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3. How are heat and water redistributed around the world? Briefly describe how
convection currents operate. (3 points)
The incoming of solar energy evaporates water absorbing 580 calories of energy, and then
transforms from liquid to gas. Latent heat is heat stored in water. Water vapor condenses, and
returns to liquid form, while releasing 580 calories of heat energy. Convection currents or wind
move within(another word) the troposphere. It is the process of redistributing heat and moisture
by air circulating vertically and horizontally and moving from high pressure to low pressure to
fill in what uneven heating.
4. Explain the "Grasshopper Effect," (a.k.a. "Grasshopper Transport" in the
textbook). (3 points)
The Grasshopper Effect is the process where pollutants (mercury, dioxins, pesticides, and PCBs)
travel from a warmer climate to a colder polar climate due to rivers, wind currents, and ocean
currents. Winds travel from high pressure to low pressure because colder regions have higher
concentration of pollutants that contribute in food chains. CHECK ANSWER ON PHONE
5. a. What is the greenhouse effect as it naturally occurs?
The greenhouse effect is heat trapped in the troposphere absorbed by water vapor, methane, and
CO2. What occurs is radiant energy releases and is trapped transforming into heat. Our
atmosphere has tiny leaks where it escapes, while it can affect the earth and its environment if it
reaches severity. CHECK!!!!!
b. How does global warming relate to the earth's natural greenhouse effect?
What are the 4 most abundant human-produced
greenhouse gases? (4 points)
Both global warming and the greenhouse effect distribute higher concentrations of carbon
dioxide causing the globe to become warmer and warmer. Global warming does not naturally
occur as the greenhouse effect does. Human activities cause global warming by releasing
poisonous or toxic gases into the atmosphere, while increasing the greenhouse effect. Gases such
as, burning of fossil fuels to produce electricity; it releases pollutants and carbon dioxide into the
atmosphere. Methane pollutants such as animal waste, landfills, rice paddies, and coal mining
absorb faster than CO2. Nitrous oxide also releases pollutants from burning organic material and
soil denitrification. In addition, 17% of global warming is due to CFCs and N2O releasedby
human activities. REWORD
6. List 3 indicators that the earth's climate is warming. (3 points)
1. More species are disappearing because the habitat and climate they live in is becoming
warmer than before, which they are less likely to adapt or survive during these changes.
2. Areas in the Arctic and Antarctica regions are known for their amazing and imminent icebergs
and glaciers, however due to global warming or earth’s climate change they are melting causing
floods and shorter birthing for mammals.
3. Droughts in some regions are occurring because earth’s climate is increasingly warming in this
area. CHECK ON INTERNET
Part 2: (6 points)
Read the ABC News article, "What is a Feedback Loop?" and answer the
following questions:
1. How does a feedback loop affect the temperature of the ocean water? (3 points)
The feedback loop is a cause of more warmer weather, and affecting global warming. The
increase warming of the earth rises temperatures affecting and melting ice caps and glaciers,
while decreasing white or bright light to reflect sun’s heat. If there is less sun’s heat than open
water becomes darker, and absorbs more heat causing warmer temperature of water.
2. How is CO2 being emitted from the tundra and boreal forests? (3 points)
In result, global warming causes the tundra and boreal forests to thaw and dry up. Then old
decayed vegetation reappears and releases extra carbon dioxide, which warms the atmosphere
more; it is also, gases released from power plants, cars, and plane exhausts
• Jet streams are found at the top of the troposphere, that circles the earth. They benefit us
because they affect weather patterns.
• Monsoons are regular rains and winds that occur during certain seasons due to rotation of
earths axis around the sun
• Coriolis effect is the direction of the winds current controlled by the earth’s spin. For
instance, the Northern hemisphere 9high pressure) receives spiral clockwise winds and
the lower pressure receives counterclockwise winds, also called cyclonic winds.
