Download - 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/