Test #4 Flashcards
Topic 1: Climate Reading Notes
cards 2-12
Ozone in stratosphere
absorbs UV radiation which stops organisms’ tissues from being damaged
Ozone in troposphere
secondary pollutant made by chemical reactions initiated by solar energy
- reactive oxidizing agent that
damages eyes, lungs, plant
tissue, etc.
Abundant and effective greenhouse gasses
- carbon dioxide (CO2)
- methane (CH4)
- water vapor
Ice cores
shows how atmosphere changed over time: variations of atmo CO2, ash layers, spikes in sulfate concentration and ancient temps
Keeling Curve (graph)
shows concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in Earth’s atmosphere since 1958- increasing
Climate change trends
- direct relationship between CO2 & temperature
- higher CO2 levels in fall/winter
- most increase in ave temp <1980
- exponential increase of methane, CO2, & nitrous oxide around 1800s
Consequences of 2 deg C of global climate warming
- threatened food production
- more common/severe droughts
- more climate refugees
- rising sea levels
- heat-related mortality increases
- more forest fires & coral bleaching
Recent climate changes are caused by human activity because
observed trends fit models built w/ human factors ex. fossil fuel use, forest clearing, not models w/o
Climate change is controversial because
many media commentators/ politicians treat climate change as an identity/philosophy, not based in sci. evidence
Clean Air Act of 1963
first piece of legislation that addressed air pollution in the US
2015 Paris Accord goals
- keeping global ave temp increases below 2 C (better is 1.5)
- reaching zero carbon emissions
- country has voluntary emission reduction goals & progresses
- advanced economies should strive to donate $100 billion/yr
Topic 2: Greenhouse Effect
cards 13-18
Greenhouse effect
capture of energy by gasses in the atmosphere
Greenhouse gasses (most common)
- carbon dioxide
- methane
- nitrous oxide
- water vapor
Heat INTO atmosphere
fluctuates throughout the day due to the position of the sun in the sky
Heat OUT of atmosphere
fluctuates on long-term basis; inversely correlated to amount of greenhouse gases in atmosphere
- more GG = less heat out & vice versa
An increase of greenhouse gasses (esp CO2) in atmosphere
causes an increase in temperature
Topic 3: Global Climate Change
cards 20-24
Direct temperature
temp measured using thermometers & other tech
Proxy data
temp reading deduced from tree rings, coral growth, & ice cores then calibrated by modern time temp
IPPC 2001 Climate change report
Earth’s surface temp has been increasing steadily since around 1980 (jump at 1920-40, then drop)
- past 30 yrs: above ave Earth temp
- past 1000 yrs: mostly below ave Earth temp
Ice’s albedo
ice loss escalates ice loss: ice reflects sunlight (albedo is 80-90) so-
less ice = more heat absorption = higher temp = more melted ice & repeat
Sea ice extent
sea ice extent at the poles has greatly decreased
Topic 4: Shipping Industry
cards 26-27
Global shipping contributes to
2-3% of greenhouse gas emissions annually
Strategies to reduce shipping GG emissions
- standardize the shipping box size
- stop shipping half empty boxes
- use hydrogen/solar based energy for shipping
Topic 5: Air Pollution Notes
cards 29-45
Six conventional/criteria pollutants
- sulfur dioxide
- nitrogen oxides
- carbon monoxide
- ozone
- lead
- particulate matter
Sulfur dioxide
colorless, corrosive gas that damages plants & animals- large cause of air pollution health damage
Nitrogen oxides
highly reactive gasses formed when combustion heat initiates reactions between atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen
Carbon monoxide
colorless, odorless, highly toxic gas mainly produced by incomplete combustion of fuel
Ozone (O3)
secondary pollutant made by chemical reactions that are initiated by solar energy: highly reactive oxidizing agent
Lead
impairs nerve and brain functions; most abundantly produced metal air pollutant
Particulate matter
includes dust, ash, soot, lint, smoke, pollen, spores, algal cells, aerosols, etc
Point vs non-point sources
point = pollution that comes from a specific site
non-point = pollution that originates from a large, diffuse area
Primary vs secondary pollutant
primary: chemical directly added into air by natural events or human activities in harmful dose
secondary: from chemical reactions; primary pollutant touches PP/naturally occurring substance
Hazardous air pollutant
chemicals include carcinogens, neurotoxins, mutagens, teratogens, endocrine system disrupters
CFCs
chlorofluorocarbons: potent GGs, created chemicals used as coolants and propellants in aerosols, depletes ozone layer
Montreal Protocol
1987- nations met in Canada & agreed to fight against ozone depletion: CFCs banned, successful
Air pollution health effects
irritates & damages delicate tissues in eyes & lungs
- temp inversion irritates lungs & eyes
Acid precipitation
conversion of sulfur & nitrogen oxides to acids that return to Earth as rain, snow, or fog
Acid deposition/precip effect on plant life
- destroys vegetation
- creates desolate (deserted of ppl), barren landscapes
Catalytic converter
device in a motor vehicle that reduces the amount of pollutants in emissions/exhaust
Why clean air laws are controversial
laws usually want polluters to pay for pollution control and the polluters object
