Tres Flashcards
What is point-source pollution?
Pollution released from distinct, confined locations, such as a factory or sewage treatment plant.
What is non-point source pollution?
Contamination that collects from large areas, such as farms or suburban communities.
Why is it important to differentiate between point-source and non-point source pollution?
It helps in controlling pollutant inputs to waterways.
What are pathogens in the context of water pollution?
Parasites, bacteria, and viruses that can cause diseases in humans and other organisms.
What are the major water-borne diseases worldwide?
- Cholera
- Hepatitis
What is oxygen-demanding waste?
Material containing organic matter that depletes oxygen in water as it decomposes.
What are inorganic compounds in water pollution?
Chemical compounds that do not come from animals or plants, like nitrogen and phosphorus.
What is eutrophication?
The excessive growth of algae due to an oversupply of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus.
What are Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)?
Toxic chemicals created by humans that persist in the environment and can accumulate in organisms.
What are PCBs?
Polychlorinated biphenyls, toxic and carcinogenic compounds used in plastics and electrical transformers.
What are sediments in water pollution?
Nonchemical pollutants like sand, silt, and clay that can clog fish gills and reduce sunlight infiltration.
What causes thermal pollution?
Alterations in water flow or temperature due to industrial processes or human activities.
What are major sources of ocean and shoreline pollution?
- Crude oil
- Petroleum products
What was the Deepwater Horizon oil spill?
A 2010 oil spill that released 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.
What is solid waste pollution?
The dumping of solid waste in open waters, which can be dangerous to marine life and humans.
What are microplastics?
Plastic particles smaller than 5 mm that can pose health risks to animals and humans.
What is wastewater?
All water from houses and buildings that is destined for a sewage treatment plant or septic system.
What is gray water?
Wastewater from sources other than toilets, which is sometimes reused without treatment.
What are the phases of wastewater treatment?
- Primary treatment
- Secondary treatment
What does primary treatment in wastewater facilities accomplish?
Removes 40 to 50 percent of solid waste material.
What is the Clean Water Act?
A law passed in 1972 aimed at protecting surface water by managing pollution.
What are the six criteria pollutants identified by the Clean Air Act?
- Sulfur dioxide
- Nitrogen oxides
- Carbon monoxide
- Lead
- Particulate matter
- Ground-level ozone
What is sulfur dioxide (SO2)?
A gas released by volcanic eruptions and burning fossil fuels, harmful to respiratory systems.
What are nitrogen oxides (NOX)?
Gases formed from combustion that can contribute to air pollution and ozone formation.
True or False: Air pollution can only be produced by human activities.
False
What is sulfur dioxide (SO2) and its impact on health?
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) can irritate the lungs and is harmful to individuals with respiratory illnesses. SO2 can also form sulfuric acid, a component of acid rain.
What are nitrogen oxides (NOX) and their role in air pollution?
Nitrogen oxides (NOX) are formed from combustion and can harm health and contribute to ozone formation and urban air pollution. NOX can react to form nitric acid, which is harmful to ecosystems.
What is carbon monoxide (CO) and its health effects?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless gas formed during incomplete combustion that can cause dizziness, headaches, confusion, and even death. It binds with hemoglobin, interfering with oxygen transport.
What is lead (Pb) and its sources?
Lead (Pb) is a naturally occurring element found in air, water, and soil, historically emitted from leaded gasoline and still present in lead-based paint and plumbing. Lead can cause anemia and neurological impacts, particularly in young children.
Define particulate matter and its sources.
Particulate matter refers to solid or liquid particles suspended in air, originating from combustion products like wood, coal, and oil. Natural sources include forest fires and volcanoes.
What is ground-level ozone and its formation?
Ground-level ozone (O3) is formed from chemical reactions involving nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides in the presence of sunlight. It is a significant component of photochemical smog.
What are criteria pollutants?
Criteria pollutants are common air pollutants with known adverse health impacts, regulated under the Clean Air Act’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Examples include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.
What are secondary pollutants?
Secondary pollutants are formed from chemical reactions of primary pollutants in the atmosphere, such as smog and acid rain. These reactions often require solar energy and atmospheric moisture.
What are natural sources of air pollution?
Natural sources of air pollution include volcanoes, forest fires, and living or dead plants that release pollutants into the atmosphere. These sources can significantly impact air quality.
What is an atmospheric inversion?
An atmospheric inversion occurs when a warm air layer traps cooler air below, leading to the accumulation of ground-level pollutants. This phenomenon is common in urban areas with high emissions.
Describe the process of generating electricity from non-renewable sources.
