Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology 4e

EXERCISE 18.7
Planning for the Future (continued)
Name:
Course:
Section:
Date:
Global Change
(a) What lines of evidence suggest that components of the Earth System are changing faster now than at other times
in the geologic past?
(b) What evidence suggests that humans are at least partially responsible for the changes?
Climate Change
(c) A feedback loop is a situation in which the results of a process cause that process to be accelerated (a positive
feedback loop) or slowed (a negative feedback loop). Climate change is accompanied by feedback loops of both
kinds.
●
Global warming causes increased evaporation of ocean water. How will this result affect future warming?
●
Melting of the polar ice caps decreases the Earth’s albedo. What kind of feedback loop does this cause?
●
Increased atmospheric CO 2
concentrations and warmer temperatures trigger increased plant growth. How will this
affect future warming?
(d) How will continued global warming affect worldwide food resources?
(e) Is there anything that humans can do about climate change? If so, should we do it, or let nature take its course?
Sea-Level Rise
(f) How will sea-level rise change the impacts of coastal storms on coastal communities?
(g) What engineering solutions can help protect coastal cities from sea-level rise?
(h) Given the extent of anticipated coastal inundation (discussed earlier in the chapter), does it make more sense to
relocate or to protect U.S. coastal cities?
Population Growth
(i) How does human population growth affect the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere?
(j) How does human population growth affect the rest of the biosphere?
(k) What steps can we take to maintain the supply of geologic resources that a doubled human population will
demand?
?
What Do You Think Some people argue that cutting
greenhouse gas emissions harms the economy because it costs too
much. How do you think the short-term economic benefits of doing
nothing compare with the eventual cost of fixing the problems caused
by climate change in the future? Provide your answer on a separate
sheet of paper.
POOR AIR QUALITY
TRAVEL WISE
18.3 HUMANS AS AGENTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE AND EXTINCTIONS
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