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94 Cards in this Set

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How much solid waste does an average person in the U.S. consume per day?
-1.98 kg = 4.32lbs
Briefly explain the 1987 Break of Dawn tugboat incident that towed a garbage barge from NY to NC,
The tugboat towed a garbage barge from NY to NC, where North Carolina refused to accept the solid waste. As a result, the Break of Dawn went on a search for many months to find a place to dump the waste, however after being rejected by six states and three countries, it was returned back to NY, where it was incinerated.
Municipal Solid Waste
a heterogeneous mixture composed primarily of paper and paperboard; yard waste; plastics; food waste; metals; materials such as rubber, leather, and textiles; wood; and glass. It is solid materials discarded by homes office buildings, retail stores, restaurants, schools, hospitals, prisons, libraries and other commercial and institutional facilities.it is relatively a small portion of all the solid waste produced.
Non-municipal Solid Waste
-: -: It includes wastes from mining (mostly waste rock, about 75% of the total solid waste production), agriculture (about 13%), and industry (about 10%), is produced in substantially larger amounts than municipal solid waste (about 2%). Most solid waste produced in the U.S. is from non-municipal solid waste.
Open Dumps
-: unsanitary, malodorous places in which disease-carrying vermin such as rats and flies proliferated. Methane gas is released into the surrounding air as microorganisms decomposed the solid waste, and fires polluted the air with acrid smoke. Liquid that oozed and seeped through the solid waste heap would find its way into the soil, surface water, and groundwater, which thus became contaminated.
What is a sanitary landfill?
-It is the most common method of disposal of solid waste by compacting it, and burying it under a shallow layer of soil. This process reduced the number of rats, and other vermins, lessens the danger of fires and decreases the amount of odor. Safety is ensured by layers of compacted clay and plastic sheets at the bottom of the landfill, which prevent liquid waste from seeping into groundwater.
What are “tipping fees?”
-Sanitary landfills charge tipping fees to accept solid waste. This money helps offset the landfill’s operating costs and lets the jurisdiction charge lower property taxes for homes and businesses located in close proximity to the landfill.
What are the problems associated with sanitary landfills?
One problem is the production of methane gas by microorganisms that decompose organic material anaerobically (in the absence of oxygen). This methane could seep through the solid waste and accumulate in underground pockets, creating the possibility of an explosion. The methane could also seep into the basement of nearby houses. Another problem is the potential contamination of surface water and groundwater by leachate that seeps from unlined landfills or through cracks in the lining of lined landfills. A Third problem is that landfills are not an indefinite remedy for waste disposal because they are filling up. Once, they have filled up, the landfill is closed. However, fewer new sanitary landfills are being opened to replace the closed ones.
What types of products are incinerated?
Paper, plastic and rubber
What is composting?
-Compost is a mixture of various decaying organic substances used for fertilizing soil. Food scraps, sewage sludge, and agricultural manure are other forms of solid waste that can be used to make compost. One of the best ways to convert organic waste into soil conditioners is compost. Compost is used for landscaping in public parks and playgrounds or as part of the daily soil cover at sanitary landfills. Municipal solid waste composting is the large scale composting of the entire organic portion of a community’s garbage (paper, yard wastes, food wastes, and wood)
Discuss the 1977 Love Canal incident
-It was discovered that hazardous waste from an abandoned chemical dump had contaminated homes and possibly people in Love Canal, a small neighborhood on the edge of Niagara Falls, New York. Hence, Lois Gibbs, a housewife in Love Canal, led a successful crusade to evacuate the area after she discovered a high number of serious illnesses in the neighborhood. Love Canal became contaminated by chemical pollution caused by negligent hazardous waste management. In 1978, it became the first location to be declared a national emergency disaster area because of hazardous waste; some 700 families were evacuated.
Name the types of hazardous waste
- Hazardous chemicals include a variety of acids, dioxins, abandoned explosives, heavy metals, infectious waste, nerve gas, organic solvents, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, and radioactive substances.
