Viewing All Flashcards for ENV Final
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The study of how the natural world works, how our environment affects us, and how we affect our environment.
Expresses environmental impact in terms of the cumulative area of biologically productive land and water required to provide the resources a person or population consumes and to dispose of or recycle the waste the person or population produces.
The use of resources in a manner that satisfies our current needs but does not compromise the future availability of resources
Nutrient over-enrichment, driven by increases in nitrogen in marine environments, though both contribute to eutrophication in all waters. Can result in large dead zones.
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Depleted oxygen in the water...creates dead zones. Organisms are forced to flee to water with higher oxygen levels. Caused when phytoplankton die, settle to the bay bottom, and are decomposed by bacteria, this depletes oxygen in the water.
Occurs when within cell organelles called chloroplasts where the light-absorbing pigment chlorophyll uses solar energy to initiate a series of chemical reactions called light reactions.During these reactions water molecules split and react to form hydrogen ions and molecular oxygen, thus creating the oxygen we breathe.6C02+6H20+the sun energy->C2H12O6+6O2
To release the chemical energy of glucose, cells use oxygen to break the high energy chemical energy of glucose, cells use oxygen to break the high energy chemical bonds in glucose and reform its starting materials, water and CO2
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All organisms and nonliving entitles that occur and interact in a particular area at the same time
Hydrologic cycle- summarizes the many routes that water molecules take as they move through the environment. Carbon cycle- the route carbon takes through the environment Nitrogen cycle- vital importance to us and to all other organisms
The process by which inherited characteristics that enhance survival and reproduction are passed on more frequently to future generations than those that do not, thus altering the genetic makeup of populations through time.
Five events of staggering proportions that killed off massive numbers of species at once. These episodes have occurred at widely spaced intervals in Earth history and have wiped out 50-95% of our planet's species each time.
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Sharp rise at first but then begins to level off as the effects of it rises sharply at first but then begins to level off as the effects of limiting factors become stronger.
When a population increases by a fixed percentage each year
Each trophic level retains just 10% of the energy from the level below it
Earth's ecological systems purify air and water, form soil, cycle nutrients, regulate climate, pollinate plants, and recycle the waste generated by our economic activity
Public policy that pertains to human interactions with the environment.It generally aims to regulate resources use or reduce pollution to promote human welfare and/or protect natural systems
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An adequate, reliable, and available food supply to all people at all times
Biologically powered agriculture in which human and animal muscle power along with hand tools and simple machines perform the work of cultivating harvesting, storing, and distributing crops.
A form of agriculture that uses large-scale mechanization and fossil fuel combustion, enabling farmers to replace horses and oxen with faster and more powerful means of cultivating, harvesting, transporting and processing crops. Other aspects include irrigation and the use of inorganic fertilizers. Use of chemical herbicides, and pesticides reduces competition from weeds
Agriculture that uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides but instead relies on biological approaches such as composting and biocontrol.
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A deterioration of soil quality and decline in soil productivity, resulting primarily from forest removal, cropland agriculture and overgrazing, of livestock.
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The material application of biological science to create products derived from organisms
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Pros- potential to advance agriculture sustainably by promoting no-till farming with herbicide-resistant crops, engineering crops with high drought tolerance for use in arid regions, and developing high yield crops that can feed our growing population without converting additional natural areas to agriculture
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They are expensive to create and crops with traits that might benefit poor, small-scale farmers of developing countries have not been commercialized.
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The variety of life across all levels of biological organization including the diversity of species, their genes their populations, and their communities
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The clearing and loss of forests
The study of toxicants that come from or are discharged into the environment, including the study of health effects on human other animals and ecosystems
A toxicant that interferes with the hormone systems
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Layers of surface soil and rocks are removed from large areas to expose the resource.
Shafts are excavated deep into the ground, and networks of tunnels are dug or blasted out to follow deposits of the mineral. Miners remove the resource systematically and ship it to the surface. Most dangerous form of mining,
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Involves digging a gigantic hole in the ground and removing the desired ore, along with waste rock that surrounds the ore. Used for copper, iron, gold, diamonds, and coal.
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Method used by the Congo's coltan miners who wade through streambeds sifting through large amounts of debris by hand with a pan or simple tools, searching for high-density tantalite that settles to the bottom while low density material washes away.
