Biology

Biosphere
• The outer portion of Earth where all living organisms exist deepest ocean trench up into atmosphere

Since Industrial Revolution…
Earth’s global temperature is now at hottest point in 13,000 years
• What is this increase in temperature called?
• What is the name of this phenomenon?
• NOAA data 2010 link

• Global Warming is caused by the

Greenhouse gases
• Water Vapor H
2
0
• Carbon Dioxide CO
2
• Methane CH
4
• Nitrous Oxide NOx
• Fluorocarbons CFC’s (part of Haloalkanes)
• Ozone O
3
• Which one above is the cause of global warming? -----

• Water Vapor H
2
0
• Carbon Dioxide CO
2
• Methane CH
4
• Nitrous Oxide NOx same levels increased doubled since 1800 increased
• Fluorocarbons CFC’s now banned
• Ozone (STRATOSPHERIC) DROPPED

Evidence of stratospheric
Ozone Depletion
• link to ozone depletion movie

Depletion of Ozone Layer
• O
3 is naturally occurring in
Stratosphere
• Protects us from UV-B radiation
• Often called
“good” ozone

“good” Ozone is depleted by CFC’s
C
f
c
• Used in older air conditioners, refrigerators, and in industry

Tropospheric Ozone
• “
” Formed from Nitrous oxide (found in automobile exhaust) and
VOC’s
• Unhealthy for many people
• EPA issues ozone alerts for large cities
• Link to EPA Air Now current air quality map

Sources of NOx and
VOC

Acid Rain
• Rain is typically 5.0pH in Wisconsin, anything less than 5.4pH, we call it acid rain
• Where is acid rain a problem in U.S.?
• What causes Acid Rain?

Map of US acid rain deposition

Illustration of acid rain production

Is there a chemical that is a common source of most threats to the Biosphere?
• Hint: it is found in vehicle exhaust

What can each of us do?
• Car pool , walk, ride bikes , use public transportation, reduce, use less, change light bulbs to fluorescent or LED, use wind, solar, renewable fuels, drive smaller cars if possible ,

Current Arctic ice data
• Data shows a continual reduction in Arctic
Ice in recent years
• pp showing ice loss from 1979-2007
• NASA daily arctic ice data (ice movement) from 2005-2006
• NOAA model projections from 1900 through 2100