Download Hum Imp Biosp Webquest

Human Impact on the Biosphere
Section 1: What is the Biosphere?
Go to http://www.geography4kids.com/files/land_intro.html and answer these:
1. What does the term “biosphere” describe?_____________________________________________________________
2. A. Where does the Biosphere extend up to?
B. Where does the Biosphere reach down to?_________
3. In the picture on the right, what are the three parts it says below the picture? ________________________________
4. Scroll down a little, why is the tilt of the Earth important? (Hint: what does the tilt of the Earth cause?) ____________
Go to http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/education/dynamic/session4/sess4_interactions.htm and answer these:
5. What are the four spheres that make up the Earth? (Hint: Look at the ones on and around Earth, not the universe).
_______________=________________________
_______________=________________________
_______________=________________________
_______________=________________________
Go to https://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/investigations/es0103/es0103page01.cfm
6. In step 2, what are each of the four portions made of:
Land=_______________ Ex:________________________
Water=_______________ Ex:________________________
Air= _______________ Ex:________________________
Life= _______________ Ex:________________________
7. A. In step 4, what do you see? ______________________________________________________________________
B. What interactions do you see in this picture? __________________________________________________________
Section 2: What creates the biosphere? Go to: http://www2.ccsd.ws/sbfaculty/team8e/jecole/Science/abiotic_vs_.htm
8. The biosphere is made of ecosystems. What are ecosystems? _____________________________________________
9. What are the two parts (factors) that create the biosphere and ecosystems? _______________ and _______________
10. What are biotic factors? ___________________________________________________________________________
11. What are abiotic factors? __________________________________________________________________________
12. For these factors, put an A for Abiotic and a B for Biotic.
____ Oxygen
____ Trees
____ Rocks
____ Mold
____ Sunlight
____ Clouds
____ Whale
____ Air
Section 3: Biodiversity Go to http://www.globalissues.org/issue/169/biodiversity and answer these questions:
13. What is the definition this website gives for “biodiversity”? _______________________________________________
14. Why is biodiversity important? ______________________________________________________________________
15. On this website, scroll down and click on “Loss of Biodiversity and Extinctions” What are humans causing? ________
16. On this website, scroll down and click on “Climate Change Affects Biodiversity.” From a human perspective, why is
rapid climate change a risk? __________________________________________________________________________
Section 4: Climate Change
Go to http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/basics/ and answer these questions:
17. A. Look at the definitions on the right, what is “Global Warming”? _________________________________________
B. What is “Climate Change”? ______________________________________________________________________
18. Under “Climate Change is happening,” what is our Earth doing? ______________ By how much has it risen? _______
19. What evidence is there? (Pick 2) ____________________________________________________________________
20. Why are human largely responsible for recent climate change? ____________________________________________
Go to http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/basics/facts.html and answer these questions:
21. Are human activities or natural variations more responsible for climate change? ______________________________
22. How can carbon dioxide hurt us? ____________________________________________________________________
23. What caused the hole in the ozone layer? _________________________ Is that the same as climate change? ______
24. What do you think, are climate change and global warming impacting the biosphere? _________________________
Section 5: Human Population Growth and the Environment Go to
http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/unit/text.php?unit=5&secNum=5 and answer these questions:
25. What are the three major, interconnected elements to human societies impact on the environment?
1.
2.
3.
26. What are the two major forms of impact on the environment?
1.
2.
27. Do you think overpopulation is impacting the environment? ____ Why or why not? ___________________________
Section 6: Pollution Go to http://kidsresearchexpress-3.blogspot.com/2009/04/types-of-pollution.html
28. What is the difference between point and non-point source pollution? _____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
29. Why does DDT not immediately harm birds? ___________________________________________________________
30. A. Click on “Air Pollution,” what is it? _________________________________________________________________
B. What are the environmental issues? _______________________________________________________________
31. A. Click on “Water Pollution,” what is it? ______________________________________________________________
B. What are the environmental issues? _______________________________________________________________
32. A. Click on “Soil Pollution,” what is it? ________________________________________________________________
B. What are the environmental issues? _______________________________________________________________
33. Do you think pollution is impacting the environment? ____ Why or why not? ________________________________
Section 7: Acid Rain Go to http://www.clean-air-kids.org.uk/acidrain.html and answer these questions:
34. What is acid rain? ________________________________________________________________________________
35. What are the main gases that cause acid rain? _________________________________________________________
36. How can acid rain affect plants and trees? ____________________________________________________________
37. How can acid rain affect organisms living in the water? __________________________________________________
38. How can acid rain affect buildings? __________________________________________________________________
39. Do you think acid rain impacts the environment, why or why not? _________________________________________
Section 8: Carbon and Ecological Footprint: How do we impact the Earth?
40. What does “Carbon Footprint” mean? ________________________________________________________________
Go to http://calc.zerofootprint.net/ and click “Get Started” to calculate your Carbon Footprint.
41. What is your carbon footprint? _______
What is the average carbon footprint? _______
What is your “Total Number of Earths Used”? _______ How many does the average person use? _______
42. Next, what is the definition of “Ecological Footprint”? ___________________________________________________
Go to https://islandwood.org/footprint-calculator/ and click “Start.” Take the quiz to discover your ecological footprint.
43. A. What is your Footprint? _____________
B. What is the US National Average Footprint? _____________
44. In “The Big Picture” if everyone had the same footprint as you, how many Earth’s would it take to sustain us? ______
45. Therefore, are your footprints larger or smaller than the average person on Earth’s? __________________________
46. Do you think humans are impacting the biosphere in a positive or negative way? _____________________________
Section 9: Final Step: Practice Quiz:
1. _____
2. _____
3. _____
4. _____
5. _____
Currently blocked by CMS:
Go to http://ecocamp.us/eco-footprint-calculator and click “Let’s Go!” to calculate your Ecological Footprint.
43. A. How much land/ water can the Earth provide us with? ________________________________
B. How many does the average person use? ______ How many are you using? ______
44. Are your footprints larger or smaller than the average person on Earth’s? ___________________________________