DIY FRQ Challenge

DIY FRQ challenge: part one

Chapter Nine: Ecosystems

1. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has gathered hundreds of scientists to examine the record setting rise in global temperatures. A 2006 IPCC report stated with 90% certainty that the temperature rise seen in the past century is due to rising greenhouse gases. From preindustrial times, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide have increased significantly. The average temperature of the Earth has increased about 0.8ºC from 1880; Two-thirds of that warming has occurred since 1975, at a rate of roughly 0.15-0.20ºC per decade. If this trend continues, average global temperatures are expected to increase by to about 1ºC to 6ºC by 2100, depending on levels of greenhouse gases and planetary weather fluctuations.

1. Why do increased levels of carbon dioxide affect biodiversity in biomes?

1. Which types of biomes are affected most directly by the temperature changes projected for the next century?

1. Besides climate change, what other threats do biomes face from humans?

1. Describe the kind of ecological succession that occurs on clear-cut land or farmland left fallow.

1. Name one piece of national legislation and one piece of international legislation aimed at protecting biomes and explain if those policies have been successful.

2) Hubbert’s Peak

in 1956, M. King Hubbert, geophysicist from Shell Oil Company, used the information and data available at the time to calculate the "Hubbert Peak".

a) Describe the Hubbert Peak, specifying the "peak" years.

b) Still today, the United States depend heavily on imported oil. Who is the major supplier of oil to the United States? Where is the majority of the proven oil reserves located? Explain the positive and negative aspects of importing oil, from an economical perspective.

c) Some countries use coal as an alternative fuel, explain the drawbacks of extracting and purifying this fossil fuel.

d) Define what a fossil fuel is; then briefly explain which alternatives would you consider to fossil fuels If you were in charge of a country, province or community.

3. Lovely Fremont in the news…

The Fremont city council is deciding to build a coal plant within their community. They believe that the installation of the plant will increase their energy independence as the plant is within their control, as well as provide the local community with more jobs and increase convenience for the residents to use energy. Some environmental scientists have argued that the plant will increase local carbon dioxide emissions, as well as create some potential problems for the community and the environment.

(a) What are some other greenhouse gases that may increase with the installation and usage of the plant? List three and briefly explain why their levels in the atmosphere would increase. (Where they come from)

(b) What impact might increased carbon and other greenhouse gases have on the environment? List three examples and explain how they might have negative impacts on the environment.

(c) Explain where else, other than from the coal plant, might the greenhouse gases you listed in part (a) be found. List at least one place or situation for each greenhouse gas you listed in part (a).

(d) What could be done to alleviate the environmental impacts these greenhouse gases may have?

4. Ch 6: Air

The atmosphere is constantly changing. It plays a large role in developing the environments found on Earth. Weather and climate are determined by atmospheric changes and circulations.

a. What are two most common gases found in the atmosphere?

b. What are the four main layers of the atmosphere? Include a distinct trait for each.

c. Describe a temperature inversion and its effect on weather patterns.

d. What are two types of ozone? How do their effects on human health differ?

5. China

China has plans to build 400 new cities of 1/2 million residents each over the course of the next 20 years.

a. In terms of mass urbanization (such as that in China), identify and describe THREE problems that can arise that are detrimental to either the environment or the human population.

b. Many people who become disenchanted with the urban lifestyle move into the suburbs in search of a more suitable way of life. Discuss TWO reasons that an urban region might be a more beneficial abode than a suburban one to the average citizen.

c. Is the ecological footprint of an urban resident generally larger or smaller than that of a rural or suburban resident? Discuss TWO ways in which an increasingly growing urban lifestyle could lead to a change in the average resident's ecological footprint.

d. List an organization whose efforts have been to conserve the natural land and oppose the destruction comes with urbanization. What properties of urbanization does this organization attempt to deflect? What actions do they take?

6: Forestry

a. Name and describe two methods of tree cutting.

a. Aside from tree cutting, name three other ways deforestation may occur.

a. Explain three environmental impacts of deforestation.

7. The Earth’s formation occurred over the course of billions of years and formations continue today. Hundreds of environmental factors affect the Earth and its environment, for the better or for the worse.

a) What is the difference between a convergent boundary and a transform fault boundary? What events are associated with each?

b) How do earthquakes occur? Compare P and S waves. How are they different?

c) Why are some areas more prone to experiencing earthquakes than others? What factors, other than proximity to transform fault boundaries, can come into play for an earthquake to occur?

How can an earthquake in one area impact locations that did not suffer from it? Give an example.

d) Should real estate and insurance companies place higher taxes on homes located in earthquake areas? Why or why not?

8. Soils

a.) Describe one physical and chemical soil test that could be conducted and whose results will be used to create recommendations for sustainable agriculture.

b.) Identify and describe 2 methods of preventing soil salinization.

c.) Explain 2 sustainable soil conservation methods.

d.) Explain lification through compaction.