What is the Superfund National Priorities List? Which five (5) states have the greatest number of sites on the list?
The Superfund NAtional Priorities List contains sites that pose the greatest threat to public health. As a result, the government will assist in their cleanup. The five states with the greatest number of sites as of 2011 are New Jersey (112 sites), Pennsylvania (95 sites), California (94 sites), New York (87 sites), and Michigan (67 sites).
What is the frontier attitude
-The desire to conquer and exploit nature as quickly as possible with no regard for conservation.
What is a utilitarian conservationist? (p. 22)
-Someone who values natural resources for their usefulness, but uses them carefully and sensibly.
What is a biocentric preservationist? (p. 23)
-- A person who believes in protecting nature because all forms of life deserve respect and consideration. (John Muir)
What is the Antiquities Act of 1906? (p. 23)
--Authorized the president to set aside certain sites that had scientific, historical, or prehistoric importance (Today, National Park Services manages the 58 national parks and 73 national monuments.
Aldo Leopold
Aldo Leopold was wildlife biologist and environmental visionary. His textbook, Game Management, supported the passage of a 1937 act in which new taxes on sporting weapons and ammunition funded wildlife management and research. A Sand County Almanac, published in 1949, Leopold argued persuasively for a land ethic and the sacrifices such as ethics required.
Wallace Stengner,
Wallace Stegner got his inspiration from Leopold. Stegner’s famous “Wilderness Essay,” published in 1962, helped create support for passage of the Wilderness Act of 1964.
Rachel Carson
Rachel Carson wrote about interrelationships among living organisms, wrote against the indiscriminate use of pesticides in her most famous work, Silent Spring, published in 1962. Silent Spring heightens public awareness and concern about the dangers of uncontrolled use of DDT and other pesticides.
Paul Ehrlich
-• -- In 1968, ecologist Paul Ehrlich published The Population Bomb, where he described the unavoidable environmental damage necessary for Earth to support such a huge population, including soil loss, groundwater depletion, and extinctions. Ehrlich’s book raised public awareness of the dangers of overpopulation and triggered debated on how to deal effectively with population issues.
What is Earth Day? What impact does it have globally? (p. 24) ?
--Celebrated on 4/22. The event awakened US environmental consciousness to population growth, overuse of resources, and pollution and degradation of the environment. By 1990, the movement had spread around the world, over 200 million people in 141 nations demonstrated to increase public awareness of the importance of individual efforts.
.What is the EPA? Discuss environmental impact statements (p. 26)
--Environmental Protection Agency was formed in 1970 by the overwhelming public support for the Earth Day movement.
Discuss environmental policies in the U.S. since 1980. (p. 28) •
--A document that summarizes potential and expected adverse impacts on the environment associated with a project as well as alternatives to the proposed project; typically mandated by law for public and/or private projects (IE highway, dam)
What is environmental justice? Provide examples in Houston, Texas and the Bronx, NY
-- The right of every citizen, regardless of age, race, gender, social class, or other factor, to adequate protection from environmental hazards.
Robert Bullard identified patterns of injustice in Houston. He found that six of Houston’s incinerators were located on less expensive land in predominantly black neighborhoods.
South Bronx – Hunts Point, Riverside Park: Construction of a highway, urban flight, redlining, burned buildings led to its deterioration.
Describe environmental justice at the international level. Specifically, the Basel Convention. (p. 36)
-- As industrialized nations develop, they often choose to send their waste to other countries. In 1989, the UN Environment Programme developed a treaty, the Basal Convention, to restrict the international transport of hazardous waste.
Discuss the differences between health and healthcare in HDCs and developing countries (p. 140) •
Difference in health and healthcare between highly developed countries and developing countries highlight the effects of different lifestyles and levels of poverty. In developing countries, about 146 million children are underweight, and 3 million of these will die this year. Meanwhile, more than 1 billion people are overweight worldwide and 300 million people are obese. In HDCs of North America and Europe, about 500,000 people will die this year from obesity-related diseases.
