Chapter 01

Question 1

Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin

Answer 1

Individual interest increases as population increases. Demand for a resource(s) increases, also. Once resource(s) supply is overwhelmed, every individual who continues to consume resource(s) harms others who can no longer enjoy the benefits.

Question 2

Earth (6)

Answer 2

• 4.6 byo
• ideal distance to sun = habitable temperature
• sun = stable star
• planet size = perfect for gravity keeping atmosphere
• hydrosphere, water cycle; water is in all phases of matter
• carbon cycle

Question 3

Early life (3)

Answer 3

• unicellular life = 3.5 bya (cyanobacteria)
• hominids = 7 my
• home sapiens = 200 kya

Question 4

Early ancestors

Answer 4

Lived off land, aware & respectful of environment

Began to modify environment, populations rapidly increased

Question 5

Industrial Revolution

Answer 5

Caused us to disconnect from our environment

• late 1700’s, started in Britain
• less family farms
• more industrial activities

Question 6

Love Canal

Answer 6

Niagara Falls, NY

• William Love - canal dug in 1890’s
• Hooker Chemical - bought in 1940’s
• • Dumped 22k tons of waste
• • Sold to school for $1 in ‘53
• • Contamination detected in ‘76
• • CERCLA superfund est. ‘80 = money for hazardous waste cleanup & seek out responsible parties

Question 7

Environmental Geology

Answer 7

• Land Use Plans
• Zoning Maps
• Environmental Impact Statements
• EPA est. ‘70

Question 8

Environmental problems (2)

Answer 8

Hazards & resources

Question 9

Superposition

Answer 9

Any sequence of sedimentary rocks which has not been disturbed: the oldest strata lie at the bottom and the youngest at the top.

Question 10

Cross-cutting

Answer 10

Establishing relative time by examining faults, intrusions, etc.

Question 11

Pre-cambrian time

Answer 11

4.6 bya - 540 mya

Question 12

Carboniferous period

Answer 12

350 - 290 mya

Question 13

Cretaceous extinction

Answer 13

65 mya

Question 14

Uranium-238

Answer 14

Decays to Lead-206
Half-life: 4.6 by

Memory tip: U-238 & Pb-206 both have even numbers

Question 15

Uranium-235

Answer 15

Decays to Lead-207
Half-life: 713 my

Memory tip: U-235 & Pb-207 both have odd numbers

Question 16

Carbon-14

Answer 16

Decays to Nitrogen-14

Half-life: 5730 years

Question 17

Environmental Risk Prevention

Answer 17

Risk management

• retaining walls
• dams/levees
• building codes for earthquake zones
• land use planning & rezoning

Question 18

Earth’s systems science (4 systems)

Answer 18

Interrelated processes/subsystems in a constant state of change.

Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Geosphere

Question 19

Causes of population growth

Answer 19

Took making, fire
Agriculture, animal domestication
Early cities, improved food & water
Industrial Revolution, medical advances

Question 20

Population growth?

Answer 20

Exponential

Question 21

Food production growth?

Answer 21

Linear, however, has kept up with demand

Question 22

Environmental risk

Answer 22

The chance that some natural process or event will produce negative consequences for an individual or society as a whole.

Question 23

Sustainability

Answer 23

When a system or process can be maintained for an indefinite period of time.

Question 24

Ecological footprint

Answer 24

The amount of biologically productive land/sea area needed to support the lifestyle of humans.

Averages:
6 acres/human
24 acres/American

Question 25

Consumption rates of (a) N. America & Europe, and (b) global average

Answer 25

N. America/Europe = 4 billion

Global average = 9 billion