Question

Select the statement that explains how remote sensors can track changes in primary productivity across ecosystems in response to global warming.

a. Remote sensors buried in the soil measure O₂ and CO₂ gases released by plants.
b. Remote sensors directly measure temperatures across regions using aerial photographs.
c. Remote sensors track changes in productivity by estimating the abundance of chlorophyll.
d. Remote sensors measure photosynthesis and growth by detecting radiolabeled carbon.

Answer 1

Remote sensors estimate chlorophyll abundance to track changes in primary productivity in response to global warming, providing insight into ecosystem health and carbon cycle dynamics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is c. Remote sensors track changes in productivity by estimating the abundance of chlorophyll. Remote sensing technology allows scientists to monitor changes in ecosystems on a broad scale. These sensors use techniques such as analyzing the wavelengths of light reflected by vegetation. Since chlorophyll, the pigment in plants that is crucial for photosynthesis, reflects specific wavelengths of light, remote sensors can estimate the chlorophyll abundance and hence, the productivity of plants in an ecosystem. This is important for tracking changes in primary productivity across ecosystems, which may respond to global warming by either increasing or decreasing plant growth rates, thus affecting the overall biomass and carbon fixation, critical components in understanding carbon cycle dynamics.