midterm 1

Question 1

What is the difference between good ozone and bad ozone

Answer 1

Good: protective stratosphere layer.
Bad: low level ground - harmful air pollutant causing respritory and damages vegitation

Good ozone in the stratosphere forms a protective layer that shields the Earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Bad ozone is at ground level and is a harmful air pollutant. Ground-level ozone can cause respiratory problems, and harm sensitive vegetation and ecosystems. It is a primary component of smog.

Question 2

What pollutants are primarily responsible for acid rain?

Answer 2

Sulphur and nitrogen oxides

Question 3

How does the melting of permafrost contribute to global warming?

Answer 3

The uncovered vegetation decomposes and releases greenhouse gases

Question 4

Why are hydrogen-powered vehicles less efficient compared to electric vehicles?

Answer 4

Hydrogen production is energy-intensive

Question 5

What type of synthetic fuels are being researched as a green alternative to gasoline and diesel?

Answer 5

Synthetic gasoline, Synthetic diesel, Synthetic methanol

(All of the above)

Question 6

What is the primary source of power for British Columbia’s grid?

Answer 6

Hydroelectric

Question 7

Name one type of source for groundwater collection used in ancient times
Wells

Answer 7

wells

Question 8

what are the 5 levels that make up groundwater

Answer 8

Vadose Zone (Unsaturated Zone), Water Table, Saturated Zone, Confined Aquifer, Unconfined Aquifer

Question 9

What are the 3 types of groundwater flow systems?

Answer 9

Local, Intermediate, Regional

Question 10

How does air pollution travel from one place to another - at least two ways

Answer 10

Temperature, humidity, wind speed, and wind direction

Question 11

Three types of air pollutants when describing migration?

Answer 11

Local, Regional, and Global

Question 12

What is the largest contributor to climate change?

Answer 12

fossil fuels

Question 13

Name 3 examples of brownfeilds

Answer 13

Lumber mills, Mines, Socioeconomic, Petrochemical

Question 14

Name and explain one of the criteria of the Brownie awards

Answer 14

Remediate sustainable Remediation & Technological Innovation

Question 16

what is the order of steps in brownfield mitigation?

Answer 16

Site assesment, Risk assesment, Liability assesment, financing, remediation

Question 17

The sound that reach _____dB harms human’s ears.

Answer 17

85

Question 18

Name three sources of noise pollution in the city

Answer 18

​Road, Construction, Rail

Question 19

Name three mitigation methods for noise pollution in the city

Answer 19

Scheduling construction’s noisy activities carefully,
Acoustic Fencing around noisy places, Sound Walls for noisy roads

Question 20

Describe the mechanism for eutrophication

Answer 20

Excess of nutrients cause algae bloom. Once algae die, bacteria decompose algae which uses up oxygen.

Question 21

What makes thermal pollution so harmful?

Answer 21

Higher temperatures decrease dissolved oxygen levels in water

Question 22

Explain the mechanism for biomagnification/accumulation

Answer 22

As chemical pollutants are introduced to aquatic ecosystems, lower trophic levels (producers, primary consumers) will absorb some of it. Higher trophic levels consume large amounts of the lower levels and accumulate the pollutants such as DDT or Mercury over their lifespans

Question 23

Name the three different types of green roofs

Answer 23

Intensive, Extensive, Semi-intensive

Question 24

Name two different benefits of green roofs

Answer 24

Reduce energy usage, reduces stormwater runoff, reduces noise pollution, increases life span of roof (Any of these two)

Question 25

Which type of green roof does not require irrigation?

Answer 25

Extensive green roofs

Question 26

What are four causes of poor indoor air quality?

Answer 26

Indoor air contaminants such as dust, pollen, pet dander, and particulate matter. Chemical pollutants, VOCs, mold and mildew, tobacco smoke, poor ventilation, radon gas, combustion byproducts

Question 27

What is environmental tobacco smoke?

Answer 27

breathing in someone else’s tobacco smoke

Question 28

What are two ways you can improve indoor air quality?

Answer 28

Airtightness, regular maintenance and cleaning, green building materials, identifying asbestos, identifying radon.

Question 29

What are Green Building Materials (GMB)?

Answer 29

Green building materials are eco-friendly construction products designed to minimize environmental impact

Question 30

Discuss the Life Cycle Assessment

Answer 30

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impacts of a product, process, or activity by examining energy/material usage and waste release, enabling targeted environmental improvements.

Question 31

list three parameters for evaluating building materials

Answer 31

Global warming potential, Energy usage, Waste production, Air and water pollution, Environmental costs

Question 32

Which common building materials produce the most carbon dioxide emissions?

Answer 32

concrete

Question 33

Which of the following lists contain something that is NOT a source of air pollution?

Answer 33

option: Vehicle transmissions, metal smelting, nuclear powerplants, ventilation systems

Question 34

Name 3 main uses of surface water?

Answer 34

Dams, Waterways, Agriculture.

Question 35

What is fluvial geomorphology?

Answer 35

Fluvial geomorphology studies the change in a river’s bathymetry. These changes are due to the interaction between water and sediment

Question 36

Give 3 engineering solutions to reduce fluvial geomorphology?

Answer 36

Head gates, Detention ponds, Weirs