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En,vi·r.~~".le.ntaICase.
Biology: The Living World '.
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Temperature Variation
Many [actors playa pan in dctcrrn ining t hc temperature at any g'rwn puint un' rhccarih's surface.
Elcvatiou. lat itudc, and nearness to bodies uf water arc three that anygeugraph~- student will
quick lu mention. This si udy deals with twu [actors. each having specific importance tu soil
temperatures.
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The Shade Factor
Tcm pera turcs wen: obtained in November in a fairly arid area of Nevada. At t wo different. sites»
temperature readings were taken at a number of heights above and below the soil surface. One site
was shaded by juniper, while the other was not. The results an: summarized in Table I.
Table 1
TemperalureReadings in' an Arid Region of
N~~ada in
H~ight
November
Brnr~th
Unshad~
Condition
in
lrom
soil
surlace
lorest cover
field
Air
150
18­
20
Air
90
18
21
Air
60
18
20
Air
30
18
21
16
33
trmper.lturr inC
em
Soil suriace
0
.
Humus
-6
12
19
Mineral
-15
9
15
Mineral
-30
7
12
Questions
1. Construct a graph with height un the vcrt ical l") axis and temperature on the horizont al (x) axis.
Plot the data and join the points with straight lines, Usc different colors for the two sets of data.
2. At what time of day du you think the data were collected? What major difference would yuu
expect 12 hours later? •
3. From your own experience, which surfaces feci coolest and which hottest tu the feet on a sunnv
day? Why?
.
4. The temperature data alone should indicate to you that there will be many differences in both the
living and non-living features of the two sites, Predict what differences might be found if you were
.in the position to analyze the sites further. Give your reasons for each prediction.
The Seasonal Factor
Air is very changeable stuff. Its temperature fluctuates markedly on daily and yearly cycles. The surface
soil layers show similar, but somewhat less extreme, changes in temperature. Soil inhabitants are
fortunate that this is so, as you will gather from an analysis of the data in Table 2.
© 1989. Prentice-Hall, Inc..
Environmental Case Studies
23
Table '~;.: Average -'Monlhly~lempe"i"aIUre (0C)
'uly
Air
22.0
litter
18.0
Humus
16.0
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in a Mixed forest in Michigan from
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. ·luly to.. Februa.-y
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Aug.
Sept,
Oct,
!
19.0
17.0
14.5
!
17.5
16.0
16.0
14.5
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10.0
5.0
-1.0
I
-5.0
14.0
10.0
&.5
4.0
I
2.0
n.s
10.5
8.0
6.0
I
4.5
i
I
I
)
Q u e s t i o n s ,.....
I. Construct a graph with temperature on the v-axis and the month on the x-axis. Plot the data for
air. litter. and humus. Join consecutive points with straight lines. using a different colorfor each
of the three regions.
2. Describe in wordswhat the three 'sets or data indicate.
3. Snow started to accumulate at the study site in mid-Januarv. How might ~ snow covering aflect
the temperature changes in the soil during the winter? Why?
......
4: Another site. close to the first one, remained \vindsweptdurlng the \vintcrbecau5c it was more
exposed. What differences will exist between the two sites as the winter progresses? What effects
might this have on the soil inhabitants?
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24
Environmental Case Studies
~ 1989.
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Prentice-Hall,lnc.
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Name _______________________