Electricity is generated by converting chemical potential energy from fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas into electrical potential energy using steam to turn turbines.
What is coal and its formation?
Coal is a fossil fuel formed from tropical plants buried under sediments that underwent compaction over millions of years. Types of coal include peat, lignite, bituminous coal, and anthracite.
What are the environmental impacts of coal mining?
Coal mining can lead to air pollution from harmful emissions and degrade water quality, causing issues like acid mine drainage.
How is petroleum formed?
Petroleum is formed from the remains of ocean-dwelling plankton preserved over millions of years, found in porous rock formations.
What are the advantages of natural gas?
Natural gas is cleaner burning than coal and oil, producing fewer impurities and lower CO2 emissions during combustion.
What is hydraulic fracturing?
Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) involves injecting high-pressure fluids to create fractures in rock formations to extract oil and gas.
What is the role of uranium in nuclear power?
Uranium is the fuel used in nuclear power generation, undergoing fission to produce heat for electricity.
The process involves mining, enriching, and fabricating uranium into fuel rods.
What percentage of uranium oxide might an ore contain?
2−3 percent uranium oxide
What is the process called when uranium atoms split into more atoms?
Radioactive decay
What do pellets of uranium oxide release during fission reactions?
A small amount of heat
How much energy does a pound of enriched uranium contain compared to gasoline?
The energy content of a million gallons of gasoline
How many tons of coal does ten tons of enriched uranium oxide roughly equal in energy?
260,000 tons of coal
True or False: Nuclear power plants produce air pollution when operating.
False
What is the maximum carbon dioxide emission per kilowatt-hour for a nuclear power plant?
60 grams
What catastrophic event occurred on March 28, 1979, affecting nuclear power perception?
Three Mile Island accident
What was the cause of the Chernobyl disaster on April 26, 1986?
Operators disconnected emergency cooling systems and removed control rods
How many people were forced to evacuate due to the Fukushima disaster in March 2011?
More than 150,000 people
What type of waste is produced by nuclear power that requires special storage?
Radioactive waste
What is the term for spent nuclear fuel rods?
Spent
What is the name of the proposed long-term repository for nuclear waste in Nevada?
Yucca Mountain
What are renewable energy sources that cannot be depleted?
Sources like the Sun and the wind
Fill in the blank: The Sun is responsible for generating _______.
Wind
What is the solar constant?
Roughly 1,370 watts per square meter
What is passive solar energy?
Collection of solar energy directly from the Sun without intermediate technology
What materials have high thermal inertia?
Stone and concrete
What is active solar energy?
Energy systems that utilize solar energy with assistance from fans, blowers, and pumps
How does a photovoltaic solar cell generate electricity?
Thin layers of silicon dioxide generate an electrical current when exposed to sunlight
What is the average energy generation of a contemporary wind turbine per month?
Over 843,000 kWh
What is an advantage of solar and wind energy?
Potential to provide heat and electricity without air or water pollution
What is a disadvantage of solar and wind energy?
The Sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow all the time
What materials are required for large-scale battery production for energy storage?
Lithium, cobalt, and other minerals
What is one environmental concern associated with wind power?
Bird collisions with windmills
What is wind power considered in terms of resource classification?
Sustainable, renewable, and free resource.
What aesthetic disadvantage is associated with wind farms?
Many people do not like living in a place where they can see or hear the turbines.
How many birds die each year in collisions with windmills in the United States?
An estimated 10,000 to 40,000 birds.
What has been done to reduce bird deaths caused by wind power?
New designs and purposeful location of towers away from migration paths.
What percentage of total renewable electricity in the U.S. is accounted for by hydropower?
Approximately 28.7 percent.
What is the primary function of a hydroelectric power plant?
To capture kinetic energy from falling water to turn a turbine.
What are the two main types of hydroelectric generation?
- Run-of-the-river
- Water impoundment
Fill in the blank: Run-of-the-river hydro plants are mostly __________ scale.
small
What is a significant environmental concern regarding water impoundment?
Flooding of land and loss of ecological communities.
What is biomass energy derived from?
Organic matter, including plants, animals, and their waste products.
What percentage of all renewable energy consumed in the U.S. is accounted for by biomass?
Roughly 37 percent.
What is the difference between modern carbon and fossil carbon?
Modern carbon was recently in the atmosphere; fossil carbon has been stored for millions of years.
What is the most common biomass fuel in the U.S.?
Ethanol.
How is ethanol produced?
By fermentation of sugars and starches in biomass.
What is the primary advantage of using ethanol as a fuel?
