APES Unit 1 Test FRQ's, AP Environmental Science-Unit 1 Quiz Describe a biological process by which carbon is removed from the atmosphere and converted to organic molecules. - correct answer Photosynthesis- In Photosynthesis, plants take in CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into glucose/complex carbohydrates.Describe a biological process by which carbon is converted from organic molecules to a gas and returned to the atmosphere. - correct answer A biological process in which carbon is converted into a gas is respiration. In respiration, glucose/complex carbohydrates are broken down to CO2 and released into the atmosphere.Explain how atmospheric carbon is incorporated into two oceanic sinks. - correct answer Atmospheric CO2 can be dissolved directly into the ocean or into precipitation and eventually reach the ocean and can then be taken up by marine organisms for shells and skeletons. Carbon can also react with other elements and form limestone or sedimentary rocks.Identify one terrestrial sink, other than fossil fuels, that stores carbon for thousands to millions of years.
- correct answer Sedimentary rocks can store carbon for thousands to millions of years.
Discuss TWO other human activities that increase the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere. - correct answer Two human activities that increase the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere are deforestation and slash-and-burn agriculture. In deforestation, we are removing the reservoirs for CO2 by cutting the trees down. In slash-and-burn agriculture, burning organic matter releases carbon into the atmosphere.Identify an environmental problem that results from elevated atmospheric carbon concentrations.Discuss one consequence of the problem you identified. - correct answer The Greenhouse Effect can occur due to elevated amounts of carbon in the atmosphere. This causes the sun's heat to get trapped and increases the temperature of the planet.Describe one major way in which the phosphorus cycle differs from the carbon cycle. - correct answer Unlike the carbon cycle, the phosphorus cycle does not occur in the atmosphere. 1 / 3
Identify one reason that phosphorus is necessary for organisms. - correct answer Phosphorus is necessary for organisms because it is required for cellular respiration.Identify the class of chemical compounds that is primarily responsible for the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer and describe TWO major uses for which these chemicals were manufactured. - correct answer Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) are primarily responsible for the thinning of the ozone layer.CFC's are used in the production of styrofoam and solvent/cleaner.Describe how the chemical compounds that you identified in part (A) destroy stratospheric ozone molecules. You may include chemical equation as part of your answer. - correct answer CL+03 --->
CLO+02
When a CFC molecule comes into contact with ultraviolet light exposure they tend to split causing a chlorine atom to escape. Due to the fact that chlorine by itself is extremely radioactive, it bonds with oxygen atoms that were stolen from a ozone molecule.Identify the major environmental consequence of the depletion of stratospheric ozone and describe TWO effects on ecosystems and/or human health that can result. - correct answer The major environmental consequence of ozone depletion is that the chlorine can gather in one place, such as the ozone hole in Antarctica, and create a hole in the stratospheric ozone which releases UV-B and UV-C.Two effects can be skin cancer in humans and decreased plant productivity.Ozone formed at ground level is a harmful pollutant. Describe TWO effects that ground-level ozone can have on ecosystems and/or human health. - correct answer In humans, ground-level ozone can cause pain or burning in the chest and shortness of breath. In the environment, it can lead to reduced agricultural crop and commercial forest yields.Biogeochemical Cycles - correct answer The movement of abiotic factors between the living and nonliving components within ecosystems; also known as nutrient cycles (i.e., water cycle, carbon cycle, oxygen cycle, and nitrogen cycle).The Water Cycle - correct answer Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, run off, transpiration, infiltration. Humans impact this by storing water in reservoirs, irrigation, deforestation, and putting chemicals in it 2 / 3
Condensation - correct answer The change of state from a gas to a liquid Run off - correct answer The draining away of water (or substances carried in it) from the surface of an area of land, a building or structure, etc.Transpiration - correct answer Evaporation of water from the leaves of a plant Infiltration - correct answer Flow of water from the land surface into the subsurface The Carbon Cycle - correct answer The organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again. Humans impact this by burning fossil fuels and cutting down trees, The Nitrogen Cycle - correct answer The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere. Humans impact this by altering the amount of nitrogen that is stored in the biosphere.The Phosphorus Cycle - correct answer The movement of phosphorus atoms from rocks through the biosphere and hydrosphere and back to rocks.The Sulfur Cycle - correct answer Cyclic movement of sulfur in various chemical forms from the environment to organisms and then back to the environment. Humans impact this by burning coal, natural gas, and other fossil fuels which greatly increases the amount of sulfur in the atmosphere and ocean and depleted the sedimentary rock sink Where are the four major areas of water storage on Earth? - correct answer Atmosphere, surface water, ground water, and living things Abiotic Factors - correct answer Nonliving components of environment.Biotic Factors - correct answer All the living organisms that inhabit an environment Habitat - correct answer Where an organism lives and any aspect of the location
- / 3