Question

Some greenhouse gases, such as fluorocarbons (CFCs, HFCs, PFCs, etc.), are human-made. Others, such as water, methane, and carbon dioxide, are naturally produced. Which type of greenhouse gas (human-made or natural) is more difficult to control and eliminate? Which types are easier? In three to five sentences, provide evidence for your argument.(4 points)

Wetlands are able to remove nutrients and chemicals from water as the water flows through the area. A developer is planning to destroy most of the wetlands near a bay. In three to five sentences, explain how destroying the wetlands would impact the bay’s water quality and ecosystem.(4 points)

Commercial agriculture can often lead to water-quality problems. In one to two sentences, explain how two of those problems occur.(2 points)

Answer 1

Human-made greenhouse gases are more difficult to control and eliminate compared to natural ones. This is because human-made gases are created through industrial processes that are integral to modern life and the global economy. On the other hand, natural greenhouse gases are produced by natural processes that are not easily controlled. For example, carbon dioxide is naturally produced by volcanic eruptions and the respiration of living organisms. Thus, it is easier to control and reduce natural greenhouse gases than human-made ones.

Destroying the wetlands would result in a significant decline in the bay's water quality and ecosystem. Wetlands are natural filters that remove nutrients and chemicals from water as it flows through the area. By destroying the wetlands, the water quality of the bay would decline as pollutants and chemicals would no longer be filtered out. This would have a significant impact on the bay's ecosystem, as many species rely on the bay's water quality to survive.

Two water-quality problems that can arise from commercial agriculture are eutrophication and contamination from pesticides and fertilizers. Eutrophication is the process by which excess nutrients enter a body of water, leading to the growth of algae and other aquatic plants. This can lead to a depletion of oxygen in the water, which can harm aquatic life. Pesticides and fertilizers used in commercial agriculture can also contaminate water sources, leading to health problems for humans and animals that rely on the water.