Environmental Science Bellringers

1. Environmental Science Bellringers Stephanie Dial 2013-2014

2. General Information • Use a composition notebook • Have 2 colors of ink or a highlighter • Write the question and the answer • Include the date and the number for each bellringer • Bellringers will be collected each quarter and at the end of the year

3. Day 1 – Aug 21 • What is the environment? • List several ways that environment influences the economy.

4. Day 2 – Aug 22 • Define the following: • Biodiversity • Ecological footprint • Natural resource • Sustainability • Law of supply and demand

5. Day 2 • Define the following: • Biodiversity – the variety of organisms in a given area, the genetic variation within a population, the variety of species in a community, or the variety of communities in an ecosystem • Ecological footprint – a calculation that shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country

6. Day 2 • Natural resource – any natural material that is used by humans, such as water, petroleum, minerals, forests, animals • Sustainability – the condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely • Law of supply and demand – a law of economics that states that as the demand for a good or service increases, the value of the good or service also increases

7. Day 3 – Sept 10 • Ch 2 section 1 vocab • Observation • Hypothesis • Prediction • Experiment • Variable • Experimental group • Control group • Data • Correlation

8. Day 3 • Ch 2 section 1 vocab • Observation – process of obtaining information by using the senses • Hypothesis – a theory or explanation that is based on observation and can be tested • Prediction – a statement made in advance that expresses the result will be obtained from testing a hypothesis, if the hypothesis is supported; the expected outcome • Experiment – procedure designed to test the hypothesis under controlled conditions • Variable – a factor that changes in the experiment • Experimental group – a group that is identical to the control group except for one factor • Control group – a group that is identical to the experimental group but nothing is changed • Data – the information gathered through an experiment • Correlation – the linear dependence between to variables

9. Day 4 – Sept 16 • Ch 2 section 2 vocab • Statistics • Mean • Distribution • Probability • Sample • Risk • Model • Conceptual model • Mathematical model

10. Day 4 • Statistics – collection and classification of data into numbers (%) • Mean – average value for a set of numbers • Distribution – relative arrangements of numbers of a statistical population • Probability – chance that something will happen • Sample – selected to represent a population • Risk – probability of an unwanted outcome • Model – pattern, plan or representation designed to show structure or working of an object, system, or concept • Conceptual model – verbal or graphical representation • Mathematical model – one or more equations that represent the way a system or process works

11. Day 5 – Sept 17 • Ch 2 section 3 vocab • Value • Decision-making model

12. Day 5 • Value – principle or standard that an individual considers to be important • Decision-making model – a conceptual model that provide a systematic process for making decisions

13. Explain the statement “a good scientists is one who asks the right questions”. • How are statistics helpful for evaluating information about the environment? • How does making a table help you evaluate the values and concerns you have when making a decision?

14. Day • Explain the statement “a good scientist is one who asks the right questions”. When an observation warrants further examination, a good scientist knows what questions to investigate to fully understand the observation • How are statistics helpful for evaluating information about the environment? Statistics help people quantify and analyze different kinds of information, including information about the environment. • How does making a table help you evaluate the values and concerns you have when making a decision? Making a table can help in decision-making situations by organizing all the + and – consequences of a decision for comparison

15. Day 6 – Sept 24 • What are the 4 components of the earth system? • What is the importance of the asthenosphere? • Where do earthquakes and volcanic eruptions most often occur?

16. Day 6 • What are the 4 components of the earth system? Geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere • What is the importance of the asthenosphere? It is the layer of the mantle that is viscous enough to allow Earth’s tectonic plates to move around on it • Where do earthquakes and volcanic eruptions most often occur? They occur primarily at plate boundaries

17. Day 7 – Sept 25 • What are the 4 layers of Earth’s atmosphere? • What causes the movement of energy in the atmosphere? • What happens when gases trap heat near the Earth?

18. Day 7 • What are the 4 layers of Earth’s atmosphere? Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere • What causes the movement of energy in the atmosphere? By differential heating by solar radiation • What happens when gases trap heat near the Earth? Greenhouse effect, which allows Earth’s surface to remain warm enough to support life

19. Day 8 – Sept 26 • Where are the hottest and coldest places on Earth? • Why is ocean water salty? • How do cold ocean currents and warm currents interact?

20. Day 8 • Where are the hottest and coldest places on Earth? Most are located far inland, away from the ocean. The ocean has a moderating effect on temperature. • Why is ocean water salty? Water dissolves salts out of rocks on land and washes them into the sea. Evaporation concentrates the salts. • How do cold ocean currents and warm currents interact? They interact through convection. Warm currents rise, cold currents sink; they do not easily mix because of differing densities

21. Day 9 – Oct 1 • Name and describe the physical and compositional layers into which scientists divide the Earth. • Describe the effects that a large-scale volcanic eruption can have on the global climate.

22. Day 9 • Name and describe the physical and compositional layers into which scientists divide the Earth. Comp-crust, core, mantle; physical – inner core, outer core, mesosphere, asthenosphere, and lithosphere • Describe the effects that a large-scale volcanic eruption can have on the global climate. Can cause a drop in the average global surface temperature

23. Day 10 – Oct 2 • Explain the 3 mechanisms of heat transfer in Earth’s atmosphere. • Describe the role of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere. • Name and describe each of the 3 major processes in the water cycle.

24. Day 10 • Explain the 3 mechanisms of heat transfer in Earth’s atmosphere. Convection, conduction, radiation • Describe the role of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere. Trap the reflected radiation close to the Earth’s surface • Name and describe each of the 3 major processes in the water cycle. Evaporation-turning a liquid into a gas, condensation – turning a gas into a liquid, precipitation- release of a liquid