Smarty Pants EnviSci Flashcards

1
Q

What are living systems organized into?

A

Specis - composed of organisms healthy enough to reproduce

Population - consists of members of a species that live in the same area for a progression of time

Community - All populations living an interacting in an area

Ecosystem- A community and the physical environment made up of biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving)

Biosphere - The total of all ecosystems on a planet

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2
Q

First Law of Thermodynamics

A

Energy is conserved

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3
Q

Second Rule of Thermodynamics

A

Each transfer of energy yields less usable energy

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4
Q

Productivity

A

The amount of biomass produced in a given area over a given time

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5
Q

Primary Productivity

A

The amount of productivity by plants through photosynthesis

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6
Q

Secondary Productivity

A

The rate at which CONSUMERS in an ecosystem store energy.

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7
Q

Food Chain

A

A linear chart showing the flow of energy in an ecosystem

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8
Q

Trophic Level

A

The organims feeding position in a food chain

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9
Q

Primary Producers

A

Plants that support the food chain through photosynthesis

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10
Q

Herbivore

A

Primary consumerwho eats primary producers aka plants

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11
Q

Carnivores

A

Secondary … Tertiary … ect. those that eat secondary consumers

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12
Q

Omnivores

A

Those who eat both primary producers and herbivores and carnivores

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13
Q

Detritivores

A

worms, millipedes, woodlice, dung flies, and slugs are a specific type of decomposer. Actually eat shit and dead things

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14
Q

Decomposers

A

Fungi and bacteria which break down organic matter to return nutrients to the soil. They do not consume they decompose

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15
Q

Detritivores & Decomposers act on which trophic level?

A

All trophic levels

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16
Q

Food Webs

A

Interconnected food chain where organisms can occupy more than one trophic level

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17
Q

Ten percent rule

A

That only 10% of available energy is transfered to the next trophic level. Therefore there are a shit load of primary producers supporting primary consumers, which in a shit load support secondary consumers

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18
Q

Biogeochemical cycles

A

The cycles that endlessly recycle mass through the enviroment

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19
Q

Sink

A

Takes in and stores the element or compound in a biogeochemical cycle

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20
Q

Source

A

Realeses element or compound in a biogeochemical cycle

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21
Q

Transpiration

A

The process by which plants release water through their leaves (persperation)

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22
Q

Water travels on land by which two methods

A

Runoff (on the surface) or percolates (goes down through the soil and into aquifers

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23
Q

Aquifers

A

Underground water supply

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24
Q

Hydrologic Cycle

A

aka the water cycle. Water in the group is transpired through plants to restart the cycle

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25
Q

Describe the Nitrogen Cycle

A

Plants can not use nitrogen from the atmosphere, because the N2 bonds are too strong. First the nitrogen is fixed by either lightning or nitrogenfixing bacteria found in the root of legumes. Lighting or nitrogen fixing bacteria produce ammonia (NH3) or ammonium (NH4+). Ammonia and ammonium are oxidized in the soil by other bacteria to produce nitrite (NO2-) or nitrate (NO3-). Now these nitrite and nitrate can be assimilated by plants and pass up the food chain. Denitrifying bacteria convert ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate back into nitrogen gas (N2)

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26
Q

Describe the Phosphorous Cycle

A

Phosphorous does not have an atmospheric form, so it is slow to travel. Phosphorous compounds leach from rocks over time. Plants take the inorganic phosphorous and assimilate it into organic molecules. A sink of phosphorous is found within sendiments deep in the ocean

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27
Q

Desribe the Sulfur Cycle

A

The source for inorganic sulfur is weathering, volcanic eruptions, and emissions from deep sea floor vents. Also another source of sulfur is the biogenic deposit of phytoplankton. Plants take in this inorganic sulfur then the sulfur is a passed to primary consumers through the food chain.

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28
Q

Human effect on Sulfur Cycle

A

Humans increase the amount of sulfur by burning fossil fuels which result in a greater incidence of acid percipitation which increases the ph level in habitats

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29
Q

Human Effect on Phosphorus Cycle

A

Humans put phosphorus in fertilizes thus increasing the amount of phosphorous. This excess of phosphorous runs off into lakers and oceans causing algal blooms and eutrophications

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30
Q

Human effect on the nitrogen cycle

A

Humans have increased the amount of nitrogen by including ammonia in fertilizers

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31
Q

Cause of Biodiversity

A

Evolution, the idea that genetic changes in populations are due to the effect of natural selection, “survival of the fittest”

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32
Q

Divergent and Convergent Evolution

A

Divergent Evolution - species divergefrom branchConvergent Evolution- species develop similar traits due to their common environment

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33
Q

Threat to Habitat

A
Habitat Destruction
Hunting and Fishing
Commercial Products
Introduced Exotic Species (these predators quickly use up resourcecs)
Genetic Assimilation (cross breeding)
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34
Q

Coevolution

A

Species exert pressure on each other (e.g. predator and prey)

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35
Q

Predator

A

Feeds on living organisms thus scavengers, detrivores, and decomposers are not predators

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36
Q

Symbiosis

A

When two species live together

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37
Q

Symbios: Mutualism, define commensalism

A

One member benefits and the other is not harmed

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38
Q

Batesian Mimicry

A

Harmless species adapt the color and body shape of poisenous species

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39
Q

Mullerian Mimicry

A

Poisenous species adapts the body type and color of another poisenous species so that predators can learn quicker not to fuck with them

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40
Q

Fundamental and Realized Niche

A

Fundamental Niche - the ecological niche the species can biologically occupy
Realized Niche - The part of its fundamental niche that a species occupies

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41
Q

Law of Competitive Exclusion

A

No two similar species can occupy the same ecological niche. If competition is too high, then the species will migrate or become extinct

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42
Q

Limiting Factor

A

The most in demandwhich determines species distribution

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43
Q

Tolerance Limits

A

The maximum levels (temperature, moisture, ect.) a species can survive under. The ideal place in a bell curve that represents tolerance limits is in the middle. This middle region is neutral and is called the “optimal range” To the left of the optimal range is the “zone of intolerance” you can not tolerate things that are low. Therefore the zone of intolerance represents the lower limits of tolerance limits. Upper limit of tolerance is called the “Zone of stress” You get stressed if there is too much, this zone of stress is to the right of the optimal range.

