Global Change Study Guide

This study guide will help you study for the module exam by highlighting the most important concepts on the exam. It is not a definitive list of every topic that could appear on the exam and should not be used in lieu of the textbook and course content.

🚨 Do not begin your test until you have completed all self-assessments, assignments, and the review items and feel confident in your understanding of this material.

Ozone Depletion 💨 (click to reveal)

- - - - STB-4.A.1 - The stratospheric ozone layer is important to the evolution of life on Earth and the continued health and survival of life on Earth.
      - STB-4.A.2 - Stratospheric ozone depletion is caused by anthropogenic factors, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and natural factors, such as the melting of ice crystals in the atmosphere at the beginning of the Antarctic spring.
      - STB-4.A.3 - A decrease in stratospheric ozone increases the UV rays that reach the Earth’s surface. Exposure to UV rays can lead to skin cancer and cataracts in humans.
      - STB-4.B.1 - Ozone depletion can be mitigated by replacing ozone-depleting chemicals with substitutes that do not deplete the ozone layer. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are one such replacement, but some are strong greenhouse gases.

- - - - Identify health risks associated with a decrease in stratospheric ozone.
      - Describe...

- - - - the role of international agreements like the Montreal Protocol in addressing stratospheric ozone depletion.
        
        the long-term effects of prolonged exposure to increased UV rays on the human population.
        
        the long-term effects of using HFCs as replacements for ozone-depleting chemicals.
        
        chemicals used to substitute for chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

- - - - Explain the importance of stratospheric ozone to life on Earth.
      - Justify...

- - - - the potential consequences of further stratospheric ozone depletion on global ecosystems.
        
        the impact of anthropogenic factors versus natural factors on stratospheric ozone depletion.
        
        the impact of ozone-depleting chemicals compared with substitutes like HFCs on the ozone layer.

Greenhouse Gases and the Greenhouse Effect ☀️ (click to reveal)

- - - - STB-4.C.1 - The principal greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
      - STB-4.C.2 - While water vapor is a greenhouse gas, it doesn’t contribute significantly to global climate change because it has a short residence time in the atmosphere.
      - STB-4.C.3 - The greenhouse effect results in the surface temperature necessary for life on Earth to exist.
      - STB-4.D.1 - Carbon dioxide, which has a global warming potential (GWP) of 1, is used as a reference point for the comparison of different greenhouse gases and their impacts on global climate change. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have the highest GWP, followed by nitrous oxide, then methane.

- - - - Identify...
        
        the greenhouse gases.
        
        the sources and potency of the greenhouse gases.
        
        the global warming potential (GWP) of carbon dioxide.
        
        the global warming potential (GWP) of greenhouse gases.
      - Describe how human activities have influenced the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
      - Justify...
        
        why scientists believe water vapor does not significantly contribute to global climate change.
        
        the effectiveness of current international agreements in reducing the emission of high GWP gases.
      - Explain the potential long-term consequences of the continued increase in greenhouse gas emissions on Earth's climate.

Increasing Greenhouse Gases 🏭 (click to reveal)

- - - - STB-4.E.1 - Global climate change, caused by excess greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, can lead to a variety of environmental problems including rising sea levels resulting from melting ice sheets and ocean water expansion, and disease vectors spreading from the tropics toward the poles. These problems can lead to changes in population dynamics and population movements in response.

- - - - Identify...

- - - - the threats to human health and the environment posed by an increase in greenhouse gases.
        
        potential consequences of rising sea levels due to climate change.

- - - - Describe...

- - - - the relationship between global climate change and changes in population dynamics.
        
        how disease vectors are affected by climate change.
        
        the environmental problems associated with global climate change.

- - - - Explain...

- - - - the long-term effects of rising sea levels on coastal communities.
        
        the impact of melting ice sheets and ocean water expansion on rising sea levels.

- - - - Justify current initiatives to combat global climate change in relation to their effectiveness.

Global Climate Change 🌎 (click to reveal)

- - - - STB-4.F.1 - The Earth has undergone climate change throughout geologic time, with major shifts in global temperatures causing periods of warming and cooling as recorded with CO2 data and ice cores.
      - STB-4.F.2 - Effects of climate change include rising temperatures, melting permafrost and sea ice, rising sea levels, and displacement of coastal populations.
      - STB-4.F.3 - Marine ecosystems are affected by changes in sea level, some positively, such as in newly created habitats on now-flooded continental shelves, and some negatively, such as deeper communities that may no longer be in the photic zone of seawater.
      - STB-4.F.4 - Winds generated by atmospheric circulation help transport heat throughout the Earth. Climate change may change circulation patterns, as temperature changes may impact Hadley cells and the jet stream.
      - STB-4.F.5 - Oceanic currents, or the ocean conveyor belt, carry heat throughout the world. When these currents change, they can have a big impact on global climate, especially in coastal regions.
      - STB-4.F.6 - Climate change can affect soil through changes in temperature and rainfall, which can impact soil’s viability and potentially increase erosion.
      - STB-4.F.7 - Earth’s polar regions are showing faster response times to global climate change because ice and snow in these regions reflect the most energy back out to space, leading to a positive feedback loop.
      - STB-4.F.8 - As the Earth warms, this ice and snow melts, meaning less solar energy is radiated back into space and instead is absorbed by the Earth’s surface. This in turn causes more warming of the polar regions.
      - STB-4.F.9 - Global climate change response time in the Arctic is due to positive feedback loops involving melting sea ice and thawing tundra, and the subsequent release of greenhouse gases like methane.
      - STB-4.F.10 - One consequence of the loss of ice and snow in polar regions is the effect on species that depend on the ice for habitat and food.