Several hundred vertical feet of mountaintop may be removed to allow recovery of entire seams of the resource
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Water that is relatively pure, with few dissolved salts Only 2.5% of Earth’s water is fresh water Most fresh water is tied up in glaciers, ice caps, and underground reservoirs
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Water beneath the surface held within pores in soil or rock (in aquifers) 20% of Earth’s freshwater supply As we deplete groundwater, water tables drop, making water more difficult and expensive to get
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Porous sponge-like formations of rock, sand, or gravel that hold groundwater
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Boundary between the aquifer’s upper (porous) layer and the lower layer, which is completely filled with water
The world’s largest known aquifer• Underlies the U.S. Great Plains• Has helped farmers to create the most bountiful grainproducing region in the world
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Water on Earth’s surface 1% of fresh water Vital for our survival and ecological systems Becomes groundwater by infiltration
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The area of land drained by a river and its tributaries Tributary: smaller river that flows into a larger one
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Area nearest to a river’s course that is flooded periodically Soils are fertile due to frequent deposition of silt Good areas for agriculture Riparian (riverside) forests are thus productive and species-rich
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System in which soil is saturated with water and which usually has shallow standing water and lots of vegetation
Shallow water in which plants grow above the surface; usually lack trees
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Shallow water rich in vegetation that occurs in forested areas
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Ponds covered by thick floating mats of vegetation
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Seasonal wetlands that form in spring from rain and snowmelt, then dry up later
They provide important ecosystem services:− They slow runoff, reduce flooding, recharge aquifers, and filter pollutants
π Ocean water is ~96.5% water, plus dissolved salts Influence global climate, contain high biodiversity, aid transportation/commerce, provide resources
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Vast river-like flows in the upper 400 meters (1,300 ft) of the oceans Driven by wind, heating/cooling, gravity, density differences, and the Coriolis effect Influence global climate; El Niño, La Niña events
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The vertical flow of cold, dense water toward the surface (results in high primary productivity and lucrative fisheries)
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Warm, oxygen-rich surface water sinks, providing oxygen for deep-water life
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Well-lit top layer that supports high primary productivity
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Habitats and ecosystems occurring between the ocean’s surface and floor
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Habitats and ecosystems occurring on the ocean floor
Worldwide current system in which warmer, fresher water moves along the surface and colder, saltier water (which is denser) moves deep beneath the surface
Systematic shift in atmospheric pressure, sea surface temperature, and ocean circulation in the tropical Pacific Ocean
π Occurs when air pressure increases in the western Pacific and decreases in the eastern Pacific, weakening the equatorial winds Warm water flows eastward; this suppresses upwelling and stops the delivery of nutrients Depresses local fish, bird, and mammal populations by altering the marine food web Coastal industries (such as fisheries) are devastated; global weather is changed
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Strong cooling of surface water in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that occurs every 2–7 years and has widespread climatic consequences
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Areas where rivers flow into the ocean, mixing fresh water with salt water − Biologically productive ecosystems− Shallow water nurtures plants and provides critical habitat for shorebirds and shellfish
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Flat land that is occasionally flooded by the ocean where the tide reaches inland− Occur along coastlines at temperate latitudes − Have salt-tolerant grasses and other plants− Filter pollution and stabilize shorelines
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Trees with unique roots that curve upward to obtain oxygen, or curve downward to support the tree in changing water levels Can grow in salt water Provide habitat for numerousspecies (fish,shellfish, birds) Protect coasts from storms
Between the farthest reaches of the high and low tides– Intertidal organisms spend part of their time submerged in water, part exposed to sun and wind, and part being lashed by waves
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Periodic rising and falling of the ocean’s height at a given location due to the gravitational pull of the moon and sun
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Large brown algae growing from the floor of continental shelves along temperate coasts− Provide shelter and food for many organisms− Absorb wave energy, protect shorelines from erosion
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A mass of calcium carbonate formed from the skeletons of tiny animals called corals
Oceans are becoming more acidic due to increased CO2 absorption– Lowering the pH of seawater– Threatens to dissolve coral reefs
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Corals lose their color when zooxanthellae leave and deprive them of nutrition Result of warmer water from climate change, pollution, eutrophication, acidified seawater
Globally, humans use 70% of fresh water for agriculture (for irrigating crops and watering livestock) 20% for industry 10% for residential and municipal needs
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Water is removed from an aquifer or surface water body and is not replenished (e.g., irrigation for farms, showers) Most is for agricultural irrigation
Does not remove or temporarily removes water (e.g., electricity generation at dams)
Growing population needs more food and clothes− We withdraw 70% more water for irrigation than 50 years ago and have doubled the amount of land under irrigation• Irrigation can double crop yields− 18% of irrigated farmland yields 40% of our crops• Yet, irrigation is highly inefficient− 15–35% of irrigation water use is unsustainable
