COPY: Ecosystem Services and Climate Sensitivity

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What is the primary effect of algal blooms caused by human activities on aquatic ecosystems?

Increased oxygen levels

Depletion of oxygen (correct)

Enhanced fish populations

Increased clarity of water

Which process in the nitrogen cycle is responsible for converting atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for plants?

Decomposition

Anthropogenic flux

Fixation (correct)

Denitrification

What is the largest reservoir of carbon in the carbon cycle?

Atmosphere

Rocks and sediment (correct)

Living organisms

Oceans

Which of the following processes increases nitrogen levels in ecosystems due to human activity?

Burning fossil fuels Signup and view all the answers

What is radiative forcing primarily concerned with?

Energy balance of the atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

What is a major consequence of deforestation in relation to the carbon cycle?

Increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

What effect does negative radiative forcing have on Earth?

Results in cooling of the planet Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the flux of ocean absorption in the carbon cycle?

Decreases atmospheric CO₂ levels Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the increase in water vapor have on climate?

It contributes to warming the Earth. Signup and view all the answers

Which feedback mechanism relates to melting ice decreasing Earth's reflectivity?

Ice-albedo feedback Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?

To assess scientific research on climate change. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines social optimum in economic terms?

When external costs and benefits are fully accounted for. Signup and view all the answers

What is one consequence of ocean acidification?

Decrease in marine biodiversity. Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the scenario where marginal revenue equals marginal cost?

Economic optimum Signup and view all the answers

What leads to increased variability in precipitation patterns?

Warming of the Earth's surface. Signup and view all the answers

How can negative externalities affect third parties during production?

They impose costs on individuals not directly involved in the transaction. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary drawback of GDP as a measure of a country's progress?

It does not account for resource depletion. Signup and view all the answers

How does GPI differ fundamentally from GDP in terms of environmental considerations?

GPI adjusts for environmental damage, while GDP does not. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is considered a positive addition in the GPI calculation?

Access to education Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity' refer to?

The eventual temperature predicted after CO2 levels stop rising. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately describes the Anthropocene epoch?

It is defined by human actions strongly influencing geology and ecosystems. Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes the term 'residence time' in biogeochemical cycles?

The average time an element remains in a reservoir before transitioning to another reservoir. Signup and view all the answers

What component of photosynthesis directly contributes to the carbon cycle?

Production of glucose and release of oxygen. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a sink from a source in biogeochemical cycles?

A sink absorbs more of an element than it releases, while a source releases more. Signup and view all the answers

In the phosphorus cycle, which statement is true regarding its characteristics?

Rocks and sediments serve as the largest reservoir of phosphorus. Signup and view all the answers

Which range represents the predicted temperature rise due to a doubling of atmospheric CO2?

2.5°C to 4°C Signup and view all the answers

What primary function do supporting services serve within ecosystems?

They offer nutrient cycling and primary production essential for other services. Signup and view all the answers

What does the internalisation of externalities primarily aim to achieve?

Include external costs or benefits in market prices Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following methods can be utilized to manage externalities?

Using a Pigovian tax Signup and view all the answers

Under what circumstances does the Coase theorem suggest that parties can negotiate resolutions to externalities?

When property rights are well defined Signup and view all the answers

What describes the optimal pollution level?

When marginal social benefit equals marginal social cost Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of the Tragedy of the Commons?

Resource depletion occurs despite shared interest Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following strategies involves allocating permits to control pollution?

Cap-and-Trade system Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of increasing demand on optimal pollution levels?

Optimal pollution levels increase Signup and view all the answers

Which option best defines a common good?

A resource available to everyone, often at risk of depletion Signup and view all the answers