Blog 11

Connections Discussion:

Increased temperatures from carbon dioxide harms coral reefs. It causes algae to be reduced, thus harming the corals, and them dying. The death of corals, causes the entire ecosystem to start failing and falling apart. Along with the fall of the ecosystem, this harms the human population because of the fishing industry. Fish populations lower, and thus humans have less fish to sell at a commercial market.

Walleyes are in danger of temperature increases and CO2 emissions. The higher temperatures are killing off the food that walleyes eat and increasing the threat of invasive species. This can create dead-zones in the lake areas where Walleyes are, as well as lower the level of water leaving less room for the fish species to strive.

Conservation effects include reducing co2 emissions as well as monitoring the coral reefs.

Ozone Discussion

Ozone later absorbs UV-B and UV-C rays. Without this layer, all humans would be exposed to the rays, thus harming them through radiation. This radiation can cause skin cancer. Here how the ozone layer works is that oxygen gas reacts with the UV-C rays and creates oxygen. The oxygen then reacts with oxygen molecules to form ozone. Then the ozone created reacts with UV-B/C rays splitting and yielding oxygen molecules, thus becoming a closed-loop system.

CFCs though harm the loop. They screw up the loop and go through the reaction that takes away an ozone molecule. When the ozone molecule is taken away, the Chlorine is then formed with an oxygen atom thus ruining the formation of an Ozone molecule and messing with the loop.

Difference between tropospheric and stratospheric ozone is that tropospheric ozone is bad for humans. It can cause respiratory diseases and can cause other negative effects. This kind of ozone can form smog in the air when it reacts with NO, but it shouldn't because humans should not be producing VOCs.

Positive and Negative Feedbacks

Global warming is a positive feed back because of the effect it has on the poles. Albedo % is the amount that the ice in the poles reflects the water, but as global warming increases, the amount it can take is lowering. Thus when it lowers, it leads to the ice to melt and increases sea level. Which is then repeated and it continues through. 

A negative feedback is the carbon emissions. Plants cycle carbon in the air, thus as more carbon is entering into the air, the plants take in more of the carbon, so the more carbon that is produced the more the plants will take in. The more they take in the lower the amounts of carbon in the air will remain.

BIG Picture Discussion

Human impact-
Greenhouse gases have a large effect on humans. This can cause respiratory problems in many people because of the air pollution. Also this can affect the ozone layer, in which more UV rays are being transmitted into the earths atmosphere which can hurt humans and cause cancer. This can also effect the agricultural industry, and thus affect humans food sources, which can cause a loss of food.


Environmental impact-
Air Pollution is huge in its environmental impact. Here the poles of the earth can lose their ice, and melt, thus creating a loss of biodiversity and ecosystems. Also increasing sea levels. Along with the melting of the poles, it can harm systems in the water. An increase in heat, can allow threats to invade other systems and thus ruin the peaceful ecosystem. This can harm the chain and disrupt all actions going on in the system. 

Economic impact-
Economically humans can lose food sources, thus losing revenue from selling the food. Also with corals being harmed, humans can lose tourism benefits and fishing benefits. Along with the melting of ice at the poles, starting up conservation efforts can take up a lot of money. This harms humans in a lot of ways because of the amount of money can be taken away or used up.

Government legislation-
The clean air act is legislation that reduces the amount of air pollutants that can be emitted into the air. The Montreal protocol bans CFCs. And the Kyoto Protocol limits the emissions of CO2, but the US did not sign it, so it doesn't happen in the US.