9. Energy and the Hornburgers…

1. Mr. and Mrs. Hornburger have moved into a new 3,000 square foot house in Hawaii which they have recently converted energy systems from electric to solar powered. In their new home, electricity costs $.5 per kWh and the sun shines 10 hours of the day. The panel initially costs $1,000 dollars, powers 500 watts, and will last 25 years.

a) Find the ROI (return of investment) on the Hornburger's panel

b) Find the TCO (total cost of ownership)

Part Two——the revenge…

1. The nitrogen cycle is essential to all living things. Nitrogen changes forms and cycles through every component of earth’s systems.

a. Why are nitrifying bacteria essential to the environment? Where are they located and what do they benefit most directly?

b. What are the downfalls of inorganic fertilizers that contain nitrogen? What are the upsides?

c. What are some of the largest suppliers/processes that create organic nitrogen?

2. Populations

Various factors contribute to the uneven and inconsistent growth of global populations.

(a) Name two internal factors and two external factors that would cause one population to grow more slowly than another. (4 points)

(b) Define a density-dependent factor and a density-independent factor, and give an example of each. (4 points)

(c) In the town of Fremont, the current population is 5,000 people. The total immigration rate is 100 people and the total emigration rate is 30 people. The birth rate is 10 per 1,000 people and the death rate is 4 per 1,000 people. After one year, what will the population of Fremont be? (1 point)

(d) Using the population of Fremont after one year, calculate the growth rate and doubling time of the town. (2 points)

(e) Based on the birth rate, death rate, and total growth rate of Fremont, in which stage of the demographic transition model is Fremont? Additionally, give one example of a country that is currently in the same stage of the geographic transition model as Fremont. (2 points)

3. Soils

Soil is a mixture of minerals, organic material, gases, and liquids. It is a medium for plant growth, a means of water storage, supply and purification, a modifier of the atmosphere, and is a habitat for organisms. An important element of soil is the soil horizon. A soil horizon s a layer generally parallel to the soil surface, whose physical characteristics differ from the layers above and beneath. The O layer is the top layer, which has all the organic matter. The A layer is the surface soil which is organics mixed with mineral matter. The B layer is subsoil. This layer accumulates such as clay . The C soil is the parent material, this layer has large unbroken rocks. The R layer is bedrock, this layer denotes the layer of partially weathered bedrock at the base of the soil profile.

A) Deforestation is a large problem which is affecting the Amazon in a severely detrimental way. List 2 different ways that deforestation affects the soil, which then effects the environment in a negative way in the Amazon.

B) The B layer is known for accumulating lots of organic compounds, list 2 (not including the ones listed in the paragraph above)

C) How is soil formed?

D) Soil has so many good uses for the environment, name one bad way soil effects the environment.

E) Which soil would be richer and have more nutrients and minerals in it; soil in a tropical rainforest or soil in a shrub land?

4. Climate change

Global warming is a system created by an increase in the levels of greenhouse gases. The greatest impact of the system has come from industrialization, which released large amounts of CO2, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere. While land clearing and fossil fuel burnings have increased the concentration of soot and aerosols.

a. Name THREE non-human involved actions that cause a release of greenhouse gases.

b. What causes an enhanced greenhouse effect?

c. While Nitrogen Oxides are not nearly as common of a greenhouse gas as CO2 (which makes up for about 80% of the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere) many argue that it is the most dangerous and detrimental. Explain why this argument is true.

d. Scientists predict that within the next 100 to 200 years sea levels will rise around 1-8 meters. Describe ONE social, ONE environmental, and ONE economical side effect that will occur as a result.

5. Populations

Population density relates the number of individuals to a given unit of area. Human population specifically, is expressed as the number of people per square mile. Population A is told being distributed in a clustered or grouped manner. The individuals are able to associate in small groups or clusters that are unequally spaced across a given area.

i) List two methods of measuring the size of the population.

ii) How would a method be either suited or not suited for population A?

iii) Describe what factors could set limits on population growth.

iv) What is the difference between r-strategists and K-strategists?

6. West Brooke, a suburb of lovely Fremont…

The town of West Brooke wants to build a park. Naturally, West Brooke is in a Deciduous Forrest Biome, and the town wants the park to reflect that.

a) A) What are some plants and animals that should be present in the park?

b) B)How will biodiversity and keystone species keep the park vibrant and healthy?

c) C)What will happen in the park as a result of it being isolated from other wilderness (it is in the middle of town) in the next thousands of years?

7. Water Pollution

Water Pollution

a) Identify and describe two effects on the natural environment that are caused by water pollution.

b) Give an example of one point source and one non point source of water pollution and describe how they affect marine life.

c) Explain the incident in 1978 at Love Canal, New York and describe the actions the government made in response.

d) Name three ways that pathogens enter waterways and explain how waste water can be treated to prevent this.

8. Nuclear power has often been suggested as a good alternative to fossil fuels.

1. Name and describe the functions of five structural components of a nuclear reactor.
2. There is a radioactive element with a half life of 100 years.
   Concentrations above 12.5ppm are dangerous to humans.
   If an area has a concentration of 100ppm, how long will it take until the area is safe for human use?
3. describe three of the problems associated with nuclear waste.
4. How does public opinion factor into the implementation of nuclear technology?
   give a historical example.
5. Describe the atomic mechanism of a fission reactor, and how it produces energy.