Video: Global Warming, What you Need to Know
1. What occurred in Antarctica in 2002?
2. What can ice tell us?
3. What causes ice ages?
4. What occurred in Australia and why?
5. How is the Amazon rainforest changing, what effects will this have?
6. What was a coal mine 55 million years ago, how did it form coal?
7. What does the Keeling curve tell us?
8. Why are polar bear populations declining?
9. What will happen by 2060 in the Arctic?
10. What is happening in the South Pacific (Tuvalu)?
11. What are the two reasons why sea levels are rising worldwide?
12. How are storms possibly affected by global warming?
13. What variable are entered into climate models?
14. Give two examples of feedback loops mentioned in the video?
15. How much have temperate zones migrated in the past 100 years?
16. How have coral reefs been affected by global warming?
17. Why are glaciers and mountain snow important to people?
18. Why did the U.S. not sign the Kyoto Protocal?
19. How is New York City becoming the Green Apple?
20. What common activities contribute to CO2?
21. Give examples of reducing CO2 emissions:
AP Environmental Chapter 17 Air Pollution Lab
Data Collection:
1) Atmospheric pressure for the day __________________ atm
2) Tail pipe air temperature
Car 1 _____________ C
Car 2 _____________ C
3) Diameter of tail pipe
Car 1 ______________ cm
Car 2 ______________ cm
4) Flow rate of exhaust
Car 1 ______________ mph
Car 2 ______________ mph
5) Time of recorded exhaust
Car 1 ______________ seconds
Car 2 ______________ seconds
Pollutants:
CO %
Car 1
Car 1
Car 2
Car 2
CO2%
Car 1
Car 1
Car 2
Car 2
Hydrocarbons Car 1
Car 1
Car 2
Car 2
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
Average for Car 1 ________
Average for Car 2 ________
Average for Car 1 ________
Average for Car 2 ________
Average for Car 1 ________
Average for Car 2 ________
Calculations (SHOW ALL WORK FOR CREDIT AND UNITS)
1) Car 1 volume of gas from exhaust:
2) Car 2 volume of gas from exhaust:
3) Calculate the number of moles of gas for each car for each pollutant. For CO and CO2, also calculate the number of grams
emitted (CO has a molar mass of 28g and CO2 has a molar mass of 44g)
4) Of the two cars tested, which generated the largest total mass of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide per hour? Which
generated the largest amount of moles of hydrocarbon per hour? Which car burns gas most efficiently?
5) If 5,000 cars were modified to have the same amount of carbon dioxide emission at the more efficient car, how many kg of
carbon dioxide would be prevented from polluting the air?
6) What are some ways to enforce better gas efficiency in cars?
7) In your educated opinion, what is the best alternative to fossil fuels in vehicles to decrease gas related emissions? Why did
you choose the one you did, explain?
8) The concentration of CO in cigar smoke is 3100 ppm. How many grams of carbon monoxide are emitted if the cigar burns
for 15 minutes? The cigar smoke has a flow rate of 0.52 meters per second and the diameter of the cigar is 1.5 cm. The
temperature of the exhaust gas is 20 C. the ambient pressure is 1.0 atm.
AP Environmental Chapter 17 Air Pollution Lab
Data Collection:
6) Atmospheric pressure for the day __________________ atm
7) Tail pipe air temperature
Car 1 _____________ C
Car 2 _____________ C
8) Diameter of tail pipe
Car 1 ______________ cm
Car 2 ______________ cm
9) Flow rate of exhaust
Car 1 ______________ mph
Car 2 ______________ mph
10) Time of recorded exhaust
Car 1 ______________ seconds
Car 2 ______________ seconds
Pollutants:
CO %
Car 1
Car 1
Car 2
Car 2
CO2%
Car 1
Car 1
Car 2
Car 2
Hydrocarbons Car 1
Car 1
Car 2
Car 2
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
Average for Car 1 ________
Average for Car 2 ________
Average for Car 1 ________
Average for Car 2 ________
Average for Car 1 ________
Average for Car 2 ________
Calculations (SHOW ALL WORK FOR CREDIT AND UNITS)
9) Car 1 volume of gas from exhaust:
10) Car 2 volume of gas from exhaust:
11) Calculate the number of moles of gas for each car for each pollutant. For CO and CO2, also calculate the number of grams
emitted (CO has a molar mass of 28g and CO2 has a molar mass of 44g)
12) Of the two cars tested, which generated the largest total mass of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide per hour? Which
generated the largest amount of moles of hydrocarbon per hour? Which car burns gas most efficiently?