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44
Q

Genetically modified Organisms are used for which type of remediation

A

bioremediation

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45
Q

Reclamation

A

Chemical and physical cleanup and reconstruction of severely degraded areas

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46
Q

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

A

Calls for better reclamation techniques after land has been mined

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47
Q

Exponential growth

A

When a population increases by constant rate every year. Occurs when there is no limit to the resources

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48
Q

J-curve represents which type of growth

A

Exponential growth

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49
Q

Biotic Potential

A

The maximim productive rate of a species in ideal circumstances.The maximum slope of a J-curve, which represents exponential growth

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50
Q

Biotic Potential is represented as the maximum slope of which growth

A

exponential growth

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51
Q

Environmental Resistance

A

Limiting factors in a population such as disease, food supply, and limited space

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52
Q

Density-dependent limiting factor

A

These limiting factors have a higher impact based on population (e.g. predation, competition, stress)

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53
Q

Density-independent limiting factors

A

These limiting factors have the same effect regardless of population size (e.g. climate)

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54
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

The maximim number of organisms an ecosystem can support

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55
Q

Logistic Growth

A

Takes into account environmental resistance (limiting factors) and carry capacity.

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56
Q

Logistic Growth is represented by

A

S-curve

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57
Q

Irruptive Growth

A

Also called Maltusian growth. Population explosion and then dieback. Overshoots carrying capacity and then dies down

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58
Q

Irruptive Growth is also referred to as

A

Malthusian growth

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59
Q

r-selected species

A

Experience high reproductive rates and exponential growth pattern such as dandelinons, rats, and cockroaches. Their population fluctuates above and bellow carrying capacity

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60
Q

K-selected species

A

Experience population that follows a logistic growth pattern. Include humans. The population stays around carrying capacity

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61
Q

Doubling Time formula

A

70/% annual growth (do not turn annual growth into a decimal)

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62
Q

Natality

A

the number of births per 1000 (birth rate)

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63
Q

Mortality

A

number of deaths per 1000 individuals (crude death rate)

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64
Q

Immigration

A

the number of organisms moving into an area

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65
Q

Fertility

A

number of offspring produced per female in population

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66
Q

Fecundity

A

physical ability to reproduce

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67
Q

Life Span

A

maximum number of years a species survive

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68
Q

Life expectancy

A

Maximum number of years a species can survive

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69
Q

Population growth rate % =

A

birth rate - death + immigration rate - emigration rate

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70
Q

Thomas Malthus wrote … predicting …

A

“Essay on the Principle of Population” predicting that humans will reach their carrying capacity and this will result in war, famine, and disease to reduce population.

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71
Q

Neo-Malthusians

A

advocate birth control as a means of stabilizing the population

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72
Q

Carl Marx

A

Believed exploitation of lower classes are causes of pollution, famine, and resource depletion

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73
Q

Neo-Marxists

A

Believe population will stabilize through social justice, the distribution of wealth and resources

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74
Q

Brandt Line

A

An imaginary line that divides the developed and developing worlds 20% of the population above the brandt line uses … percent of the Earth’s resources 80.00%

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75
Q

Malnourishment

A

imbalance in vitamins and nutrients

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76
Q

Undernourishment

A

not taking enough calories

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77
Q

Age-structured histograms represent …

A

The growth of a population http://www.algebralab.org/img/fba2228e-1ba1-47a7-b6a2-8e9399ad21c5.gif

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78
Q

Wider bases in a age-structure histogram represent

A

Rapid growth

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79
Q

Zero growth histograms have what types of rectangles

A

the same length

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80
Q

Replaement level fertility

A

Having only enough children to replace the parents

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81
Q

Negativee growth histogram

A

The base of the histogram is smaller than the top

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82
Q

Demographic Transition

A

When a nation gradually improves its living conditions

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83
Q

The demographic transition model is based off of

A

Once the birth and death rate decrease then a country becomes developed economocically

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84
Q

How can a country make a demographic transition

A

Decreasing death rate through healthcare and medicine and decreasing birth rate since parents know that their offspring will survive

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85
Q

Urbanization

A

The growth of cities cause problems such as food shortage less adequate infastructure

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86
Q

Urban Sprawl

A

ulimited outward expansion of city boundries that lowers population density, leads to decay of central cities

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87
Q

Pathogeons

A

Disease causing organisms such as bactaria, viruses, and parasites

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88
Q

Morbility

A

a measure of the rate of illness

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89
Q

Keystone species

A

the impact that this species has on the community is much greater than its biomass indicates. If this species is removied, the ecosystem might fall appart

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90
Q

Keystone species

A

the impact that this species has on the community is much greater than its biomass indicates. If this species is removied, the ecosystem might fall appart

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91
Q

Complexity

A

the number of species in each trophic level

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92
Q

Stability

A

constancy in community, resistence to catastrophe

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93
Q

The more complex and diverse a community is, the more … it is

A

Resilient since another species can take the role

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94
Q

Ecotone

A

the boundary between two different communities

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95
Q

Open Ecosystem

A

when one ecosystem merges into another

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96
Q

Ecological succssion

A

The sequence of changes through which a community passes

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97
Q

Primary Succesion

A

Occurs when a community begins to develop on a site previously unoccupied

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98
Q

Secondary Succession

A

Develop life on a destroyed ecosystem where life existed

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99
Q

Pioneer species

A

Species that undergo primary succession lichen and mosses

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100
Q

Seral Community

A

Replace primary community

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101
Q

Climax Community

A

reached when the community reaches a stable state

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102
Q

Equilibrium Community

A

areas that experience periodic disruption

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103
Q

Biomes

A

ecosystem characterized by distinct climate, soil conditions, and biolgical communities

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104
Q

these two factores effect the determining of distribuion of biomes

A

rain and temperature

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105
Q

Desert

A

characterized by low moisture levels and infrequent percipitation along with poor-quality soil and temperature fluctuates. Home to kangaroos, rates, mice

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106
Q

Grassland

A

temperature and percipitation are moderate enough to support grass (prairies and savannas) best for farming. The plants have deep roots, so they can surive fires. Home to migratory grazers like bison.

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107
Q

Tundra

A

treeless biome found at high altitudes or mountain tops. Damage heels slowly. Vegetation includes low-growing perennial plants, mosses, and lichens. Animals hibernate in Tundra.