- - - - Describe...

- - - - the impact of melting permafrost on ecosystems and human communities.
        
        effects of climate change.
        
        how changes in oceanic currents can impact coastal regions and global climate.
        
        the different types of oceanic currents and their role in global climate.
        
        how climate change can affect soil viability.
        
        the positive feedback loop in Earth's polar regions related to global climate change.
        
        the long-term implications of the loss of ice and snow in polar regions on the biodiversity of those areas.

- - - - Explain...

- - - - how changes in climate, both short- and long-term, impact ecosystems.
        
        the potential consequences of disruptions in the ocean conveyor belt on marine ecosystems.
        
        how the positive feedback loops in the Arctic impact the global climate system as a whole.

- - - - Make a claim as to the effectiveness of the different approaches to mitigating the negative impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems.
      - Justify...

- - - - how CO₂ data is related to climate change.
        
        the consequences of less solar energy being radiated back into space from the polar regions.

- - - - Propose a solution for minimizing the impact of climate change on coastal communities.

Ocean Warming and Acidification 🌡️ (click to reveal)

- - - - STB-4.G.1 - Ocean warming is caused by the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
      - STB-4.G.2 - Ocean warming can affect marine species in a variety of ways, including loss of habitat, and metabolic and reproductive changes.
      - STB-4.G.3 - Ocean warming is causing coral bleaching, which occurs when the loss of algae within corals cause the corals to bleach white. Some corals recover and some die.
      - STB-4.H.1 - Ocean acidification is the decrease in pH of the oceans, primarily due to increased CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere, and can be expressed as chemical equations.
      - STB-4.H.2 - As more CO₂ is released into the atmosphere, the oceans, which absorb a large part of that CO₂, become more acidic.
      - STB-4.H.3 - Anthropogenic activities that contribute to ocean acidification are those that lead to increased CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere: burning of fossil fuels, vehicle emissions, and deforestation.
      - STB-4.H.4 - Ocean acidification damages coral because acidification makes it difficult for them to form shells, due to the loss of calcium carbonate.

- - - - Describe the process of coral bleaching in a few sentences.
      - Justify...
        
        the interconnectedness between ocean warming, coral bleaching, and the overall health of marine ecosystems.
        
        the long-term implications of unchecked ocean acidification on global food security.
      - Explain...

- - - - the causes and effects of ocean warming.
        
        the role of greenhouse gases in the process of ocean warming and its effects on marine ecosystems.
        
        the causes and effects of ocean acidification.
        
        the potential consequences of continued ocean acidification on coral reef ecosystems.
        
        the long-term consequences of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems.
      - Propose a solution to reduce CO₂ emissions to mitigate the effects of ocean acidification.
      - Make a claim as to the effectiveness of current international policies regarding the reduction of CO₂ emissions and their effectiveness in addressing ocean acidification.

Invasive Species 🐈 (click to reveal)

- - - - EIN-4.A.1 - Invasive species are species that can live, and sometimes thrive, outside of their normal habitat. Invasive species can sometimes be beneficial, but they are considered invasive when they threaten native species.
      - EIN-4.A.2 - Invasive species are often generalist, r-selected species and therefore may outcompete native species for resources.
      - EIN-4.A.3 - Invasive species can be controlled through a variety of human interventions.

- - - - Describe how invasive species can be harmful to native species.
      - Explain...

- - - - the environmental problems associated with invasive species and strategies to control them.
        
        the long-term consequences of not controlling invasive species in an ecosystem.

- - - - Make a claim as to the effectiveness of different human interventions in controlling invasive species.

Endangered Species 🐼 (click to reveal)

- - - - EIN-4.B.1 - A variety of factors can lead to a species becoming threatened with extinction, such as being extensively hunted, having limited diet, being outcompeted by invasive species, or having specific and limited habitat requirements.
      - EIN-4.B.2 - Not all species will be in danger of extinction when exposed to the same changes in their ecosystem. Species that are able to adapt to changes in their environment or that are able to move to a new environment are less likely to face extinction.
      - EIN-4.B.3 - Selective pressures are any factors that change the behaviors and fitness of organisms within an environment.
      - EIN-4.B.4 - Species in a given ecosystem compete for resources like territory, food, mates, and habitat, and this competition may lead to endangerment or extinction.
      - EIN-4.B.5 - Strategies to protect animal populations include criminalizing poaching, protecting animal habitats, and legislation.