Describe the health issues in HDCs and LDCs
In HDCs, two types of malnourishment – 1) Many Americans consume inadequate amounts of vitamins, fiber, and essential nutrients. 2) Typical American diets include too many calories – resulting in obesity. In LDCs, many endemic diseases are being managed or eliminated.
What are emerging diseases? Provide examples.
Are infectious diseases that were not previously found in humans; they typically jump from an animal host to the human species. Provide examples. HIV/AIDS, SARS, Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, H1N1 virus.
What are reemerging diseases? Provide examples.
What are reemerging diseases? Are infectious diseases that existed in the past but for a variety of reasons are increasing in incidence or in geographic region. Provide examples. Tuberculosis, yellow fever, malaria, and dengue fever.
What are the main factors involved in the emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases? (pp. 141-142)
Evolution in the infectious organisms, allowing them to move between animal and human hosts. Evolution of antibiotic resistance in the infectious organisms. Urbanization, associated with overcrowding and poor sanitation. A growing population of elderly people who are more susceptible to infection. Pollution, environmental degradation, and changing weather patterns. Growth in international travel and commerce. Poverty and social inequality.
Persistence:
A characteristic of certain chemicals that are extremely stable and may take many years to break down into simpler forms through the natural process.
Bioaccumulation
: the buildup of a persistent toxic substance, such as certain pesticides, in an organism’s body, often in fatty tissues.
Biological magnification:
The increased concentration of toxic chemicals, such as PCBs, heavy metals, and certain pesticides, in the tissues of organisms that are at higher levels in food webs.
How are persistence bioaccumulation and biomagnification interrelated?
Example: Long Island salt marsh: algae and plankton à shrimp à American eel à Atlantic needlefish à ring-billed gull. The algae and plankton contained a greater concentration of DDT. Each shrimp grazing on the plankton concentrated the pesticides in its tissues. Eels that ate shrimp laced with pesticides had a high pesticide level, and needlefish ate the eels. Ring-billed gulls had a DDT level of 75.5 ppm from eating contaminated fishes.
What are endocrine disrupters? Provide an example in Lake Apopka, Florida. (p. 146)
A chemical that mimics or interferes with the action of the endocrine system in humans and wildlife. Provide an example in Lake Apopka, Florida. (p. 146) Male alligators had low levels of testosterone and elevated levels of estrogen. Their reproductive organs were often feminized or abnormally small. The mortality rate for eggs was extremely high, reduced alligator population for many years.
Why is water important for humans? (p. 264)
Uses: cooking and washing, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, energy production, waste disposal.
• It helps shape the continents, it moderates our climate, and it allows organisms to survive.
What is surface water?
Precipitation that remains on the surface of the land and does not seep down through the soil. Found on Earth’s surface in streams and rivers; lakes, ponds, and reservoirs; and wetlands.
What is a drainage basin?
A land area that delivers water into a stream or river system. Aka watershed
Name the three (3) largest watersheds. (pp. 265-266)
3 largest watersheds: Amazon (South America); Congo (Africa); Nile (Africa)
Describe the distribution of water on Earth (p. 265 Figure 13.4)
→ only 2.5% of water on earth is freshwater, 2% of this in the form of ice.
only ~0.5% of water on earth is available fresh water.
¾ of the Earth’s surface is water.
What is groundwater?
freshwater under the Earth’s surface stored in aquifers
What is an aquifer?
underground caverns and porous layers of sand, gravel, and rock in which groundwater is stored
What is the difference between an unconfined aquifer and a confined aquifer? (pp. 266-267)
unconfined aquifer: a groundwater storage area located above a layer of impermeable rock. water in an unconfined aquifer is replaced by surface water that drains from directly above it.

confined aquifer: a groundwater storage area trapped between two impermeable layers of rock. also called artesian aquifer
What is a water table? (p. 266)
water table: the upper limit of an unconfined aquifer, below which the ground is saturated with water/ The upper surface of the saturated zone of groundwater.
