green house gases Flashcards
What biological consequence is caused by the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides?
Acid rain is caused
It damages the leaves, buds, flowers and roots of trees and other plants, acidifies lakes and rivers, leaches minerals from the soil, and can cause fish death.
What is a biological consequence of sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides on aquatic ecosystems?
It acidifies lakes and rivers, making them inhabitable for certain marine organisms
This can lead to a decrease in biodiversity and disrupt aquatic food chains.
How does sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides affect soil?
It causes minerals to be leached out of the soil into lakes, which are toxic such as aluminium causing the death of fish
Eutrophication can also occur due to the leaching of fertiliser minerals.
What are the biological consequences of the release of carbon monoxide?
It binds to haemoglobin in animals, reducing blood oxygen carrying capacity
This can potentially cause suffocation or organ failure.
What is one way carbon monoxide contributes to environmental issues?
It contributes to climate change
While it doesn’t directly damage plant life, its effects on animal life are significant.
What are the most important greenhouse gases?
- Water vapour
- Carbon dioxide
- Methane
- Nitrous oxides
- CFCs
These gases contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
What are the consequences of global warming?
- Glacial melt - Increased sea levels and flooding
- Ocean acidification - Coral bleaching
- Extreme weather events - More frequent droughts and super storms
- Loss of biodiversity - Habitats lost, unsuitable conditions for species
- Increase in migration of species - Spread of pests and diseases
These consequences affect ecosystems and human societies.
What are the biological consequences of the pollution of water by toxic chemicals?
Toxic chemicals enter water from agricultural runoff, are absorbed by plants and invertebrates, leading to bioaccumulation
Predators ingest these compounds, leading to dangerous toxin levels affecting food chains.
What happens to aquatic organisms when water is polluted by untreated sewage?
Sewage depletes oxygen levels in water due to rapid bacterial growth
This leads to the death of aquatic organisms, a process known as eutrophication.
What are the effects of eutrophication caused by leached minerals from fertilizers?
Excessive nutrients cause aquatic plants and algae to flourish, leading to decreased oxygen levels
Algae blooms block light, reducing photosynthesis and causing marine organism deaths.
What are the consequences of deforestation?
- Habitats are destroyed
- Biodiversity is decreased
- Soil erosion occurs
- Nutrients are washed away, causing eutrophication
- Lower rainfall and droughts due to less transpiration
- Disruption of the carbon cycle
These effects contribute to climate change.
What is carbon an essential part of?
Biological molecules such as carbohydrates, proteins, and fats
Carbon is crucial for the structure and function of living cells.
How is carbon cycled through ecosystems?
Through the processes of the carbon cycle
These processes include photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion.
How do plants uptake carbon from the atmosphere?
In the form of carbon dioxide during photosynthesis
This process converts carbon dioxide into glucose.
What do plants use carbon to make?
Glucose, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins
These compounds are essential components of plant biomass.
How is carbon transferred from plants to animals?
When herbivores feed on plants
This transfer continues through the food chain.
How does carbon pass between animals?
When carnivores feed on other animals
This illustrates the flow of energy and carbon in food webs.
In what form does carbon return to the atmosphere during respiration?
Carbon dioxide
Respiration occurs in both plants and animals.
What role do microorganisms play in the carbon cycle?
They use dead and waste material for respiration, releasing CO2 during decomposition
Bacteria and fungi are key decomposers in ecosystems.
What happens to carbon in the bodies of animals and plants that die without decomposers?
It can be converted into fossil fuels
These fossil fuels can later be burned, releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
What are the main processes through which carbon is cycled in ecosystems?
Photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion
Each process plays a vital role in maintaining the carbon balance.
What is a biological consequence of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) pollution?
Combines with water vapor to form acid rain, damaging plants, aquatic life, and soil
Also causes respiratory problems in humans.
How does carbon monoxide (CO) pollution affect humans?
Binds to haemoglobin, reducing oxygen transport in blood, leading to suffocation and death in high concentrations.
Define a greenhouse gas.
A gas that absorbs infrared radiation from the Sun, trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere.
List the most important greenhouse gases.
- Water vapour
- Carbon dioxide
- Methane
- Nitrous oxides
- CFCs
What human activities increase levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?
Combustion of fossil fuels.
How is methane produced in the environment?
Produced by cattle during digestion and released by rice paddy fields.
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
Occurs when increasing levels of greenhouse gases from human activities cause the Earth’s average temperature to rise above normal.
List three consequences of global warming due to the enhanced greenhouse effect.
- Ocean temperatures increasing
- Melting of polar ice caps and rising sea levels
- Increased extreme weather events
What is eutrophication?
A process where minerals from agricultural fertilizers leach into water bodies, causing overgrowth of aquatic plants and algae.
What happens to aquatic plants during eutrophication?
Aquatic plants below the surface die due to reduced light levels, leading to increased decomposition and oxygen depletion.
What are the effects of sewage pollution on aquatic ecosystems?
Increases growth of aerobic bacteria, reduces dissolved oxygen, and decreases biodiversity.
Fill in the blank: Fertilizers are high in ________, which is essential for plant growth.
nitrogen
True or False: Eutrophication can lead to the death of many aquatic organisms.
True
What can result from sewage in waterways?
An increase in the number of pathogenic bacteria present.
