Unit 1 Outline ?'s

Question 1

What makes environmental science different from Earth science and why study it?

Answer 1

Environmental focuses more on how humans interact and impact the Earth and it’s surroundings and it’s important so humans can see how sometimes what we do can impact the world negatively.

Question 2

What is the scientific method?

Answer 2

observations; hypotheses; experimentation; drawing conclusions

Question 3

what is the importance of peer review?

Answer 3

it allows someone to have their thoughts and ideas up for judgement to others in their field before publication

Question 4

How is Earth Unique?

Answer 4

3rd planet; P to P 40,007 km; Equator 40,074 km; oblate spheroid; has layers; relatively smooth

Question 5

What is the composition part of the Earth?

Answer 5

Crust; Mantle; Core

Question 6

What is the structural part of the Earth?

Answer 6

Lithosphere; Asthenosphere; Mesosphere; Outer Core; Inner Core

Question 7

Why is Earth Magnetic?

Answer 7

Hypothesized due to the liquid outer core of Earth

Question 8

What is the point of the Magnetosphere?

Answer 8

Deflect charged particles from space away from the Earth

Question 9

What’s a system?

Answer 9

set of particles or interacting components considered to be a distinct physical entity for the purpose of study (mult. models)

Question 10

what system is Earth?

Answer 10

even though it’s open to the outside world, it’s considered a closed system (think of sun’s rays)

Question 11

What are the 4 main spheres of Earth?

Answer 11

Atmosphere; hydrosphere; geosphere; biosphere

Question 12

where does earth get it’s energy from?

Answer 12

both internal (radioactive decay) and external (sun; gravitational energy)

Question 13

Why is the internal and external sources as well as the laws of thermodynamics important?

Answer 13

helps us understand how energy is transferred between different organisms and systems

Question 14

What are the 4 main Nutrient Cycles?

Answer 14

Nitrogen; Carbon; Phosphorus; Water

Question 15

What are the 5 major elements to life?

Answer 15

Carbon (C); hydrogen (H); oxygen (O); Nitrogen (N); phosphorus (P)

Question 16

What does the Nitrogen Cycle do?

Answer 16

Outlines the movement of N from air to soil to plants and animals and back into the air

Question 17

What does the Carbon Cycle do?

Answer 17

reusing carbon atoms; travels from Atmosph. to animals/plants and then back to Atmosph.

Question 18

What does the Phosphorus Cycle do?

Answer 18

process which phosphorus moves through the spheres and how it moves from the soil, water, living, and non-living things

Question 19

What does the water cycle do?

Answer 19

cycles through the atmosph. to the surface and back via precipitation and evaporation

Question 20

Can all natural cycles be altered by human activities?

Answer 20

Yes

Question 21

What is the Toledo Water Crisis?

Answer 21

The reoccurring algae in lake Erie

Question 22

What are the 3 ways animals are classified as?

Answer 22

Producers; Consumers; Decomposers

Question 23

How is energy affected as it flows through a food web/chain?

Answer 23

You never fully gain the full amount of energy from the first organism at the start of the chain (ex. grass -> rabbit -> wolves; wolves won’t have all of the grass’ energy because some of the energy is used in each organism’s life to fulfill their needs)

Question 24

What role do humans play in ecology?

Answer 24

ecosystems can be disrupted by human activity. A domino effect (humans can affect one organism which could affect the rest of the ecosystem); pollution

Question 25

Why are great circles important?

Answer 25

It’s the shortest distance between 2 points on a globe

Question 26

How can geomagnetic and magnetic poles be used to find location?

Answer 26

We use a magnetic compass which points N and S

Question 27

How is a GPS useful?

Answer 27

It’s satellite navigation system that is based on a global network

Question 28

How is remote sensing used in cartography?

Answer 28

often uses GPS technology to picture the earth and makes measurements

Question 29

What are the 3 main categories of map projections?

Answer 29

Cylindrical; Azimuthal; Conic

Question 30

What are the Pros and Cons of Cylindrical projections?

Answer 30

Pro-> parallels and meridians produce a grid which is helpful in location and shape is preserved
Con-> Size of objects is distorted and meridians never meet at the poles

Question 31

What are the Pros and Cons of Azimuthal Projections?

Answer 31

Pro-> Helpful as air travel because straight lines are great circles
Con-> Little distortion at the point of contact but increasing distortion as moving away both direction and distance

Question 32

What are the Pros and Cons of Conic Projections?

Answer 32

Pro-> Relative size and shape of small areas are nearly same as globe
Con-> Only can produce small projections that must be fitted together

Question 33

How is elevation measured?

Answer 33

Measured from mean sea level; elevation @ sea level is 0

Question 34

what’s the relief on a topographic map?

Answer 34

difference between the highest and lowest elevations in a given area

Question 35

How are soil maps used?

Answer 35

Used to make important decisions in agriculture and land management

Question 36

How does runoff and algae affect other water organisms?

Answer 36

Runoff of phosphorus can be beneficial at first in a small amount. Algae will start forming. Once that algae dies, it releases a huge amount of phosphorus which in turn, suffocates the fish and other aquatic life forms.