Which regions of the U.S. have the most severe water-scarcity problems? (pp. 270-271)
American West and SouthWest
What is sustainable water use? (p. 278)
The use of water resources in a fashion that does not harm the essential functions of the hydrologic cycle or the ecosystems on which present and future humans depend.
What are some of the major problems and solutions associated with dams on the Columbia River? (pp. 279-280)
Conservationists think that the water should be seasonally released from the dams to simulate spring snowmelt. Farmers want to save the plentiful snowmelt water for irrigation during summer months. The hydropower industry wants to save the water to generate electricity during the winter months, its time of peak demands. The dams have affected fish populations. Several streams in Columbia River system are off-limits for dam development.
What is microirrigation?
Irrigation that conserves water by piping to crops through sealed systems (also called Drip or Trickle Irrigation). Way to reduce agricultural water waste
What is grey water? (pp. 281-282)
Water that has already been used for a relatively nonpolluting purpose, such as showers, dishwashing, and laundry; gray water is not potable, but it can be reused for toilets, plants, or car washing.
What are the eight (8) main types of water pollution? Give an example of each main type. (pp. 438-446)
sewage, disease causing agents, sediment pollution, inorganic plant and algal nutrients, organic compounds, inorganic compounds, radioactive substances, thermal pollution
sewage:
carries disease-causing agents, poses a threat to public health. Also generates enrichment and oxygen demand.
o Enrichment: the fertilization of a body of water due to the presence of high levels of plant and algal nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus).
disease causing agents
infectious organisms that cause diseases, come from waste of infected individuals.
o Typhoid, cholera, bacterial dysentery, polio, infectious hepatitis.
sediment pollution
excessive amounts of suspended soil particles.
o From erosion of agricultural lands, forest soils exposed by logging, degraded steam banks, overgrazed rangelands, strip mines, and construction
inorganic plant and algal nutrients:
nitrogen and phosphorous that stimulate the growth of plants and algae (harmful in large concentrations)
organic compounds:
chemicals that contain carbon atoms. Mostly synthetic chemicals included in pharmaceuticals, pesticides, solvents, industrial chemicals and plastics.
o Ex: aldicarb (pesticide), benzene (solvent), carbon tetrachloride (solvent), chloroform (solvent)
inorganic chemicals
contaminants that contain elements other than carbon. Ex: acids, salts and heavy metals. Do not easily degrade. Remain in water for a long time. In surface water from industries, mines, irrigation runoff, oil drilling, urban runoff. Ex: lead and mercury
radioactive substances
contain atoms of unstable isotopes that spontaneously emit radiation. Get into water from mining and processing of radioactive minerals such as uranium and thorium.
thermal pollution:
heated water produced during certain industrial processes is released into waterways. Warms waterways. Increased temperature of lake/stream/river leads to several chemical, physical and biological effects..
o ex: decomposition of wastes occur faster, depleting water of oxygen.
What is biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)? How is BOD related to sewage? (p. 438)
The amount of oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose (by aerobic respiration) the organic material in a given volume of water. Also called biological oxygen demand.
Large amount of sewage in water generates a high BOD, robs the water of dissolved oxygen; low dissolved oxygen levels make anaerobic microorganisms produce unpleasant odors & deteriorate water quality
What causes the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico? (pp. 441-442)
fertilizer runoff from Midwestern fields and manure runoff from livestock in the Mississippi River find their way to Gulf of Mexico. The nitrogen and phosphorus from Mississippi are responsible for dead zone in Gulf.
Dead zone: A section of the ocean or a sea in which oxygen has been depleted to the point that most animals and bacteria cannot survive; often caused by runoff of chemical fertilizers or plant and animal wastes
How do point source and nonpoint source pollution differ? (p. 447)
Point source pollution: water pollution that can be traced to a specific origin
Non-point source pollution: pollutants that enter bodies of water over large areas rather than being concentrated at a single point of entry. Diffuse, but cumulative effect is v large.
