Environmental ST & EST

Question 1

What is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 1

It is a natural process that makes the Earth warm enough for us to live

Question 2

How does the greenhouse effect work?

Answer 2

The earth’s surface gets energy from the sun -> Heats up -> then the energy will take a different form called infrared radiation (heats) -> Most IR will escape into outer space -> but some IR will get trapped keeping the earth warm enough

Question 3

What are the 4 greenhouse gases?

Answer 3

Water Vapor (H2O), Methane (CH4), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Nitrous oxide (N2O)

Question 4

What is the leading consequences of increased Carbon dioxide

Answer 4

Burning of fossil fuels & deforestation

Question 5

What is the leading consequences of increased Methane

Answer 5

Because of decomposition of human waste

Question 6

What is the leading consequences of increased Nitrous oxide

Answer 6

Because of nitrogen-rich fertilizers

Question 7

What is the consequences of higher concentration of greenhouse gases

Answer 7

Global warming, higher sea levels, change in weather, disturbance to ecosystem, melting of glaciers.

Question 8

What is the definition of permafrost

Answer 8

Ground that is frozen for 2 consecutive years

Question 9

What is the consequence of permafrost melting?

Answer 9

Landslides, ancient bacteria is now unfrozen, increase in CO2 emissions because things that weren’t decomposed are now decomposing and emitting Carbon

Question 10

How is photosynthesis related to the carbon cycle

Answer 10

It reduces Carbon in our atmosphere because it take CO2 and turn it into O2

Question 11

How does decomposition relate to the carbon cycle?

Answer 11

it increases because decomposers use cellular respiration, creating CO2

Question 12

How does combustion relate to the carbon cycle

Answer 12

It increases CO2

Question 13

How does dissolution in water effect the carbon cycle

Answer 13

It decreases because some of the carbon molecules go into the water to form shells ect.

Question 14

What is soil buffering

Answer 14

The soils ability to resist changes in pH

Question 15

Which soil has the highest buffering capacoty

Answer 15

Clay

Question 16

What is soil depletion

Answer 16

The lost of fertility

Question 17

What factors effect soil depletion

Answer 17

1. Soil compaction
2. Accelerated soil rotation or monocropping
3. Excessive use of pesticides

Question 18

What is soil contamination

Answer 18

Contamination is the abnormal presence of a harmful substance in the environment

Question 19

What are some soil contaminants?

Answer 19

Fertilizer
Pesticides
Oil spills
Heavy metals

Question 20

What is bioremediation

Answer 20

It is the process of putting decomposers into contaminated soil to clean up the contaminants

Question 21

What is phytoremediation

Answer 21

It is the process of using plants or algae to clean up contaminants in the soil

Question 22

What is a con of using phytoremediation

Answer 22

You must dispose of the plant or algae used

Question 23

What are the steps in the phosphorous cycle

Answer 23

Phosphorous-rich rocks erodes due to rain -> Plants absorb the phosphates because it goes into the water and plants need water to survive -> animals eat the plant and carnivores eat the herbivores -> it is released through feces and dead animals -> decomposers digest the dead plants and animals and release phosphates -> phosphates make their way into the ocean and it will blend into the sediments and rocks

Question 24

What is the prevailing wind system

Answer 24

It is that warmer equatorial air moves towards the poles, cooling them down and then falls back down towards the equator