14 + 15 Test Flashcards
Which elements are found in the inner and outer core of the earth’s interior?
Dense elements; Iron and Nickel
What elements are found in the outer regions of the earth?
Lighter, less dense materials; Silicon, Oxygen, and Nitrogen
What happened at Pompeii?
Volcano (Mt Vesuvius) destroyed multiple Roman cities.
How did people likely die in Pompeii
The toxic (sulfur) gas
Epicenter
The exact point on surface of the earth that’s directly above where the rock ruptures
Hypocenter
Where the rock ruptures, the “focus” of an earthquake
What do the numbers on the Richter Scale represent?
Measures energy (by factor of 10) during an earthquake
Elements in the Oceanic crust
Dense elements; Fe, Mg, Ca
Elements in continental crust
Silicon, aluminum, K, Ca; less dense (granite)
Nonrenewable resources
Fossil fuels (coal, oil)
Metallic minerals
Copper, iron
Potential problems with open pit mining
Toxic groundwater accumulation
Material that is removed from a mine
spoils
Results of mountaintop removal
Spoils dumped to streams and valleys below
Most dangerous mining process for workers
Subsurface mining
What will lengthen the amount of time a renewable resource will last?
Reducing, recycling, reusing; increase reserves instead of taking from it
What does SMCRA stand for
Surface Mining Control Reclamation Act
What does SMCRA do?
Makes sure mining activities aren’t harming the environment (posts bond, which puts money aside for reclamation upfront)
How do you remove Acid Sulfates and heavy metals from leachate
Sulfate reducing bacteria to remove sulfate + acids from leachate
How to lessen impact of mining industry
Mimic how nature deals with waste, resource exchange webs
What is a problem concerning the Colorado River
So many withdrawals that it rarely reaches the ocean
Largest use of water in the US
Irrigation/Agriculture (70%)
How much water do the US industries use?
20%
How much water do residents use in the US?
10%
Is Michigan a high precipitation area
No
Where might people experience water shortages
Areas not near rivers/the sea/water shortages
Advantages of riparian lands along rivers
Increased biodiversity, storm water retention, absorbing nonpoint source pollution
Ogallala aquifer
The world’s largest aquifer
Why is the Ogallala aquifer important?
Massive, old, considered nonrenewable because of its low recharge rate
How does an artesian well form
Well is below water level, taps into pressurized water, functions like a spring
Confined well
Water pressure creates a static water level much higher than well depth (artesian wells)
Unconfined well
Water present w/o clay layer above it, none/little pressure
How does a sinkhole form?
Underground cavern roof collapses after being drained of groundwater
How efficient is Furrow Irrigation
65%
How efficient is flood irrigation
70-80%
How efficient is spray irrigation
75-95%