Litho And Hydro Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the lithosphere

A

The hard shell of the earth consisting of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.

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2
Q

What is the earth’s structure (layers that have distinct composition)

A

Crust
Mantle (upper and lower)
Outer core
Inner core

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3
Q

What are minerals

A

Inorganic substances. They are made up of the same elements in an orderly crystalline structure. They have a defined composition and properties.

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4
Q

Give all the mineral properties/classifications

A

-colour
-transparency
-hardness
-streak
-magnetism

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5
Q

What are the properties of colour and describe them.

A

-idiochromatic (one colour)
-allochromatic (many colours)

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6
Q

What are the properties of transparency and describe them all.

A

-transparent (see through)
-translucent (see light through)
-opaque (cloudy, cannot see through)

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7
Q

What is the scale for hardness

A

Mohs Scale from 1(softest) -10(hardest)

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8
Q

Describe the significance of the streak property

A

When rubbed on porcelain, the power trace is unique

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9
Q

what are soil horizons

A

they are differentiated layers running roughly parallel to the surface of the ground

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10
Q

what is organic matter

A

decomposing vegetation by bacteria

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11
Q

what is top soil

A

mineral rich soil, organic matter, supports life.

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12
Q

what is subsoil

A

this layer accumulates minerals

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13
Q

what is fragmented rock

A

broken rock from parent rock

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14
Q

what is parent rock

A

layer of large unbroken rocks

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15
Q

what are the conditions of soil fertility

A
  1. useful minerals
  2. moisture.
  3. appropriate soil pH (for plant growth)
  4. oxygen for soil bacteria, worms, insects.
    - dark soils contain higher conectrations of organic materals such as carbon, phosphates, nitrates
    - plant growth is encouraged
    - Peat, Humus, are good
    - Sand and Clay are bad.
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16
Q

what is soil depletion

A

the loss of oil fertility, loss of nutrients to overuse, loss of soil to wind, water erosion

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17
Q

what is compaction

A

heavy machinery causes compaction so it reduces O’2 available to micro-organisms.

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18
Q

what is soil contamination

A

the abnormal presence of a harmful substance in an environment.

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19
Q

explain fertilizers in soil contamination

A

fertilizers get into water system and cause growth of blue-green algae

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20
Q

explain pesticides in soil contamination

A

pesticides kill micro-organisms that break down soil.

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21
Q

What forms acid rain and then acidic soil.

A

heavy metals from car exhaust, gasoline SO’‘2 and NO’‘x form acid rain and then acidic soil.

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22
Q

how does acidic soil affect nature

A

upsets the natures balance of pH and nutrients, can
kill micro-organisms and cause plants to grow slowly.

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23
Q

what is Buffering Capacity

A

soils ability to resist changes in pH when acidic or alkaline (basic) compounds are added.

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24
Q

How does one get better buffering capacity

A

getting finer texture

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25
Q

how does one help counter pH variations

A

organic matter and clay because they are both fine grain.

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26
Q

what is permafrost

A

ground whose temperature has been 0 degrees celsius for at least two years.

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27
Q

explain why permafrost melts?

A

permafrost melting is a consequence of global warming that releases methan, a powerful GHG

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28
Q

why do we build house on piles (stilts) in the north?

A

so the thermal energy from the house does not go into the ground and cause instability

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29
Q

give examples of fossil fuels

A

coal, oil, and natural gas

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30
Q

what is the result of decomposition of organic matter

A

fossil fuels

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31
Q

do the percentage of fossil fuels and what they are

A

99.9% plants
0.1% animals

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32
Q

what does 2/3 of the world depend on?

A

fossil fuels

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33
Q

in how many years may fossil fuels run out

A

50 years

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34
Q

what is the cheapest and easiest energy source

A

fossil fuels

35
Q

what are the pros of fossil fuels

A
  • cheapest energy
  • readily available fuels
  • inexpensive to build
  • can build anywhere
36
Q

what are the cons of fossil fuels

A
  • non-renewable
  • emits pollutants; carbon dioxide, methane (greenhouse gases)
  • sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx) = acid rain.
  • not very efficent: heat lost in smoke
37
Q

what are biofuels

A
  • biofuels are usually liquid fuels produced from biomass materials (plants)
38
Q

what are most biofuels used as?

A

transportation fuels

39
Q

give examples of biofuels

A

wood, biodiesel, ethanol.

40
Q

what is an advantage of biofuels

A

they absorb the same Carbon that burning them emits

41
Q

what are the disadvantages of biofuels

A
  • the plant inputs you need for biodiesel are more expensive than petroleum is
  • uses agricultural land and drive up the price of food.
42
Q

what is nuclear energy?

A

energy stored in the nucleus of the Uranium atom.

43
Q

how is nuclear energy released?

A

released through Nuclear Fission

44
Q

what are the pros of nuclear energy

A
  • most of the heat is used (unlike fossil fuels)
  • requires few resources for a large amount of energy
45
Q

what are the cons of nuclear energy

A
  • non-renewable
  • risk of nuclear accidents
  • produces dangerous radioactive waste
  • expensive to build
46
Q

what is Geothermal energy

A

heat energy extracted directly from the earth’s crust.