It boosts octane and helps oxygenate gasoline.
What is geothermal energy derived from?
The heat produced from radioactive decay of elements deep in the Earth.
What is a limitation of tidal energy generation?
The difference in water level between high and low tides is often insufficient.
What is energy efficiency a measure of?
How effective we are at getting usable work from a given input of energy.
What is the efficiency of most older conventional electricity-generating plants?
About 36 percent.
Fill in the blank: The goals for energy use in a sustainable society are to increase efficiency while reducing __________ and pollutants.
costs
What is conservation in the context of energy sustainability?
A consumer-based approach that focuses on reducing energy use by changing habits.
What is the potential effect of burning fossil carbon compared to modern carbon?
Fossil carbon adds to the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.
What are fish ladders designed for?
To allow fish to travel upstream around a hydro dam.
What can mercury be converted into when conditions are created by hydro dams?
Methyl mercury.
What is the primary energy source for producing electricity from geothermal energy?
Creating steam to power turbines.
What is a disadvantage of tidal energy generation stations?
They disrupt the ecology of coastal and ocean organisms.
What are the primary sources of biomass energy in the U.S.?
- Wood and wood products
- Municipal solid waste
- Agricultural wastes
- Methane from landfills
What is energy efficiency?
Using less energy to do the same work
Energy efficiency can be improved through individual choices, such as using smaller vehicles or energy-efficient appliances.
How can individuals increase energy efficiency?
By making choices such as:
* Buying a small car
* Insulating a home
* Using compact fluorescent light bulbs
* Purchasing EnergyStar appliances
* Traveling less
These actions contribute to energy sustainability.
What is peak demand in electricity usage?
The greatest quantity of electricity needed at any one time
Peak demand typically occurs during extreme weather conditions, such as hot summer days or cold winter nights.
How do utilities reduce peak demand?
By encouraging consumers to use electricity at non-peak times
This can involve billing higher rates during peak hours and using timers for appliances.
What is the Energy Star Program?
A program designating appliances that meet specified efficiency levels
Energy Star compliant appliances consume less energy while performing their functions.
What does the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) do?
Prepares reviews of climate change knowledge, including science and impacts
Established in 1988, the IPCC publishes multi-volume assessments to analyze climate data and models.
What is the relationship between global change and climate change?
Global change includes climate change but also other human-caused environmental changes
Climate change refers specifically to variations in weather patterns over time.
What is the greenhouse effect?
A natural process that warms an area by trapping heat
It occurs when energy from the sun is absorbed and then re-radiated by surfaces on Earth.
What are greenhouse gases (GHGs)?
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, including:
* Water vapor
* Carbon dioxide (CO2)
* Methane (CH4)
* Nitrous oxide (N2O)
* Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
GHGs are crucial for maintaining Earth’s temperature but excessive amounts can lead to global warming.
What is global warming?
The increase in Earth’s surface temperature due to heat-trapping gases
It is a component of the broader phenomenon of global change.
How has the global average temperature changed since 1880?
Increased by about 2°F
This increase significantly affects global processes and environmental indicators.
What are indicators of climate change?
Changes in biological and physical parameters, such as:
* Tree growth rings
* Coral banding
These indicators suggest current global temperatures are higher than in the past 150,000 years.
What has happened to Arctic ice since the 1960s?
Snow cover has decreased by at least 10%
Thawing permafrost and lengthening growing seasons are also observed consequences of global warming.
True or False: The greenhouse effect is entirely negative for Earth.
False
The greenhouse effect is necessary for human life, but excessive GHGs can enhance it, leading to global warming.
Fill in the blank: The most common greenhouse gas is _______.
Water vapor
Water vapor is essential for maintaining Earth’s temperature.
What role do trees play in understanding climate change?
They provide indirect records of temperatures through growth rings
Wider rings indicate better growth conditions, often linked to warmer temperatures.
What has happened to the growing season in the Northern Hemisphere since the 1960s?
Lengthened by one to four days per decade
This change is indicative of climate change effects on ecosystems.
How have the geographic ranges of many species changed in the Northern Hemisphere?
Shifted northward and sometimes upward in altitude
Some species have constricted their southern range due to less favorable conditions.
What is meant by ‘the tip of the iceberg’ in the context of climate change?
It refers to the extensive changes that have already occurred and those predicted for the future.
What are corals used as indicators of?
Climate change
Corals can record temperatures for tens to hundreds of years.
What is predicted about continental glaciers and the Greenland ice sheet by the end of the twenty-first century?
They are expected to continue to retreat.