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A normal, natural process that occurs when water spills over a river’s bank Floodwaters spread around nutrient-rich sediments, benefiting ecosystems and crops
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Obstruction placed in a river or stream that blocks water flow so that water can be stored in a reservoir
Electricity, shipping, flood control May replace coal/nuclear plants• Cost $39 billion to build• Reservoir flooded 22 cities and homes of >1 million people• Submerged archaeological sites• Drowned farmland and wildlife habitat• Suspended sediments settle and fill the reservoir
Formerly, the 4thlargest lake on Earth− Lost >80% of its water volume in just 45 years− Rivers feeding the Aral Sea were diverted to irrigate cotton fields− Cotton industry cannot restore region’s economy — 60,000 fishing jobs lost
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Release of matter or energy into the environment that causes undesirable impacts on the health and well-being of humans or other organisms
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Discrete locations that emit pollution Examples: factory and sewer pipes or sewage treatment plants U.S. Clean Water Act targets industrial discharges (point sources)
Pollution from multiple cumulative inputs over a large area Examples: farms, cities, streets Has a greater impact on U.S. water quality
Biological indicators: presence of fecal coliform bacteria, algae, aquatic invertebrates Chemical indicators: nutrient concentration, pH, taste, odor, dissolved oxygen* Physical indicators: temperature, color, turbidity
Nutrient pollution from fertilizers, farms, golf courses, lawns, and sewage leads to eutrophication and possibly hypoxia Excess nitrogen and/or phosphorus boosts algal growth in marine and fresh water
Harmful algal bloom: population explosion of toxic algae due to excessive nutrient concentrations (leads to negative wildlife and human health impacts and economic loss)• Red tide: harmful algal bloom consisting of algal species that produce reddish pigments that discolor surface waters
Pathogens and water-borne diseases enter water supplies via inadequately treated sewage and animal waste from feedlots Cause more human health problems than any other type of water pollution 1 billion people do not have safe drinking water 2.6 billion have no sewer or sanitary facilities Contribute to 5 million deaths per year
π Pesticides, petroleum products, synthetic chemicals Effects: poisoning of animals and plants, altering of aquatic ecosystems, human health problems
π Mining, clear-cutting, housing development, poor cultivation practices exposes soil to windand water erosion Can impair aquatic ecosystems; fish may die
To warmer water, which holds less oxygen and can kill aquatic organisms Process of industrial cooling and removing streamside vegetation both heat water
π Bacterial decomposition of human waste, animal manure, paper pulp, yard wastes, etc., lowers dissolved oxygen
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Any water used in households, businesses, industries, etc., that is drained or flushed down pipes; includes polluted runoff from streets and storm drains
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Comes from spills of all sizes– Large spills are infrequent, but can be devastating– Primary sources of oil pollution: natural seeps in the ocean bottom; boat leakage; motor oil from vehicles on roads and parking lots; spills during transport; leakage during offshore oil extraction
$1 billion prevention and cleanup fund − All ships must have double hulls by 2015
Fishing nets, plastic bags and bottles, fishing line, buckets, floats− Mammals, seabirds, turtles eat plastic and die• Congress passed the Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act in 2006• We can minimize this harm by reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic
π Illegal to discharge pollution from a point source without a permit (does not address non-point source pollution) Standards for industrial wastewater Funded construction of sewage treatment plants
Physical removal of contaminants in settling tanks (clarifiers)
Water is stirred and aerated, so aerobic bacteria can degrade the organic pollutants that remain
Areas set aside to protect marine life from fishing pressures However, MPAs still allow some fishing and other extractive activities
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Areas where no fishing or other extractive activities are allowed Leave ecosystems intact, without human interference Improve fisheries because young fish disperse into surrounding areas Benefits of reserves: increased species densities, biomass, size, diversity
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Thin layer of gases that surrounds Earth − Provides us with oxygen− Absorbs solar radiation and moderates climate− Burns up incoming meteors− Transports and recycles water and nutrients
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Lowest layer; 11 km (7 mi) high− Provides air for breathing, controls Earth’s weather− Temperature declines with altitude
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1150 km (731 mi) above sea level− 1,000x drier and less dense than troposphere− Contains UV radiation-blocking ozone (O3), which is 1730 km (1019 mi) above sea level− Temperature warms with altitude because ozone and oxygen absorb and scatter sun’s UV radiation
Circular current driven by temperature differences− Less dense, warmer air rises and creates vertical currents− As air rises, it expands and cools− Cool air descends and becomes denser, replacing warm air that is rising− Process influences weather and climate
Circular current driven by temperature differences− Less dense, warmer air rises and creates vertical currents− As air rises, it expands and cools− Cool air descends and becomes denser, replacing warm air that is rising− Process influences weather and climate
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Atmospheric conditions over short time periods and within small geographic areas
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Atmospheric conditions over long time periods (seasons, years, millennia) and across large geographic regions
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Abnormal condition where a layer of cool air occurs beneath warmer air
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Band of air in which temperature rises with altitude (normal direction is “inverted”)− Denser, cooler air at the bottom of the layer resists vertical mixing and traps pollutants
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Gases and particulate material added to the atmosphere– Can affect climate; harm people, other organisms– Air pollution: the release of air pollutants
