GC: Overview 📖

Global Change

Introduction

By scrutinizing the dynamic interplay between natural forces and human activities that shape climate, ecosystems, and biodiversity, students acquire a profound understanding of the far-reaching impacts of global change. The study of global change serves as the foundation for tackling environmental issues, making informed choices in resource management, and fostering a collective awareness of our responsibility for the planet's health. 

Learning Objectives

In this module, you will learn how to....

  • Explain...
    • the importance of stratospheric ozone to life on Earth.
    • how changes in climate, both short- and long-term, impact ecosystems.
    • the causes and effects of ocean warming.
    • the causes and effects of ocean acidification.
    • the environmental problems associated with invasive species and strategies to control them.
    • how species become endangered and strategies to combat the problem.
    • how human activities affect biodiversity and strategies to combat the problem.
  • Describe...
    • chemicals used to substitute for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
  • Identify...
    • the greenhouse gases.
    • the sources and potency of the greenhouse gases.
    • the threats to human health and the environment posed by an increase in greenhouse gases.

 

Module Lessons Preview

In this module, each lesson will focus on teaching you the following topics:

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion (⏳3-5 mins): Stratospheric ozone depletion exposes living organisms to harmful ultraviolet radiation, threatening human health, and disrupting ecosystems.

Reducing Ozone Depletion (⏳7-9 mins): Humans have worked together to dramatically reduce ozone depletion.

Greenhouse Gases and the Greenhouse Effect (⏳9-11 mins): Greenhouse gases and the greenhouse effect regulate Earth's temperature.

Increasing Greenhouse Gases (⏳5-7 mins): Human activities have been intensifying the greenhouse effect, contributing to global warming and climate change.

Global Climate Change (⏳15-17 mins): Global climate change signifies shifts in temperature patterns, precipitation, and sea levels, impacting ecosystems, biodiversity, and human societies.

Ocean Warming (⏳3-5 mins): Ocean warming jeopardizes marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and fisheries.

Ocean Acidification (⏳9-11 mins): Ocean acidification jeopardizes marine ecosystems, biodiversity, and fisheries.

Invasive Species (⏳13-15 mins): Invasive species disrupt native biodiversity, alter habitat structures, and can lead to cascading ecological effects.

Endangered Species (⏳6-8 mins): Endangered species contribute to biodiversity, ecological balance, and ecosystem resilience, highlighting the need for conservation efforts to safeguard these species and maintain the health of natural environments.

Human Impacts on Biodiversity (⏳13-25 mins): Human impacts on biodiversity can lead to habitat destruction, species loss, and disruptions in ecological processes.

 

AP Classroom Connection

This module aligns with Unit 9 in AP Classroom. You can view AP Daily videos, progress checks, and topic questions in AP Classroom. Topic Alignment:

          • The Ozone Layer: 9.1 - 9.2
          • Global Climate Change: 9.3 - 9.7
          • Conservation: 9.8 - 9.10

This module is 15-20% of the AP Environmental Science Exam.

 

Textbook Alignment

This module aligns to the following modules/chapters in your AP Environmental Science textbook:

📚 Stratospheric Ozone Depletion (Topic 9.1): Ch. 15, Module 49

📚 Reducing Ozone Depletion (Topic 9.2): Ch. 19, Module 62

📚 Greenhouse Gases and the Greenhouse Effect (Topic 9.3): Ch. 19, Module 63

📚 Increasing Greenhouse Gases (Topic 9.4): Ch. 19, Module 64

📚 Global Climate Change (Topic 9.5): Ch. 18, Module 60; Ch. 19, Module 63-64

📚 Ocean Warming (Topic 9.6): Ch. 18, Module 60; Ch. 19, Module 64

📚 Ocean Acidification (Topic 9.7): Ch. 18, Module 60

📚 Invasive Species (Topic 9.8): Ch. 18, Module 60

📚 Endangered Species (Topic 9.9): Ch. 10, Module 29-30; Ch. 18, Modules 59, 61

📚 Human Impacts on Biodiversity (Topic 9.10): Ch. 10, Module 29-30; Ch. 18, Module 59-61

These modules/chapters cover content found in this module and offer practice videos, questions, and flash cards.

 

 Key Terms (click to reveal)