• Climate ocean: ocean currents that are warm or cold influenced climate on land. The
surface ocean currents are pushed by wind; it depends on the saltiness, density, and the
circulation of the water.
• Milankovitch cycles are the cycles that state the periodic changes due to
sunlight intensity. They are describes as 1.) the size of the earth elongates
and shortens in a 100,00yr cycle, as it orbits the sun 2.) 40,000 yr cycles
changes of its angle tilt. 3) 26,000 yrs period axis wobbles out of balance
spinning top.
• El Nino is an ocean current that affects the climate and weather located throughout the Pacific
ocean and perhaps around the world; its huge amount of warm surface water that moves back and
forth between Indonesia and South America.
An El Nino occurred one year causing the polar jet stream to gather moist air from the Pacific onto the
U.S; It created intense storms and heavy rains.
Global warming can also contribute with el Nino because it strengthens its force and frequency.
Or Global warming can increase global albedo-more clouds and heat in the stratosphere.
• The surfaces of earth reflect solar energy, which is albedo (high albedo). Bright surfaces also
reflect solar energy such as sand, snow, ice. However, a surface that absorbs solar energy haslow
albedo. Such as dark forests, parking lots,…. (204 and lecture
• The United nations environment programme and world meteorologist organization formed the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a panel of scientist from worldwide that
inform us of climate change. They state that temperature has risen .06 C over the past century and
most occurred within the last two decades due mostly from human activity. (210)
• CFC producers have declined and been banned because of toxic releases in
atmosphere increasing global warming. 17% global warming is CFCs and
N2O combined caused by humans.
• Who wins and who loses when global warming occurs? Well colder areas such
as Canada, Siberia, and Alaska canbenefit from global warming because it
can provide these areas with warmer weather resulting with longer growing
seasons and longer period s for shipping products because the water is ice-
free. However, areas like Greenland and Antarctica hold large amounts of
water in glaciers and ice caps, and if global warming takes effect they melt,
causing rising sea levels and floods. Areas with hot temperature may get
extremely hot unable to sustain life or vegetation concluding in a drought.
Air Pollution
• Environmental Protection Agency states Americans release 147 million metric
tons of air pollution not counting carbon dioxide or windblown soil each year.
(217)
• Clean Air Act of 1970 (U.S.) identify and regulate principal pollutants.
• Ambient air is the air around us or the air we breathe in. (218)
POLLUTANTS TRAVEL
• Air pollutants can travel due to grasshopper transport is the process where volatile compounds
evaporate occurs from warm areas that travel through the atmosphere, and eventually precipitate
and condense in cooler regions. (221)
• Ozone thinning (221)
• To stop thinning of Ozone- banning CFCs
• Temperature inversions capture or concentrate high harmful levels of pollutants within cities. It
doesn’t allow air temperature to decrease with elevation. 223 MORE!!!
• Synergistic effects is an injury exposed from two factors combined rather than individually. 224
• Smog and haze reduce visibility studies say if all pollutants were removed from air then
pollution would clear up in few days.
• Acid precipitation are either dry depositions or wet acdicparticles form the air. In terms pH
subsatances below pH 7= acidic
Affecting areas: decreasing forest, aquatic effects, buildings and monuments 225
• Hydrocarbon controls-have complete control over combustion and evaporation. Systems must
be closed in order to prevent escape of harmful gases. Some use afterburners as a method to
destroy these gases.
• Clean air legislation: Clean Air Act of 1963 is the primary national legislation in the U.S. to
control air pollution. It act was provided with federal grants to promote and encourage regulations
on air quality. In 1970 the act was rewritten or modified, it included a primary and secondary
standards. The primary standard focuses to protect human health, and secondary standards are to
protect the environment. However, in 1990 the act was most significant. 227
• Current conditions and future prospects: Reduction of pollution has improved, though it has
has not completely removed pollution. Areas still extremely affected are developing countries due
continuous development and high number of industries. In addition, these countries are poorer
and deal with government corruption decreasing availability for help. 228-229