Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Exam Hints and Instructions

When you get to the exam...

ALL IN INK!

  • INSTRUCTIONS
  • Write your info down (duh)
  • Open and move past short answer questions 1&2 to get to the essay questions
  • Read part "b" of questions 3,4,&5.  These are worth 30 points!
  • Whichever one you feel you can get the most points out of, choose
  • In the booklet, write the number (3,4 or 5) of the question you chose and answer part "a" first (10 points) and then "b" (30 points).  Time yourself and don't take more than 45 minutes!
  • Go back to questions 1 & 2 and answers these on the question sheet - do all sections of these! Time yourself and don't take more than 20 minutes per question.

  • HINTS
  • On the short answer questions (1&2), always look at the amount of points they are worth.  The more points, the more detail is needed.
  • ALWAYS read the full question and instructions.  You don't to miss anything!
  • Sometimes you will just need to analyze a graph to get some points.  Make sure you decipher the graphic correctly.
  • If you have no clue, and it is worth a small amount of points, don't stress.  Give it your best shot and move on.  Don't spend 5 minutes on 2 points because you're frustrated.
  • Give your best answer and best reasoning for all parts.  Explain the reasoning behind your thinking.  Remember, this is as much about your environmental problem solving skills as it is about your rote knowledge.
  • On the essay part - "a" should be around a paragraph. "b" should be around 4 paragraphs.
GOOD LUCK!

BIOSPHERE Vocab Terms & Topics Needed for the Exam

BIOSPHERE Vocab Terms & Topics Needed for the Exam:

Look over these...if you don't know them, define, make flash cards, and study!!!

KQ1
Biotic/Abiotic characteristics of the following biomes: tropical rainforest; monsoon rainforest; tropical savannah; desert; temperate deciduous forest, tundra (permfrost)
Ecosystem Characteristics, including:
Soil
Temperature
Rainfall
Photosynthesis
Net Primary Productivity
Succession (Primary and Secondary)
Biomass
Biodiversity
Trophic Levels
Food Chains and Webs
Habitats
Niches
Ecological Pyramids in terms of biomass and energy
Nutrient transfer between vegetation, litter and soil in different biomes (impact of water and temperature)

KQ2
Impact of agriculture, deforestation, exploitation, and fires on ecosystems
Effects of and reasons for clearing of rainforest land on biodiversity
Impacts of farming in MEDCs on habitat loss
Impacts of human activity on marine ecosystems (coastal, ocean, and coral reef)

KQ3
Conservation methods:
National Parks
Afforestation
Ecotourism
Forest Conservation
Wildlife Management
International Protocols (Montreal, Kyoto, etc)
Sustainable development in conservation areas

KQ4
Population
Resources
Carrying Capacity
Population models base on food (Malthus, Boserup)
Overpopulation
Underpopulation
Optimum Population
Population Management Policies

Population Pyramids

HYDROSPHERE Vocab Terms & Topics Needed for the Exam

HYDROSPHERE Vocab Terms & Topics Needed for the Exam:

Look over these...if you don't know them, define, make flash cards, and study!!!

KQ1
Storage Zones of Water and % in Each (Oceans, Rivers, Lakes, Icecaps, etc.)
Global Water (Hydrologic) Cycle
Local Water Cycle: Evaporation; Precipitation; Interception; Runoff; Infiltration; Groundwater
Effect of Agriculture, Industry, and Domestic Use on Stores of Freshwater
Coastal Inundation
Flooding causes from urban development, deforestation, and agriculture
Groundwater stores/aquifers structure/use: Confined; Unconfined; Perched

KQ2
Impact of Climate Change/Global Warming on sea and ice volumes
Impact of rising sea levels on flooding in low-lying areas (Historically and Now)
Impact of population growth on water supplies and health (LEDC vs MEDC)

KQ3
Management of water supply (local and regional)
How different areas of world get water based on location
Use of Dams and Reservoirs:  Advantages – water supply, recreation, power, environment; Disadvantages – Cost, silting, environmental, economic
Water conflict between nations
Water supply in arid countries – groundwater and desalination

KQ4
Pollution of groundwater: metals, nutrients, and organic compounds
Eutrophication of lakes and rivers (sources and effects)
Impact of sewage disposal on water bodies
Health and environmental impacts of sewage disposal
Marine pollution impacts of aquatic and bird life and coastal environment

Management of pollution via waste controls (waste water, treatment plants, etc.)

ATMOSPHERE Vocab Terms & Topics Needed for the Exam

ATMOSPHERE Vocab Terms & Topics Needed for the Exam:

Look over these...if you don't know them, define, make flash cards, and study!!!

