5.5-5.10 Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is furrow irrigation?
A trench dug along the crop and filled with water
Easy and inexpensive, 66% effective, with 33% lost to runoff and evaporation.
What are the drawbacks of flood irrigation?
Disruptive to plants, waterlogged soil, can drown plants
80% efficient, with 20% lost to runoff and evaporation.
What is the efficiency rate of drip irrigation?
95% efficient
Avoids waterlogging and conserves water.
What is a major problem associated with irrigation methods?
Waterlogging
Oversaturation of soil that stunts growth and kills crops.
What is soil salinization?
Salt building up in soil over time
Groundwater can contain salt, which can be toxic and dehydrating to plants.
What are the three main uses of global human water?
- 19% Industrial
- 11% Municipal
- 70% Agriculture
Define groundwater.
H2O stored in pore space of permeable rock
Aquifers are usable groundwater deposits for humans.
What is a CAFO?
Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation
Densely crowded method where animals are fed grain to maximize land use and profit.
What are the environmental impacts of manure lagoons?
- Ammonia leads to eutrophication
- Contains hormones and antibiotics
- Risks heavy rain floods contaminating water
What is the benefit of free-range grazing?
Animals grow at a natural rate without hormones
Requires more land but waste acts as natural fertilizer.
What is overgrazing?
Too many animals grazing removes vegetation
Causes soil erosion and desertification.
What is the inefficiency of meat production?
Less efficient in energy, land, and water use
All energy and resources used to grow feed and raise animals.
What is a fishery collapse?
When overfishing causes a 90% population decline in a fishery
May never recover due to decreased biodiversity.
What is bycatch in fishing?
Unintended species caught in fishing nets
Includes dolphins, whales, and turtles.
What is bottom trawling?
Method that drags a large net along the ocean floor
Destroys coral reef structure and decreases biodiversity.
What are catch limits in sustainable fishing?
Regulations on the number of fish that can be caught
Helps prevent overfishing.
Define ore.
Commercially valuable deposits of concentrated minerals
Used as raw materials.
What are the risks of subsurface mining?
- Poor ventilation
- Mine shaft collapse
- Lung cancer
What is acid mine drainage?
Rainwater leaks into abandoned mine tunnels and forms sulfuric acid
Lowers pH and makes toxic metals more soluble.
What is mine reclamation?
Process of restoring land to its original state after mining
Involves filling mine shafts and returning topsoil.
What is urbanization?
Removing vegetation to convert natural landscapes to urban areas
Leads to CO2 emissions and prevents groundwater recharge.
What causes saltwater intrusion in coastal cities?
Excessive removal of freshwater and saltwater infiltration
Contributes to sea level rise and contamination of groundwater.
What is urban sprawl?
Population movement from dense cities to suburban areas
Causes decreased city services and can lead to environmental issues.
What is the purpose of urban growth boundaries?
Prevent development beyond a certain boundary
Helps manage urban sprawl.
