METEOROLOGY/AGRONOMY/ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 404/504

Special Exam
6 May 1997

1. Discuss tropical forest ecosystem fragmentation as it relates to species creation andspecies destruction. Give examples.



2. There likely will be winners and losers in agricultural production under climate change.



• List two nations that likely will be winners and state why.



• List two nations that likely will be losers and state why.



• Discuss the equity issues that arise in consideration of perpetrators and winners/losers in climate change.



3. Demographic transition
   
   
   • Define this term and give examples of nations at various stages.
   
   
   
   • Discuss some actions that might be taken to accelerate this process.
   
   
   
4. Discuss the parts of the human eye that might be adversely affected by UV radiation.



5. Fresh water supply and demand
   
   
   • What does it mean that a region that has a large positive value of elasticity?
   
   
   
   • What US sector is the largest user of fresh water?
   
   
   
   • Discuss the changes in demand for fresh water in the US in the last 20 years and give a possible explanation for the trend.
   
   
   
6. Desertification
   
   
   • Discuss the causes.
   
   
   
   • Discuss how desertification may be a positive feedback for global climate change.
   
   
   
7. Societal responses to climate change



• What does Glantz attempt to learn about future global climate change by studying past environmental crises?



• Give the lessons learned from one of the case studies (e.g., Ogallala aquifer, Mississippi River, Colorado River, etc.)



8. Discuss the projected sea-level rise and the relative contributions due to the melting of the Greenland ice sheet, Antarctic ice sheet, mountain glaciers and other factors.