Discuss water pollution in other countries. (pp. 451-452)
According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 1.4 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and about 2.9 billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation systems; most of these people live in rural areas of developing countries. Worldwide, at least 250 million cases of water-related illnesses occur each year, with 5 million or more of these resulting in death—1.8 million from diarrheal illnesses alone. Municipal water pollution from sewage is a greater problem in developing countries, many of which lack water treatment facilities, than in highly developed ones. Sewage from many densely populated cities in Asia, Latin America, and Africa is dumped directly into rivers or coastal harbors.
Discuss water pollution in other countries. (pp. 451-452)
Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela suffers from the effects of oil pollution and human wastes as well as contamination from farms and factories.
Discuss water pollution in other countries. (pp. 451-452)
The Po, Italy's equivalent of the Mississippi River, is heavily polluted. Many cities, including Milan, with 2.9 million residents, historically have dumped treated and untreated sewage into the Po. Industry is responsible for half the pollutants that enter the river. Italian agriculture, including large poplar plantations, relies heavily on chemicals and is responsible for massive amounts of nonpoint source pollution.
Discuss water pollution in other countries. (pp. 451-452)
The Ganges River is a holy river that symbolizes the spirituality and culture of the Indian people. The river, widely used for bathing and washing clothes, is highly polluted. Little of the sewage and industrial waste produced by the 400 million people who live in the Ganges River basin is treated. Another major source of contamination is the 35,000 human bodies that are cremated annually in the open air in Varanasi, the holy city of the Hindus. Incompletely burned bodies are dumped into the Ganges, where their decomposition adds BOD to the river. In addition, people who cannot afford cremation costs for their dead dump human remains into the river.
What ecosystem services does the atmosphere perform? (p. 393)
-Blocks UV radiation
-Moderates the climate
-Redistributes water in the hydrologic cycle
What is air pollution?
Chemicals added to the atmosphere by natural events or human activities in high enough concentrations to be harmful
What is the difference between primary air pollutants and secondary air pollutants? What is solid particulate matter? (p. 393)
Primary Air Pollutants: Harmful substance emitted directly into the atmosphere
Secondary Air Pollutant: Harmful substance formed in the atmosphere when a primary air pollutant reacts with substances normally found in the atmosphere or with other air pollutants
solid particulate matter: generally referred to as dust
Discuss the seven (7) major classes of air pollutants. What are some of the effects of each? (pp. 394-395)\

Particulate Material –
may contain materials (heavy metals, asbestos, organic chemicals) that are carcinogenic. Also, extremely small particles (even if not toxic) can be lodged deep in the lungs.
Discuss the seven (7) major classes of air pollutants. What are some of the effects of each? (pp. 394-395)

Lead
– soft metal that is used in industrial and chemical processes, has a variety of health impacts. Acute lead poisoning rarely results from outdoor exposure. Airborne lead can become problem when inhaled and when it settles – in water &on food
Discuss the seven (7) major classes of air pollutants. What are some of the effects of each? (pp. 394-395)

nitrogen oxides
– gases produced by chemical interactions between atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen when a source of energy, such as combustion of fuels, produces high temperatures. Effects: causes metals to corrode, textiles to fade, inhibit plant growth, when breathed can aggravate health probs such as asthma. production of photochemical smog and acid deposition. is a greenhouse gas.
Discuss the seven (7) major classes of air pollutants. What are some of the effects of each? (pp. 394-395)

Sulfur oxides
gases produced by the chemical interactions between sulfur and oxygen. Sulfur dioxide is a primary air pollutant. Sulfur trioxide is a secondary air pollutant. Sulfur Trioxide reacts w water to form Sulfuric Acid.
Cause: acid deposition, corrode metals and damage stone, etc. damage plants, irritate respiratory tracts.
