Volume 1: Unit 5 Flashcards
What effect does carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have on regulating global temperature?
Absorbs infared heat, preventing temperature increase
Water starts it course through the hydrologic cycle when the Sun shines on moist lands and bodies of water, causing ________
Evaporation
The Earth’s crust is comprised of natural chemicals called minerals, each of which are composed of different elements; within the rocks of the crust, the most abundant element is _______
Oxygen
What statement best describes an autotrophic organism?
Self-nourishing organisms manufacture their own food
Decomposition provides nutrition for plants and modifies the Earth’s surface by _____
Producing nutrient-rich soil
What is the controlling factor for growth and production of living organisms?
Nutritional value of food
What step in the exposure pathway links the release of a chemical from a source and its contact with a receptor at the exposure point?
Environmental fate and transport
When assessing a site, what transport and fate mechanism addresses the normal migration or movement of a contaminant through a medium?
Advection/Convection
Which best illustrates an example of the fate and transport mechanism attenuation?
A) Biodegradation
B) Soil gas migration
C) Erosion via wind or water
D) Impingement with soil particles
A) Biodegradation
The vapor pressure of a contaminant can essentially determine how ______
Rapidly the contaminant will evaportate into the air
What are the two factors that influence the direction and extent of contaminant transport in groundwater?
Groundwater hydrology and geologic composition
The access of a chemical to the lungs depends foremost on its physical state; for particulates, penetration depends on
Size
Which example best illustrates a short-term effect of air pollution?
A) Gastrointestinal upset
B) Nervous system damage
C) Chronic respiratory disease
D) Irritation to eyes, nose, and throat
D) Irritation to eyes, nose, and throat
