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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
CFCS
Chlorofluorocarbons, pollutants that cause ozone depletion
25
Montreal protocol
Inter national agreement which phased out CFCs and other ozone depleting substances
26
Ultraviolet (UV) light
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.
27
Evaporation
The change of water from liquid to gas as hydrogen bonds are broken
28
Hydrogen bond
A weak electrostatic bond formed between water molecules which gives water a high boiling point
29
Anomalous expansion
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)
30
Ozone in troposphere
Produced by human activities and is a cause of global climate change. Presence of ozone is a problem
31
Ozone in stratosphere
Naturally present and damaged by human activities. It's absence is a problem.
32
Residence time
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
33
Aquifer
An underground rock structure from which water is extracted ( recharged by rainwater percolating ground)
34
Reservoir
General name for a storage location not just water
35
Hydrological cycle inputs
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
Hydrological cycle outputs
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
Hydrological cycle through flows (sideways movements)
``` 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
Human impacts on hydrological cycle
Abstraction (removal of water) Vegetation changes, deforestation, urbanisation Soil compaction Actions that increase temperatures
39
Potable
Water that is suitable for drinking. Must contain no hazardous chemicals.
40
Irrigation
Artificial watering of plants. Requires low turbidity water (so pipes don't block) and no toxic heavy metals (harm crops)
41
TSS
Total suspended solids : organic and inorganic material suspended in a volume of water)
42
Coliform count
A measure of the E. coli like bacteria present per litre of water. (Sewage content)
43
Hard water
Water with high calcium content good for health eg teeth, but can produce lime scale if heated and produces scum
44
Anaerobic
Process not requiring oxygen. ( eg pollution found bottom of lakes where sediment builds up)
45
Topography
The 3D shape of the landscape
46
Reservoir considerations
``` Topography narrow exit deep basin Geology : impermeable rock Catchment area Water supply Existing land use Pollution risk ```
47
Porosity
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
Permeability
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
Subsidence
Collapse of ground surface caused by undermining or overuse of an aquifer
50
Osmotic dehydration
Loss of water from crop roots caused by low water potential of soils with a high salt content
51
Saltwater incursion
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
Freshwater treatment steps
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
Seawater treatment steps
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
Earth structure from centre
Central core Outer core Mantle with convection currents Crust
55
Fossil fuels
Coal Crude oil Natural gas All have high energy content
56
Metals
Iron : ships, construction (strong but rusts) Aluminium : window frames, cars (malleable, resists corrosion) Copper : cables, pipes. (Conductor) Chromium : stainless steel
57
Non metal minerals
Sand, clay, gravel, China clay, limestone, granite, slate
58
Igneous rock
Rocks involving molten rock eg basalt or granite outcrops on Dartmoor
59
Batholiths
A large underground mass of solidified molten magma eg granite
60
Hydrothermal
Processes associated with hot water
61
Regality
Solid rock particles left after weathering
62
Solute
Dissolved substance
63
Alluvial
Materials such as soil or weathered rock particles deposited by a river or flowing water
64
Placer deposits
Deposits of dense minerals carried by water eg tin or gold
65
Metamorphic
Rocks changed by intense heat and pressure but without fully melting. Eg slate, marble
66
Sedimentary
Materials that involve being carried by air or water before being deposited eg sandstone, limestone
67
Reserve
Proportion of a resource that can be economically exploited with existing technology ( varies with market )
68
Resource
The total of all materials that can theoretically be exploited ( but may not yet be possible or viable)
69
Overburden
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
Cut off ore grade
The lowest purity of ore that can be exploited economically
71
Mine viability factors
Land conflicts Overburden Depth costs/safety Hydrology ( may need pumping)
72
Mine processing costs
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
Turbidity
Cloudiness of water caused by suspended solid particles
74
Leachate
Liquids and dissolved materials ( eg fertilisers) washed through the ground
75
Mining exploration techniques
``` Remote sensing Gravimetry (igneous rocks more dense) Magnetometry (iron ore) Seismic surveys (echoes to detect thickness of strata) Core sampling ```
76
Eutrophication
The natural nutrient enrichment of a water body
77
Homeostasis
The combined processes that maintain balance in a living organism or the environment
78
Gaia hypothesis
A theory that considers the earth to be a single self-regulating system
79
Adsorption
The attachment of a material onto the surface
80
How Particle size effects soil properties
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
PED
Basic unit so soil structure. Sand, silt, clay and humus are aggregates
82
Detritivores
Organisms that feed on dead organic matter eg earthworms and wood lice
83
De composers
Micro organisms such as fungi and bacteria that further digest matter from Detritivores and other dead organic matter
84
Soil structure
The characteristics of soil based on aggregation of soil particles into LEDs

Env Studies AS (5 decks)

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