Discuss the seven (7) major classes of air pollutants. What are some of the effects of each? (pp. 394-395)

Carbon oxides
the gases carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Carbon Monoxide poisonous, interferes w blood’s ability to transport oxygen. Carbon Dioxide is a greenhouse gas (largest quantity of any atmospheric pollutant), buildup in atmosphere is assoc w global climate change
Discuss the seven (7) major classes of air pollutants. What are some of the effects of each? (pp. 394-395)

Hydrocarbons
a diverse group of organic compounds that contain only hydrogen and carbon. Includes methane (the simplest), benzene (medium), paraffin (largest). Some cause no adverse effects, others injure respiratory tract, some cause cancer. All except methane assoc w/ production of photochemical smog. Metane is greenhouse gas linked to GCC.
Discuss the seven (7) major classes of air pollutants. What are some of the effects of each? (pp. 394-395)

ozone
form of oxygen considered a pollutant in one part of atmosphere, but essential component in another (the stratosphere). Ozone in troposphere is human-made air pollutant. Ozone is most harmful component of photochemical smog – reduces air visibility and causes health problems, stresses plants, lowers crop yields, forest decline, &ground-level ozone is a greenhouse gas - GCC
Describe the two (2) main sources of outdoor air pollution. (pp. 395-396)
Transportation
Industry
What is smog? What is industrial smog? What is photochemical smog? (p. 397)
Photochemical Smog: Brownish-orange haze formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight, nitrogen oxide, and hydrocarbons
Discuss the sources of smog in California. (p. 398)
Since 1955, California has passed regulations reducing emissions (including volatile organic compounds) from many sources. These restrictions had reduced ozone concentrations in the area more than threefold by 2008. Many human sources contribute to the ingredients of photochemical smog. Automobiles, as well as emissions from gasoline stations and oil refineries, are major significant contributors. But any process that releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) contributes to smog production.
How does air pollution affect human health? (pp. 399-400)
It affects the respiratory tracts and worsens existing medical conditions such as chronic lung disease, pneumonia, and cardiovascular problems. air pollutants suppress the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infection. In addition, evidence continues to accumulate that exposure to air pollution during respiratory illnesses may result in the development later in life of chronic respiratory diseases, such as emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Why are children particularly susceptible to the effects of air pollution? (p. 400)
The lungs continue to develop throughout childhood, and air pollution can restrict lung development, making children more vulnerable to health problems later in life. In addition, a child has a higher metabolic rate than an adult and needs more oxygen. To obtain this oxygen, a child breathes more air—this means that a child breathes more air pollutants into the lungs.
Describe the technologies that help reduce air pollution. (pp. 400-402) •
--Electrostatic precipitators use electrodes to impart a negative charge to particulates in the dirty gas. These particles are attracted to the positively charged precipitator wall and then fall off into the collector.
In a scrubber, mists of water droplets trap particulates in the dirty gas. The toxic dust produced by electrostatic precipitators and the polluted sludge produced by scrubbers must be safely disposed of or they will cause soil and water pollution.
Phase I and II vapor recovery capture gasoline vapors that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.
Catalytic converters reduce the amount of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide released in automobile exhaust. Reducing sulfur content of gasoline, increasing fuel mileage, and requiring regular emissions inspections can all reduce pollution associated with cars, trucks, and buses.
Discuss the Clean Air Act. How has it reduced outdoor air pollution? (p. 403)
Air quality in the United States has slowly improved since passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970. This law authorizes the EPA to set limits on how much of specific air pollutants are permitted in the United States. The most dramatic improvement has been the decline in lead in the atmosphere, although levels of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, ozone, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds (many of which are hydrocarbons), and particulate matter have also been reduced.
