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Environmental Science > Midterm > Flashcards

Midterm Flashcards

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1
Q

what are two renewable energy technologies that can be effectively utilized in an area with geothermal vents

A
  1. harvesting steam (if there are hot springs)
  2. geothermal power plants- harness thermal energy closer to earth’s core
  3. geothermal heat pumps- harness energy from earth’s surface
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2
Q

what academic disciplines do environmental science focus on?:

a) Environmental science focuses solely on the integration of biology and chemistry.

b) Environmental science encompasses a wide range of disciplines including biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, microbiology, biochemistry, geology, economics, law, and sociology.

c) Environmental science primarily relies on ecological principles to understand ecosystems and environmental problems.

d) Environmental science disregards other disciplines and emphasizes the study of biological systems.

A

b) Environmental science encompasses a wide range of disciplines including biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, microbiology, biochemistry, geology, economics, law, and sociology.

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3
Q

what are the three types of health hazards?

A

physical, biological, chemical

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4
Q

example of physical health hazard

A

radiation- it comes from nuclear spills and can cause cancer

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5
Q

example of biological health hazard

A

lyme disease (or any infectious disease)- it comes from ticks and can cause neurological or cardiac issues

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6
Q

example of chemical health hazard

A

water contamination- comes from oil spill and can cause sickness or infection

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7
Q

what are the three factors that affect toxicity:

a) dose, solubility, exposure time

b) dose, solubility, toxins

c) dose, asbestos, exposure time

d) risk assessment, solubility, exposure time

A

a) dose, solubility, exposure time

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8
Q

independent variable

A

controlled and manipulated

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9
Q

dependent variable

A

measure its response to the independent variable

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10
Q

3 types of renewable energy

A

wind, solar, water/tides, geothermal

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11
Q

what are the consequences of unsustainable living

A

deforestation, pollution, global warming, negative health effects, worsened quality of life, detrimental environmental impacts

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12
Q

what are the consequences of sustainable living

A

healthier environment, promotes environmental justice, helps animals/humans, better quality of life and health outcomes

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13
Q

how can the impact of radiation vary

A

type of radiation, dose, and duration of exposure

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14
Q

when in human history has the climate been the warmest

A

right now

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15
Q

non-renewable energy

A

comes from finite sources (e.g. fossil fuel)

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16
Q

renewable energy

A

comes from sources that are more or less continuously made available (e.g. biomass)

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17
Q

inexhaustible energy

A

comes from infinite sources (e.g. solar)

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18
Q

what are the three variables of a scientific experiment

A

independent, dependent, controlled

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19
Q

what is the purpose of peer review? it it necessary for scientific data to be recognized?

A

it ensures the validity, quality, and integrity of scholarly work
peer review is necessary for scientific date to be valid/real

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20
Q

what is one kind of non-renewable energy and how does it impact the environment?

A

coal is a form of non-renewable energy, it has a visibly harmful impact on the environment

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21
Q

what are examples of how geographic location affects which type of renewable energy is most effective in an area?

A
  1. great plains are windy- add windmills
  2. solar energy in sunny places near the equator
22
Q

why should you switch to renewable energy? how does one form of renewable energy address this issue?

A

non-renewable energy is limited and, at its rate of consumption, we will run out

solar energy is an inexhaustible form of energy that will never run out, so we should switch to this

23
Q

what are the consequences of climate change

A

higher temperature melt ice caps, higher sea levels lead to loss of habitat, extreme weather events such as wildfires, extinction, food and water insecurity

24
Q

how does hydraulic fracturing (fracking) impact the environment

A

contaminates fresh groundwater, uses millions of gallons of water, generates wastewater with hazardous chemicals, and drilling can cause small earthquakes

25
Q

periods of population growth

A
  1. preindustrial
  2. industrializing
  3. industrial
  4. postindustrial
26
Q

preindustrial stage

A

high birth rates and death rates
population growth rate close to zero

27
Q

industrializing stage

A

high birth rates and less death rates
higher population growth rate

28
Q

industrial stage

A

less birth rates and death rates (more birth rates)
higher population growth

29
Q

postindustrial stage

A

low birth rates and death rates
population growth is close to zero

30
Q

what is an example of a country with a negative growth rate? what factors prompted this?

A

Japan
one-child policy incentivizes a low birth rate
people are getting married older
male-dominated society means there are less women being born

31
Q

what are our top primary energy consumptions in the US

A

petroleum, natural gas (fossil fuel), coal

32
Q

why can’t we consume ocean water

A

it is way too salty, it will further dehydrate you

33
Q

what are two methods for purifying ocean water

A

reverse osmosis
distillation

34
Q

reverse osmosis

A

water is pushed through a membrane with very small holes, leaving only pure water

35
Q

distillation

A

put water in a pot, boil, catch steam in a tube connected to a flask, cool down the water to a liquid

36
Q

should we allocate more resources to purifying salt water or using natural forms of clean water

A

purifying saltwater because clean water is finite

37
Q

why is it possible for biomass energy to be carbon-neutral

A

plants take CO2 from the air and as the biomass is burned, the CO2 is replaced

throughout the burning process, the CO2 can be captured and smoke can go into a scrubber

38
Q

evolution

A

the process of species adapting over time

39
Q

ecology

A

the study of relationships between organisms, humans, and their environment

40
Q

how are evolution and ecology different

A

Evolution observes how and why species change over time. Ecology looks at the structure, function, and dynamics of ecosystems

41
Q

what are the three kinds of adaptations

A

behavioral, structural, physiological

42
Q

behavioral adaptation

A

changes in how organisms interact/behave with their surroundings that help make the organism, animal, etc. better suited for the environment (e.g. migration)

43
Q

structural adaptation

A

OUTWARD PHYSICAL changes that help make the organism, animal, etc. better suited for the environment (e.g. camouflage)

44
Q

physiological adaptation

A

INTERNAL BIOCHEMICAL changes that help make the organism, animal, etc. better suited for the environment (e.g. thermoregulation)

45
Q

what are the primary sources of indoor air pollutants and their solutions?

A

sources: burning natural gas, smoking inside, aerosol sprays, cleaning products, animal/human dander (dead skin), burning a candle/incense

solution: do not smoke inside, change your appliances, ventilation (open a window, filter)

46
Q

how can we reduce our carbon emissions

A

use public transportation, reduce energy consumption (shorter showers, only turn on lights when necessary), recycle, use renewable energy sources, stop online shopping, reduce beef consumption, volunteer to maintain and improve natural areas

47
Q

what is the law regarding unintended consequences

A

decisions often have unexpected impacts/effects

48
Q

what are the three causes of impaired waters

A
  1. pollution from point sources (e.g. industrial facilities, sewer overflow)
  2. nutrient pollution (e.g. excessive amounts of nutrients)
  3. sedimentation
49
Q

sedimentation

A

process of sediment (dirt/dust) being dispursed where it lowkey shouldn’t

50
Q

how do we see human populations shift in countries as they move from a less economically developed country to a more economically developed country

A

population growth pyramids: look at birth rates and death rates, ages, urbanization, education, medical/healthcare

Environmental Science (1 decks)

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