47
Q

what are the pros of geothermal energy

A
  • very efficient
  • renewable
  • generates few greenhouse gases
  • inexpensive to run
48
Q

what are the cons of geothermal energy

A
  • requires acces to geothermal vents
  • building is very expensive
49
Q

what is hydrosphere

A

earth’s outer later of water in all states (s,l,g)

50
Q

how much of the planet surface is covered in water

A

about 2/3

51
Q

how much of water is considered fresh water

A

2.5%

52
Q

how much of fresh water is contained in Glaciers (79%)

A

2%

53
Q

where is the other 0.5% of fresh water in?

A

lakes, rivers, and ground water

54
Q

what are watersheds

A

a region where all inland waters drain into the same larger body. it is a boundary defined by highest point of land between rivers.

55
Q

explain how toxic spills affect watersheds.

A

toxic spills in a water shed affect all waters downhill but not uphill.

56
Q

what are the naturals factors of affecting water flow in a watershed

A
  • topography (hills and valleys)
  • vegetation (trees and roots)
  • geology (soil type)
  • climate (frozen soil, precipitation
57
Q

what is the human factor of affecting water flow in a watershed

A
  • agricultural, industrial, and urban development (man made barriers)
58
Q

explain surface currents (ocean) and give an example

A
  • first 400 meters only
  • caused by the wind
  • ex: gulf stream (from florida to NFL to england)
59
Q

explain subsurface currents (ocean) and give an exmaple

A
  • greater than 800 meters in depth
  • caused by density variations due to temperature (cold water sinks at poles, rises at equator) and salinity (more salt is denser and sinks).
  • ex: cold water at poles moves south.
60
Q

explain thermohaline circulation (ocean)

A
  • all currents working together to create huge world wide circulation ‘‘conveyer belt’’.
  • regulates Earth’s temperature (warms pole-cools equator).
61
Q

what is the cryosphere

A

all frozen water

62
Q

what is pack ice

A

ice floating on the oceans near the north and south poles

63
Q

what does pack ice consist of

A

consists of brackish/briney solid water (mixture of fresh water and salt water)

64
Q

what happens to the salinity in pack ice

A

lower than that of the salt water

65
Q

what happens when pack ice is formed

A

salt is discharged into the water on which it floats, thereby increasing this water’s salinity (and density0)

66
Q

what does pack ice affect

A

thermohaline circulation

67
Q

global warming has 2 effects on the cryosphere. name them

A
  • pack ice melts
  • glaciers melt
68
Q

explain the affects of pack ice melting (3)

A
  1. loss of habitat: polar bears and ringed seals.
  2. albedo: sun’s light is absorbed by dark ocean rather than reflected by white ice = more warming
  3. pack ice melt does NOT raise see levels, but water below is more salty (briny)
69
Q

explain the affects of glaciers melting (2)

A
  1. raises ocean levels (falls of land)
  2. large amount of fresh, cold water could disrupt thermohaline circulation and slow down ocean currents.
70
Q

what are the pros of hydraulic energy

A
  • renewable
  • very little greenhouse gas
  • energy is virtually free
71
Q

what are the cons of hydraulic energy

A
  • dams expensive to build
  • can disrupt aquatic life and cover huge areas for reservoirs
  • water releases mercury (from industry) from the soil.
72
Q

what type of energy is always bad for the environment

A

fossil fuels

73
Q

describe the ocean temperature at the equator and at the poles. how does this affect us?

A

the ocean temperature is warm at the equator and cold at both the North and South poles. this is how seasons happen

74
Q

How is the Gulf Stream a good example for surface currents

A

it is the most important stream in europed and it is very high in temperature.

75
Q

how does salty and cold water affect the water and save us?

A

salty and cold water sinks a lot and saves us from global warming.

76
Q

what does hydraulic energy create in order to use it?

A

hydro-electric dams

77
Q

what are the pros of tidal energy

A
  • renewable
  • little green house gas
  • predictable
  • once built, the energy is free
  • water is dense, it can move a large turbine
78
Q

are the cons of tidal energy

A
  • dams are very expensive to build
  • can disrupt aquatic life
  • only generates for 6-12 hours per day not on peak hours
  • must be coastal, distance to market
79
Q

what is tidal power

A

a form of hydropower that converts the energy from the natural rise and fall of the tides into electricity

80
Q

name the 3 tidal technologies

A

tidal barrages (dam)
tidal fences (turbines)
tidal turbines (similar to wind turbines)

81
Q

tidal power vs other powers

A

tidal power is very slow. Other powers are easier and faster, thats why people use the cheaper and larger powers.

82
Q

what is thermal pollution

A

increase in water temperature = decrease in O’‘2 in water
- factories discharge hot water into rivers
- harmful to aquatic life.

83
Q

what is ocean acidification

A

CO’‘2 from fossil fuels get absorbed by the ocean and decrease ocean pH

84
Q

what is Eutrophication

A

the process by which natural waters lose their oxygen because of an excessive accumulation of organic matter and nutrients