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Env Studies AS > AS Unit 2 > Flashcards

AS Unit 2 Flashcards

0
Q

Ozone

A

Triatomic oxygen

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1
Q

Chemoautotroph

A

An organism that gains its metabolic energy using energy from chemical reactions. Eg nitrifying bacteria

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2
Q

Stratosphere

A

The layer of atmosphere that absorbs UV and contains the ozone layer. It is above the troposphere at an altitude of 6-30 miles. (Heated from above )

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3
Q

Structure of atmosphere

A

Troposphere 0-6
Stratosphere 6-30
Mesosphere
Thermosphere 80+

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4
Q

Dynamic equilibrium

A

A combination of active processes that cancel out each other’s effects so that there is no overall change

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5
Q

Troposphere

A

The layer of atmosphere below the stratosphere from ground level to about 6 miles. It contains 80% of gas in atmosphere. Heated from below on earths surface

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6
Q

Infrared radiation

A

Long wavelength electromagnetic radiation emitted from warm objects

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7
Q

Air composition

A

78% nitrogen
21% oxygen
<1% carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, water vapour, rare gases

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8
Q

Nuclear fusion

A

The release of energy during the joining of the nuclei of small atoms

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9
Q

Electromagnetic radiation

A

Energy in the form of energy waves including ultraviolet light, visible light and near infrared

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10
Q

Global climate change

A

Changes caused to the climate by increased energy in the atmosphere as a result of human activity

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11
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

The natural processes by which atmospheric gases allow visible light to pass through but absorb the infrared energy causing heating

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12
Q

Tropospheric ozone

A

Ozone in the troposphere largely produced by human activity

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13
Q

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

A

A greenhouse gas found in aerosols, fire extinguishers, refrigerants and solvents

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14
Q

Methane

A

A greenhouse gas found in landfill sites, gas pipeline leaks, anaerobic bacteria in rice fields

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15
Q

Carbon dioxide

A

A greenhouse gas increased by deforestation and combustion of fossil fuels

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16
Q

El Niño

A

The name given to the reversal of the equatorial Pacific Ocean current that normally flows westwards ( occurs naturally every few years but frequency could be increasing due to climate change)

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17
Q

La Niña

A

The strengthening of the westward flowing equatorial Pacific Ocean current

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18
Q

Positive feedback mechanism

A

A situation where an initial change causes a reaction that increases the original change ( eg warming increases rate of decomposition causing more co2 to be released causing more warming)

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19
Q

Negative feedback mechanism

A

A situation where an initial change causes a reaction that reduces the original change ( eg higher temps lead to more photosynthesis which would store more carbon in biomass, lower co2 and cause cooling)

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20
Q

Kyoto protocol

A

The international agreement of MEDCs in 1997 intended to control emissions of greenhouse gases by 2012. Now replaced by United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

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21
Q

HFCs and HCFCs

A

Hydrofluorocarbons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons a group of chemicals used to replace CFCs

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22
Q

Anthropogenic

A

Made or caused by humans eg CFCs in aerosols

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23
Q

Infiltration

A

The process by which surface water enters the ground between the particles of soil or rock

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24
Q

CFCS

A

Chlorofluorocarbons, pollutants that cause ozone depletion

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25
Q

Montreal protocol

A

Inter national agreement which phased out CFCs and other ozone depleting substances

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26
Q

Ultraviolet (UV) light

A

High energy electromagnetic radiation including the short wavelength radiation emitted by the sun. If UVB is not absorbed in the ozone layer its energy can cause chemical reactions to take place such as sunburn, skin cancer and DNA damage.

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27
Q

Evaporation

A

The change of water from liquid to gas as hydrogen bonds are broken

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28
Q

Hydrogen bond

A

A weak electrostatic bond formed between water molecules which gives water a high boiling point

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29
Q

Anomalous expansion

A

Unusual expansion eg as water cools it expands and becomes less dense below 4 degrees C. ( causes ice to float and reduce further cooling beneath the ice)

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30
Q

Ozone in troposphere

A

Produced by human activities and is a cause of global climate change. Presence of ozone is a problem

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31
Q

Ozone in stratosphere

A

Naturally present and damaged by human activities. It’s absence is a problem.

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32
Q

Residence time

A

The average length of time that a molecule remains in a reservoir. (equals volume / av transfer rate in or out of reservoir). Highest = ocean, land ice, groundwater. Lowest= soil moisture, some rivers, atmosphere, organisms

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33
Q

Aquifer

A

An underground rock structure from which water is extracted ( recharged by rainwater percolating ground)

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34
Q

Reservoir

A

General name for a storage location not just water

35
Q

Hydrological cycle inputs

A

Precipitation: water vapour condensing and falling to earth in liquid or solid form (hail). When temperature goes down in the atmosphere the amount of water vapour it can hold drops.

36
Q

Hydrological cycle outputs

A

Evaporation (water to water vapour)
Transpiration ( water vapour from plants through stomata in leaves)
River channel discharge (volume of water carried by a river past a point)

37
Q

Hydrological cycle through flows (sideways movements)

A 
Interception (precipitation that lands on vegetation and doesn't reach ground)
Infiltration (flow of water through surface into soil or rock)
Percolation (flow of water through particle spaces in soil or rock)
Groundwater flow (movement through pore spaces and fissures in permeable rock)
38
Q

Human impacts on hydrological cycle

A

Abstraction (removal of water)
Vegetation changes, deforestation, urbanisation
Soil compaction
Actions that increase temperatures

39
Q

Potable

A

Water that is suitable for drinking. Must contain no hazardous chemicals.