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108
Q

High Altitude tundra

A

alpine tundra

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109
Q

Mountaintop tundra

A

arctic thundra

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110
Q

Coniferous forest

A

dominated by cone-bearing trees, low moisture soil and cool temperatures. Plants have evolved thin, needle-like leaves with thick waxy coating to reduce water loss

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111
Q

Boreal Forest

A

A broad band of mixed coniferous and deciduous trees that stretches across northern North America (and also Europe and Asia). Low moisture and cool temperatures. The northern edge is called Taiga.

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112
Q

Taiga

A

the northern most edge of the boreal forest characterized by harsh, cold temperature

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113
Q

Deciduous forest

A

The biome characterized by warmer temperatures than the boreal forest and plenty of precipitation thats huge forests of broadleaf trees; covers regions in southeastern Canada, and eastern United States. Dense canopy that protects sping flowers. Have both warm and frozen season. The main threat is deforestation.

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114
Q

Chaparral

A

Occur in areas with a mediterranean climate (hot, dry summers, cooler winters, low percipitation) thick growth of thorny evergreen. Frequent fires. Plants have wax coating to withstand fire. Home to jackrabbits, chipmunks.

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115
Q

Tropical moist forest

A

all have rainfall and uniform temperature. Most biologically diverse biomes in the world, slow to recover from disruption

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116
Q

Cloud forests

A

found on mountaintops where fog and mist always keeps vegetation moist

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117
Q

Tropical rainforests

A

occur near the equator where rainfall is abundant and temperatures are warm year round

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118
Q

3 freshwater biomes

A

lakes, streams, rivers

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119
Q

Thermostratification

A

a categorization of fresh water lakes that is based off of temperature

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120
Q

Epilimnion

A

Thermostractification of freshwater biome, warmer layer on the surface

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121
Q

Hypolimnion

A

Thermostratification of freshwater biome At the bottom and cooler

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122
Q

thermocline

A

in the middle of epilimnion and hypolimnion. There is a rapid decrease in termperature

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123
Q

benthos

A

lake bottom, little oxygen but rich organic matter from the detritus that sinks to the bottom

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124
Q

Seasonal turnover

A

water mixes freely to replenish nutrients and oxygen, there is no thermocline

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125
Q

littoral zone

A

shallow region near the shore

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126
Q

limnetic zone

A

deeper region further from shore

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127
Q

riparian

A

ecosystem around a river

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128
Q

difference between lakes and river

A

rivers move down stream

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129
Q

vertical statification

A

marine biome categorization

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130
Q

marine biomes

A

oceans and seas

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131
Q

photic zone

A

Layer in the vertical stratifcation of marine biomes. This layer is closer to top of water, gets enough sunlight to support photosynthesis for algae and phytoplankton

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132
Q

aphotic zone

A

do not have enough sun light to support photosynthesis (ocean stratofication)

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133
Q

abyssal zone

A

deepest part od ocean

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134
Q

interidal zone

A

area closest to the shore where tides come in

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135
Q

pelagic zone

A

open oceannear the surface. Under the pelagic zone is the photic zone.

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136
Q

wetland

A

land that remains flooded with fresh or salt water throughout the year

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137
Q

wetland benefits (4)

A

support a high degree of biodiversity, replenish aquifers, prevent flooding by acting like sponges and filter pollutants

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138
Q

estuary

A

a bay where river empties into sea, mixing fresh water with salt water, where birds nes and fish lay plants

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139
Q

rehabilitation

A

rebuilding curtain elements of ecosystem in order to make it usable by humans

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140
Q

remediation

A

poluted area is cleaned by removing contaminent

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141
Q

bioremediation

A

living organisms clean environment

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142
Q

Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)

A

a health measure assessing the total burden of disease on productivity and quality of life

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143
Q

Emergent Diseases

A

those that were not previously known or had not showed up for 20 years

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144
Q

Problem with antibiotics in terms of bacteria

A

Bacteria gradually become resistent, because the bacteria that have the resistence trait survive and pass this trait on

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145
Q

Toxins

A

Chemicals that kill cells or alter growth

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146
Q

Allergens

A

substance that trigger the immune system. Ex formaldehyde, when you become hypersensitive to chemicals

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147
Q

LD50

A

a measurement system for the toxicity of chemicals, the lower the more toxic (kinda like a ph scale where the lower, the more acidic, just a connection to help u remeber)

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148
Q

4 Categories of toxins

A

NeurotoxinsMutagensCarcinogensTeratogens

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149
Q

Neurotoxins like mercury, lead, and other heavy metals do what

A

kill neurons in the nervous system

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150
Q

Mutagens

A

cause mutations by altering DNA

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151
Q

Carcinogens

A

Cause cancer

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152
Q

Delaney Clause of US Food and Drug Act

A

States that no carcinogens causing reasonable harm can be added to food or drugs

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153
Q

Teratogens (name example and effect)

A

toxins such as alcohol, cause abnormal embryonic cell division, which results in birth defects

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154
Q

Antagonistic Toxins

A

Interfere with the effects of other chemicals

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155
Q

Additive Toxins

A

Increase the level of toxity when many chemicals are mixed together

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156
Q

Synergistic Toxins

A

Toxin exacerbates the effect of another, basically making the combined toxin more toxic than if it were alone

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157
Q

Bioaccumulation of a toxin occurs when

A

an organism absorbs and stores the toxin in its tissues

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158
Q

Biomagnification

A

When a toxin enters the food chain through a low trophic level and becomes more concentrated as the toxin moves up the food chain

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159
Q

Racheal Carson

A

Wrote Silent Spring, which exposed the biomagnification occuring due to the use of DDT insecteside. Silent Spring spear headed the environmental movement

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160
Q

Ecological Economis

A

asserts that certain resources can not be replaced like biodiversity.