13) If 5,000 cars were modified to have the same amount of carbon dioxide emission at the more efficient car, how many kg of
carbon dioxide would be prevented from polluting the air?
14) What are some ways to enforce better gas efficiency in cars?
15) In your educated opinion, what is the best alternative to fossil fuels in vehicles to decrease gas related emissions? Why did
you choose the one you did, explain?
16) The concentration of CO in cigar smoke is 3100 ppm. How many grams of carbon monoxide are emitted if the cigar burns
for 15 minutes? The cigar smoke has a flow rate of 0.52 meters per second and the diameter of the cigar is 1.5 cm. The
temperature of the exhaust gas is 20 C. the ambient pressure is 1.0 atm.
Name ______________________
Chapters 17/18 Air Pollution/Climate Worksheet
1. Where does photochemical smog take place? ____________________________
2. Sketch the production of photochemical smog:
3. What effects does the pollutants in photochemical smog have on human and other organism
health?
_______________________________________________________________
4. Why do cities such as L.A. and Mexico City experience prolonged thermal inversions?
________________________________________________________________________
5. Sketch the acid deposition animation:
6. What form of acid deposition form occurs far away from the emission source? ___________
7.Which rock acts as a natural buffer to neutralize acidity? ___________________
8. Which of the following does not occur to a tree due to acid deposition?
a. Damage to leaves and needles
b. Increased resistance to drought, cold, insects, mosses, and disease
c. Reduced photosynthesis and growth
9. What causes the reduction of the ability of the soil to buffer acid and causes the release of
toxic metal ions? ______________________
10. Which greenhouse gas is in the highest concentration, what is the measurement?
_________________________________
11. Which greenhouse gas is in the lowest concentration, what is the measurement?
_________________________________
12. Which greenhouse gas has stabilized or decreased in concentration? _____________
13. Which atom in chlorofluorocarbons destroys ozone? _______________________
Chapter 17: Air and Air Pollution
When is a Lichen like a Canary
Fungus and algae have ____________ relationships that are good at detecting air polluting chemicals
17-1 The Atmosphere
-What is the Troposphere? Weather Breeder
a. Surface up to 5-11 miles, where all life exists, 80% of all air is found in this layer
b. 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, rest water vapor .01-4%, 1% argon, .0037% CO2, trace amounts of other gases
-What is the Stratosphere? Earth’s Global Sunscreen
a. Low water vapor, high ozone (protection from 95% of UV radiation); humans decreasing O3 in ozone,
increasing in troposphere
17-2 Outdoor Air Pollution
-What are the major types and sources of air pollution?
a. Dust, sulfur dioxides, carbon oxides, hydrocarbons, methane, salt particulates
b. Mainly due to the combustion of fossil fuels
c. Primary pollutants-directly into troposphere, secondary- react with other molecules
d. Indoor air pollution- comes from outdoor pollution, chemicals used in side buildings
-Air pollution in the past: the bad old days
1. Thousands died in London 1850-1863 due to air pollution; coined the phrase ‘smog’; similar
incidents led to the Clean Air Act of 1970 in the US during the 1970s
17-3 Photochemical and Industrial Smog
-What is photochemical Smog? Brown-Air Smog?
a. Chemical reaction activated by light (sometimes called brown air smog); more abundant in dry, sunny
climates
b. N2 + O2 = 2 NO 2 NO + O2= 2 NO2 (nitrogen dioxide) produced + Ozone (O3) and PANS
-What is Industrial Smog? Gray-Air Smog?
a. Consist of sulfur dioxide; suspended droplets of sulfuric acid and aerosols due to the burning of coal and
heavy oil; mainly a problem in developing world cities such as China and India
-What factors influence the formation of photochemical and industrial smog?
a. Local climate, topography, population density, amount of industry, fuels used in industry
b. Reduced by precipitation (becomes water pollution) and wind disperses to other locations
-What are temperature inversions?
