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Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology
Chapter 53, Problem 9

Suppose that record snows blanket your campus this winter. Your friend says this is proof that global warming isn't really occurring. What is the flaw in your friend's logic? a. The average temperature of the Earth is not actually increasing. b. Global warming refers to temperatures, but snow is a type of precipitation. c. While the average global temperature is increasing, local temperatures and precipitation (weather) will vary. d. Your friend is confusing global warming and global climate change.

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1
Understand the difference between weather and climate: Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific place at a specific time, while climate describes the long-term patterns of weather in a particular area.
Recognize that global warming is about average increases: Global warming refers to the long-term trend of a rising average global temperature, which means some areas might still experience cold conditions.
Identify the concept of global warming: Global warming specifically relates to the increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases.
Explain the role of precipitation in climate systems: Snow is a form of precipitation and does not directly indicate temperature. Increased precipitation, including snow, can be a result of warmer air holding more moisture.
Clarify the correct answer: The flaw in your friend's logic is that they are confusing a local weather event with global climate trends. The correct answer is c. While the average global temperature is increasing, local temperatures and precipitation (weather) will vary.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Global Warming vs. Weather

Global warming refers to the long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases. In contrast, weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions, such as temperature and precipitation, which can vary significantly from day to day or season to season. Thus, a single cold winter does not negate the overall trend of global warming.
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Climate Variability

Climate variability refers to the natural fluctuations in climate patterns over time, which can include variations in temperature and precipitation. While global warming indicates a general trend of increasing temperatures, local weather events, such as heavy snowfall, can still occur and are influenced by various factors, including atmospheric conditions and ocean currents.
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Global Climate Change

Global climate change encompasses a broader range of changes in climate patterns, including shifts in temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events. It is important to distinguish between global warming, which specifically refers to temperature increases, and climate change, which includes all alterations in climate systems. Misunderstanding these terms can lead to flawed conclusions about environmental trends.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Biologists claim that the all-taxa survey now under way at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in the United States will improve their ability to estimate the total number of species living today. Discuss the benefits and limitations that this data set will provide in understanding the extent of global biodiversity.

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Textbook Question

Some biologists prefer to focus efforts on preserving endangered species while others prefer to focus on preserving ecosystems. What is your advice to biologists, based on the evidence from this chapter?

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Textbook Question

Explain why the construction of wildlife corridors can help maintain genetic diversity in a fragmented landscape.

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Textbook Question

The population size of mountain pine beetles in the American Northwest has long been held in check by freezing temperatures during the winters. As winters warm, populations of pine beetles are increasing, killing whitebark pine forest. Grizzly bears rely on the nuts of whitebark pine trees. Do you think climate change is affecting the fitness of the grizzly bear population?


a. No, because climate change is affecting the beetles, not the bears.

b. Yes, because climate change is decreasing the food supply of the bears, which means they will be less strong.

c. Yes, because climate change is decreasing the food supply of the bears, which is likely to reduce their ability to survive or reproduce.

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Textbook Question

The maps shown here chronicle the loss of old-growth forest (more than 200 years old) that occurred in the United States. In your opinion, under what conditions is it ethical for conservationists who live in the United States to lobby government officials in Brazil, Indonesia, and other tropical countries to slow the rate of loss of old-growth forest?

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Textbook Question

During the Carboniferous period, plant growth was extensive but rates of decomposition slowed (probably due to the formation of vast, oxygen-poor swamp habitats). As a result, large amounts of biomass accumulated in terrestrial environments (much of this biomass is now coal). The fossil record indicates that atmospheric oxygen increased, atmospheric carbon dioxide decreased, and global temperatures dropped. Explain why.

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