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161
Q

Steady-state economy

A

categorized by the recycling of material, low birth and death raites, and emphasis on efficiency and durability of goods

162
Q

Two types of resources

A

Renewable and nonrenewable

163
Q

Renewable

A

trees, sunlight, and air are naturally replenished

164
Q

Nonrenewable

A

fossil fuels, minerals, and other metals

165
Q

“The Tradgedy of the Commons” describes

A

under an open access system where everyone has unregulated access to a resource, the resource will be degraded by self-interest (e.g. farmers sharing land will overgraze in order to maximize profit). Suggested Communal resource system under which each person in the community is given a sense of responsibility to take care of the resources. Written by Hardin

166
Q

Technologies effect on economy

A

Technology helps to decrease of resources and these resources are used more effectively

167
Q

GNP

A

does not account for environmental depletion or damage, therefore environmentalists use the HDI (human development index) in order to measure the growth of a state’s economy

168
Q

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

A

forms the cornerstone for U.S. environmental regulations and law. Authorizes the Council on Environmental Quality to oversee environmental conditions. Second, it directs federal agencies to take into account environmental consequences. Finally, it requires an Environmental Impact Statement for any major federal project

169
Q

Policy Cycle

A

Process through which problems are identified and acted upon

170
Q

Wicked Problems

A

problems with no simple solution such as global warming

171
Q

Precautionary Principle

A

A principle followed when making policies about wicked problems. Asserts that we should leave a margin of error for unexspected development

172
Q

Soil

A

A renewable resource made up of a mixture of weathered rock material, partially decomposed organic molecules, and living organizations

173
Q

Humus

A

Component of soul consisting of decomposed organic matter, which gives soil structure by sticking particles together. Increases absorbtion of nutrients and water.

174
Q

The best type of soil for farming

A

sany loam

175
Q

Heavy soil has which type of particle

A

clay (smallest particles)

176
Q

Light Soil

A

more sand and silt

177
Q

Horizons

A

horizontal statification of soil

178
Q

6 Horizons

A

O HorizonA HorizonE HorizonB HorizonC HorizonBedrock

179
Q

O Horizon

A

Surface litter

180
Q

O Horizon

A

surface litter

181
Q

A Horizon

A

topsoil, made up of humus, nutrients, and organisms. This is where plants have their roots. Grasslands have a very large A horizon, which is ideal for farming

182
Q

E Horizon

A

Zone of leaching; where nutrients seep downward

183
Q

B Horizon

A

subsoil; accumulates leached nutrients from the E horizon

184
Q

C Horizon

A

weathered parent material; partially broken down rock

185
Q

Bedrock

A

solid rock

186
Q

Hardpan Layer

A

Desserts have a narrow A horizon and a hardpan, a dense layer of nutrients and salt residue

187
Q

Initiative

A

vote on a policy that is initiated by the people

188
Q

Erosion

A

results in the loss of topsoil, which decreases crop production. Also erosion can lead to siltation of reservoirs and sendimentation of rivers and lakes

189
Q

Turbidity

A

Muddiness of water

190
Q

Rill Erosion

A

running water cuts small channels into the soil

191
Q

Gully Erosion

A

When rill erosion leads to enlarged rills

192
Q

1 Cause of soil Degradation

A

overgrazing of land. Animals strip land of vegetation and compact the soil with their hooves

193
Q

Desertification

A

degrading of land that was once fertile

194
Q

Sustainable Argiculture

A

an agricultural system that is economically viable and social just, yet ensures ecological sustainability (e.g. strip farming)

195
Q

Green Revolution

A

a dramatic increase in the agriculutrual production brought about by the development of high-yield grain. Require optimum levels of fertilizer, water, and presticides

196
Q

Closed-canopy

A

(e.g. Tropical rainforests) where three crowns spread out over 20% or more of land area

197
Q

Open-canopy

A

(e.g. woodland) where tree crowns cover less than 20% of land area

198
Q

Old-growth forests

A

original, ancient forests like the redwoods in Cali

199
Q

Forests regulate climate through

A

transpiration

200
Q

Tropical forests make up only .. % of the population, yet contains .. % of species

A

10% of the population yet contains 50% of the species

201
Q

Forests are threatened by logging

A

which leads to less topsoil (due to erosion) and thus sendimentation of rivers

202
Q

T or F : The US Forest Service allows logging to occur in national forests

A

T

203
Q

Nature preserves lay out corridors to

A

connect habitats and allow species to migrate between these protected areas

204
Q

Wilderness Area

A

undisturbed land without many roads where humans can visit

205
Q

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

A

The largest wildlife refuge in the US.

206
Q

Biological Pest

A

Organism that devalues resources useful to humans

207
Q

Pesticides

A

chemicals used to kill or drive away pests

208
Q

T or F: The US is the greatest consumer of presticides

A

T

209
Q

Problem with Presticides

A

harm non-target speciies. Also pesticides get rid of species that are predators, thus other pests rise.

210
Q

Pesticide treadmill

A

need for increasing doeses or new pesticides to prevent pest resurgence

211
Q

Biological Controls

A

Natural predators, pathogens, or competitors that can regulate prest populations

212
Q

Integrated Pest Management

A

a pest control strategy that uses a combination of the pesticide controls

213
Q

Civil Rights

A

usually refer to the promotion of equality

214
Q

Civil Liberties

A

Promotion of freedom

215
Q

Most liberal democracies advocate

A

free spheech association, but vary in terms ofthe rights to assemble and critisize the government

216
Q

Industrial Sector

A

employs people that make tangible goods

217
Q

Agricultural Sector

A

Smaller for post modern societies. Mechanization of farmining means few farmers can support the service and industry sectors.

218
Q

National Health Service

A

created under the leadership of the labour party.

219
Q

core

A

Inermost center of the earth. Hot mass of metal made up mostly of iron

220
Q

Mantle

A

Surrounding the core, a liquid layer of hot molten rock called magma

221
Q

Convention Currents

A

Magma in the mantle rises and sinks in circular patterns

222
Q

Lava

A

Magma that rises to the surface

223
Q

Crust

A

the cool light weight crust floats on the mantle. The most abundant element on the crust is oxygen.

224
Q

How are techtonic plates created

A

Convention currents in the mantle break the overlying current into a mosaic of huge blocks called techtonic plates

225
Q

Techtonic Activity leads to

A

seafloor spreading, formation of mountains via geologic uplifting, cracks in the crust, volcanoes, and earthquakes.

