AP Environmental Science Global Change Review
Here's an organized outline for AP Environmental Science Unit 9 reviews. This outline has been adapted from the 2019 Course Description published by College Board. You can use this to build an AP Enviro Unit 9 study guide.
⚡ Read: AP Environmental Science - Unit 9 Overview
Ozone
Stratospheric ozone is vital to life on Earth, human activities have caused the depletion of stratospheric ozone.
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) deplete stratospheric ozone.
- Stratospheric ozone absorbs harmful UV rays preventing them from reaching the Earth’s surface.
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are more reactive than Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and are not ozone-depleting chemicals, they are however still very strong greenhouse gases.
Effects on the World
Humans activities can increase greenhouse gases that can cause human health and environmental problems.
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The naturally occurring greenhouse effect results in the surface temperature necessary for life on Earth to exist.
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Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are all examples of greenhouse gases.
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Rising sea levels, disease vectors spreading and extreme weather events are all consequences of increasing global temperature.
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The warming of the ocean causes corals to bleach and eventually die. This causes a loss of habitat for a very complex and diverse ecosystem. - Increased CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere cause the ocean to acidify
Changing ecosystems and pressure from human populations can cause some species become endangered.
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Human movement has facilitated invasive species. These organisms can live outside of their normal habitat and often threaten native species.
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HIPPCO (habitat destruction, invasive species, population growth, pollution, climate change, and over exploitation) are the major reasons for a loss in biodiversity.
Major Environmental Legislation
- Clean Air Act
- Clean Water Act
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, And Liability Act (CERCLA)
- Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species Of Wild Fauna And Flora (CITES)
- Delaney Clause Of Food, Drug, And Cosmetic Act
- Endangered Species Act
- Kyoto Protocol
- Montreal Protocol
- Resource Conservation And Recovery Act (RCRA)
- Safe Drinking Water Act (SWDA)
Unit 9 Vocab
- Biodiversity
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- Endangered Species
- Global climate change
- Greenhouse effect
- Greenhouse gases
- HIPPCO
- Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
- Invasive species
- Ocean acidification
- Ocean warming
- Stratospheric ozone