Unit 7.2 - Climate change

Question 1

Climate change

Answer 1

Long term shifts in temperature and weather patterns

Question 2

Anthropogenic

Answer 2

caused by humans

Question 3

Global warming

Answer 3

the rise in global temperatures mainly due to the increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Question 4

Correlation

Answer 4

A statistical measure that determines how strongly two variables are related

Question 5

Positive correlation

Answer 5

Occurs when both variables move in the same direction (both increase/ or both decrease)

Question 6

Negative correlation

Answer 6

Exists when the variables move in opposite directions (one increases while the other decreases)

Question 7

Causation

Answer 7

Correlation does not imply causation which is the reason for the correlation

Question 8

Positive feedback loop

Answer 8

Where the original stimulus produces a response which causes the factor to deviate even more from the normal range

Question 9

Permafrost

Answer 9

Soil that remains below freezing for at least 2 years. There is a lot of carbon stored in permafrost.

Question 10

Boreal forest

Answer 10

Forests of the taiga which have been a carbon sink. Much of the carbon in boreal forests is stored in the ground, as low temperatures reduce the rate of decomposition. With climate change, the boreal forests may release more carbon than they absorb in the near future.

Question 11

Taiga

Answer 11

A cold and icy biome with very low precipitation

Question 12

Carbon sink

Answer 12

Absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

Question 13

Landfast ice

Answer 13

Ice forming land from fresh water and snow

Question 14

Sea ice

Answer 14

Ice formed from salt water

Question 15

Ice floe

Answer 15

Are large stable masses of free-floating ice

Question 16

Nutrient upwellings

Answer 16

A process in which cold, nutrient-rich water rises from the bottom of oceans towards the surface of ocean

Question 17

Poleward range shift

Answer 17

A range shift in the habitat of a species towards the poles. e.g North American trees moving northward to cooler climates

Question 18

Upslope range shift

Answer 18

A range shift to a higher altitude e.g birds of the New Guinean montane forests.

Question 19

Coral reef

Answer 19

Are one of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems and are estimated to support 25% of all marine species

Question 20

Mutualism

Answer 20

Both members of a mutualistic relationship benefit from the interaction

Question 21

Ocean acidification

Answer 21

The decrease in pH of the oceans due to increasing concentrations of dissolved carbon dioxide

Question 22

pH

Answer 22

Measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in a water-based solution

Question 23

Coral bleaching

Answer 23

The expulsion of zooxanthellae from coral due to increasing ocean temperatures which stress coral. Bleached corals are not dead but are in danger of starvation because they have lost their source of food. Coral die if the temperature does not decrease.

Question 24

Afforestation

Answer 24

The establishment of forests in locations where there was no recent tree cover

Question 25

Carbon sequestration

Answer 25

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide

Question 26

Peat

Answer 26

Forms when organic matter is not fully decomposed because of acidic and/or anaerobic conditions in waterlogged soils