Environmental ST & EST Flashcards
What is the greenhouse effect?
It is a natural process that makes the Earth warm enough for us to live
How does the greenhouse effect work?
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
What are the 4 greenhouse gases?
Water Vapor (H2O), Methane (CH4), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Nitrous oxide (N2O)
What is the leading consequences of increased Carbon dioxide
Burning of fossil fuels & deforestation
What is the leading consequences of increased Methane
Because of decomposition of human waste
What is the leading consequences of increased Nitrous oxide
Because of nitrogen-rich fertilizers
What is the consequences of higher concentration of greenhouse gases
Global warming, higher sea levels, change in weather, disturbance to ecosystem, melting of glaciers.
What is the definition of permafrost
Ground that is frozen for 2 consecutive years
What is the consequence of permafrost melting?
Landslides, ancient bacteria is now unfrozen, increase in CO2 emissions because things that weren’t decomposed are now decomposing and emitting Carbon
How is photosynthesis related to the carbon cycle
It reduces Carbon in our atmosphere because it take CO2 and turn it into O2
How does decomposition relate to the carbon cycle?
it increases because decomposers use cellular respiration, creating CO2
How does combustion relate to the carbon cycle
It increases CO2
How does dissolution in water effect the carbon cycle
It decreases because some of the carbon molecules go into the water to form shells ect.
What is soil buffering
The soils ability to resist changes in pH
Which soil has the highest buffering capacoty
Clay
What is soil depletion
The lost of fertility
What factors effect soil depletion
- Soil compaction
- Accelerated soil rotation or monocropping
- Excessive use of pesticides
What is soil contamination
Contamination is the abnormal presence of a harmful substance in the environment
What are some soil contaminants?
Fertilizer
Pesticides
Oil spills
Heavy metals
What is bioremediation
It is the process of putting decomposers into contaminated soil to clean up the contaminants
What is phytoremediation
It is the process of using plants or algae to clean up contaminants in the soil
What is a con of using phytoremediation
You must dispose of the plant or algae used
What are the steps in the phosphorous cycle
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
What is the prevailing wind system
It is that warmer equatorial air moves towards the poles, cooling them down and then falls back down towards the equator
