Question

by the end of this course, students will meet at least the overall curriculum expectations. diagnostic task before jumping into the course content, please take a moment to think about the environment. what are the environmental challenges that you are most concerned about? compose a paragraph explaining at least 3 of those challenges. some may include: -climate change -microplastics -ocean acidification -threats to biodiversity (through extinctions) -rising ocean levels -unpredictable weather

Explanation:

Climate change leads to rising global temperatures, causing more extreme weather events like heat - waves, droughts, and heavy rainfall. Microplastics are a growing concern as they pollute water bodies, are ingested by marine life and can enter the food chain. Ocean acidification, due to increased carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans, harms marine organisms with calcium - carbonate shells such as corals and shellfish, disrupting entire marine ecosystems.

Answer:

Climate change is a major environmental challenge as it causes rising global temperatures, leading to more extreme weather events such as heat - waves, droughts, and intense rainfall. These changes can disrupt ecosystems, affect agriculture, and displace human populations. Microplastics are another significant issue. They contaminate water bodies, are ingested by marine life, and can enter the human food chain through the consumption of seafood, potentially causing health problems. Ocean acidification, resulting from the increased absorption of carbon dioxide by the oceans, is detrimental to marine organisms with calcium - carbonate shells, like corals and shellfish. This not only harms these individual species but also disrupts entire marine ecosystems, as corals, for example, are the foundation of many underwater habitats.