Download - Catalyst

Midterm– ENVIR 100 Fall 2009 (85 points total)
(2 points) Your name: _____________________________
(1 point) Your TA’s name: Chelsea Combest-Friedman / Julie Combs
You have 50 minutes to take this exam, or approximately 10 minutes for each page (not
including this one). Be sure to look at the point values and allocate your time
accordingly, ask questions if necessary, and make sure your answers are clearly legible.
Good luck!
For grading purposes:
Page 1 (this page, out of 3):
Page 2 (out of 17):
Page 3 (out of 16):
Page 4 (out of 18):
Page 5 (out of 17):
Page 6 (out of 14):
1) (5 points) Explain in 1-3 sentences how increasing carbon dioxide concentrations in
the atmosphere affect the Earth’s “temperature balance” and lead to climate change.
Draw a picture to illustrate your answer.i
2) (2 points) Name a significant “greenhouse gas” other than carbon dioxide.ii
3) (2 points) In their most recent Assessment Report in 2007, the IPCC’s conclusion was
that “(Circle one: Some / Most / Almost all ) of the observed increase in global
average temperatures since the mid-20th century is (circle one: likely / very likely /
definitively ) due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas
concentrations.”iii
4) (4 points) Over the next few decades, global warming is expected to increase global
average temperatures by about how much per decade? (It may help to recall that °F =
(9/5)°C + 32.)iv
a. (2 points) in F? __________
b. (2 points) in C? ___________
5) (4 points) List the two biggest reasons why there is uncertainty about the extent to
which global temperatures will rise by 2100.v
a. (2 points) ____________________________________
b. (2 points) ____________________________________
6) (10 points total.) These questions are about DDT.
a. (2 points) DDT is best described (in one word) as a/an _____________.vi
b. (2 points) DDT featured prominently in which famous book that was part
of the reading list? Who wrote that book?vii
c. (3 points) Give a developed country perspective on DDT. (In your answer,
name a country that is an example of a developed country.)viii
d. (3 points) Give a developing country perspective on DDT. (In your
answer, name a country that is an example of a developing country.)ix
7) (6 points total) These questions are about the UW Farm.
a. (2 points) We discussed 3 criteria that policymakers and biologist use to
classify or differentiate invasive species from other species; name 2 of
the 3. Hint: We are not looking for answers about how they are species
that take over, they are non-native, or they are superior competitors.
b. (2 points) Give an argument for how urban agriculture/farming can make
a city sustainable.
c. (2 points) Give two examples of principles/techniques used in sustainable
agriculture.x
8) (9 points total) These questions are about the tragedy of the commons. Be very
careful with your language in parts (a) and (b).
a. (2 points) In class we described a model for the tragedy of the commons
in which individuals each choose between A and B (e.g., taking the bus
or driving). One of the characteristics that makes this a tragedy of the
commons is that for each individual… [complete the sentence].
b. (2 points) The second characteristic that makes this a tragedy of the
commons is that for the group as a whole… [complete the sentence].
c. (2 points) Hardin’s solution to the tragedy of the commons is “mutual
coercion mutually agreed upon.” Give an example.
d. (3 points) Sara Curran described Elinor Ostrom’s critique of Hardin,
namely that he failed to consider the importance of rules and norms
encompassed in non-governmental ______________. Fill in the blank
and then give an example.xi
9) (9 points) Draw a graph approximating the historic and most likely future path of
world human population growth starting in 1800 and continuing to 2100. Your graph
should have the following elements: Labels on the x and y axes (1 point); labels or
arrows or other ways for your reader to determine the approximate (within 15%)
human population in the year 2009 and in the year 2100 (2 points each); and an
appropriate shape showing how populations are likely to change over that time period
(4 points).xii
10) (10 points total) Here’s something that Yoram might say: “I’m not worried that we
might be running out of coal, I’m worried that we might not be running out of coal.”
a. (2 points) What class metaphor helps explain why Yoram is not worried that we
might be running out of coal?
b. (3 points) Briefly explain this class metaphor. For partial credit you can provide a
general description of this metaphor, but for full credit you need to give a relevant
example or otherwise explain the connection between the metaphor and why
Yoram is not worried about running out of coal.
c. (2 points) What class metaphor helps explain why Yoram is worried that we
might not be running out of coal?
d. (3 points) Briefly explain this class metaphor. For partial credit you can provide a
general description of this metaphor, but for full credit you need to give a relevant
example or otherwise explain the connection between the metaphor and why
Yoram is worried about not running out of coal.xiii
11) (7 points) “Being at the top of the food chain has risks [because of bioaccumulation].”