226
Q

Subduction

A

when an oceanic plate collides with a continental landmass, the oceanic plate dives under the continent and melts, rising back to the surface as lava

227
Q

Mineral

A

Natureally occuring inorganic (no carbon) solid with a definite chemical composition and as crystalline structure

228
Q

Aggregate of minerals are called

A

Rocks

229
Q

rock cycle

A

the environmental processes that forms and changes rocks

230
Q

3 types of rocks

A

Igneous, metamorphic, and Sedimentary

231
Q

3 types of rocks

A

Igneous, metamorphic, and Sedimentary

232
Q

Sedimentary Rock

A

Made up of sendiments weathered awat from other types of rocks and compiled

233
Q

Weathering

A

the process that occurs when chemical and physical agents gradually break down rock

234
Q

Examples of Sedimentary rocks

A

conglomerate (compiled pebbles), sandstone (compiled sand), limestone (compiled shells and dead organisms) and shale (compiled mid)

235
Q

Examples of Sedimentary rocks

A

conglomerate (compiled pebbles), sandstone (compiled sand), limestone (compiled shells and dead organisms) and shale (compiled mid)

236
Q

Metamorphic

A

When intense heat and pressure morph sedimentary or igneous rocks. Examples marble (pressurized limestone) and slate (pressurized shale)

237
Q

Which metal is consumed the most in the world

A

iron

238
Q

Strategic metals and minerals

A

materials a country cannot produce itself, but are essential for the country

239
Q

Geographic materials are extracted from the earth as

A

ore, rock that contains needed materials.

240
Q

Ore is exstracted through

A

Placer MiningUnderground MiningString Mining

241
Q

Placer Mining

A

washing pure nuggests from streams sendiments using pans or a hose to spray the riverbed. It is environmentally harmful because it chokes stream ecosystem with sendiment

242
Q

Underground mining

A

also known as tunneling. Is exstremely dangerous in that the tunnels can collapse, explode, cause fire, or lead to the releasing of contaminated water

243
Q

Strip Mining

A

also known was open-pit mining. Uses truckss to dig huge pits terraced with long ridges called spoil banks, which erode easily. Suscrptible to leaching, destory vegetation by contaminating soil. Ground water often accumulates in the put, resulting in a toxic soup that endangers wildlife and nearby watersheds

244
Q

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

A

Calls for better restoration techniques in mining, such as filling in pit mines

245
Q

Smelting

A

Heating up ore to high temperatures to seperate out pure metals. This process gives off sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain

246
Q

Heap-leach extraction

A

uses chemicals to extract pure metals (usally gold) from ore. The ore is sprayed with cyanide and gold is dissolved into a liquid.

247
Q

Atmosphere

A

Envelope of gases surrounding the Earth. The atmosphere used to contain mostly hydrogen and helium, but these gases diffused, and photoshynthesis and volcanic emissions caused nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (20 %) to be the most abundant

248
Q

Troposphere

A

One of the atmosphere’s four distinct zones, which differ in terms of temperature. The troposphere is the layer of air closest to the Earth’s surface and it is responsible for weather events. It redistributes mosture around the globe. As altitude increases the temperature of throposphere drops.

249
Q

Tropopause

A

One of the four zones of the atmosphere, which differ according to temperature. The sharp thermal boundary between the tropsphere and the stratosphere.

250
Q

Stratosphere

A

One of the four zones in the atmosphere, which differ in terms of temperature. The stratosphere has higher temperature, since it absorbs solar energy. Relatively calm and experiences little mixing. The stratosphere contains the ozone layer

251
Q

Ozone Layer

A

Contained in the stratosphere, which is one of the zones in the atomosphere. The ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing UV radiation.

252
Q

Chloroflurocarbons (CFC)

A

currently banned by nations, the use of CFCs has created a huge hole in the ozone (contained in the stratosphere) over Antartica, incewasing UV radiation, which causes skin cancer, cartaracts, crop failures, and genetic mutations.

253
Q

Mesosphere

A

The middle layer, where temperature drops again

254
Q

Thermosphere

A

The farthest layer from the Earth, which consists of ionized gases heated by solar energy.

255
Q

Aurora Borealis

A

Northern lights, caused by ionized gases heated by solar energy in the thermosphere

256
Q

Weather

A

denotes faily temperature and moisture conditions in certain areas

257
Q

Climate

A

Long-term weather patterns

258
Q

Weather Patterns are driven by

A

Solar Energy. Uneven heating with warm air closer to the equator (because the sun shines there directly) produces pressure differences that cause convection currents, wind, rain, and storms

259
Q

Coriolis Effect

A

The movement of wind is related to the rotation of the Earth

260
Q

Jet Streams

A

Forceful winds that circle the Earth at the top of the throposphere

261
Q

Latent Heat

A

The stored energy that water vapor produced by evaporating water contains

262
Q

Albedo

A

the reflectivity of the surface of the earth

263
Q

Weather Fronts

A

boundaries between air masses of different temperatures and densities

264
Q

Warm front

A

is a warm air mass that is less dense than surrounding air and leads to clouds

265
Q

Cold Front

A

Colder and more dense that the surrounding air and forms big puffy storm clouds

266
Q

Clashes between warm and cold air lead to

A

cyclonic storms over water (hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones) and tornados over land

267
Q

Milankovitch Cycles

A

Periodic climatic changes are affected by the orbit of theEarth, the angle of the Earth’s tilt, and the wobbling of the Earth’s axis

268
Q

El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

A

When every 3-5 years, when the warm surface water from Western Pacific moves eastward. During the intervening years the warm water remains in the Western Pacific. El Nino leads to wacky weather conditions such as excess rain in the Eastern Pacific and froughts or fires in the Western Pacific

269
Q

glass of a greenhouse

A

transmit sunlight but trap heat inside.

270
Q

Greenhouse Gases

A

Heat-trapping gases such as carbon-dioxide, methane (coal mines and landfills), Nitrous Oxides, CFCs, and Sulfur Hexafluoride (the has is medical inhalers).

271
Q

Aerosols

A

Tiny water droplets suspended in the air are thought to cool temperature by reflecting sunlight, but they are not the answer to global warming because they dont last long in the air

272
Q

Effects of Global Warming

A

Increases temperature above the range of tolerance for animals, coral reefs undego bleaching that kills off their mutualistic algae. Contribute to change in ocrean circulation and the occurence of severe storms. The growth of insentcts and rodents that carry diseases. Melt permafrost in the tundra, releasing pockets of methane previously locked in the frozen layer.

273
Q

Kyoto Protocol

A

International agreement to reduce greenhous gas emissions. US representatives refused to sign because it sets tighter limits for industrialized countries.

274
Q

Antropogenic

A

pollution caused by human activity.