- - - - Identify factors that can lead to a species becoming threatened with extinction.
      - Describe how invasive species can contribute to a species becoming threatened with extinction.
      - Explain...

- - - - how species become endangered and strategies to combat the problem.
        
        how human activities have accelerated the endangerment or extinction of certain species within ecosystems.
        
        the relationship between competition for resources and endangerment or extinction in an ecosystem.

- - - - Propose a solution to mitigate the impacts of human activities on the extinction of species.
      - Make a claim as to the effectiveness of legislation in protecting animal populations and analyze its effectiveness.

Human Impacts on Biodiversity 🏙️ (click to reveal)

- - - - EIN-4.C.1 - HIPPCO (habitat destruction, invasive species, population growth, pollution, climate change, and over exploitation) describes the main factors leading to a decrease in biodiversity.
      - EIN-4.C.2 - Habitat fragmentation occurs when large habitats are broken into smaller, isolated areas. Causes of habitat fragmentation include the construction of roads and pipelines, clearing for agriculture or development, and logging.
      - EIN-4.C.3 - The scale of habitat fragmentation that has an adverse effect on the inhabitants of a given ecosystem will vary from species to species within that ecosystem.
      - EIN-4.C.4 - Global climate change can cause habitat loss via changes in temperature, precipitation, and sea level rise.
      - EIN-4.C.5 - Some organisms have been somewhat or completely domesticated and are now managed for economic returns, such as honeybee colonies and domestic livestock. This domestication can have a negative impact on the biodiversity of that organism.
      - EIN-4.C.6 - Some ways humans can mitigate the impact of loss of biodiversity include creating protected areas, use of habitat corridors, promoting sustainable land use practices, and restoring lost habitats.

- - - - Describe...

- - - - the long-term consequences of population growth on biodiversity in a particular region.
        
        how habitat fragmentation affects the biodiversity of a specific ecosystem.
        
        the long-term consequences of failing to restore lost habitats on biodiversity.

- - - - Justify the importance of creating protected areas in mitigating the impact of loss of biodiversity.
      - Explain...

- - - - how human activities affect biodiversity and strategies to combat
        the problem.
        
        how humans can mitigate the impact of loss of biodiversity.

- - - - Propose a solution that addresses multiple factors of HIPPCO to protect biodiversity.

Legislation ⚖️ (click to reveal)

- - - - Clean Water Act (CWA) 💧
      - Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) 🚰
      - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) 🛢️
      - Clean Air Act 💨
      - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) 🐘
      - Montreal Protocol 🕶️
      - Kyoto Protocol 🌎
      - Endangered Species Act 🐼
      - Delaney Clause of Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 🚫
      - Resource conservation and recovery act (RCRA) ♻️

- - - - Identify...
        
        different types of water pollutants addressed by the Clean Water Act (CWA)💧.
        
        the main goals of the Delaney Clause of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 🚫.
        
        key provisions of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) ♻.
        
        the purpose of the Endangered Species Act 🐼.
        
        the major air pollutants addressed by the Clean Air Act (CAA) 💨.
      - Describe...
        
        the differences between the main objectives of the Clean Water Act (CWA)💧 and the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)🚰.
        
        how CITES 🐘 protects global biodiversity.
        
        the process and impacts of designating a new species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act 🐼.
      - Justify...
        
        the effectiveness of the Clean Water Act (CWA)💧 in reducing water pollution nationally and propose potential improvements.
        
        the long-term effects of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)🛢 on environmental protection policies.
        
        the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol 🕶️ in protecting the ozone layer.
        
        the impact of the Kyoto Protocol 🌎 on reducing carbon emissions worldwide.
        
        the effectiveness of the Delaney Clause of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act 🚫 in protecting consumers from harmful substances.
        
        the effectiveness of the Clean Air Act (CAA) 💨 in addressing current challenges related to air pollution.
      - Explain...
        
        the main provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) 🛢.
        
        the current enforcement mechanisms of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) ♻️.
        
        the current limitations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) 💨 in addressing emerging environmental issues such as climate change.

Multiple-Choice 📝

You will only be graded on what is submitted in Canvas.
There are four choices for each question. Choose the best answer.
On the actual AP exam, you will have 90 minutes to answer 80 questions. On this test, you will have 65 minutes to answer the questions on your test.

Free-Response 📝

You will only be graded on what is submitted in Canvas.
You can write your answers and upload them to Canvas OR write them directly in Canvas
- NOTE: if you are uploading your answers to Canvas, you are responsible for uploading your answers within the time frame allowed for the free-response test. You will not get extra time if your document does not upload in time.
On this exam, you will have 35 minutes to answer your Free Response question. On the real AP exam, you should plan for about 22.5 minutes per FRQ.

AP Exam Tip

Print out this study guide and save it to use when studying for the AP exam in May!

🖨️ Global Change Study Guide

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