Question 1

What is the greenhouse effect?

Accepted Answer

The trapping of heat in the atmosphere, due to an increased concentration of green house gases

(primarily caused by humans, but some happens naturally)

Question 2

What is ozone depletion?

Accepted Answer

The thinning of Earth's ozone layer due to human release of chemicals

(CFCs from aerosol cans cause this; ozone depletion may allow excessive UV radiation, possibly leading to more cancer)

Question 3

What is acid rain?

Accepted Answer

Rainfall that has been turned acidic by atmospheric pollution

Question 4

What are common impacts of the greenhouse effect?

Accepted Answer

Increased temperatures, which melt polar ice caps, which lead to rising sea levels

Increased temperatures can also disrupt ecosystems

Question 5

What are possible impacts of ozone depletion?

Accepted Answer

More UV radiation reaching the Earth, resulting in increased cancer rates

Question 6

What is the effect of acid rain?

Accepted Answer

Lowers the pH (makes more acidic) in aquatic ecosystems and soil, damaging plants and animals

Question 7

What is desertification?

Accepted Answer

The process of fertile land turning into deserts

Often caused by overgrazing and lack of soil management

Question 8

What is deforestation?

Accepted Answer

The clearing of forest to make room for human activity

Question 9

What are the effects of deforestation?

Accepted Answer

Habitat loss, more erosion, and more floods

Question 10

How can human activity reduce biodiverstiy?

Accepted Answer

As different habitats are destroyed, many plant and animal species have gone extinct

(those plants/animals could have provided medicines or other scientific information)

Humans, AP Biology Flashcards