NO2 released by burning of fossil fuels in vehicles and industries
dissolve in water vapor in atmosphere
forms nitric acid HNO3 and sulphuric acid H2SO4
clouds form and eventually produce acid rain

Question 2

where does acid rain fall

Answer 2

fall far from source since acid clouds can be carried away from source of pollutants by air currents

Question 3

list 3 effects of acid rain

Answer 3

can kill vegetation
dissolve some compounds of poisonous metals resulting in their entry into lakes and rivers where organisms can be poisoned
erodes stone and metal structures like statues and buildings

Question 4

list 5 main greenhouse gases

Answer 4

carbon dioxide
chlorofluorocarbon
methane
nitrogen oxide
water vapor

Question 5

what are the sources of carbon dioxide

Answer 5

oil and other fuels
most important

Question 6

sources of chlorofluocarbon

Answer 6

used for packaging foam aerosol sprays and as coolants in fridge

Question 7

sources of methane

Answer 7

from animals as they digest and decaying plant matter rice fields and fuels

Question 8

sources of nitrogen oxide

Answer 8

from motor vehicles, fuels and some fertilisers

Question 9

sources of water vapor

Answer 9

produced by evaporation
occur naturally in atmosphere

Question 10

what do greenhouse gases do

Answer 10

form a blanket around earth in atmosphere

Question 11

how do greenhouse gases operate

Answer 11

1) suns energy enters atmosphere mainly as short wave radiation including light rays
2) gg let short wave energy pass
3) earths surface emits energy mainly as long wave radiation, including heat
4) gg trap some of long wave energy helps to warm up atmosphere

Question 12

why is greenhouse effect important

Answer 12

very important to life on earth
without temperatures would be so cold that plants and animals would not be able to survive

Question 13

what is the earths average temp

Answer 13

15 degrees celsius

Question 14

what is the earths temperature without greenhouse gases

Answer 14

-18 degrees celsius with the oceans and seas permanently frozen

Question 15

define global warming

Answer 15

increase in average temperature of the earth

Question 16

list 5 effects of global warming

Answer 16

1) result in changes in rainfall patterns
some will experience drought while others experience heavy rainfall which can result in shortage of food production occurs as agri is dependent on rainfall
2) ice caps melt and release fresh and cold water into the sea so not adapted animals will not survive
3) wider spread of infectious diseases
4) more extreme weather hazards occur - tornadoes hurricane heatwaves
5) sea level rises so low level islands vulnerable to inundation

Question 17

how are coral reefs affected by global warming

Answer 17

as a result in rise of sea level
need shallow waters to survive
bleaching of corals may occur as result of zooxanthellae being expelled from coral polyp due to adverse conditions

Question 18

list 5 reducing effects of global warming

Answer 18

reduce use of CFCs
make green spaces (places with a lot of vegetation) and reafforestation
decrease combustion of fossil fuels and use alternative forms of energy like solar wind and geothermal
laws/legislation to decrease amount of pollutants generated from industries
educating public

Question 19

define ozone layer

Answer 19

thin layer of ozone gas (2-3mm) in the atmosphere and 10-50 km above the earth

Question 20

function of the ozone layer

Answer 20

absorbs most of harmful UV rays emanating from the sun
shields plant and animal life from UV rays which at high exposures can be damaging to all life forms from microscopic plankton to human life

Question 21

what is the main gas in the ozone layer

Answer 21

ozone O3

Question 22

when was the first dramatic loss of ozone first noted

Answer 22

late 1985 by a research group monitoring the atmosphere above antartica
data from NASA revealed a hole 24,7 million square km

Question 23

what is the cause of ozone depletion

Answer 23

release of certain man made chemicals which destroy ozone gas egs CFCs used in refrigeration air conditioning systems aerosol sprays chemicals used in fire fighting equipment industrial processes and insecticides

Question 24

list 2 effects of ozone layer depletion

Answer 24

too much UV rays reaching earth’s surface which causes bad health effects such as skin cancer, eye damage and blindness and weakening of the body’s resistance to diseases
children are particularly at risk
harms plants particularly food crops and animals

Question 25

list 4 ways to protect ozone layer

Answer 25

purchase ozone friendly or CFC free products
before disposing of old refrigerators and air conditioning systems ensure that the refrigerant gases removed by trained technician in recovery and reuse of these gases
switch to an alternative or ozone friendly insecticide
legal commitment to phase out using main types of ozone depleting substances through Montreal protocol

Question 26

what is trinidad doing to protect the ozone layer

Answer 26

nou national ozone unit formed in1999 to ensure that country meets its obligations to the protocol
banned importation of CFC products on dec 31 2007
train technicians on safe handling of ozone depleting substances and the distribution of refrigerant recovery units

Question 27

what is ocean acidification

Answer 27

CO2 absorbed by sea water chemical reactions occur that reduce sea water pH

Question 28

list effect of ocean acidification

Answer 28

destroys calcium carbonate minerals which are building blocks for skeletons and shells of many marine organisms like corals and oysters

Question 29

how much has the pH of the surface ocean waters decreased by

Answer 29

1.0 pH units since beginning of Industrial revolution ie an approx 30% increase in acidity

Question 30

define climate

Answer 30

average weather in a place over many years

Question 31

define climate change

Answer 31

a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time

Question 32

list three vulnerability of SIDs to climate change

Answer 32

high ratio of coastline to land area
high population density
minimal elevation above sea level
puts large parts of population at risk for storms, flooding, erosion.

Question 33

what do SIDs depend on

Answer 33

coastal ecosystems eg. Reefs and mangroves for household income,
revenue from tourism and food. These ecosystems are threatened by rising sea surface
temperature, ocean acidification and increase storm intensity as a result of climate change.