greenhouse effect and biodiversity

Greenhouse Effect and

BiodiversityGroup Members: Alisa Juni, Nasa Bremer, Honoka Daio, Max Hayasaki

An Introduction to the Greenhouse Effect

Max Hayasaki

What is a "Greenhouse Effect"?Similar to the concept of a greenhouse --> a greenhouse is designed that way

because light is trapped in the space for a longer time than just exposing the plants to sunlight. 

Definition

--> the "greenhouse effect" occurs when the light reflecting the Earth's surface is trapped in the atmosphere by the greenhouse gases.  

The Mechanism

The Greenhouse Gases

Here are the most harmful greenhouse gases:

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)Methane (CH4)Nitrous Oxide (N2O)Fluorocarbons (CFC, HCFC, HCF)

Carbon DioxideChemical Properties:

CO2 turns into carbonic acid in an aqueous solution

Latent heat of vaporization is about 571KJ/kgThe vapor pressure of CO2 is 58.5 barCO2 does not burn or support combustion   CO2 is usually emitted by the "burning" of

substances, especially fossil fuels. It is almost the most common greenhouse gas in the Earth's atmosphere.

MethaneChemical Properties:Methane produces a large amount of heat

when it undergoes combustion. Methane causes halogenation, which causes

halogen atoms into moleculesThe latent heat of vaporization is 510KJ/kgThe critical pressure of CH4 is 45.96 bar  Methane is produced when plants decay. It is

also a flammable gas. Methane is extremely powerful, since methane can hold 20 times more heat than CO2. 

Nitrous OxideChemical Properties:Critical pressure of nitrous oxide is 72.45 barThe latent heat of vaporization is about 376KJ/kgThe vapor pressure of nitrous oxide is 58.5 barThe gas is used in industries for hygiene mainly. The gas is famous for its medical use. Its medical

use is anesthesia, especially to create laughing gases. We use this gas in nitrogenous fertilizers and disposing waste also. This gas is not harmful for its amount, but for its time it remains in the atmosphere, which is about 100 years.

Fluorocarbons

Basic outline of gas and their properties:The name, "fluorocarbons" comes from the fact

that these gases have fluorine and carbon in their bonds.

They can easily be converted from liquid to gas, vice versa.

They are used to make cans, refrigerators, and AC's

   These gases are very useful for industries, since

they have a unique property of being able to convert their state easily. They are a threat to the environment because the emitted fluorocarbons destroy the ozone layers. 

Carbon Emission and its effects on the atmosphere

Nasa Bremer

From Emission to Global Warming

9-26% of Greenhouse is made from CO2, and more is added through human activities◦Burning fossil fuel, making electricity, etc

Correlation of the CO2◦Melting of the Poles - Less reflection and cooling; more

heat and water◦Deforestation - Harder to control the CO2◦Volume Expansion - When heated, gases and liquids

expand - Rise of sea level and gas concentration

THEREFORE: Rise of global temperature, aka Global Warming

Habitat loss and migration

Honoka Daio

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Affected biomes Biomes: what is happening to them?What are biomes: collection of ecosystem

sharing similar climatic conditionsTropical, Temperate/Polar desserts,

Grasslands, ForestsHow does the greenhouse effect affect

these biomes?

Declining sea ice in arctic biomes

Shifting whether patterns among

attitudes

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Habitat lossTemperature and climate changes affects

structure of landscape Most vivid change: Arctic biomeArctic ice melt - sea level rise - erosions -

increased salinity - floods...

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Migration of species

Forced migration leads to competition of food and shelter

Species migrating according to specific seasons have more difficulties migrating

Difficult plant migrationsExtinction??

Greenhouse Effect and Biodiversity

Alisa Juni

What is biodiversity?

- variety of life found on Earth—its biological diversity

- # of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the vast diversity of genes in these species, the varied ecosystems on the planet

What is biodiversity?

Importance of biodiversity-boosts ecosystem productivity

-ensures natural sustainability

-better chance of withstanding various natural disasters

-affects life cycle

- Provide for basic human needs

How does greenhouse effect contribute to loss in biodiversity?

Rising levels of greenhouse gases change global climate

change in ecosystemAdaptation difficulties- the survival and natural growth of plants and animals. 

Life Cycles

*key gases, nutrients, and organisms must be recycled to maintain a stable ecosystem.*these cycles will be affected

Feeding RelationshipsAffect on food cycleResult in unnatural, unbalanced population loss/growth

Increasing risks of endangered species and extinction

Experimentation

Modelling how greenhouse effect affects the environment of certain biomes

Aim: To find out how greenhouse gases affect the temperature and environmental conditions of different ecosystems.

Overall process: used four water bottles to represent grassland and arctic; two bottles were wrapped in cling wrap (greenhouse gas layer) thermometer inserted into bottle and measured the change in temperature.

Results

Results

Conclusion

greenhouse effect does cause an increase in temperature 

affects the environmental conditions of various biome

threats of biodiversity loss has increased

Self Reflections: GroupStrengths:Good effort; good communication and organization within our group; fairly equal contribution; variety of research sourcesWeakness:Managing time; problems with certain aspects of our topic; technical difficulties; Lacked in some materials for the experimentHow to improve:Set priorities right(schedule time); avoid technical problems at school by testing it beforehand; ask teachers for help/ be more prepared for experimentOverall learning experience:A challenge but successful; cooperation and organization was key.

Sourceshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2qVNK6zFgE&feature=player_embedded#at=26http://www.globalissues.org/issue/169/biodiversityhttp://

www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-undead-biodiversity-greenhouse-gas-emissions.html

http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/farming-and-the-environment/6http://www.buzzle.com/articles/global-warming-effects-on-animals.htmlhttp://www.worldwildlife.org/climate/Publications/WWFBinaryitem4929.pdfhttp://www.brighthub.com/environment/science-environmental/articles/80105.aspxhttp://news.mongabay.com/2007/0326-climate.htmlhttp://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/21425http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/impacts/habitat_loss/http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/gw-effects/http

://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/biodiversity/biodiversity.html

http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/biodiversity/biodiversity.html

http://www.theglobaleducationproject.org/earth/global-ecology.php

http://www.adalin.ro/rGUlbtsURrI/