275
Q

The Clean Air Act of 1970

A

Set limits for the criteria pollutants (also called the conventional pollutants) . These seven major air pollutants are considered the most serios threat to human welfare. The Clean Air Act also set primary standards, insteded to protect human health, and set secondary standards to protect property, crops, and visibility.

276
Q

7 Criteria Polutants

A

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)Carbon Monoxide (CO)Particulate MaterialVolatile Organic Compounds (VOC)Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)OzoneLead

277
Q

Criteria Pollutant: Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

A

Natural sources include sea-spray and oceanic vents. Antropogenic sources include burning of coal and oil. Sulfur dioxide oxidizes and dissolves in water to form sulfuric acid, which falls to earth as acid deposition (acid rain)

278
Q

Criteria Pollutants: Carbon Monoxide (CO)

A

Colorless, oderless, highly toxic gas produced by incomplete conbustion of fuel. It inhibits respiration in humans by binding to hemoglobin and prventing absorbtion of oxgen.

279
Q

Criteria Pollutants: Particulate Material

A

Particulates are particles that float in the airm such as dust, ash, soot, smoke, or pollen. They reduce visibilitty and breathing them in can damage lung tissue.

280
Q

Criteria Pollutants: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

A

VOCs are oganic gases, such as methane. In nature, they are given off in small quantities by plants. Anthropogenic sources are industrial plants, the burining of hydrocarbons (like benzene in gasoline), and vinyl chloride used in plastic production.

281
Q

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

A

A natural source of nitrogen oxide is the bacteria in the nitrogen cycle. The main anthropogenic source is combustion of fossil fuels. Nitrogen oxides are a major component of photochemical smog. NOx may also change into nitric acid, which can be another source of acid deposition.

282
Q

Ozone

A

Whereass stratospheric ozone is good, protecting us from UV rays, ozone in the troposphere is a harmful photochemical oxidant nd a component in smog. Ambient (meaning in the surrounding air) ozone has an acrid odor and damages vegetation, animal tissues, and building materials. It is formed when solar energy drives a reaction with nitrogen cycle

283
Q

Lead

A

Lead accounts for a majority of metallic air pollution. Other polluting metals are mercury from burning coal, nickel, uranim, and plutonium. Lead previously came from leaded gasoline, but may also be released through mining or manufacturing. Lead and mercury are neurotoxins.

284
Q

Primary Pollutants

A

those released directly in hazardous form

285
Q

Secondary Pollutants

A

released in nontoxic form, then react to become more toxic

286
Q

Unconventional Pollutants

A

The Clean Air Act of 1970 also identified unconventional pollutants, which are not as common as criteria pollutants, but are still toxic. (e.g. asbestos, PCBs).

287
Q

Indoor Pollutants

A

Air contaminant, smoke from cigarrets, radon

288
Q

Fugitive Emissions

A

Emissions that do not come out of chimney, exaust pipe, they are fugitive. (e.g. dust from mining or leaks from industrial valves)

289
Q

Two methods of controlling air pollution that goes through a smokestack

A

Filters and electrostatic precipitators (electrically charged devices that carry opposite chrages and stick to the device like a magnet)

290
Q

Fluidized bed combustion

A

Method of preventing sulfur oxide pollution. Forces high-pressure air through coal and crushed limestone on a combustion bed. The limestone reacts with the sulfur, converting it into a harmless form.

291
Q

Flue-gas Scrubbing

A

Spraying sulfur oxide with limestone

292
Q

Catalytic Converter

A

Used by carts to convert nitrogen oxide into other chemicals

293
Q

To remove Volatile Organic Compounds (hydrocarbon) cars use

A

PCV which recycles unused fuel and returns it to the engine

294
Q

Air Polution can cause these 3 things

A

Bronchitis, Emphysema, and chlorosis, where plants have a difficult time oxidizing chlorophyll, and acid rain

295
Q

Acid Deposition

A

damage fish eggs, small invertebrates, causes nutrients to leach out of soil, acid also reacts with aluminium in soil and makes it precipitate out. Kills mycorrhize, a symbiotic root fungus that helps trees absorb water.

296
Q

Withdrawal

A

the amount of water taken from a source

297
Q

Consumption

A

fraction of withdrawn water that is evaporated, absorbed, or lost in transmission as a result of human use

298
Q

Drip Irigation

A

a water efficient technique that delivers small quanities of water directly to a palnt

299
Q

Residence time

A

the amount of time a water molecule spend in the world’s water suppy, usually 3000 years

300
Q

Renewable Water Suppy

A

Oceans are notpart of the renewable water supply. Fresh water ~ 2.5% is compposed of ground water, glaciers, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and the atmosphere.

301
Q

Humidity

A

the amount of water in the atmosphere

302
Q

Atmospere as a renewable source of energy

A

Holds the smallest percentage of water and fastest turnover rate

303
Q

Dew Point

A

The temp @ which condensation occurs

304
Q

Condensation Nuclei

A

particulates in air help condensation occur on the surface of these particulates.

305
Q

Cloud Seeding

A

Utilizes condensation nuclei principle, particulates are sprayed into the air to encourage rain.

306
Q

Mountain and rain pattern

A

up-slope side of mountain is wet and rainy, while down-slope rain shadow is dry and experiences less rain

307
Q

Infilitration

A

Rain that doesnt evaporate or runoff, percolates through the soil in a process called infiltration

308
Q

Zone of Aeration

A

The upper layers of soil, containing both water and pockets of air, make up the zone of aeration

309
Q

Zone of Saturation

A

The source of wells, where soil layers are completely waterlogged

310
Q

Water Table

A

the top of the zone of saturation is called the water table

311
Q

Cone of Depression

A

The section of the water table where groundwater is being depleted faster than it is renewed

312
Q

Two negative effects of groundwater depletion

A

Subsidence - sinking of land, may form a sink holeSaltwater Intrusion - salt water contaminates an aquifer, since it moves in to fill the void left by depleted freshwater

313
Q

Water Stress

A

When groundwater in an area is being used up faster than it can be renewed

314
Q

To increase the water supply to dry areas try

A

cloud seeding and desalinization

315
Q

Desalinization

A

involves removing salt water from ocean water; however this is very expensive.