a. Warm and cool air mix and disperse pollutants by turbulence
b. Pollutants concentrate in stagnant layer of cool air near ground
-____________ temperature inversion- warmer pocket of air keeps pollutants near ground
-Radiation temperature inversion- air cools rapidly allowing pollutants to stay in place
c. Occurs where cities are surrounded by mountains, have light winds, sunny climate, (near ocean allows for
perfect conditions for photochemical smog_
17-4 Regional Outdoor Air Pollution from Acid Deposition
-What is Acid Deposition?
a. Concentration of hydrogen ions in a solution- more acidic (logarithmic scale) less than 7 acidic
b. Coal burning produces sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides causing acid deposition
-What areas are most affected by acid deposition?
a. Eastern U.S. powerplant smokestacks- downwind cities affected; pH of precipitation in east 4.2- 4.7 (natural
rainfall is 5.6)
b. _________- calcium carbonate (limestone) protects from acid depositon
c. Areas most sensitive to acid deposition are those containing acidic soil (granite derived), those with low
buffering capacity of soil due to decades of acid deposition
-What are the effects of acid deposition on human health, material, and the economy?
a. Human health- bronchitis and asthma, long term affects?
b. Leach toxic metals from water, atmospheric visibility lowered
c. Acid damage to buildings and other stone based structures
-What are the effects of acid deposition on aquatic ecosystems?
a. pH below 5- fish die, undesirable plankton and mosses appear, below 4.5 devoid of most aquatic life
-What are the effects of acid deposition on plants and soil chemistry?
a. Add nitrogen and sulfur to soil, but _______ calcium and magnesium out of soil, soils absorb cadmium and
mercury, highly toxic to plants
2
b. Damage leaves and needles directly,
c. Mountaintop forests hit hardest because of thin soil and in clouds of acidic deposition; acid deposition more of
a regional problem
-How serious is acid deposition in the U.S.?
a. Some improvements since 1990 Clean Air Act; but atmospheric nitrate concentrations have not
decreased; aquatic ecosystems have not recovered;
b. Soils and lakes lost buffering of calcium and magnesium; will take decades to centuries to recover
-Solutions: what can be done to reduce acid deposition?
a. Reduce air pollution through energy efficiency; natural gas over coal; scrubbers on coal plants; tax
emissions of SO2; add lime to lakes; use fertilizer rich in phosphate
17-5 Indoor Air Pollution
-What are the types and sources of indoor air pollution?
a. 10-100 times more air pollution indoors vs. outdoors
b. Pesticides, car pollution, particulates (#1 reason for _________)- cigarette smoke, formaldehyde,
radon
222, asbestos
c. Developing countries- burning of wood inside in poorly vented stoves exposed to high levels of
particulate matter
-Case Study: is your home contaminated with radon gas?
a. Radon 222 caused by natural decay of uranium 238; depends on type of bedrock/soil, how much time you
spend indoors
b. Most homes not tested; below 4 ____________ per liter; some houses may have >20 picocuries
-Case Study: what should be done about asbestos?
a. Worst occupational hazard of the 20th century; very costly to remove, cheaper to seal or wrap
b. Originally used for building strength and cheap fire retardant, when disturb breaks apart and becomes a
carcinogen
17-6 Effects of Air Pollution on Living Organisms and Materials
-How does the human respiratory system help protect us from air pollution?
a. Hair in nose filters particles; sticky mucus in respiratory lining captures smaller particles; sneezing and
coughing removes particles
-How many people die prematurely from air pollution?
a. US- 65,000 to 300,000 annually, mainly indoor air pollution (equivalent to 2 400-passenger jumbo jets
crashing each day with no survivors)
b. $150 billion in health care costs mostly due to indoor air pollution
-How are plants and aquatic systems damaged by air pollutants?