What are the major sources of indoor air pollution? (pp. 414-416)
Tobacco and radon;Tobacco smoke contains many hazardous chemicals and causes many diseases in smokers and passive smokers. Indoor tobacco smoke can be a significant workplace hazard to nonsmokers who spend large amounts of time in smoky areas. Radon, which enters houses from the surrounding bedrock, is a carcinogen. Radon concentrations can vary greatly from region to region
What are the causes of global climate change? What are greenhouse gases? (pp. 420-421
) Carbon dioxide, methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and tropospheric ozone (O3) are accumulating in the atmosphere as a result of human activities. What are greenhouse gases? (pp. 420-421) A gas that absorbs infrared radiation; carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and tropospheric ozone are all greenhouse gases
What is the aerosol effect? (p. 422)
Atmospheric cooling that occurs where and when aerosol pollution is the greatest
What are climate models? How do they project future climate conditions? (pp. 423-424)
Climate models are computer models that describe the global climate as a system. The models divide the atmosphere and oceans into small, three-dimensional parts and evaluate the effects of changes in one part on adjacent parts.

These models incorporate feedbacks that influence such factors as temperature, wind patterns, cloud moisture, and ice cover. Running these models based on different predicted levels of CO2 leads to projections of possible future climate conditions. Models include positive feedback, in which a change in some condition triggers a response that intensifies the changed condition, and negative feedback, in which a change in some condition triggers a response that moderates the changed condition.
How do melting ice and thermal expansion of water contribute to sea-level rise? (p. 425)
More than half of recent and projected sea-level rise is associated with the fact that water expands as it heats up; this is known as thermal expansion. How quickly the ocean absorbs increased atmospheric heat will significantly influence the rate of sea-level rise. Melting of glaciers and land-based ice sheets is the other major contributor to sea-level rise, as water previously “stored” on land shifts to the ocean.
How has climate change impacted precipitation? What other future precipitation changes do we expect? (p. 427)
• Precipitation patterns will change, causing some areas to have more frequent droughts. Changes are likely to affect the availability and quality of fresh water in many locations. What other future precipitation changes do we expect? (p. 427) The frequency and intensity of storms over warm surface waters appear likely to increase. Recent research suggests that a sea-surface temperature 4 degrees F warmer than todays will result in hurricanes with higher maximum wind speeds and increased total precipitation.

Experts also predict water shortages in US West (precipitation fall as rain, not snow).
What are some of the effects of climate change already experienced by organisms, including humans? (pp. 427-429)
Globally, organisms are affected by changes in temperature, precipitation, ocean acidification, sea-level rise, and other climate change–related effects. They are also affected by changes in other populations—for example, some organisms react more to the early arrival of spring than do others, which means that food webs can be disrupted. Humans are affected by heat waves, flooding, and sea-level rise, as well as changes to agriculture.
What are some of the effects of climate change already experienced by organisms, including humans? (pp. 427-429)
- Earlier flowering times for plants
- changes in migration patterns of aquatic species.
- population of zooplankton in California Current declined 80% since 1951. Affected entire food web.
- Decline in shrimp like krill around Antarctica contributes to reduction in Adelie penguin populations.
- Some species shift geographic ranges. (one type of western butterfly, Edith’s checkerspot butterfly, has disappeared in the southern parts of its range, northern parts expanded).
- Many migrating birds (such as robins) have arrived at summer homes earlier.
- Great risk of species loss: coral reefs, mountain ecosystems, coastal

Effects on Human Health:
- increased # of heat-related deaths and illnesses
- increased range of mosquito travel may spread diseases
Discuss the international implications of global climate change, especially as it relates to HDCs and LDCs. Which country is the largest single contributor of carbon dioxide? Which country has the largest per capita rate of carbon dioxide?
largest single contributor of CO2- China, followed by US,India ,Japan
largest contributor per capita-Qatar, followed by Trinidad and Tobago
Define mitigation and adaptation and provide some examples of each as it relates to dealing with global climate change. (pp. 433-434)
-- Mitigation is an action or actions that diminish the causes of climate change. Examples include burning less oil, natural gas, and coal; planting trees; and sequestering carbon dioxide.
Adaptation consists of preparatory actions intended to diminish the effects of a changing climate. Examples include moving people away from shorelines and changing agricultural practices.
Discuss the Kyoto Protocol. (p. 434)
An international treaty stipulating that highly developed countries must cut their emissions of CO2 and other gases that cause climate change by an average of 5.2% by 2012.