316
Q

Evironmental impact of dams

A

Good for providing water and hydroelectricityConsequences:Raise water level, flood towns, loss of free-flowing river, decrease river flow and disrupts migration of fish, Collect silt, water lost through evaporation

317
Q

Point Sources

A

Factories, power plants, and oil wells, these release pollution directly from specific locations such as pipes

318
Q

Nonpoint sources

A

runoff from farm fields, logging sites, and urban areas, are hard to monitor, because they have no specific discharge point

319
Q

Water is tested for the presence of

A

coliform bacteria (e. coli) these bacteria are present in feces

320
Q

Red Tides

A

occur when dinoflagellates or algae releases toxins in water that damage humans

321
Q

How is oxygen added and removed from water

A

Added trhough photosynthesis or diffusion of water. Removed through respiration.

322
Q

Biochemical oxygen Demand

A

the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by organisms is a standard measure of water contamination. Since when organic material like sewage is added to water, stimulates oxygen consumption by decomposers. The higher the BOD the worse

323
Q

Oxygen Sag

A

A decline in the DO

324
Q

Zones in water

A

Clean zone is before pollution source, Decomposiiton zone is where decomposers begin to metabolize waste material, after the decomposition zone is the septic zone where water becomes so oxygen depleted that fish die and only worms and microorganisms survive. Past this zone is the recovery zone, where since there were fewer decomposers the DO rose. After the recovery zone in another clean zone.

325
Q

Cultural Eutrophication

A

caused when nutrients enter a waterway. Algal blooms reduce water clarity and oxygen levels in a process called cultural eutrophication

326
Q

Hypoxic zone

A

Results from a lack of oxygen in waterm where fish die

327
Q

Oligotrophic

A

when there are low levels of nutrients in a water body

328
Q

Placer Mining

A

involves washing pure niggests from stream sendiment using pans or a hose to spray the riverbed.

329
Q

oligotrophic

A

when there are low levels of nutrients in a water body

330
Q

Water pollution includes sendiment. What are the effects of this sendiment

A

Sendiment mostly from agricultural erosion. The sendiment fills up reservoirs, suffocates coral reefs, and ruins spawning grounds

331
Q

Thermal Pollution

A

occurs when power plants release heated water into rivers, which disrupts aquatic organisms and decreases oxygen levels

332
Q

Clean Water Act

A

make all surface waters fit for fishing and swimming. Need permit to discharge pollutant into navigatable water. Best Practicable Technology (BPT) be used to clean up point source, Best Available Technology (BAT) used to clean up toxin

333
Q

Clean Water Act: Total Maximum Daily Load

A

the maximum daily pollution amount allowed for each pollutant and body of water in the US

334
Q

Primary Treatment in Wastewater treatment

A

filters out solid material and takes out sendiment with a grit chamber. During this step, the steeling tanks allow some dissolved organic solids to fall out as sludge.

335
Q

Wastewater treatement: Secondary Treatment

A

removes disease-causing pathogens by adding chlorine. This step also involves treating sludge using iether lagoons or aeration tanks

336
Q

Wastewater treatment: Lagoon System

A

places sludge in shallow basins for several months, allowing for natural, gradual degradation of sewage.

337
Q

Wastewater treatment: Lagoon System

A

places sludge in shallow basins for several months, allowing for natural, gradual degra

338
Q

Wastewater treatment: Aeration Tank

A

pumps air through a tank filled with aerobic bacteria that break down the sludge more quockly. This is also called the activated sludge process.

339
Q

Wastewater treatment: Tertiary treatment

A

gets rid of dissolved nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates. This is often accomplished by allowing effluent, a term that refers to water being treated, to flow through wetland

340
Q

Effluent

A

water being treated for waste

341
Q

Septic Tank

A

Developing countries rel on septic tanks instead of municipal (town wide) sewage treatment. Septic tanks hold solid waste to be decomposed by bacteria. The septic tank system allows liquids to percolate through drain fields, where they are aerated to presumably kill germs

342
Q

Waste Stream

A

the waste a society produces

343
Q

most common method ofWaste dumping in developed countries

A

sanitary landfills, where solid wastes are compacted and buried under soil

344
Q

“LAw of the sea” London Dumping Convention

A

ended all ocean dumping of plastics, oil effluent, and industrial waste by signatory countries

345
Q

Problem with incinerators and sanitary landfills

A

PEople refuse to have landfils or incinerators in their area. Locally Unwanted Land Uses. Not in my backyard

346
Q

Incineration

A

the heat form incineration can produce steam used directly for heating buildings or generating electricity. Incineration is very expensive

347
Q

Refuse-derived fuel

A

Garbage that can produce higher fuel content, because the unburnable or recyclable materials

348
Q

Demanufacturing

A

the disassembly and recycling of obselete consumer products like television sets

349
Q

Composting

A

the breakdown of organic matter under aerobic (oxygen rich) conditions. Compost makes a nutrient-rich soil amendment that improves crop yields, slows erosion, and aids in water retention, produces methane

350
Q

Methods of dealing with hazardous waste

A

recycled, converted to less hazardous form, bioremediated (use of microorganisms to breakdown hazardous material), placed in permanent retrievable storage

351
Q

Brownfields

A

large polluted area that has been abandoned

352
Q

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

A

requires industry to keep meticulous account of every hazardous waste they handle

353
Q

CERCLA (Superfund Act)

A

aimed at rapid containment, cleanup, or remediation of abandoned toxic waste sites. Authorizes EPA to undertake emergency actions to cleanup these sites using superfund, a fund produced by collecting taxes from the producers fo tociv material.

354
Q

National Priorities List (NPL) sites

A

hazardos to human health and environment

355
Q

BTU

A

unit of energy

356
Q

Fossil Fuels

A

Energy rich chemicals derived from wastes and dead organisms (e.g. oil, coal, natural gas)

357
Q

Shale Oil

A

consists of kerogen (yields petroleum) trapped in sendimentary rock

358
Q

Tar Sands

A

Made up of oil and sand coated with hydrocarbobs. However these oil sources are often dificult and expensive to extract and refine

359
Q

Lignite

A

the softest, has low sulfur content, but does provide much energy

360
Q

Coal: Bituminous

A

this coal has higher sulfur content and more energy efficient

361
Q

Coal: Anthracite

A

Has the highest energy yield and the lowest sulfur content

362
Q

Drawbacks of coal as a fuel resource

A

coal releases toxins like mercury and is associated with the collapsing tunnels and fires, erosion, leaching of chemicals, sendimentation, contamination of ground water, and destruction of habitat

363
Q

Why is natural gas cleaner than burning oil and coal

A

produces half the amount of CO2 as coal.