a. Soil nutrient depletion, increased susceptibility to pests/disease; coniferous forests at high altitudes to
exposed to year round air pollution; also threatens crop production
-Health dangers from fine particles
1. Ingested in lungs leads to asthma, lung cancer heart disease; near cities death rate is higher due
to fine particle ingestion
-What are the harmful effects of air pollutants on materials?
a. Costly cleaning and maintenance- $5 billion/year
17-7 Solutions: Preventing and Reducing Air Pollution
-How have laws been used to reduce air pollution in the U.S?
a. Clean Air Act of 1990- provide 4x more benefits than paying compliance costs; _____ sets criteria for
NAAQS
-How can U.S. Air Pollution laws be improved?
a. Still relying on cleanup rather than prevention; smaller internal combustion engines not regulated:
(recreational vehicles); increase fuel efficiency standards
-Should we use the marketplace to reduce pollution?
a. SO2 emissions are allotted credits that each power plant can sell to other companies or use to pollute; some
see it as an improvement over tough govt. regulation but can create incentives to cheat or dirty power plants to
buy their way to emitting SO2
-How can we reduce outdoor air pollution?
a. Low sulfur coal; mass transit; remove older vehicles (cash for clunkers); more efficient/alternative
vehicles;
b. Cleanup: emission control devices, car inspections, stricter standards
3
-How can we reduce indoor air pollution?
a. EPA: spends $500 million for outdoor pollution, $13 billion for indoor pollution
b. Ban smoking, stricter formaldehyde emissions; prevent radon infiltration; office machines in well
ventilated areas; substitutes to harmful cleaning agents
-What is the next step? Individuals matter
a. Improve energy efficiency; renewable energy; developing countries need same technologies; reduce
poverty; ban ___________ smoking
Chapter 18 Climate Change and Ozone Loss
A.D. 2060: Green times on planet Earth
a. A short situation, in the year 2060 where proactive citizens from the present enacted policy to save the planet
for future generations and how life is in 2060
18-1 Past Climate Change and the Natural Greenhouse Effect
-How have the Earth’s temperature and climate changed in the past?
a. Sometimes gradually (millions of years) or fairly quickly (decades)
b. Every 10,000-12,000 years, ______________ period
-What is the greenhouse effect?
a. Warms the troposphere, water vapor and CO2 absorb infrared heat radiated by Earth’s surface
b. Greenhouse effect + natural cooling of evaporation and condensation allow Earth to be habitable
c. Other gases: Methane, Nitrous Oxide; CFC’s
18-2 Climate Change and Human Activities
-What is Global Warming?
a. Fossils fuels, deforestation, inorganic fertilizers all add CO2 to atmosphere- leads to a warming trend
b. CO2 in atmosphere increases .5% each year- leading to an enhanced greenhouse effect
c. 20th century warmest in past 1,000 years
-Are we experiencing global warming?
a. CO2 concentration higher than past ____________ years
b. Since 1861, 9/10 of the warmest winters occurred since 1990
c. Increased melting of icecaps/glaciers, global sea levels have risen 10-20 cm in past 100 years; northward
migration of animal and plant life; earlier spring arrival and later autumn frosts
-Case Study: Some Early Warnings from the Arctic
a. Ice reflects sunlight back into space; less ice= more absorption of heat by oceans
b. More bad news: frozen ______ (permafrost) under tundra is thawing and releasing more CO2 and
methane- (positive feedback loop example)
c. Ice melt could disrupt global ocean circulation
-Case Study: News from Antarctica and Greenland
a. Many of the glaciers floating on the edge of Antarctica are breaking off, this will not raise sea levels but will
allow ice sheets from the continent which eventually could raise sea levels.
b. Greenland is more of a concern due to losing much of its ice at lower elevations
18-3 Projecting Future Changes in the Earth’s Climate
-How do scientist model climate change? Computer models as crystal balls
a. 9-64 Cells of atmosphere, input initial conditions, elaborate equations, run simulation to predict future and
past climates
b. Still lack aspects of Earth’s complex climate system
-What is the scientific consensus about future climate change and its effects?
a. Majority of scientists conclude current warming due to anthropogenic causes
b. 1995 ________predicted 1.8-6.3 degree increase of average temp. by 2100; 2000 increased prediction to 2.510.4 degree temp. increase
c. Opponents say climate models are still unreliable; insufficient knowledge about natural climate cycles; global
warming may be beneficial to some areas (crop productivity)
-How do climate models work?
