Global Warming Flashcards
What is evaporation?
When the heat of the sun causes water to turn to water vapor
What is condensation?
As the water vapor moves higher in the atmosphere, it cools down and condenses to form tiny droplets of water
What is precipitation?
The tiny droplets of water keep on accumulating in the clouds until it can no longer accommodate any more, the water is released from them
What is run-off?
The water that falls back to the surface of the earth either stays on the surface or flows off the surface into the water bodies
What is transpiration?
When the water absorbed by the plants is evaporated from leaves and stem
What is infiltration?
When the water on the surface of the earth seeps down the ground
How does carbon dioxide enter the atmosphere?
Respiration and combustion
What are the two ways nitrogen gas can be fixed?
Through lightning and nitrogen fixing bacteria
What is ammonification?
Atmospheric nitrogen produced into ammonia
What is the human impact to phosphorus cycle?
Introduction of synthetic fertilizers
High concentration of phosphate in water system can lead to?
Eutrophication
What is global warming?
An average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the earth’s surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns
What are the two categories of causes of global warming?
Man-made and natural causes
What are the causes of global warming?
Burning of fossil fuels
Power plants generate electricity
Transportation fuels for transport
Industrial processes
Other greenhouse gases emission
Agriculture
Forestry
Other land uses
What are the gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect?
Carbon dioxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbons, nitrogen oxides and ozone
What are the global warming effects?
Drastic changes in climate patterns
Spreading diseases
Changes in the global sea level
Shortage in foods and clean water supplies
Widespread extinction of flora and fauna
What are the deadliest effect of global warming?
The melting of the ice caps in the polar region
Economic consequences
Increased probability and intensity of drought and heat waves
Warmer waters and more hurricanes
Spread of disease
What are the types of pollution?
Air pollution
Water pollution
Noise pollution
Littering
Soil contamination
Radioactive contamination
Thermal pollution
Visual pollution
What is air pollution?
Contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere
What are the sources of air pollution?
Household combustion devices
Motor vehicles
Industrial facilities
Forest fires
What are the effects of air pollution?
Health effects
Cardiovascular effects
Effects on breathing
Links to cancer
What is water pollution?
Contamination of water bodies
How does water pollution occur?
Pollutants discharged directly or indirectly into water bodies without adequate treatment to remove harmful compounds
What are the causes of water pollution?
Domestic sewage
Industrial wastewater
Agricultural wastewater
Construction site storm water
Urban runoff
