2p61 Final content

Question 1

What is the hydrological cycle?

Answer 1

The continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere, involving processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration.

Question 2

What drives the hydrological cycle?

Answer 2

The sun, through its energy, which causes evaporation from the Earth’s surface.

Question 3

Define watershed.

Answer 3

An area of land where all the water that falls within it drains into a common outlet, such as a river, lake, or ocean.

Question 4

What do we use to delineate watersheds?

Answer 4

Topographic maps and elevation data, using the highest points of land as boundaries.

Question 5

What are sub-watersheds?

Answer 5

Smaller subdivisions of a watershed that drain into larger streams or rivers.

Question 6

Define a stream.

Answer 6

A body of flowing water, typically a small river, brook, or creek.

Question 7

What is discharge in relation to streams?

Answer 7

The volume of water flowing through a stream at a given point in time.

Question 8

How is stream discharge measured?

Answer 8

By calculating the cross-sectional area and flow velocity of the stream.

Question 9

What do hydrographs show?

Answer 9

Stream discharge over time.

Question 10

List the components of hydrographs.

Answer 10

• Rising limb
• Peak flow
• Falling limb
• Base flow

Question 11

How do urban hydrographs differ from natural hydrographs?

Answer 11

Urban hydrographs show a quicker rise and fall due to impervious surfaces, whereas natural hydrographs have a slower, more gradual rise and fall.

Question 12

How do meandering streams form?

Answer 12

When water flows in a winding, sinuous pattern, eroding the outer banks and depositing sediment on the inner banks.

Question 13

What are some techniques to restore streams?

Answer 13

Removing obstacles, planting vegetation, and stabilizing banks.

Question 14

What are the different types of sediment transport?

Answer 14

• Dissolved load
• Suspended load
• Bed load

Question 15

What is deposition in the context of sediments?

Answer 15

Occurs when the stream’s velocity decreases.

Question 16

What factors govern flooding?

Answer 16

• Rainfall intensity
• Duration
• Land use
• Topography
• Soil type

Question 17

Define a flood.

Answer 17

When water exceeds normal levels in a river or stream, causing damage.

Question 18

What are flood frequency curves?

Answer 18

Curves that show the probability of different sizes of floods occurring at a given location over time.

Question 19

What is the main force causing mass movement?

Answer 19

Gravity.

Question 20

Differentiate between shear stress and shear strength.

Answer 20

• Shear stress: The force trying to move material down the slope.
• Shear strength: The material’s resistance to sliding.

Question 21

What role does water play in slope stability?

Answer 21

It can lubricate materials, causing landslides, or increase cohesion in clay.

Question 22

List the types of mass movements.

Answer 22

• Falls
• Slides
• Flows

Question 23

What is the effect of water content on mass movement speed?

Answer 23

Faster movement typically occurs with higher water content.

Question 24

What methods can be used for slope stabilization?

Answer 24

Reinforcing slopes with vegetation, constructing retaining walls, or using drainage systems.

Question 25

Define groundwater.

Answer 25

Water stored beneath the Earth's surface in porous rock or soil.

Question 26

What is the water table?

Answer 26

The boundary between saturated and unsaturated soil.

Question 27

What is Darcy’s Law?

Answer 27

Describes the flow of water through porous media, given by Q=K⋅A⋅Δh/L.

Question 28

What is drawdown?

Answer 28

The lowering of the water table around a well due to pumping.

Question 29

What impacts can excessive drawdown have?

Answer 29

* Well failure * Land subsidence * Contamination of wells

Question 30

Differentiate between mechanical and chemical weathering.

Answer 30

* Mechanical weathering: Physical breakdown of rocks. * Chemical weathering: Chemical reactions that break down minerals.

Question 31

Define porosity.

Answer 31

The amount of empty space in a material.

Question 32

What does soil texture refer to?

Answer 32

The proportion of sand, silt, and clay.

Question 33

List the layers of the soil profile.

Answer 33

* O-horizon: Organic layer * A-horizon: Topsoil * B-horizon: Subsoil * C-horizon: Parent material

Question 34

What is erosion?

Answer 34

The removal of soil or rock.

Question 35

What contributes to acid rain?

Answer 35

Pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Question 36

What are greenhouse gases?

Answer 36

* Carbon dioxide (CO₂) * Methane (CH₄) * Nitrous oxide (N₂O) * Water vapor

Question 37

What is the ozone hole?

Answer 37

The thinning of the ozone layer, particularly over Antarctica, due to chemicals like CFCs.

Question 38

Define smog.

Answer 38

A mixture of air pollutants, including ground-level ozone and particulate matter.

Question 39

What is thermal inversion?

Answer 39

A weather condition where a layer of warmer air traps cooler air near the ground.

Question 40

What are point sources of pollution?

Answer 40

Pollution from a specific, identifiable source.

Question 41

What is eutrophication?

Answer 41

The process by which water bodies receive excess nutrients, causing excessive plant growth and oxygen depletion.

Question 42

Differentiate between biomagnification and bioaccumulation.

Answer 42

* Biomagnification: Increase in concentration of toxins up the food chain. * Bioaccumulation: Accumulation of toxic substances within an organism over time.

Question 43

What is the importance of land use planning?

Answer 43

Helps manage land use for different purposes to reduce environmental impact and ensure sustainable development.

Question 44

List the benefits of land use planning.

Answer 44

* Efficient land use * Better infrastructure planning * Minimizing environmental degradation

Question 45

What role do maps play in land use planning?

Answer 45

They help visualize and analyze land use patterns, guiding informed decision-making.

Question 46

Differentiate between environmental law and policy.

Answer 46

* Environmental Law: Legally enforceable rules and regulations. * Environmental Policy: Guidelines aimed at environmental protection but may not always have legal force.

Question 47

What is a carbon price?

Answer 47

A method of pricing carbon emissions to incentivize reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Question 48

What is an example of Canadian-specific environmental law?

Answer 48

The Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA).

Question 49

What can affect the effectiveness of environmental laws?

Answer 49

While laws like CEPA have led to improvements, challenges remain.