1. Simulate the Earth’s atmosphere mathematically, assign initial conditions, elaborate equations,
run the model on a supercomputer, see how it compares to real or past conditions to forecast the
future climate
18-4 Factors Affecting Changes inn the Earth’s Average Temperature
-Will the Earth continue to get warmer?
4
a. Still uncertain, many variables that need to be considered; overall yes but more extreme at high
latitudes and inland areas (Midwest US)
-How might changes in solar output affect the Earth’s temperatures?
a. Solar cycles give different levels of solar output which can affect climate models, (i.e. causing more cloud
cover); _________ cycle coincides with number of sunspots
-How might changes in the Earth’s reflectivity affect atmospheric temperatures?
a. Shiny surfaces- _____________- ability to reflect light
b. Ice- shiny- melting ice caps expose more rocks that will absorb heat and warm the area
c. As we develop more areas albedo will continue to decrease allowing absorption of more heat
-How might the oceans affect climate?
a. Absorb 30% of excess CO2; with warmer/acidic (____________ acid increases) oceans; ocean circulation
could become sluggish and alter climate in Europe (much colder)
b. Rising sea levels will affect half of world population
-How do water vapor content and clouds affect climate?
a. Clouds can warm atmosphere by releasing heat or cool by reflecting sunlight; jet contrails could be causing
some of atmospheric warming especially in the Northern Hemisphere
-How might air pollution affect climate?
a. ____________ attract H2O molecules and create clouds increasing albedo—cools earth but aerosols only stay
in atmosphere for days to months; CO2- decades to centuries
-How might increased CO2 levels affect photosynthesis and methane emissions?
a. More plants- lower CO2 levels but when plants die increases CO2; leads to more insects- increase CO2
b. Methane- arctic permafrost, sediments and methane hydrates on ocean floor are all currently being
released into the atmosphere
-How might a warmer atmosphere affect methane emissions?
a. Will increase methane releases in bogs and other wetlands, methane hydrates at the bottom of the ocean;
leading to a positive feedback loop of global warming (methane is a very potent greenhouse gas)
-Can soils absorb more CO2?
a. Only a short term ______________, a few years not reliable for long term climate changes
-How rapidly could climate shift?
a. Over 100’s of years, humans could adapt; over decades- humans cannot switch food growing regions in this
time period
b. In the past fluctuations varied by up to 10 degrees in less than a decade
c. Climate models: best case only half IPCC projections; worse case, double the projections
18-5 Some Possible Effects of a Warmer World
-Why should we worry if the Earth’s temperature rises a few degrees?
a. Weather over days, climate over longer periods of time; we are adapted to specific abiotic factors
-What are some possible effects of atmospheric warming?