364
Q

What is dificult about relying on natural gas

A

natural gas is difficult to transport and store

365
Q

Unconventional sources of natural gas

A

methane hydrate which is trapped in the tundra’s permafrost and methane digesters, which trap methade released when decomposers break down human and animal waste

366
Q

Blank is the most commonly used isotope of an element used in nuclear power plants

A

U-235. About 100 rods make up a fuel assembly

367
Q

Nuclear Power Plants rely on which chemical process

A

nuclear fission

368
Q

amplifying chain reaction

A

fission reaction grows out of control

369
Q

Pressurized-Water Reactors (PWR)

A

The design of the majority of the world’s nuclear plants, water circulates through the core to absorb heat. The water is pumped to a steam generator

370
Q

Boiling Water Reactor

A

A popular design in the USSR, uses graphite both as a moderator and as a structural material for rods, this design is unsafebecause the graphite can melt

371
Q

Passive Heat Absorption

A

The simplest use of solar energy involves using natural materials to gather and hold heat

372
Q

Active Solar System

A

Pump a heat-absorbing lfuid through a collector

373
Q

Solar energy can be stored in these 2

A

Water bins or eutectic chemicals

374
Q

Photovoltic Cel

A

capture solar energy and directly convert it to an electric current. These products have virtually no down side.

375
Q

Energy source for developing countries

A

Biomass such as organic material like wood, charcoal, agricultural or timber waste, and shit.

376
Q

Effect of using biomass as fuel

A

Emits less SO2 and reduces bioinvaders, however this process is time-consuming, releases carbon oxides (soot).

377
Q

Biodiesel

A

directly uses vegetable oil instead of gas

378
Q

Hydroelectric Energy

A

renewable energy source that generates electricity when water flows through a turbine, usually a dam.

379
Q

Tidal Energy

A

Related to hydroelectric energy uses tides along the coast to generate electricity. It contributes to coastal erosion and destroys habitats.

380
Q

OCean Thermal Electric Conversion (OTEC)

A

uses temperature differences between warmer surface water and cooler deep waer to generate electricity with a heat exchanger and turbine

381
Q

The ultimate source of wind energy is

A

the sun, which drives the movement of air masses.

382
Q

Wind Farm

A

concentration of wind generators producing commercial electricity. Causes minimal environmental disruption.

383
Q

Wind Farm

A

concentration of wind generators producing commercial electricity. Causes minimal environmental disruption.

384
Q

Geothermal Energy

A

uses heat from the Earth as in hot springs to generate electricity

385
Q

Fuel Cell

A

a device that uses ongoing electrochemical reactions powered by hydrogen to produce an electrical current.

386
Q

Cogeneration

A

Reuses waste heat for other purposes like heating water

387
Q

Chernobyl, Ukraine

A

The plant’s operators were careless and violated procedures, causing the graphit-moderated Boiling Water Reactor to lose its coolant water and explode. The subsequent blasts released radioactive matter into the atmosphere. Two people were initially killed by the explosion, while thousands suffered radiation illness

388
Q

Chernobyl, Ukraine

A

The plant’s operators were careless and violated procedures, causing the graphit-moderated Boiling Water Reactor to lose its coolant water and explode. The subsequent blasts released radioactive matter into the atmosphere. Two people were initially killed by the explosion, while thousands suffered radiation illness

389
Q

Love Canal, NY

A

Early in the 1940s, a chemical company purchased the abandoned Love Canal to use as a dump, filled it to capacity with toxic waste, and covered the toxins with dirt. The company then sold the land to the area’s Board of Education. The site became a playground, heavy rains in 1977 caused the toxins to seep into the soil, making people in the neighborhood suffer serious illnesses such as Epilepsy, liver malfuntion, miscarriages, skin sores, rectal bleeding, and birth defects. The outcry encouraged congress to pass CERCLA (Superfund)

390
Q

Bhopal, India

A

The Bhopal disaster in 1984 was the worst industrial disaster in history. It was caused by the accidental release of huge quantities of toxic MIC gas from a pesticide plant. The MIC leak killed thousands outright and caused many to suffer from neurological issues

391
Q

Three Mile Island, PA

A

In 1979, the nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island suffered a partial core meltdown. The cooling system had failed, building up pressue in the reactor core. The disaster caused a serious decline in the popularity of nuclear power in the US

392
Q

Minamata, Japan

A

From 1932 to 1968, a Japanese petrochemical and power company dumped an estimated 27 tons of mercury compounds in Minamata Bay. Thousands of townspeople whose regular diet consisted of fish from the bay developed Mercury poisoning. 900 deaths

393
Q

Minamata, Japan

A

From 1932 to 1968, a Japanese petrochemical and power company dumped an estimated 27 tons of mercury compounds in Minamata Bay. Thousands of townspeople whose regular diet consisted of fish from the bay developed Mercury poisoning. 900 deaths

394
Q

Carson

A

Author of Silent Spring and founder of the modern environmental movement who revealed the harmful ecological effects of the presticides DDT

395
Q

Carson

A

Author of Silent Spring and founder of the modern environmental movement who revealed the harmful ecological effects of the presticides DDT

396
Q

Roosevelt & Pinchot

A

Roosevelt moved forest management into the Dep. of Agriculture, naming Pinchot the first chief of the new Forest Service. Roosevelt and Pinchot established the framework of the national forest, park, and wildlife refuge system and helped pass game protection legislation. Actions based off of utilitarian conservation. The principle that forests should be saved not for nature’s sake, but to provide jobs and homes for people

397
Q

Utilitarian Conservation

A

The principle that forests should be saved not for nature’s sake but to provide jobs and homes

398
Q

Muir

A

Influential conservationist who worked to preserve wildlide from commercial exploitation. His efforts helped to established Yosemite. Founded Sierra Club.

399
Q

Leopold

A

Often considered the father of wildlife ecology, Leopold was the author of the sand county almanacin which he outlined “land ethic”. He advocated restoration of damaged land combined with Stewardship of nature.

400
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

Carbon cycle is driven by photosynthesis

401
Q

Human effect on CO2 cycle

A

Combustion of fossil fuels leads to more carbon being released. Carbon sinks include plants, the ocean, calciulm carbonate (limestone and coral reefs).