AP Environmental Science FRQ Practice 1.

El Nio is a disruption of the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific having important consequences for weather around the globe these consequences are increased rainfall across the southern tier of the US and in Peru, which has caused destructive flooding, and drought in the West Pacific, sometimes associated with devastating brush fires in Australia. In normal, non-El Nio conditions, the trade winds blow towards the west across the tropical Pacific. These winds pile up warm surface water in the west Pacific, so that the sea surface is about 1/2 meter higher at Indonesia than at Ecuador. The sea surface temperature is about 8 degrees C higher in the west, with cool temperatures off South America, due to an upwelling of cold water from deeper levels. This cold water is nutrient-rich, supporting high levels of primary productivity, diverse marine ecosystems, and major fisheries. Rainfall is found in rising air over the warmest water, and the east Pacific is relatively dry. 2. An edge effect refers to how the local environment changes along some type of boundary, or "edge." As humans we deal with many types of environmental "edges," such as the cold blast of air upon entering an air-conditioned building from a hot street, or entering a treed, shaded city park after biking along a broad, treeless avenue. The edge is the change in temperature and humidity that we feel, and an edge effect is our reaction to the change in temperature (e.g. putting on a sweater, or searching out a patch of sun). The edge effect we most often hear about in forestry refers to the forest edges that are created when we harvest trees, particularly when we choose to clearcut. Tree canopies provide the ground below with lots of shade, while a clearcut allows sun to reach the ground; tree canopies maintain a cooler, moister environment below, while a clearcut is warmer and drier when the sun is out. As time passes and a stand of young trees emerges on a clearcut, the environment in the young stand changes and the edge begins to

fade. As a mature forest develops, the edge fades away. The edge effect is the result of two different conditions influencing the plants and animals that live on the edge. 3. For millions of Americans living in and around cities, heat islands are of growing concern. This phenomenon describes urban and suburban temperatures that are 2 to 10F (1 to 6C) hotter than nearby rural areas. Elevated temperatures can impact communities by increasing peak energy demand, air conditioning costs, air pollution levels, and heat-related illness and mortality.