a. Water Distribution: Rainfall shifts leading to drought/flooding in areas; more soil erosion
b. Plants and Animal Distribution: Habitats generally shift to higher latitudes; many organisms face
extinction due to lack of ability to migrate
c. Ocean Currents and Sea Levels: Polar melting will increase raising sea levels which would threaten
estuaries, wetlands, flood low lying areas (i.e. East Coast US); ocean currents will become sluggish altering
regional climate (Europe- severe drop in avg. temp’s)
d. Extreme Weather: Heat waves, longer droughts, flooding, violent storms
e. Human Health: higher temp.= increase deaths due to heat waves but fewer dying from cold weather;
increase in malaria cases
-Global warming, Kirtland’s warblers, and Adelie penguins
1) ___________ could go extinct in 30-90 years, Kirtland Warblers only nest in this type of tree
2) Adelie penguins – sharp decline due to warming Antarctic due to decline in krill (penguins’ favorite food)
-How might the effects of atmospheric warming vary in different regions? (some winners, many losers)
a. Africa- less water; increase desertification (Sahel); Asia- higher temps. in middle of continent; increased
flooding in others; rise in sea levels (Southeast); Europe- increased agriculture; increased flooding; disappearance
of alpine glacier in alps;
b. Latin America- increased drought/flood in other area; lower crop yields; North America- higher temps. in
Canada; hotter summers; increased food production in northern states/less in southern states; increased spring
flooding due to snowmelt; increased wildfires; increased coastal erosion/flooding along Atlantic coast
5
c. Polar areas- very large temp. increases; increased melting; alter global ocean circulation; Small island statesincreased coastal erosion; disappearance of low lying islands (____________)
18-6 Solutions: Dealing with the Threat of Climate Change
-What are our options?
a. Do nothing, (global warming is a big hoax)
b. More research before acting- (being sustainable not a good idea even if there is not GW?)
c. Act now to reduce risks- ____________ strategy- won’t do harm by actingd. Act now even if the risk is greatly exaggerated- will improve sustainability over long term
-How can we reduce the threat of climate change from human activities?
a. Cut fossil fuel use, energy efficiency, reduce deforestation, sustainable agriculture, slow population growth
b. Tax carbon use instead of wages
-Energy efficiency to the rescue
1) Fastest and cheapest way to reduce CO2 emissions by being more energy efficient
-What are the economic consequences of reducing the threat of climate change?
a. Projected climate change will cost $300 billion annually/$30 billion for US
b. Implementing above strategies will save $43 billion in energy costs and reduce energy use by 18%
-Organic farming and no-till cultivation to the rescue
1) Organic fertilizer produces equivalent yields to commercial fertilizer that produce a lot of CO2
-How can we use the marketplace to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions?
a. _________________- by selling and trading greenhouse gases emission permits in the marketplace;
more
feasible than govt. regulation; still very flawed- hard to enforce
b. Ways to earn credits: improve energy efficiency; adopt certain farming, ranching, and other
conservation
practices; switching to renewable sources of energy; reforestation; CO2 sequestration
-Can we remove and store (sequester) enough CO2 to slow global warming?
a. Plant trees= enough to cover a large area will help; collect CO2 from smokestacks and pump it deep
underground or deep ocean (carbon sequestration) very pricy;
-Can technofixes save us?
a. Mirrors in space, sulfur dioxide in stratosphere, etc. all controversial and too $$
18-7 What is Being Done to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions?
-What is the Kyoto Treaty?
a. 1997- 38 developed countries cut emissions 5.2% below 1990 levels by 2008-2012; developing
countries not required; allow for emission trading; US did not ratify treaty
-Should the U.S. Ratify the Kyoto Treaty?
a. _____________- not until developing countries require reductions in emissions; intensive lobbying
from
fossil fuel/car/steel industries stating that it would destroy our economy
b. Many scientists, citizens, leaders: treaty is a first step to make modest reductions; developed world
produces 63% of emissions; making changes will actually help economy- new jobs, new sectors
-What progress is being made?
a. 178 countries support Kyoto treaty; China has voluntarily reduced CO2 emissions by 17% as their
economy grew by 36% (US emissions increased by 14%) between 1997-2000; many U.S. companies to stay
competitive are developing innovative technologies that reduce emissions to compete with international
companies
b. Auto companies are increasing fuel efficiency; 2009 CA requires auto to reduce CO2 emissions;
-How can we prepare for global warming?
a. It’s probably going to occur- waste less water, develop crops that need less water, no building in low lying
coastal areas, expand wildlife reserves and corridors further north
-What can individuals do?
