Environment

Question 1

what is pollution?

Answer 1

substances released into the environment in amounts that cause harmful effects and which natural biological processes cannot easily release

Question 2

what is the greenhouse effect?

Answer 2

1. high energy, short wave radiation from he sun reaches the earth
2. some energy is absorbed and warms up the earth
3. some energy is re-emitted as long wave radiation
4. some long wave radiatopm escapes into space
5. some long wave radiation is absorbed by the greenhouse hases and re-emitted back to earth
6. as a consequence the erath’s surface and the lower atmosphere is warmed up

Question 3

why is the greenhouse effect good?

what would be the consequence for life on Earth without it?

Answer 3

without greenhouse gases, there would be no global warming

life as we know it would not be possible as the Earth would be the same temperature as the moon

Question 4

name two gases that contribute to global warming

Answer 4

carbon dioxide

methane

Question 5

what are the consequences of global warming?

Answer 5

polar ice caps would melt and sea levels would ise

change in rainfall patterns: more rain in some areas and less in others

extreme natural events such as hurricanes, storms, and earthquakes might result

the changes in climate would affect ecosystems and habitats and so threaten nature (species, wildlife)

Question 6

how has the levels of carbon dioxide changed over the last 40 years?

Answer 6

levels have been fluctuating but rising quite significantly

it has increased from just below 330 concentration (ppm) to over 380 concentration (ppm)

Question 7

why does carbon dioxide fluctuate during each year?

Answer 7

in autumn and winter the carbon dioxide levels increase as plants still respire but they have lost their leaves at this time so they absorb little crabon dioxide

in spring and summer trees have leaves and photosynthesis occurs quicker than they repsire so the carbon dioxide levels decrease

there are fewer trees each year so the levels cannot return to the levels of the previous summer

Question 8

which countries are repsonsible for most CO₂ emmisions?

Answer 8

Guyana

Canada

USA

Australia

New Zealnad

Malasia

Papua New Guinea

Zambia

Question 9

what is the main reason for the increase in CO₂ levels?

Answer 9

power stations (21.3%)

Question 10

what are the reasons for the increase in CO₂ levels?

Answer 10

industrial processes (16.8%)

power stations (21.3%)

waste disposal and treatment (3.4%)

land use and biomass burning (10.0%)

residential, commercial and other sources (10.3%)

fossil fuel retrieval, processing and distribution (11.3%)

agricultural byproducts (12.5%)

transportation fuels (14.0%)

Question 11

what is the word equation for the burning of fossil fuels?

Answer 11

fossil fuel + oxygen —> carbon dioxide + water

Question 12

what is deforestation and does it increase levels of carbon dioxide?

Answer 12

= cutting down trees (and plants)

yes it does

Question 13

what are some consequences of deforestation?

Answer 13

rise in levels of carbon dioxide

loss of roots anchor –> soil washed away –> leaching + erosion

loss of habitat –> some species extinct

disturbances of water cycle:

less trees –> reduced transpiration –> droughts

lack of stems, litter, trunks –> increased water runoff after rainfall –> floods

Question 14

what is methane and doe sit cause levels of carbon dioxide to rise?

Answer 14

= an organic gas produced when microorganisms ferment larger organic molecules to release energy

yes it does

Question 15

list three origins of increasing methane levels that contribute to global warming

Answer 15

decompostition of waste in landfill sites by microorganisms

fermentation by microorganisms in the rumen of and other ruminants

fermentation by bacteria in rice paddy fields

Question 16

name two gases that contribute to acid rain formation

Answer 16

sulphur dioxide

nitorgen oxide

Question 17

where does an increase in sulphur dioxide and nitogen oxide come from?

Answer 17

volcanic eruptions and lightining (natural elements)

burning of fossil fuels (human causes)

Question 18

complete the equations for nitric acid and sulphuric acid (acid rain)

Answer 18

nitrogen oxides + water —> nitric acid

sulphuric dioxide + water —> sulphuric acid

Question 19

what are some consequences of acid rain?

Answer 19

death of trees

acidification of soil (reduces the uptake of water into roots)

acidification of lakes (fish killed)

erosion of buildings etc…

Question 20

where does an increase of carbon monoxide come from?

Answer 20

petrol and diseal (exhaust gases)

substances with carbon are burned with a limited supply of oxygen

Question 21

why are inceased levels of carbon monoxide dangerous?

Answer 21

human can die by asphyxiation (suffocation)

Question 22

name two molecules that contain carbon

Answer 22

carbon dioxide

glucose

Question 23

give two ways in which plants can release carbon into the air as carbon dioxide

Answer 23

respiration

ANOTHER ONE?

Question 24

how far can sulphur dioxide in the air be carried?

Answer 24

hundreds of miles