Sustainable and Natural Resources

Question 1

Renewable vs Non Renewable Resources

Answer 1

Renewable resources are resources that are replenished by the environment over a relatively short period of time
Non-Renewable resources - not easily replenished by the environment

Question 2

Alternative Energy Sources

Answer 2

Geothermal, hydro, solar

Question 3

Carbon Sinks

Answer 3

A forest, ocean or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
absorbs more carbon than it releases

Question 4

Desertification

Answer 4

The process by which fertile land becomes a desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture

Question 5

Agriculture runoff/pollution

Answer 5

Fertilizers in water runoff are harmful to the river ecosystems that they pollute, causing degradation to the environment, humans and the ecosystem

Question 6

Food Miles

Answer 6

A mile over which a food item is transported from producer to customer, a unit of fuel is used to measure

Question 7

Sustainable practices

Answer 7

GMO, organic, drought resistant crops

Question 8

Greenhouse effect

Answer 8

Trapping of the suns heat in the planets lower atmosphere due to greenhouse gases trapping the heat

Question 9

Greenhouse gases

Answer 9

A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation e.g. carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons

Question 10

Rising Sea level

Answer 10

Tied to global warming
as water heats up it expands
melting of glaciers and polar ice caps
ice loss from greenland and west antacrtica

Question 11

Ice melt/ Shrinking Polar Regions

Answer 11

Large formations like glaciers and the polar ice caps naturally melt back in the summer
Persistantly higher than average temperatures have resulted in greater than average summer melting, and diminished snowfall

Question 12

Carbon footprint

Answer 12

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly and indirectly to support human activity (tons of CO2)

Question 13

Water conservation

Answer 13

Water conservation can help decrease pollution in nearby lakes, watershed and rivers.

Question 14

Ecofriendly Materials

Answer 14

Dimensional lumber - retains heat
cellulose - recycled newspaper treated with fire retardent
oil based so VOC’s won’t be present (they contain mercury which can be toxic to humans)