Draw a trophic pyramid and indicate who’s at the top and who’s at the bottom (3
points), use your trophic pyramid to describe the 10% rule (2 point), and then put all
this together to briefly explain why bioaccumulation poses a risk to species at the top
of the food chain (2 points).xiv
12) (5 points) Briefly describe a trophic cascade. For full credit, describe the one in
Ripple and Beschta 2004 (“Wolves and the ecology of fear: Can predation risk
structure ecosystems?”). For partial credit, give a different example of a trophic
cascade.xv
13) (9 points total) The figure below illustrates what happens to the discharge of water in
a watershed when there is a rainfall event.xvi
a. (3 points) Define watershed.
b. (3 points) Discharge #1 is typical of… (what type of watersheds and why?)
c. (3 points) Discharge #2 is typical of… (what type of watersheds and why?)
Carbon dioxide forms a “blanket” that prevents solar energy from being re-radiated back
into space. Here’s a good picture, from
http://www.environmentalsociety.ca/issues/climate/images/greenhouse-effect.jpg.
Grading: 2 points for drawing, 3 points for explanation. Full credit if they mention a
“blanket” effect and the fact that more energy enters than leaves. Points off if
explanation is unclear or inaccurate (1-2). Points off if drawing is not labeled well or is
unclear (1).
ii
Water vapor, nitrous oxide, CFCs, methane, etc.
iii
Most; very likely.
iv
Two points for about 0.4 or 0.5 F per decade, one point for about 0.2 C per decade,
one point for writing that 4F equals about 2C (actually it’s 1.6C, so anything in that
range is fine.)
v
One reason is that we don’t know what emissions will be and one reason is that we
don’t know how feedback loops will behave.
vi
Pesticide or insecticide.
vii
1 point for Silent Spring, 1 point for Rachel Carson.
viii
1 point for a country. In the developed world, DDT was used in agriculture to reduce
crop losses due to insects. The resulting benefits are arguable lower than the human and
environmental costs (e.g., on birds) and so DDT is banned.
ix
1 point for a country. In the developing world, DDT is/was used to protect people from
the mosquitoes that carry malaria. The resulting benefits are arguable higher than the
human and environmental costs and so DDT is still used.
x
(a) two of the following three: org causes significant harm to ecosystems, human health
and/or economic burden; (b) examples: reduce travel for food, carbon storage, decrease
heat island effect, increase biodiversity; (c) two of the following: sustain soil health,
composting, crop rotation, cover crop, polyculture, integrated pest management (or other
that makes sense)
xi
For (a), only 1 point for “each individual prefers B to A”, with full credit (2 points) for
“each individual prefers B to A regardless of what everyone else does.” For (b), only 1
point for “A is better than B”, with full credit (2 points) for “everyone choosing A is
better than everyone choosing B.” For (c), any MCMAU solution like a ban on driving,
carbon taxes, etc. For (d), 1 point for “institutions” and 2 points for an example, e.g.,
kinship pressure in Indonesia.
xii
1 point for axes label, 2 points for 6.8 billion or so in 2009 (6.0-7.5 billion okay, 1
point for something close or for using “millions” instead of “millions”), 2 points for 9-10
billion or so in 2100, 2 points for exponential growth in 1800-2000, 2 points for peaking
at or around 2100.
2 points for a shape showing increasing populations that peak mid-century.
xiii
For (a), 2 points for “invisible hand.” For (b), full credit (3 points) for an example,
e.g., that individual incentives will lead people to find alternatives to coal or conserve
coal. For (c), 2 points for “tragedy of the commons”. For (d), full credit (3 points) for a
relevant example, e.g., that burning fossil fuels will lead to climate change.
xiv
The trophic pyramid is a triangle, with primary production (e.g., plants) at the bottom
and carnivores at the top. Bioaccumulation is the accumulation of DDT or certain other
chemicals as you move up the food chain. Only about 10% of energy is transferred up the
i
food chain, e.g., it takes 10 pounds of frog to make 1 pound of snake. Minus 1 for minor
mistake, minus 2 for major mistake.
xv
Introduction of wolves scared elk away from streams, which allowed recovery of trees
and shrubs along streams, and that had follow-up effects on beavers, songbirds, etc. 5
points for great answer, 4 points for minor mistake, 3 points for major mistake or
multiple minor mistakes, 2 points for multiple major mistakes, 1 point for some
intelligent thought. Minus 2 for using a different example.
xvi
The small gray chart on the top shows rainfall; the graphs on the bottom show run-off.
For (a), e.g., the Cedar River watershed covers all geographic areas in which precipitation
ends up in the Cedar River. In urban areas like #1, there are “spikes” of run-off because
of the predominance of impervious surfaces. In forests like #2, run-off is slowed by trees,
plants, and soil.