Module 2. Components of Global Change.

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1 Module 2. Components of Global Change. Atmospheric Ozone Ozone Depletion Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Greenhouse Effect Biodiversity Declines Invasions Human Activity & Environmental Degradation Global Change Human-induced change in global ecosystem function ozone layer global warming biodiversity introduced species Biology 105 Module 2 1

2 Atmospheric Ozone Roles & effects ultraviolet rays stratosphere O3 O 2 troposphere CFCs & Halons concepts: ozone is created & destroyed through complex reactions stratospheric ozone filters out harmful UV radiation tropospheric ozone is detrimental to plants & animals Distribution of atmospheric ozone Biology 105 Module 2 2

3 The Ozone Shield and CFCs UV radiation Cl N 2 O ozone depletion UV transmission concepts: ozone is naturally created and destroyed in the stratosphere this balance is upset by reactive chlorine, bromine, and nitrogen loss of ozone leads to increased UV radiation passage to Earth UV Radiation & Biological Systems High energy radiation damages organisms humans plants amphibians Exposure causes cataracts and skin cancer phytoplankton Reduced productivity in primary producers Altered growth and disease resistance Exposure of eggs may lead to deformations Biology 105 Module 2 3

4 Forty Years of Ozone in Antarctica Steady decline linked to CFCs Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer Total Ozone over Northern Hemisphere Biology 105 Module 2 4

5 Atmospheric CO 2 Concentration concepts: human activity is changing atmospheric gas composition such changes force changes in climate activity The Kyoto Protocol and Politics Who actually produces all the CO 2? Biology 105 Module 2 5

6 The United States Top CO 2 producer The Greenhouse Effect carbon dioxide as a primary driving force Sunlight warms the atmosphere 2. Earth s surface radiates energy back to atmosphere & space 3. Elevated greenhouse gases trap larger proportions of this reradiated energy Biology 105 Module 2 6

7 Global Surface Temperatures concepts: there is a strong trend for increased global temperatures temperature change tracks atmospheric CO 2 Temperatures and Sea Level concepts: increasing temperatures affect water storage and expansion 20 to 86 cm (8 to 34 in) by 2100 (EPA 2000) sea level rise will have impacts on coastal communities Biology 105 Module 2 7

8 Precipitation Patterns Change Precipitation will be more variable & extreme Climate Variability and Ecosystem Processes Biology 105 Module 2 8

9 Biodiversity At many levels sustains ecosystem function Genetic - variation within species adaptation - change within species Species - variation in species within a community resilience - flexibility in communities Ecosystem - variation among ecosystems of the world long-term global stability in delivery of Nature s Services Biodiversity Worldwide Hotspots & coldspots, but all are important low biodiversity high biodiversity Biology 105 Module 2 9

10 Bees in Decline Bee gathering nectar and pollinating flowers Larvae covered with verroa mites concepts: loss of a species may affect other ecosystem components Nature s Services may be compromised habitat loss, introduced disease, and competitors alter balance The Asian Long-Horned Beetle A new threat to forested ecosystems in the United States Larva Adult Killed tree Biology 105 Module 2 10

11 The Asian Long-Horned Beetle An exotic gains a foothold Potential Impact Areas Several U.S. ecosystems are susceptible to attack Biology 105 Module 2 11

12 Environmental Degradation Human activities forcing global change urbanization air purification nonrenewable resources poor resource management pollution water purification renewable resources groundwater depletion biological control soil formation wetlands destruction nutrient recycling biodiversity deforestation Biology 105 Module 2 12