a. Transportation best choice- mass transit/bike (page 471), energy efficient building; use less water; diet choices
18-8 Ozone Depletion in the Stratosphere
-What is the threat from ozone depletion?
a. Ozone protects from 95% of UV radiation, been thinning due to anthropogenic causes- threat to all
organisms
-What causes ozone depletion? From dream chemicals to nightmare chemicals
a. __________________ (CFC’s ) discovered in 1930 CFC11, CFC12- Freon, coolant in AC; propellant in
aerosol spray cans; computer cleaners, hospitals
6
b. 1974- two chemists discovered harmful side of CFCs in stratosphere- ozone, O3 converted to O2 and O by
CFC’s
c. 1995- Rowland and Molina received Nobel Prize in chemistry
d. each CFC molecule can last in the atmosphere for up to 400 years; each chlorine atom can convert 100,000
molecules of O3 to O2
-What other chemicals deplete stratospheric ozone?
a. Ozone depleting compounds: halons (fire extinguishers), carbon tetrachloride (cheap solvent), space shuttle
gases, fumigant- methyl bromide, drying cleaning chemicals
-Why is there seasonal thinning of ozone over the Poles?
a. Polar __________- no sunlight in winter- CFC’s accumulate; when sun reappears in the spring, CFC’s destroy
40-50% of ozone (not really a hole) but a thinning
b. Huge masses of ozone depletion in stratosphere flows towards Australia
c. Ozone depletion at its worse from 2008-2019
-Why should we be worried about ozone depletion? Life in the UV zone
a. More severe Sunburns, cataracts, skin cancer- U.S. cases have quadrupled in past 30 years—10,000
deaths/year
b. Immune system suppression, lower crop yields, more photochemical smog, phytoplankton reduced
-The Cancer you are most likely to get
1) Squamous and basal cell skin cancer- 95% of all skin cancers; Caucasian children- one severe sunburn
doubles chance of getting one of the skin cancer types
2) Malignant _______________- occurs in moles and spreads to other organs- can be lethal
18-9 Solutions: Protecting the Ozone Layer
-How can we protect the ozone layer?
a. Use CFC substitutes, hydrocarbons- propane and butane for refrigeration; will take 100 years to return to 1950
levels
-Can technofixess save us?
a) Giant blimps, lasers…may be worse affects due to unproven technologies
-Ray Turner and his refrigerator
1) Turner invented inexpensive CFC solvents by testing common household items in his refrigerator and made
$$$ off of a simple idea that fixed an environment al problem
-What is being done to reduce ozone depletion?
a. 1987- Montreal Protocol- phase out all CFC use by 2010
b. 1990- London and 1992-Copenhagen- 170 countries—global cooperation
c. Could Ozone problems and success work for climate change issues?
Name _____________________
Smog in a Jar
Materials:
Dry Beaker
Water
Matches
Paper
2-3 Ice Cubes
Aluminum foil (enough to cover beaker)
Procedure: (In groups of three)
1. Cut a strip of paper approximately 6 X 2 inches. Fold the strip in half and twist it into a rope.
2. Make a snug lid for the beaker. Carefully remove the foil and set it aside.
3. Add some water to the beaker and swish it around to wet the majority of the container. Pour out the
extra water.
4. Light the paper rope with a match and drop it and the match into the damp jar. Right away place the foil
lid back on the jar and seal it tightly.
5. Place the ice cubes on the lid.
6. Put the foil lid back on the beaker and make observations.
In your group discuss each of these questions and write down a complete response based on the consensus of
your group.
1. What purpose do the ice cubes serve in the lab?
2. How is what you observed in the lab like real smog? how is it not?
3. What conditions are necessary to produce smog in the air?
4. What cities are likely to experience smog, is there a way to predict in advance?
5. What type of health problems are caused by smog? how about on plants?
6. Why doesn’t everyone get sick or have similar symptoms from smog?