What is the expected rise in global mean sea level by 2100?
0.1 to 0.9 meters
This is partially due to the melting of glaciers.
What conditions are expected to result from higher maximum temperatures?
- More heat waves
- Potential heat and drought damage to crops
- Increased energy demand for cooling
What is the expected trend for minimum temperatures over most land areas?
Increase, with fewer extremely cold days
What changes in precipitation patterns are projected?
- Higher rainfall amounts in certain areas
- Increased flooding, landslides, and soil erosion
What potential shift might occur in global ocean currents?
They may shift, disrupting heat distribution on the planet.
What changes in ecosystems are anticipated in the northeastern and north-central U.S.?
Vegetation like spruce-fir, aspen-birch, and maple-beech-birch will move northward.
What major threat do rising sea levels pose to human populations?
Inundation of coastal communities and contamination of drinking water.
Which communities are expected to bear the greatest costs of global change?
Poorer communities
They have fewer resources to adapt to changes.
What is the role of global policy agreements in addressing climate change?
They are necessary for reducing GHG levels and providing support to affected countries.
What are point sources and non-point sources in water pollution?
Point sources are specific locations of pollution; non-point sources are diffuse and harder to track.
What are the six U.S. criteria air pollutants?
- Sulfur dioxide
- Nitrogen oxides
- Carbon monoxide
- Lead
- Particulate matter
- Ozone
What does the greenhouse effect refer to?
The natural process that leads to warming by trapping heat in the atmosphere.
What is global warming primarily caused by?
An increase in gases that trap heat, particularly due to human activity.
What is sustainable energy?
Energy consumed at a level that allows adequate supply for future generations with minimal environmental damage.
What is the fastest growing source of electricity?
Wind power.
What is biomass energy?
Energy from organic matter such as wood, dung, and municipal solid waste.
What is geothermal energy?
Heat from deep within the Earth used to generate electricity.
What is the significance of the 2015 Paris Agreement?
It provides a framework for countries to reduce GHG emissions.
What is the impact of fossil fuel consumption on the environment?
It produces significant air pollution and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
What is the role of conservation in energy sustainability?
It involves reducing energy demand and increasing energy efficiency.
What are primary and secondary pollutants?
- Primary pollutants: Directly emitted pollutants
- Secondary pollutants: Formed through chemical reactions in the atmosphere
What are the environmental impacts of coal combustion?
Major source of air pollution and health hazards.
What is the main environmental hazard associated with nuclear power?
Accidents and radioactive waste disposal.
Fill in the blank: The kinetic energy of wind is converted to _______.
Potential energy in electricity.
True or False: The Sun is the ultimate source of most energy on Earth.
True.
What is the greatest contributor to total anthropogenic radiative forcing?
CO2 due to its high concentration in the atmosphere
CO2 is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming.
Define global warming.
The increased warming of Earth’s atmosphere due to an increase in gases that trap heat, particularly from human activity
Global warming is primarily associated with anthropogenic factors.
What are surrogate indicators used for?
To provide evidence of the warming of Earth based on the scarcity of direct temperature measurements over historical time
Surrogate indicators include ice core samples, tree rings, and other geological data.
List natural causes of global warming.
- Volcanoes
- Denitrification
- Evaporation from all sources of water on Earth
These natural processes contribute to atmospheric changes but are less concerning than anthropogenic causes.
Why are anthropogenic causes of global warming more concerning than natural causes?
They are increasing over a much shorter time scale and are of greater magnitude
Anthropogenic causes include industrial activities and land use changes.
What is the greatest anthropogenic source of global warming?
Burning of fossil fuels
This process adds new carbon to the carbon cycle, increasing atmospheric CO2 levels.
What are other anthropogenic causes of global warming?
- Deforestation not balanced by replanting
- Certain agricultural practices
- Biomass burning
Deforestation significantly reduces the planet’s ability to absorb CO2.
Which countries are the largest contributors to global warming?
Developed countries
These countries have historically emitted more greenhouse gases due to industrialization.
How does global warming affect environmental and human systems?
Through three interconnected feedback cycles
Feedback cycles can amplify the effects of warming, leading to more severe consequences.
What are predicted future effects of global warming?
- Weather and climate changes
- Disruption of natural ecosystem processes
- Loss of biodiversity
- Health, social, and economic problems for humans
These effects can lead to significant challenges for both ecosystems and human societies.
What has been the trend in global average temperature over the past hundred years?
It has increased to a level sufficient to significantly affect natural processes
This trend indicates a shift in climate patterns and potential ecological impacts.
