Transcript Threats to the Biosphere powerpoint

Threats to the Biosphere
Biology
Biosphere
• The outer portion
of Earth where
all living
organisms exist deepest
ocean trench up
into atmosphere
Since Industrial Revolution…
Earth’s global temperature is now
at hottest point in 13,000 years
• What is this increase in
temperature called?
• What is the name of this
phenomenon?
• NOAA data 2010 link
• Global Warming is
caused by the
Greenhouse
Effect
• We now call
global warming-
CLIMATE
CHANGE
Greenhouse gases
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Water Vapor H20
Carbon Dioxide CO2
Methane CH4
Nitrous Oxide NOx
Fluorocarbons CFC’s (part of Haloalkanes)
Ozone O3
• Which one above is the cause of global
warming? ------
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Water Vapor H20
same levels
Carbon Dioxide CO2
increased
Methane CH4
doubled since 1800
Nitrous Oxide NOx
increased
Fluorocarbons CFC’s
now banned
Ozone (STRATOSPHERIC) DROPPED
Evidence of stratospheric
Ozone Depletion
• link to ozone depletion movie
Depletion of Ozone Layer
• O3 is
naturally
occurring in
Stratosphere
• Protects us
from UV-B
radiation
• Often called
“good” ozone
“good” Ozone is depleted by CFC’s
• Chlorofluorocarbons
• Used in older air conditioners,
refrigerators, and in industry
Tropospheric Ozone
• “bad ozone” Formed from Nitrous
oxide (found in automobile exhaust) and
VOC’s
• Unhealthy for many people
• EPA issues ozone alerts for large cities
• Link to EPA Air Now current air quality map
Sources
of NOx
and
VOC
Acid Rain
• Rain is typically 5.0pH in Wisconsin,
anything less than 5.4pH, we call it acid rain
• Where is acid rain a problem in U.S.?
• What causes Acid Rain?
Map of US acid rain deposition
Illustration of acid rain production
Is there a chemical that is a
common source of most threats to
the Biosphere?
• Hint: it is found in vehicle exhaust
•Nitrous oxides
(NOx)
What can each of us do?
• Car pool, walk, ride bikes, use
public transportation, reduce, use
less, change light bulbs to
fluorescent or LED, use wind,
solar, renewable fuels, drive
smaller cars if possible, elect
politicians that support
global environmental
policies
Current Arctic ice data
• Data shows a continual reduction in Arctic
Ice in recent years
• pp showing ice loss from 1979-2007
• NASA daily arctic ice data (ice movement)
from 2005-2006
• NOAA model projections from 1900
through 2100