KQ1
Composition, Temperature and Air Density of:  Troposphere; Stratosphere; Mesopshere; Thermosphere
Radiation Absorbance in Troposphere and Interaction with Stratosphere
Albedo
Troposphere impact on Weather

KQ2
Variation in Insolation
Regions of High and Low Pressure (Air Movement)
Global and Local Wind Systems
Effect of Land and Ocean Currents on Wind Patterns
Rain Shadow
Location/Features of Climates of: Equatorial Area; Tropical Desert; Savannah and Monsoon; Warm Temperate Climates; Sub-Arctic
Formation/Characteristics of Anticyclones and Cyclones
Temperate Frontal Depressions
Weather Forecasting Terms/Maps

KQ3
CFCs/Ozone Layer Depletion
CO2 and Methane contributions to Global Warming
Effects of Global Warming: sea levels, storm intensity, and climatic change, etc.
Acid Rain Formation (SO2 and NOx)
Acid Rain Effects
Tropospheric Ozone formation from NOx, VOCs, and Sunlight
Noise Pollution
Urban Smog
Temperature Inversion
Areas on Air Pollution within Urban Environment

KQ4
Reduction of Emissions through: Flue Gases; Alt. Energy; Afforestation; CFC reduction
Alt. Energy Methods to Reduce Pollution (Wind, HEP, Nuclear, Solar)
Kyoto Protocol and Other International Agreements to Reduce Pollution and Greenhouse Gases

Noise Reduction Strategies

LITHOSPHERE Vocab Terms & Topics Needed for the Exam

LITHOSPHERE Vocab Terms & Topics Needed for the Exam:

Look over these...if you don't know them, define, make flash cards, and study!!!

KQ1
Core
Mantle
Asthenosphere
Oceanic Crust
Continental Crust
Seismic Waves (how they determine structure of Earth)
Plate Tectonics
Convection Currents
Ocean Floor Spreading
Destructive (convergent) Boundaries
Constructive (divergent) Boundaries
Conservative (transform) Boundaries
Evidence of Plate Movement:  Palaeo-Magnetism; Palaeontology; Geologic Fit

KQ2
Earthquakes:  Causes; Process and Effects; How to measure by magnitude and intensity; Frequency; MEDC vs LEDC
Volcanoes: Types of Eruptions (Explosive vs Basaltic), Effects of eruptions (MEDC vs LEDC)
Tsunamis
Landslides
Ground Deformation
Volcanic Ash
Lava
Hot Ash Clouds
Analysis/Prediction/Aid Methods of EQ and Volcanoes:  Historic Records, Frequency, Seismic Evidence, Tilt Metres, Chemical Analysis of Air, Building Design, Rescue and Aid

KQ3
Rock Weathering – Mechanical and Chemical
Rock types: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic
Rock Falls
Landslides
Earth Slumps
Soil Creep
Solifluction
Mudflows
Rotational Slumping
Slope Angle Reduction
Afforestation
Drainage and Surface Protection

KQ4
Soil Formation and Characteristics: Texture; Biotic/Abiotic Components
Soil Profiles (Layers, etc.) for Different Biomes: Temperate Podzols, Brown Earths, Tropical Laterites, Rainforest Soils
Soil Erosion/Deterioration Causes: Agriculture, Deforestation, Grazing, Salinisation, and Compaction
Management of Soils: Sustainable Agriculture and Watering Methods (Crop Rotation, Irrigation Methods, Shelter Belts, etc.)

KQ5
Renewable Resources – HEP, Tidal, Wave, Solar, Wind
Non-Renewable Resources – Coal, Oil, Natural Gas, Nuclear
Alternative Resources
Recyclable Resources

Energy/Fuel Use in MEDCs vs LEDCs

Energy Conservation Methods
Urban Sprawl – MEDC vs LEDC
Conservation Areas

National Parks

Monday, February 29, 2016

Friday, January 1, 2016

3.2.1 - The Hydrosphere (KQ2): Impact of Global Warming on the Hydrosphere

We have already had an introduction global warming/climate change in class...we have seen the evidence and know why it happens.  Now, we will discuss the effect it has on the hydrosphere in particular.

You may have heard of sea level rise as an impact of global warming.  But why would it happen?  If ice is water, even if it melted, wouldn't the sea level stay the same?  Well, no...because, the ice that we're concerned with is the glaciers and ice caps that are above the sea.  Take a look at the following picture of Sawyer Glacier in Alaska:


Yes, much of this glacier is under water.  If that melts, the sea level would stay the same...or maybe even decrease a bit since ice takes up more space than liquid water.  But...if the part that you see...the part above sea level melts, it will fall into the sea and increase the sea level...and drastically!

Also, if the ocean warms, the water will expand due to the increased movement of molecules, and the sea level will rise.  The following graphic shows the different ways sea level rises:



So...are we seeing this currently???  The answer is yes...just look at this graph:


You can see that the sea level is rising...and most estimates have it climbing even more dramatically in the near future.

So...why is this bad?  What are the potential impacts of rising sea levels?  Read this article from the Washington Post what's happening, what may happen in the future, and why.  Use this viewer from NOAA to see the projected sea level rise impacts on low-lying coastal areas in the US. Around the world, low-lying areas will become much more vulnerable to increase flooding, and coastlines will even move inward.  This has happened in Earth's past with climate change associated with ice ages coming and going, but those happened very gradually, also either before humans had populated the Earth or with very little human population to worry about.  The rapid pace at which we are adding greenhouse gases to our atmosphere is changing the climate too rapidly for us to be prepared for the change.  In fact, we are nearly as high on sea level as we have been in the last 400,000+ years...and we are projected to rise.  You can see evidenced published in peer-reviewed papers, along with carbon dioxide and temperature data below.



This video put out by NASA has some great visualizations and explanations of what has happened recently.



Read the highlights from the 2014 National Climate Assessment here to see the impacts climate change can have on our water supply as a whole.  Pretty scary stuff!

We'll get into climate change more in the atmosphere unit, but, if you want, explore the NASA climate change site here and the NOAA site here...the more educated you are, the more you care!