Topic 6: Water Pollution
cards 47-50
Toxic pollution
chemicals that can cause disease, death, or birth defects when ingested or absorbed by organisms
Sediment pollution
caused by erosion of soil into waterways; usually during heavy rain- soil piles up
Nutrient pollution
excessive amount of nutrients- ex nitrogen & phosphorus: promotes eutrophication
Bacterial pollution
addition of microorganisms, which can cause health problems in organisms
Topic 7: Water Resources Notes
cards 52-66
Water functions
- dissolves nutrients
- distributes nutrients to cells
- regulates body temperature
- supports structures
- removes waste products
Impact of climate change on water resources
climate change is shrinking glaciers and snowfields
Water supply
- 2.4 % is freshwater
- ≈90% of freshwater is glaciers, ice caps, snowfields
- groundwater is largest compartment of liquid freshwater
Water table (groundwater)
top of zone of saturation that supplies most wells
Zone of saturation (groundwater)
lower soil layer w/ pores filled with water
Aquifer
porous layers of sand/gravel or of cracked/porous rock & below, relatively impermeable rock/clay layers to stop water seepage
Surface water includes
rivers, lakes, wetlands- bogs, swamps, marshes, wet meadows
Atmospheric water
- contains 0.001% of total water supply
- important for redistributing water: can travel halfway around the world before water falls
Water usage
- agriculture: 70% of total water withdrawal
- industry: ≈20% of total water withdrawal
- domestic: 6% of water withdrawal (drinking, cooling, washing)
- developed countries use 10x more
Water scarcity
- subsidence: scarcity causes aquifers to collapse- subsidence (sinking of ground surface) follows
- saltwater intrusion: movement of saltwater into freshwater aquifers in coastal areas
- drought: long period of below ave precip w/ impact on eco, agric, & economies
Water conservation
- protect land & soil
- preserve wetlands
- multiple small dams
- protect forests
- lessen domestic use
Leading water contaminants
- pathogens, mercury, other metals, nutrients, sediment
Sources of groundwater pollution
- industrial waste
- leaking underground storage tank
- leaking septic tank
- surface runoff
Ocean pollution
- dead zones & poisonous algal blooms
- toxic chemicals, heavy metals, oil, sediment
New/unusual water contaminants
antibiotics, natural & synthetic hormones, detergents, plasticizers, insecticides, fire retardants
Topic 8: The Plastic Problem
cards 68-69
Garbage patch
5 plastic “ocean patches”- 1: Indian Ocean, 2: Atlantic Ocean, 2: Pacific Ocean
Removing plastic
- incineration: smoke in air is harmful (>35.4)
- plastic-consuming bacteria: too small to be useful right now
- plastic roads: recycled plastic used to make this
- sea bins: garbage filter for water
Topic 9: Carbon and Plastic Footprint
cards 71-73
Plastic is connected to climate change
drilling of oil to make plastic releases greenhouse gasses like CO2 & methane which warm planet
Reducing carbon footprint
- walk, bike, public transit
- install compact fluorescent bulbs, insulate home
- unplug electronics, dry clothes outside
- eat more organic food, plant a garden
- use biodegradable & non-toxic products
- take shorter showers & compost
Reducing plastic footprint
- install water fountains to fill reusable bottles
- not use straws
- offering reusable cloth bags
Topic 10: Environmental Geology and Earth
cards 75-89
Fossil fuels
made from ancient organisms under heat & pressure for millions of years
- abundant & available, produces GGs, A&W pollution, non-renewable
- 81% of energy tech
Wind & Solar Energy
- 2.5-5.6% of energy tech
- less expensive, renewable, takes space, produces toxic waste
Nuclear & Hydropower
- 10.1% of power (<10% made from water)
- doesn’t release GGs, renewable, expensive, makes toxic waste
Biomass & Geothermal energy
biomass- using plants for fuel
geothermal- ground source of heat
- 5-6% of power
- renewable, deforestation, soil erosion & water contamination
Electric cars
adv = reduces GGs if electric grids become 0 carbon
disadv = materials used to make EC battery can bleed into enviro & harm ppl, recycling batteries uses large amounts of water, mining seabeds damages ocean eco- noise & light pollution
Open-pit air and water effects
groundwater gets in pit- creates toxic water that ppl don’t know how to detox
Strip-mining air and water effects
- destruction of ecosystems
- blasting damage & noise pollution
- flooding, extreme hazards b/c of waste
Underground mining air and water effects
may cause subsidence and air/water pollution
- water seeps into mine shafts & can dissolve toxic materials
Placer mining
chokes stream ecosystems w/ sediment
Metal products
copper: electric & electronic industry
lead: car batteries & ammunition
platinum: auto catalytic converters
Igneous rock
solidified from hot, molten magma/lava
- products: granite
Metamorphic rock
form from melting, contorting, & recrystallizing of other rocks
- products: diamond, marble
Sedimentary rock
loose grains of other rocks consolidated by time and pressure
- products: halite
Considerations in recycling mined resources
- how cost effective the recycling is
- how much energy is required to recycle
Alternatives to mined resources
- plastic pipe
- fiber optic tech & satellite comm
- polymers, aluminum, ceramics in autos
