1. Explain how the temperature difference between the poles and the equator drives the motion of the oceans and the atmosphere.
2. What are the principal repositories of water on Earth? How does water move between them?
3. What are three main kinds of rocks? How do they form?
4. What do geologists mean when they refer to "deep time?" What evidence suggested deep time in the first place? Are any untestable assumptions made when considering deep time?
5. Why is draining an aquifer akin to mining water? How is the water in an aquifer replaced? How long does this process take?
6. Give an example of an ecosystem near your home. Describe how energy "lows though" this ecosystem.
7. What is an ecological niche? Give an example. Within any given ecological niche, for what resources are organisms competing?
8. How does carbon cycle through Earth's ecosystem? What other elements undergo a similar kind of cycle?
9. What is the ozone layer? Where is it located? Why is it important to life on Earth?
10. Do you think Wilson and Simberlof 's experiment was ethical? Why or why not? Was there any other way to get this information?

Reflection Questions

1. Calcium and the Human Body
   1. Investigate the biological cycle of calcium in your body and the calcium cycle in the environment. Where and how in your body is calcium used?
   2. How is it replaced?
   3. What are the best dietary sources of calcium?
2. Warming of Oceans and Atmosphere
   1. How do scientists think the continued warming of the oceans and atmosphere will impact the weather of the Caribbean and the southern US?
   2. What is the evidence that this is already happening?
   3. How do you think the change in climate will impact the ecosystems of these areas?