Environmental Management Flashcards
What is BOLTSS?
Acronym for what you need when making a map.
B - Border
O - Orientation
L - Legend
T - Title
S - Scale
S - Source
What is SPICESS?
The overarching themes of geography
S - Space
P - Place
I - Interconnection
C - Change
E - Environment
S - Sustainability
S - Scale
Define the biophysical environment
The movement of nutrients and energy between the spheres
What are the 4 spheres are how do they interact?
- Biosphere - all living things
- Lithosphere - all rocks, soil, etc. that make up the land
- Hydrosphere - all water
- Atmosphere - all gases surrounding Earth
- Things in the biosphere inhale and release gases in the atmosphere. Humans in the biosphere release toxins into the lithosphere which leech into the hydrosphere that is then absorbed by the biosphere.
How does the dumping of e-waste in recycling areas affect the spheres?
- Atmosphere - Toxic gases from burning plastic pollute the air
- Biosphere - Humans and animals inhale chemicals such as BPA, VOCs and POMs from the atmosphere. These can cause cancer, problems in neurodevelopment, and reproductive dysfunctions.
- Lithosphere - toxic chemicals seeping into the soil
- Hydrosphere - toxins leeching into water sources from soil
How can the dumping of e-waste be mitigated at different levels?
- Individual: reduce purchases of electronic goods, buying second hand, donating
- Local: Sharing second-hand electronics, collecting and donating old electronics
- Regional: UNSW micro factory e-waste recycling
- National: Pony Up for Good wipes decommissioned electronics from companies and re-sells them
- International: Basel convention - an organisation that makes laws to stop people from exporting hazardous waste
- Global: All countries need to be a part of the Basel Convention and obey the e-waste laws
What is an example of an e-waste dumping site?
The Agbogbloshie Waste site in Ghana
What are the 4 S’s of Geography?
- Sink - The way in which the environment deals with what people put into it
- Source - The Earth’s natural resources which have originated from the biophysical environment
- Spirituality - The intrinsic recreational, psychological, aesthetic and spiritual value of environments
- Service - Environmental or ecosystem services that support life without requiring human action
Describe the carbon cycle
Plants convert CO2 to oxygen through photosynthesis. Animals release CO2 during respiration. Decomposers convert carbon compounds and waste material back to CO2. The combustion of fossil fuels releases CO2 back into the air. Plants help to maintain the CO2 levels so that the Earth doesn’t heat up too much. Animals and decomposers help to produce enough CO2 to keep the Earth’s temperature at the right level for life.
Describe the nitrogen cycle
Nitrogen-fixing bacteria convert nitrogen into nitrates in soil. Plants can then incorporate this nitrogen to make protein and DNA. When animals ingest plants, they absorb nitrogen and convert proteins into amino acids. When animals excrete urine, the ammonia is converted back into nitrates by nitrifying bacteria. Denitrifying bacteria convert nitrates back into nitrogen in the air.
Describe the water cycle
Water from oceans, rivers, and lakes evaporates, turning into water vapour that rises into the atmosphere. As the water vapour rises, it cools and condenses forming clouds. The clouds eventually release the water in the form of precipitation, snow, or hail. Some of the precipitation falls directly back into bodies of water, while some of it becomes groundwater. The rest of the water flows over the land’s surface as runoff, forming streams and rivers, which eventually return to the oceans. The water cycle redistributes and purifies water.
How does urbanisation affect the spheres?
- Causes loss of biodiversity and destruction of ecosystems and habitats.
- Decreased infiltration of rainwater into the soil can cause flooding, erosion, and pollution of waterways.
- High levels of air pollution due to traffic emissions, industrial activities, and heating and cooling systems.
- Decreased soil quality and loss of farmland.
How does mining affect the spheres?
- Chemicals from mines seep into water sources
- Causes habitat and biodiversity loss.
- Causes soil erosion and changes in topography
- Releases lots of dust, smoke, and chemicals into the atmosphere.
How does hunting/poaching affect the spheres?
- Causes major loss of biodiversity, extinction/endangerment, and ecosystem imbalance
- Can result in the emission of air pollutants through the use of vehicles, firearms, and other equipment
- Hunting of fish, rhinoceros and elephants can damage water sources as these animals play important roles in maintaining clean water
- Can lead to the removal of plant species, causing changes in the composition of soil and sediment.
How does habitat destruction affect the spheres?
- Causes major loss of biodiversity and extinction/endangerment
- Removal of trees and plants which absorb rain can lead to floods and pollution of water
- Removal of plants can also cause decreased soil fertility
- Causes increased CO2 as there are fewer plants to photosynthesise and machinery used to destroy habitats can have harmful emissions.
How does agriculture affect the spheres?
- Causes loss of biodiversity and habitats
- Excessive irrigation can lead to the depletion of groundwater resources and the drying up of rivers and wetlands. Pesticides, fertilizers, and other chemicals can leech into water sources.
- The cultivation of certain crops can lead to the emission of greenhouse gases
- Overuse of land can lead to soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, and degradation of land.
How does energy production affect the spheres?
- Causes the destruction of habitats and the displacement of wildlife
- The ocean absorbs CO2 and becomes acidic. Spills and leaks can lead to the contamination of water sources
- The combustion of fossil fuels can contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change
- Can disrupt soil sediment.
What are examples of greenhouse gasses and where do they come from?
Carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, and nitrogen dioxide. They can come from the combustion of fossil fuels, plant and animal respiration, and decomposition.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The trapping of the sun’s warmth in the lower atmosphere, due to the greater permeability of the atmosphere to UV radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet’s surface.
What is the natural greenhouse effect?
The natural greenhouse effect converts UV radiation from the sun into infrared heat. More of this infrared heat escapes into space while less is re-emitted due to a thin layer of greenhouse gasses surrounding the atmosphere. This keeps the Earth at a reasonable temperature.
What is the enhanced greenhouse effect?
The enhanced greenhouse effect converts UV radiation from the sun into infrared heat. Less of this infrared heat escapes into space while more is re-emitted due to a thick layer of greenhouse gasses surrounding the atmosphere. This makes the Earth heat up rapidly.
Give an example of physical pollution
The dumping of plastic into the ocean off the Australian coast which makes its way to Lord Howe Island, washing up all over the sand and being carried by animals onto the mainland.
Give an example of biological pollution
Bacteria and fungi growing on food or in your home can cause disease or infection
Give an example of chemical pollution
Oil spills and sewage being released in the ocean which can cause disease, reproductive problems and matted down coats in animals.
What are POP’s?
Persistent Organic Pollutants
What are the steps of coastal landforms?
- large crack opened up by hydraulic action
- crack grows into a cave by hydraulic action & abrasion
- cave becomes larger
- cave breaks through headland forming a natural arch
- arch is ended & collapses
- leaves a tall rock stack
- the stack is eroded forming a stump
What is the name of label 1?
headland
What is the name of label 2?
Bay
What is the name of label 3?
compartment
