Question

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a long history of working toward sustainable outcomes in our country. To encourage progress, EPA developed a strategic approach to incorporate sustainability principles that guide its work. They are:

1. Conserve, protect, restore, and improve the supply and quality of natural resources and environmental media (energy, water, materials, ecosystems, land, and air) over the long term.
2. Align and integrate programs, tools, incentives, and indicators to achieve as many positive outcomes as possible in environmental, economic, and social systems.
3. Consider the full life cycles of multiple natural resources, processes, and pollutants in order to prevent pollution, reduce waste, and create a sustainable future.
In considering the water quality in and around the U. S., the EPA analyzes these critical physical states: temperature, light, and hydrology including rainfall, flow rates, and sea level. What key human activity could result in changes in all of the physical states listed here?
A)global warming
B)release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
C)an ever-increasing hole in the ozone layer in Earth's stratosphere
D)changes in the hydrologic cycle and rates of evaporation/precipitation

Answer 1

Global warming is the human activity that could alter temperature, light, and hydrology, which include rainfall, flow rates, and sea level. It is primarily caused by the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from human activities like burning fossil fuels. The EPA enforces environmental standards to mitigate the effects of global warming.

Step-by-step explanation:

The key human activity that could result in changes to temperature, light, and hydrology (including rainfall, flow rates, and sea level) is global warming. This phenomenon encompasses various effects attributed to long-term human-induced changes, primarily due to the release of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, leading to a rise in global temperatures, which in turn affects weather patterns, sea levels, and the overall climate.

Several human activities contribute to global warming, including deforestation, industrial processes, and the burning of fossil fuels for energy. This increase in temperature can cause oceans to warm, polar ice to melt, and sea levels to rise. Additionally, the temperature change can alter precipitation patterns and increase the rate of evaporation, which affects hydrology and water resources. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the role of researching, setting, and enforcing environmental standards to address the challenges posed by global warming, aiming to safeguard water quality and manage environmental risks.