Weather
Short-lived, local patterns temperature and precipitation due
to
circulation of the troposphere.
-physical conditions in
the atmosphere (humidity, temperature, air pressure, wind and
precipitation) over short time scales
Climate
Long term patterns of temperature and precipitation.
- Average
weather patterns in a given area over time.
- Temperature and rainfall
Biosphere
The sum of the regions of the Earth (water, surface,
atmosphere)
where living organisms are found
Earth and climate
The climate of a region is partially due to the amount of
solar
radiation striking the surface of the planet.
Seasonal changes are due to the tilt of the Earth on its axis.
Earth is tilted 23 degree to the right of the axis
Population
Organisms of the same species living in a particular area
(same
area) at the same time
Species
All of the populations of organisms that are similar
in
appearance and have the ability to interbreed
Community
Populations of different species interacting in a given area
Ecosystem
Interaction of a community and the physical environment
(such as climate)
Global warming
Global warming is primarily associated with increases in the surface temperature.
Which of the following levels of biological organization represents the sum of all of the locations where life may be found on the planet?
The biosphere
Greenhouse gases
Gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat from the sun, helping to keep the planet warm enough to support life.
Greenhouse effect
The gases shown here retain heat in the lower atmosphere, a phenomenon called the greenhouse effect.
Water, CO2, CH4, N2O, O3, CFCs
CO2
The most important of the greenhouse gases due to its ability to absorb infrared energy.
Methane (CH4)
A very rare gas in the atmosphere, with concentrations measured as parts per billion (ppb)
Water vapor
Natural processes associated with the water cycle
Nitrous oxides
Agricultural practices such as the use of fertilizers and
the
burning of fossil fuels
Ozone
Natural processes and the interaction of solar energy
with
pollutants in the lower atmosphere
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
Compounds used in refrigerants and to make spray
propellants
Ocean & climate change
When carbon dioxide enters the oceans, it produces carbonic acid, which leads to ocean acidification and negative impacts on shellfish.
The ocean is a
heat sink
Transgenic organism
living thing that has a gene from another species added to its DNA.
Cisgenic organism
has genes from the same species or a closely related one — not from a completely different species.
Intragenic organism
has had its own genes rearranged or modified, but no foreign genes from other species are added.
Selective breeding
process where humans choose specific plants or animals to reproduce because they have desirable traits — like size, color, strength, or yield.
Gregor Mendel
Selective breeding with pea plants
First GMO
Tomato, genetically modified to not over-ripen
How do GMOs and climate change relate
GMOs help reduce impacts of climate change (drought, heat pest resistant).