ENVIRONMENTAL FINAL - Unit 4 Flashcards

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1
Q

Genetically modified organism (GMO)

A

transfer of a gene of one organism into the genetic material of another

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2
Q

GMO benefits

A

-higher crop yields
-higher profits
-less pesticide usage
-lower word hunger

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3
Q

GMO consequences

A

-unsure for the safety of human consumption
-loss of biodiversity

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4
Q

Who passed the law in 2022 requiring the disclosure of GMOs in foods

A

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

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5
Q

irrigation

A

any means used by humans to bring water to the land
-estimated that abt 1/2 of the world’s land is irrigated

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6
Q

flood

A

-flooding an entire field
-water soaks in evenly and more efficient (80%)
-waterlogging and hard to control

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7
Q

furrow

A

farmer digs trenches along crop rows
-easy and cheap
-67% efficient and a lot of evaporation of water

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8
Q

drip

A

-slow drip hose, on the ground or underground
-delivers water directly to the root, 95% effective, great with perennial crops
-very expensive and limits the number of farms using drip irrigation

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9
Q

spray

A

-sprinkler
-75-95% effective (with the spray pressure managed)
-very expensive and high energy use

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10
Q

what are some major issues with irrigation

A

-waterlogging
-salinization
-aquifer depletion

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11
Q

aquifers

A

pore spaces found within permeable layers of rock and sediment underneath the soil that stores groundwater (great rock: sandstone)

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12
Q

unconfined aquifer

A

porous rock covered by soil

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13
Q

confined aquifer

A

surrounded by a layer of impermeable rock or clay which impedes water flow to or from the aquifer

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14
Q

water table

A

uppermost level at which the groundwater in a given area fully saturates the rock or soil

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15
Q

groundwater recharge

A

process by which water from precipitation percolates into the soil and works its way into the groundwater

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16
Q

springs

A

natural source of water for freshwater aquatic biomes

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17
Q

artesian well

A

a well created by drilling a hole into confined aquifer

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18
Q

salt water intrusion

A

when salt water invades an aquifer (costal communities)

19
Q

water footprint

A

total daily per capita use of fresh water for a country or the world

20
Q

which element is the most abundant in the earth’s crust

A

oxygen

21
Q

metals

A

elements with properties to conduct heat energy

22
Q

ores

A

-minerals with economic value

23
Q

surface mining

A

strip mining
open pit mining
mountaintop removal
placer mining

24
Q

crustal abundance

A

average concentration of an element in the earth’s crust

25
Q

strip mining

A

removal of vegetation and soil in search for metals

26
Q

reserve

A

estimate amount of resource that is available

27
Q

open-pit mining

A

produces a large hole for precious metals in river sediments

28
Q

mine tailings

A

unwanted waste material

29
Q

mountaintop removal

A

removing the entire top of a mountain with explosives

30
Q

placer mining

A

process of looking for precious metals in river sediments

31
Q

urbanization

A

the process of making an area more urban, increasing the density of people per unit area of land

32
Q

monocropping

A

an agricultural method that utilizes large plantings of a single species or variety

33
Q

Aqueducts

A

pipes and canals that move water from where it is abundant to areas where it is scarce.

34
Q

Green Revolution

A

a shift in agricultural practices in the twentieth century that include new management techniques, mechanization, fertilization, irrigation, and improved crop varieties, that resulted in increased good output

35
Q

Salinization

A

a form of soil degradation that occurs when the small amount of salts in irrigation water becomes highly concentrated on the soil surface through evaporation

36
Q

Waterlogging

A

a form of soil degradation that occurs when soil remains under water for prolonged periods

37
Q

Permeability

A

the ability of water to move through the soil

38
Q

Porosity

A

the side of the air spaces between particles

39
Q

subsistence farming

A

farming for consumption by the farming, family, and maybe a few neighbors

40
Q

urban blight

A

the lack of support and deterioration for urban communities

41
Q

Pesticides

A

A substance, either natural or synthetic that kills or controls organisms that people consider pets

42
Q

Herbicides

A

a pesticide that targets plant species that compete with crops

43
Q

What was the importance of “Meteor Crater” from the Youtube video we watched called “How Earth Was Made?”

A

Geologists discovered on “Meteor Crater” that meteorites are older than any rock on Earth.