Both natural and human-caused sources– Has recently decreased due to government policy and improved technologies in developed countries, but much work still needs to be done– Developing countries and urban areas still have significant problems
Burning vegetation generates soot and gases• Winds send huge amounts of dust aloft• Volcanoes release large quantities of particulate matter and sulfur dioxide• Humans worsen some natural impacts Farming, grazing cause erosion, desertification Fire suppression leads to more severe fires
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Specific sites where large amounts of pollutants are discharged (e.g., coal plants)
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More diffuse, consisting of many small sources (automobiles)
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Pollutants emitted into the troposphere that are directly harmful (or that can react to form harmful substances)
Harmful substances produced when primary pollutants interact or react with constituents of the atmosphere
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The time a pollutant stays in the atmosphere
Provides funds for pollution-control research − Allows the EPA to set standards for air quality and place limits on emissions− Allows citizens to sue parties that violate standards
Pollutants that cause cancer; reproductive defects; or neurological, immune system, developmental, or respiratory problems– Toxic air pollutants cause 36 cancer cases per 1 million people
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Ozone in lower stratosphere− Blocks incoming damaging UV radiation
Humanmade airborne chemicals that destroy ozone molecules and thin the ozone layer in the stratosphere
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Human-made organic compounds derived from simple hydrocarbons, in which hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine, bromine, or fluorine
Halocarbons used as refrigerants, in fire extinguishers, in aerosol cans, etc.
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International treaty ratified in 1987 in which 180 nations (now 196) agreed to restrict CFC production to curb stratospheric ozone depletion
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Deposition of acid, or acid-forming pollutants, from the atmosphere onto Earth
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Precipitation of acid (can include acid hail, snow, or sleet)
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Precipitation of acid (can include acid hail, snow, or sleet)
Describes trends and variations in Earth’s climate− Temperature, precipitation, storm frequency
Describes trends and variations in Earth’s climate− Temperature, precipitation, storm frequency
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An increase in Earth’s average temperature
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Without it, the Earth would be dark and frozen; the sun supplies our planet with most of its energy
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Without it, Earth’s temperature would be much colder
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Shape climate by storing and transporting heat and moisture
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Those that effectively absorb Infrared radiation − Examples: Water vapor, methane, ozone, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons− After absorbing IR from Earth’s surface, greenhouse gases re-emit IR; some is lost to space, but some travels back down, warming both the troposphere and Earth’s surface (“greenhouse effect”)
Relative ability of one greenhouse-gas molecule to contribute to warming
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Microscopic droplets and particles that have either a warming or cooling effect
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Change in thermal energy that a given factor causes− Positive forcing warms Earth’s surface; negative forcing cools it
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Periodic changes in the Earth’s rotation and orbit around the sun− Affect the intensity of solar radiation over Earth’s surface at different times
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Sun varies inamount of radiation it emits− However, variation in solar energy in recent centuries has not been great enough to change Earth’s temperature
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Oceans hold 50x more carbon than the atmosphere and absorb CO2from atmosphere
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Ocean water exchanges tremendous amounts of heat with the atmosphere, and ocean currents move energy from place to place
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Directly measure atmospheric gases, windspeed, temperature, etc.
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How we study the past; indirect evidence that substitutes for direct measurements
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Programs that combine what is known about atmospheric andocean circulation, atmosphere-ocean interactions, and feedback mechanisms to simulate climate processes
An international panel of hundreds of scientists and government officials established in 1988 − Published the most thoroughly reviewed and widely accepted synthesis of scientific information on global climate change
Summarizes thousands of scientific studies, analyzes trends and impacts, predicts future changes, strategies
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Temporary and localized rise in sea level brought on by the high tides and winds associated with storms
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Caused by increased CO2− Corals are unable build their exoskeletons
Harmful impacts are likely to affect forest health, human health, farmland productivity, and the economy
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Pursue actions that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions to lessen severity of future climate change− Focus on renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, use farm practices that protect soil integrity, prevent deforestation, etc.
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Accept climate change is happening and pursue strategies to minimize its impacts − Focus on technology and engineering; adjust farming to cope with droughts; restrict coastal development, etc.− Criticized as sidestepping
Electricity generation is the largest U.S. source (40%) of CO2emissions, followed by transportation− Fossil-fuel combustion generates 70% of U.S. electricity
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Technologies or approaches that remove CO2from power plant emissions
Technologies or approaches that sequester, or store, carbon from industrial emissions (e.g., underground in old oil deposits, salt mines, etc.)