40
Q

Irrigation

A

Artificial watering of plants. Requires low turbidity water (so pipes don’t block) and no toxic heavy metals (harm crops)

41
Q

TSS

A

Total suspended solids : organic and inorganic material suspended in a volume of water)

42
Q

Coliform count

A

A measure of the E. coli like bacteria present per litre of water. (Sewage content)

43
Q

Hard water

A

Water with high calcium content good for health eg teeth, but can produce lime scale if heated and produces scum

44
Q

Anaerobic

A

Process not requiring oxygen. ( eg pollution found bottom of lakes where sediment builds up)

45
Q

Topography

A

The 3D shape of the landscape

46
Q

Reservoir considerations

A 
Topography narrow exit deep basin
Geology : impermeable rock
Catchment area
Water supply
Existing land use
Pollution risk
47
Q

Porosity

A

A measure of the percentage of the volume of rock that Is space. Eg chalk, limestone and sandstone are porous rocks & can form aquifers

48
Q

Permeability

A

A measure of the rate at which fluids can flow through a rock because of interconnections between spaces. Eg clay has small pores so not very permeable but is porous

49
Q

Subsidence

A

Collapse of ground surface caused by undermining or overuse of an aquifer

50
Q

Osmotic dehydration

A

Loss of water from crop roots caused by low water potential of soils with a high salt content

51
Q

Saltwater incursion

A

Where water table under the land is slightly higher than sea level, so if aquifer is over exploited sea flows in sideways making it unsuitable for irrigation due to high salt content

52
Q

Freshwater treatment steps

A
  1. Screens/grills : remove floating vegetation
  2. Sedimentation: silt settles
  3. Aeration: sprayed to ensure high dissolved oxygen content
  4. flocculation: add aluminium sulfate to neutralise clay particles & allow them to settle
  5. Filtration through sand to remove bacteria
  6. Activated carbon filters to remove organic chemicals
  7. Sterilisation: adding chlorine, ozone, or exposing to UV light to kill pathogens
  8. Fluoridation: improves dental health
53
Q

Seawater treatment steps

A
  1. Reverse osmosis: saline water is filtered at high pressure through a partially permeable membrane of small polyamide tubes.
  2. Distillation: water is boiled by heating and steam is condensed and collected
54
Q

Earth structure from centre

A

Central core
Outer core
Mantle with convection currents
Crust

55
Q

Fossil fuels

A

Coal
Crude oil
Natural gas

All have high energy content

56
Q

Metals

A

Iron : ships, construction (strong but rusts)
Aluminium : window frames, cars (malleable, resists corrosion)
Copper : cables, pipes. (Conductor)
Chromium : stainless steel

57
Q

Non metal minerals

A

Sand, clay, gravel, China clay, limestone, granite, slate

58
Q

Igneous rock

A

Rocks involving molten rock eg basalt or granite outcrops on Dartmoor

59
Q

Batholiths

A

A large underground mass of solidified molten magma eg granite

60
Q

Hydrothermal

A

Processes associated with hot water

61
Q

Regality

A

Solid rock particles left after weathering

62
Q

Solute

A

Dissolved substance

63
Q

Alluvial

A

Materials such as soil or weathered rock particles deposited by a river or flowing water

64
Q

Placer deposits

A

Deposits of dense minerals carried by water eg tin or gold

65
Q

Metamorphic

A

Rocks changed by intense heat and pressure but without fully melting. Eg slate, marble

66
Q

Sedimentary

A

Materials that involve being carried by air or water before being deposited eg sandstone, limestone

67
Q

Reserve

A

Proportion of a resource that can be economically exploited with existing technology ( varies with market )

68
Q

Resource

A

The total of all materials that can theoretically be exploited ( but may not yet be possible or viable)

69
Q

Overburden

A

The unwanted material on top of the mineral deposit that is exploited. (If it is hard it needs to be blasted so is expensive to remove)

70
Q

Cut off ore grade

A

The lowest purity of ore that can be exploited economically

71
Q

Mine viability factors

A

Land conflicts
Overburden
Depth costs/safety
Hydrology ( may need pumping)

72
Q

Mine processing costs

A

Purity :cost higher if purity lower
Transport distance
Market economics
Chemical form of mineral (more energy needed to break bonds it is more expensive eg aluminium in clay needs electrolysish

73
Q

Turbidity

A

Cloudiness of water caused by suspended solid particles

74
Q

Leachate

A

Liquids and dissolved materials ( eg fertilisers) washed through the ground

75
Q

Mining exploration techniques

A 
Remote sensing
Gravimetry (igneous rocks more dense)
Magnetometry (iron ore)
Seismic surveys (echoes to detect thickness of strata)
Core sampling
76
Q

Eutrophication

A

The natural nutrient enrichment of a water body

77
Q

Homeostasis

A

The combined processes that maintain balance in a living organism or the environment

78
Q

Gaia hypothesis

A

A theory that considers the earth to be a single self-regulating system

79
Q

Adsorption

A

The attachment of a material onto the surface

80
Q

How Particle size effects soil properties

A

Drainage ( sandy larger pore space so drain better)
Water content ( higher in clay absorbed in particles)
Aeration ( sand has more air)
Nutrient levels (rapid drainage leaches nutrients)
Root penetration (easier in sand)

81
Q

PED

A

Basic unit so soil structure. Sand, silt, clay and humus are aggregates

82
Q

Detritivores

A

Organisms that feed on dead organic matter eg earthworms and wood lice

83
Q

De composers

A

Micro organisms such as fungi and bacteria that further digest matter from Detritivores and other dead organic matter

84
Q

Soil structure

A

The characteristics of soil based on aggregation of soil particles into LEDs

Env Studies AS (5 decks)

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