Unit 9 APES Global Change Review - AP Environmental Science
Science Panda・17 minutes read
Mrs. Williams reviews global change, including ozone depletion due to man-made chemicals like CFCs, the Montreal Protocol's phase-out of CFCs, greenhouse gases causing global warming, and methods for protecting biodiversity. HIPPCO factors, such as habitat destruction and climate change, can endanger species, highlighting the importance of protective measures like legislation, habitat protection, and reintroduction programs.
Insights
- The ozone layer, crucial for shielding against harmful UV radiation, is at risk due to man-made chemicals like CFCs, which break down ozone molecules and lead to ozone depletion discovered in 1985.
- Global warming, driven by greenhouse gases primarily from human activities, is causing widespread climate change effects like habitat loss, species migration, and ocean acidification, emphasizing the urgency of global efforts like the Kyoto Protocol to mitigate these impacts and protect biodiversity through various conservation methods.
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Recent questions
What is the significance of ozone in the atmosphere?
Ozone in the atmosphere plays a crucial role in absorbing dangerous UV radiation from the sun, which helps protect against sunburn, skin cancer, and eye damage. It forms when UV radiation splits oxygen molecules into single O atoms, which then react with O2 to create O3. However, ozone depletion, caused by man-made chemicals like chlorine, fluorine, and bromine primarily from CFCs, can lead to harmful effects on the environment and human health.
How do greenhouse gases contribute to global warming?
Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, primarily from human activities like fossil fuel combustion, leading to global warming. This phenomenon results in temperature increases worldwide, with some regions experiencing more severe changes due to positive feedback loops. The Kyoto Protocol aims to reduce greenhouse gases globally, with different gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and CFCs having varying warming potentials and atmospheric lifetimes.
What are the effects of climate change on biodiversity?
Climate change has various effects on biodiversity, including habitat loss, species migration, disease spread, soil productivity changes, ocean acidification, and coral bleaching. These impacts are all linked to global warming and greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the interconnected nature of environmental issues and the importance of addressing climate change to protect biodiversity.
How can biodiversity be protected from endangerment?
Biodiversity can be protected from endangerment by implementing strong legislation, criminalizing poaching, protecting habitats, creating habitat corridors, reintroducing species like gray wolves, monitoring land use, conducting breeding programs, restoring compromised ecosystems, and reducing non-native and invasive species. These measures aim to address major factors affecting biodiversity, such as habitat destruction, invasive species, population growth, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation of species.
What is the Montreal Protocol and its significance?
The Montreal Protocol is an international agreement that phased out the use of ozone-depleting substances like CFCs to prevent further ozone depletion. These substances were replaced with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as refrigerants. The protocol's significance lies in its successful efforts to protect the ozone layer and reduce the harmful effects of ozone depletion on the environment and human health.
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Summary
00:00
Unit 9: Global Change and Ozone Depletion
- Mrs. Williams of Science Panda reviews Unit 9 on global change, covering topics like climate change, global warming, and biodiversity issues.
- Stratospheric ozone, or O3, absorbs dangerous UV radiation, crucial for protecting against sunburn, skin cancer, and eye damage.
- Ozone forms when UV radiation splits oxygen molecules into single O atoms, which then react with O2 to create O3.
- Ozone depletion, discovered in 1985, results from man-made chemicals like chlorine, fluorine, and bromine, primarily from CFCs.
- CFCs decompose due to UV radiation, releasing chlorine that reacts with ozone, forming chlorine monoxide, which breaks down ozone molecules.
- The Montreal Protocol phased out CFCs to prevent further ozone depletion, replacing them with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as refrigerants.
- Greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, primarily from human activities like fossil fuel combustion, leading to global warming.
- The Kyoto Protocol aims to reduce greenhouse gases globally, with carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and CFCs having varying warming potentials and atmospheric lifetimes.
- Global warming results from greenhouse gases, causing temperature increases worldwide, with some regions experiencing more severe changes due to positive feedback loops.
- Climate change effects include habitat loss, species migration, disease spread, soil productivity changes, ocean acidification, and coral bleaching, all linked to global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.
14:15
Factors and Methods for Biodiversity Protection
- HIPPCO is a mnemonic device used to remember major factors affecting biodiversity, including habitat destruction, invasive species, population growth, pollution, climate change, and overexploitation of species. These factors can lead to the endangerment of species, prompting the need for protective measures like the Endangered Species Act and the CITES trade agreement.
- Methods for protecting biodiversity include implementing strong legislation, criminalizing poaching, protecting habitats, creating habitat corridors, reintroducing species like gray wolves, monitoring land use, conducting breeding programs, restoring compromised ecosystems, and reducing non-native and invasive species to support specialist species.
