Final exam environmental Flashcards
Agriculture sources
Crop and livestock farms
Mobile sources
Vehicles, shipping, and airplanes
Primary pollutants
Pollutants directly released into the atmosphere
Stationary sources
Homes and factories
Secondary pollutants
Pollutants produced by chemical reactions between pollutants in the atmosphere
Natural sources
Volcanoes and wildfires
Lead
From metals processing and some aviation gasoline.
Causes nervous system problems.
Particulate matter
Chemical usually less than 10 meters that pass through the throat and nose into the lungs.
Carbon monoxide
Colorless, odorless gas mostly from cars that inhibits the body’s ability to transport oxygen.
Sulfur dioxide
From fossil fuel combustion and contributes to acid rain
Nitrogen dioxide
Emissions from vehicles and contributes to ozone formation and fine particle pollution.
Ground level ozone
From chemical reactions between nitrogen oxides and VOCs. Can damage vegetation and ecosystems.
Why is indoor pollution sometimes worse than outdoor air pollution
Pollutants can become concentrated indoors
How does the ozone layer benefit us
It blocks ultraviolet radiation
The burning of fossil fuels can introduce sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxide. When these primary pollutants react with water in the atmosphere, they can create the secondary pollutants sulfuric acid and nitric acid. When these fall as precipitation, what do we call it? What impacts can this have on earths surface
Acid rain. It acidifies water and soil. Can erode metal and stone
Delivers energy to the Earth, heating it.
Solar radiation form sun
Parts of Earth get different degrees of direct sunlight. It causes the seasons.
Earths tilt
Greenhouse gases trap heat in
Earth’s atmosphere.
Gases in atmosphere
What is the scientific consensus on climate change
It it happening and is mostly from brining of fossil fuels
What are major atmospheric changes due to climate change
Change in temp, wind patterns, and precipitation
What are the two reasons we discussed for the increase in sea level?
Melting of land-based ice and thermal expansion.
Difference between weather and climate
Weather is specific time and place, climate is more overall globally.
TIME
Describe how the greenhouse effect works.
Gases in atmosphere absorb radiation from sun, which traps the heat
What can you do to take action to help fight climate change?
Turn off lights in house when not using, use solar panels, carpool, public transportation
renewable vs nonrenewable
non renewable
-fossil fuels
-oil
-coal
-natural gas
-nuclear power
Renewable
-hydropower
-garbage
-biofuel
-geothermal energy
-solar energy
-wind energy
-tidal energy
Choose two energy sources and give pro and a con for each.
Oil
Pro:inexpensive
Con:greenhouse gas emissions
Solar energy
Pro:clean energy source
Con:weather dependent
Largest use of U.S. energy
Petroleum
How can we extend the longevity of mineral resources?
Recycle and reuse existing metals, use advanced tech, design products with longer lifespans and easier recyclability
Give three ways that mining directly or indirectly impacts the environment
Contaminate water, reduce air quality, loss of biodiversity
What happens to most municipal solid waste
Landfills, incinerators, recycles or composted
Name two materials that are mined
Limestone and uranium
All materials can be mined from the ground and immediately used
False
Discuss the 4Rs and how they relate to solid waste.
refuse-garbage from treatment plants
Reduce-decrease initial amount of waste
Reuse-extends life of object by giving another purpose
Recycle-used materials into new products
