Exam 16: Physical Cycles and the Biosphere

As you have learned in Chapter 16, global warming is taking place. Some sources estimate that the temperature on Earth will increase about 0.5 degrees Celsius over a 100-year period. Although scientists do not agree on the amount of increase, let's presume that this will result in an approximate seven-inch rise in sea level. Assuming that global warming continues at this pace, when approximately would a town located at 10 feet above sea level be submerged?

Scientists have studied atmospheric conditions over the last century and have noted that the atmospheric carbon dioxide level has __________ and global temperatures have __________.

Nodules containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria can be located on the roots of

The largest reservoir of freshwater is the

Since the Industrial Revolution, the pH of the oceans has __________, making the water more __________.

With regard to the water cycle, water moves from the ocean to the __________ to the land to the __________ and back to the ocean.

Which of the following events could occur if global warming continues at a rapid rate?

Two-thirds of the available freshwater is

Which of the following elements cannot be utilized directly from the atmosphere by plants?

The greenhouse gas that has the longest residence time is

Coral reefs consist of __________ polyps, which duplicate via __________ reproduction.

The primary pathway by which carbon is transferred from nonliving reservoirs to living organisms is

A _______________ is a region where all of the rain eventually flows into a specific river.

Since the Industrial Revolution, the amount of methane in the atmosphere has __________, and the amount of nitrous oxide has __________.

Polar bears are classified as a threatened species because

__________ power(s) the movement of water between reservoirs.

When examining ice cores for seasonal information, the summer layers appear __________ because the ice there is __________ dense.

The algae that live within the coral reefs exhibit __________ relationship with the coral itself.

The bleaching of a coral reef may be due to

Chapter 16 mentioned that less than 3 percent of the water on Earth is freshwater. There are organisms that have adjusted to the salinity of the oceans, but humans are not among them. Therefore, scientists are working on various desalination procedures-methods of removing the salt from ocean water. These desalination procedures are quite expensive and require advanced technology. Aside from the cost, what do you see as other potential drawbacks of performing desalination on a large scale?