Download Name EPA CLIMATE CHANGE WEBSITE SURVEY BASIC

Name ________________________________________
EPA CLIMATE CHANGE WEBSITE SURVEY
BASIC INFORMATION
1. How much has Earth’s temperature risen over the past 100
years? ____________________
How much is it expected to rise over the next 100 years?
___________________
2. What is EPA’s position on whether or not climate change is
anthropogenic? (Cite direct evidence from the website)
3. How does global warming work, basically?
COMMON QUESTIONS
4. Is there scientific consensus on global warming?
5. What is some of the evidence that supports climate change
science?
6. Are human activities or natural variations in climate
responsible for the climate change being observed today?
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
7. What are the four main greenhouse gases? List the major
sources of each.
8. What percentage of each made up total emissions in 2013?
9. What is the 1) Global Warming Potential and 2) Lifetime for
each of the global warming gases?
CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE
10.
What is significant about the causes of climate change
before and after the 1700s?
11.
Explain albedo. What is normal albedo for Earth?
12.
What has solar output been like over the past eleven
years, as Earth’s temperatures have been increasing?
13.
Atmospheric CO2 concentrations have increased by more than
____% since pre-industrial times, from approximately _____
parts per million by volume (ppmv) in the 18th century to
_____ ppmv in 2013. In April of 2014, the monthly average
concentration at Mauna Loa exceeding _____ ppm for the first
time in human history. The current CO2 level is higher than
it has been in at least ____________ years.
Some volcanic eruptions released large quantities of CO2 in
the distant past. However, the U.S. Geological Survey
(USGS) reports that human activities now emit more than
_______ times as much CO2 as volcanoes each year.
Human activities currently release over _____ billion tons
of CO2 into the atmosphere every year. [2] The resultant
build-up of CO2 in the atmosphere is like a tub filling with
water, where more water flows from the faucet than the
drain can take away.
NORTHEAST
14.
The Northeastern climate is experiencing noticeable
changes that are expected to increase in the future.
Between 1895 and 2011, temperatures rose by almost _____°F
and projections indicate warming of _____°F to _____°F by
the 2080s
15.
Between 1958 and 2012, the Northeast saw more than
a _____% increase in the amount of rainfall measured during
heavy precipitation events, more than in any other region
in the United States.
16.
Residents in urban areas may experience even warmer
temperatures because of the _____________ effect, in which
metropolitan areas are significantly warmer due to dense
populations and human activity. Residents in rural areas
are also at high risk because of more buildings and homes
without ___________________________.
17.
Studies indicate that climate change is lengthening
the pollen season of common allergens such as ____________,
particularly for northern portions of the U.S. Warmer and
wetter conditions may increase seasonal activity and the
extent of suitable habitat for _______ and _______________,
elevating risks of human exposure to vector-borne diseases
like ________________ and __________________. More frequent
extreme precipitation events and flooding could increase
the risk of injury or death, exposure to waterborne
illnesses, and reduced access to _________________________.
18.
Millions of Northeastern residents live near
coastlines and river floodplains, where they are
potentially more vulnerable to these climate-related
impacts. During storm events with heavy precipitation,
combined _______________________ systems in this region can
overload, resulting in _______________________ discharge
into bodies of water used for recreation or drinking water
and creating health risks.
19.
In the Northeast, sea level has risen by approximately
_____ ft since 1900, which has caused more frequent
flooding of coastal areas.Globally, sea level is projected
to rise by _____ to _____ ft by the end of this century.
20.
Longer, drier summers may reduce water availability
and increase plant heat stress, also reducing yields.
Warmer spring temperatures may be followed by cold snaps,
causing frost damage, while warmer winters and longer
growing seasons may increase pressure from weeds and
pests.[1] These challenges are likely to affect the types
of crops cultivated in the Northeast, as large portions of
the region may become unsuitable for growing fruits, like
____________ and ________________, and other crops, like
____________ and ___________________.
_______________ production is important to the Northeast's
agricultural economy and is expected to be negatively
affected by increasing temperatures. Warmer conditions
cause _________________ in farm animals, reducing milk
yields and calf birth rates. Projected warming temperatures
could also increase operations and production costs
alongside reductions in _______ and _________ production.
21.
_____________ are likely to be harmed by climate
change. Many commercially important species are projected
to move _________________ as the region's warming habitats
become less suitable. This shift in location is expected to
cause local declines in species including lobster and cod.
New diseases may also reduce the populations of fisheries.
For example, a bacterial shell disease that infects
lobsters is currently limited by low water temperatures in
the northern portion of the
Northeast. ________________________________ may allow this
disease to move northward causing reduced catch, similar to
what has been observed in southern parts of the region.
22.
The Northeast is home to a diverse mixture of species
and ecosystems that are affected by climate change. Ranges
of certain _________ species are moving northward and to
higher elevations where temperatures are cooler. The range
of economically important tree species, like
___________________, is expected to shrink within the U.S.
as its preferred climate shifts north into _______________.
Warmer temperatures are also increasing outbreaks of
forests pests and pathogens, including hemlock woolly
adelgid. Growing _____________ populations have been
degrading forest understories, while invasive plants like
kudzu have been expanding their range and contributing to a
loss of biodiversity, function, and resilience in some
ecosystems.
23.
Temperature changes also influence the _______________
of important ecological events, causing birds to migrate
_____________ and plants to bloom and leaf
_______________.Climate change and sea level rise are
expected to harm coastal ecosystems, causing declines in
water quality, increasing harmful
_________________________, and shrinking
_________________________.
24.
Winter recreational snow and ice activities generate
about ________ billion for the Northeast economy
annually. These activities include snow sports
(_______________, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, dog sledding)
and ice-based activities (____________________ and
skating). Projected increases in temperature could reduce
snow cover and shorten winter snow seasons, limiting and
altering these activities.
25.
Explain how feedback loops work. Provide three
examples of positive feedback loops and one example of a
negative feedback loop, from the website.