🖨 Click here to download a PDF of the Global Change Key Terms

      • alien species: Species introduced outside their native range, often causing ecological harm to their new environment. 
      • albedo: The measure of a surface's reflectivity, particularly its ability to reflect sunlight. 
    •  
      • biological control: The use of natural predators, parasites, or pathogens to manage pest populations.
      • biome: A large-scale ecological community defined by distinctive plant and animal species adapted to specific environmental conditions, such as climate and soil type.
    •  
      • carbon dioxide (CO2): A greenhouse gas released through human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, contributing to climate change.
      • carbonic acid (HCO3-): A weak acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water, contributing to ocean acidification.
      • chemical control: A method of pest management that involves using pesticides or other chemicals to control or eliminate pests, often through the application of insecticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
      • chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): Synthetic compounds containing chlorine, fluorine, and carbon, responsible for ozone depletion.
      • chlorine catalytic cycle: A chemical process involving chlorine that breaks down ozone molecules in the stratosphere.
      • Clean Air Act (CAA) 💨: U.S. legislation aimed at reducing air pollution and protecting public health and the environment.
      • Clean Water Act (CWA) 💧: U.S. legislation aimed at regulating water pollution and maintaining water quality standards.
      • Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) 🛢️: Also known as Superfund, a federal law designed to clean up sites contaminated with hazardous substances and pollutants, and to hold responsible parties financially accountable for the cleanup.
      • conservation: The sustainable use and management of natural resources to maintain biodiversity and ecological balance.
      • conservation biology: The scientific study of the conservation and preservation of biodiversity and ecosystems.
      • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 🐘: An international agreement aimed at ensuring that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival, regulating the trade of endangered and threatened species.
      • coral bleaching: The process where coral reefs lose their vibrant colors due to stressors such as high water temperatures.
    •  
      • Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 🚫: U.S. regulation prohibiting the approval of food additives shown to induce cancer in animals or humans.
      • dredging: The process of excavating sediments from water bodies to deepen navigation channels or extract resources.
    •  
      • Endangered Species Act (ESA) 🐼: U.S. legislation aimed at protecting and recovering endangered and threatened species and their habitats.
      • exotic species: Non-native species introduced intentionally or unintentionally into new environments.
    •  
      • Garrett Hardin: American ecologist known for his work on the tragedy of the commons and population ethics.
      • global warming potential (GWP): A measure of the heat-trapping ability of a greenhouse gas compared to carbon dioxide over a specific time period.
      • greenhouse effect: The process by which greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to warming of the planet.
      • greenhouse gases (GHGs): Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor that contribute to the greenhouse effect.
      • Green Chill program: An initiative aimed at reducing emissions of ozone-depleting substances in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry.
    •  
      • habitat conversion: The alteration of natural habitats for human use, such as urbanization or agriculture.
      • habitat destruction: The process by which natural habitats are damaged or eliminated, often due to human activities.
      • habitat fragmentation: The division of natural habitats into smaller, isolated patches, often disrupting ecosystems and biodiversity.
      • HIPPCO: An acronym representing the major drivers of biodiversity loss: Habitat destruction, Invasive species, Pollution, Population growth, Climate change, and Overexploitation.
      • hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs): Synthetic compounds used as substitutes for ozone-depleting substances, but with high global warming potential.
    •  
      • instrumental values: The value of ecosystems or species based on their usefulness or benefit to humans.
      • intrinsic values: The inherent value of ecosystems or species independent of their utility to humans.
      • invasive species: Non-native species that outcompete native species and disrupt ecosystems.
    •  
      • Kyoto Protocol 🌎: An international treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change.
    •  
      • mechanical control: A method of pest management that involves physically removing or excluding pests from an area through techniques such as trapping, fencing, or using barriers.
      • methane (CH4): A greenhouse gas primarily emitted during the production and transportation of coal, oil, and natural gas, as well as from livestock digestion and the decay of organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills, contributing to global warming and climate change.
      • Montreal Protocol 🕶️: An international treaty aimed at protecting the ozone layer by phasing out the production and use of ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).
    •  
      • native species: Species that naturally occur and evolve in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
      • NOx: Chemical compounds consisting of nitrogen and oxygen, primarily produced through combustion processes.
      • nitric oxide (NO): A nitrogen compound emitted during combustion processes, contributing to air pollution and the formation of nitrogen oxides.
      • nitrogen dioxide (NO2): A toxic gas and air pollutant formed from the oxidation of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere.
    •  
      • ocean acidification: The ongoing decrease in pH of the Earth's oceans, primarily caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
      • overexploitation: The unsustainable use or extraction of natural resources at a rate exceeding their ability to replenish, leading to depletion or extinction of the resource.
      • overharvesting: The excessive harvesting of renewable resources beyond sustainable levels, leading to depletion of populations and ecological imbalances.
      • ozone depleting substances (ODS): Chemical compounds such as CFCs and halons that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.
      • ozone hole: A region of exceptionally low ozone concentration in the stratosphere, particularly over Antarctica, resulting from ozone depletion.
      • ozone layer: A region of the Earth's stratosphere containing a high concentration of ozone molecules that absorb and block ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
    •  
      • planetary albedo: The fraction of solar radiation reflected by the Earth's surface and atmosphere back into space.
      • preservation: The protection and maintenance of natural areas and resources in their present state.
    •  
      • reflectivity: The ability of a surface to reflect light or other electromagnetic radiation.
      • renewable resources: Natural resources that can be replenished over time, such as sunlight, wind, and biomass.
      • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) ♻️: A federal law governing the management of hazardous waste, non-hazardous solid waste, and underground storage tanks, aimed at protecting human health and the environment.
      • restoration: The process of returning a degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystem to a healthy, functional, and more natural state through conservation practices, rehabilitation efforts, and ecological restoration techniques.
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      • Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) 🚰: A federal law establishing standards for drinking water quality and regulating public water systems to ensure the safety of drinking water for the public.
      • species naivete: The lack of evolved defenses or adaptations in native species when encountering invasive species.
      • stratospheric ozone (O3): A layer of ozone molecules in the Earth's stratosphere that absorbs and blocks ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
    •  
      • tropospheric ozone (O3): A pollutant formed near the Earth's surface by the reaction of sunlight with nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds.
    •  
      • UV-A rays: Ultraviolet radiation with longer wavelengths, contributing to skin aging and wrinkling.
      • UV-B rays: Ultraviolet radiation with medium wavelengths, primarily responsible for causing sunburn and skin cancer.
      • UV-C rays: Ultraviolet radiation with shorter wavelengths, absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere and not reaching the surface.
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      • Water (H2O) vapor: Water vapor in the atmosphere, a greenhouse gas that plays a significant role in the Earth's climate system by trapping heat and contributing to the greenhouse effect.
    •  
      • zooxanthellae: Symbiotic algae that live within the tissues of coral and provide them with nutrients through photosynthesis. 

 

 

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