Unit 9

Question 1

Ecosystem

Answer 1

a natural community of plants, animals, and other organisms and the physical environment in which they live and interact.

Question 2

Habitat

Answer 2

the place in the environment where a plant or animal lives.

Question 3

Atmosphere

Answer 3

a mixture of gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide, that surrounds the Earth

Question 4

Weather

Answer 4

the current conditions of the atmosphere at a particular place and time. Some characteristics of weather are temperature, humidity, precipitation, cloudiness, wind, and atmospheric pressure. Weather conditions are temporary and change frequently.

Question 5

Precipitation

Answer 5

any moisture that falls to Earth, such as rain, snow, hail, sleet, or mist.

Question 6

Climate

Answer 6

the pattern of weather over a long period of time. Weather patterns for about 30 years can be used to describe the climate of a particular place.

Question 7

Global climate

Answer 7

the average climate of the entire Earth.

Question 8

Climate change

Answer 8

a significant change in the climate over time.

Question 9

Fossil fuel

Answer 9

an energy-rich substance type of fuel that is created from dead plant and animal material trapped between layers of rock deep within the Earth. Over millions of years, heat and pressure transform this material into fossil fuels. Some examples of fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. Humans burn fossil fuels to make energy. When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.

Question 10

Coal

Answer 10

a dark-colored rock that is mined from the Earth’s surface and can be burned to create energy. Coal is a type of fossil fuel.
Peat ->lignite -> bituminous -> anthracite

Question 11

Oil

Answer 11

a dark-colored liquid that can be found deep in the Earth. It can be refined to make gasoline, diesel, asphalt, and plastics. Oil is a type of fossil fuel.

Question 12

Natural gas

Answer 12

an odorless, colorless gas found in the Earth. Natural gas is a type of fossil fuel. When burned releases CO2 and water.

Question 13

Greenhouse gas

Answer 13

a natural or human-made gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. Examples of greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and ozone. Most potent is HFC

Question 14

Water Vapor

Answer 14

water that is present in the atmosphere as gas. Water vapor is an example of a greenhouse gas.

Question 15

Carbon Dioxide

Answer 15

a colorless, odorless gas that is released from the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas. Carbon dioxide is an example of a greenhouse gas.

Question 16

Methane

Answer 16

a colorless, odorless gas that is produced when plants, animals, and garbage decay. It is produced naturally and as a result of people’s activities. Methane is the most abundant greenhouse gas.

Question 17

Ozone

Answer 17

a gas made up of three atoms of oxygen bonded together. Ozone high in the atmosphere protects the Earth’s surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Close to earth, ozone is a pollutant created from other pollutants that react with each other. Ozone can cause health problems in humans. It is an example of a greenhouse gas.

Question 18

UV

Answer 18

a type of invisible radiation that is released by the sun. Being exposed to ultraviolet radiation can cause sunburn and sometimes skin cancer and eye damage. We use sunscreen to block ultraviolet radiation from entering our skin so that we don’t get sunburned or skin cancer.

Question 19

Greenhouse effect

Answer 19

the process by which greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun and reflect it back to Earth rather than letting it leave the planet.

Question 20

Global warming

Answer 20

when more and more greenhouse gases accumulate in the atmosphere, they trap more and more heat near the Earth’s surface. As more heat is held within the Earth’s atmosphere, the temperature near the Earth’s surface gradually warms up. This is called global warming. In other words, global warming occurs when there is “too much” of the greenhouse effect.

Question 21

Adaptation

Answer 21

human actions that respond to climate change in a way that minimizes its effects on ecosystems and on humans. For example, if the climate is getting warmer, we might wear light-weight clothing more often in order to adapt to an increase in hot weather.

Question 22

Mitigation

Answer 22

taking actions in order to decrease the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. For example, we might drive an electric car instead of a gas-powered car so that less carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.

Question 23

Carbon footprint

Answer 23

the total amount of greenhouse gases released by a person, family, building, organization, or company each year. A person’s carbon footprint includes the amount of greenhouse gases released from direct use (such as heating a home or driving a car) and from indirect use (such as the amount of fuel needed to produce a good or a service).

Question 24

Renewable resource

Answer 24

a natural resource that can be made or regrown as fast as it is being used. Some examples are wind power or solar energy, which are both used to make electricity. Fossil fuels are NOT renewable resources because they take millions of years to make, and we are burning them more quickly than they are being formed.

Question 25

Extreme weather event

Answer 25

severe weather such as a blizzard, tornado, severe thunderstorm, or heat wave.

Question 26

Drought

Answer 26

a period of unusually dry weather that causes significant shortages of water for ecosystems and for humans.

Question 27

Infectious disease

Answer 27

an illness caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, or other organisms that enter and grow in the human body. Not all bacteria, viruses, and parasites that enter or live in the body cause disease. Some infectious diseases can be spread from person to person.

Question 28

Invasive species

Answer 28

a plant, animal, or other organism that does not naturally live in a particular environment but has been introduced there, often by humans. An invasive species can harm native species, ecosystems, and create problems for people.

Question 29

Pollutant

Answer 29

a substance that contaminates the air or water. Pollutants can cause problems in ecosystems as well as health problems in humans.

Question 30

Allergen

Answer 30

a substance that causes allergies. Examples include dust, mold, and pollen. 31.Asthma – A disease that affects people’s lungs and makes it difficult to breath. Air pollution, allergens, heavy exercise, and certain weather conditions can trigger an asthma attack.