Environmental Science Exam General and Key Terms Flashcards

Question

What is an Isotope?

Answer 1

Same element, but with different number of nuetrons

Answer 2

Radioactive isotopes release heat spontaneously from nucleus

Answer 3

An isotope with an unstable nuclei

Answer 4

Time it takes for 1/2 the original atoms to decay

Answer 5

1. Alfa Particles - Helium Nuclei, tend to be weak. 2. Beta Particles - High speed electrons and antineutrinos, or positrons and neutrinos. (Can be stopped with sheet of aluminum foil). 3. Gamma Radiation - High energy protons. (Can be stopped with block of led).

Answer 6

Carbon in atmosphere is always found in same ratio - 12C is 99%, 13C is 1%, and 14C is 1 part per trillion. Half life of Carbon 14 is 5,730 years. Using this information, we can measure the amount of 14C in an object compared to the atmosphere to date it.

Answer 7

Elements sharing electrons

Answer 8

Opposite charged atoms form ions through bonds. (Cation - negatively charged, Anion - positively charged).

Answer 9

Very weak bonds between two hydrogen molecules

Answer 10

A substance that adds hydrogen to a solution by adding H+

Answer 11

A substance that decreases the hydrogen ion concentration in a solution by adding OH-

Answer 12

Concentration of Hydrogen in a solution: ranges from 0-7 (acidic) to 7-14 (basic), with 7 being neutral. pH is the negative log of H+ concentration

Answer 13

The ability to do work (power x time)

Answer 14

The rate at which work is done (energy/time)

Answer 15

Energy that has been stored, but not yet released

Answer 16

Energy of motion

Answer 17

Energy in chemical bonds

Answer 18

Energy is neither created nor destroyed

Answer 19

When energy is transformed, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes. Energy forms are transformed into heat (Thermal Energy).

Answer 20

Conversion of light energy from the sun into chemical energy, common in plants. (6H20 + 6C02 --> C6H12O6 + 6O2)

Answer 21

Process by which some organisms, such as certain bacteria, use chemical energy to produce carbohydrates

Answer 22

Thermodynamics allows for energy to transfer between ecosystems and trophic levels. It is what makes up for an ecological balance that keeps our ecosystems running.

Answer 23

Most all of it is from the sun (photosynthesis), other organisms may produce energy in chemosynthesis on hot springs an sea floors

Answer 24

Chemical energy in glucose released through respiration, then used to grow, move, and metabolize. Used by all organisms, but is animals main source of energy.

Answer 25

1. Primary Consumers - Herbivores that eat producers (plants) 2. Secondary Consumers - Carnivores that eat primary consumers 3. Tertiary Consumers - Rare, eat secondary consumers

Answer 26

Organism's levels of feeding and acquiring energy within a food web.

Answer 27

Omnivores - Eat plants and animals. Scavengers - "Carnivores" that eat dead organisms. Detrivores - Animals that consume dead plant material Decomposers - Complete breakdown process and recycle nutrients

Answer 28

10 percent law of energy flow states that when the energy is passed on from one trophic level to another, only 10 percent of the energy is passed on to the next trophic level.

Answer 29

A measure of the total mass of organisms within a particular region, standing crop is measure of total dry mass

Answer 30

Percentage of energy transferred from one trophic level to another in a food chain or web, usually around just 10% each level

Answer 31

1. Atmosphere 2. Lithosphere 3. Biosphere 4. Hydrosphere

Answer 32

4th most abundant element in universe, found in all organic matters. Photosynthesis removes C from atmosphere, is returned in the form of CO2 or Methane (CH4). Can enter atmosphere through respiration, forrest fires, diffusion, and decomposition.

Answer 33

Potent greenhouse gas 21 times more powerful than CO2. Mostly occurs naturally through respiration, but can also be a product of fermentation and human activities.

Answer 34

Important for life (Amino Acids, Protein, and DNA). In 80 % of atmosphere as gas and can only be captured by bacteria. Animals can receive N by eating other organisms with N.

Answer 35

A process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria. Nitrogen - Saltwater, Phosphorous - Freshwater

Answer 36

A vital element in DNA, RNA, and ATP. Comes from sediments in biosphere through weathering and captured by plants. Animals obtain P by eating other organisms with P.

Answer 37

Break down of organic molecules to release Nitrogen. (Nitrification converts ammonia to Nitrogen)

Answer 38

1. Troposphere (0 to 10 miles, mostly Nitrogen and Oxygen. Gets colder as you go up) 2. Stratosphere (10-30 miles, gets hotter as you go up due to UV radiation, Ozone layer here) 3. Mesosphere (31 - 65 miles, temp decreases as you go up) 4. Thermosphere (65 - 370 miles, temp increases as you move up, and blocking most X rays)

Answer 39

1. Solar energy's angle - Less atmosphere to travel to at equator vs. poles 2. Surface area impacted - More concentrated at equator 3. Albedo % - % incoming light reflected by surface (snow, water, etc)

Answer 40

Warm air is less dense than cold air, causing warm air to rise. Warm air has higher water vapor capacity, causing warm days to be more humid.

Answer 41

Increase in average temperature due to greenhouse gasses keeping heat close to the Earth's surface.

Answer 42

Has caused sea levels to rise 3 inches, glaciers shrinking, trees flowering sooner, coral reef destruction, and overall increase of 2 degrees F.

Answer 43

A group of organisms different from another in size, shape, behavior, or biomechanics.

Answer 44

The number of species in a given area

Answer 45

Relative proportion of different species in a given area

Answer 46

Change in the genetic composition of a population over time.

Answer 47

Microevolution - small scale (within a single population) Macroevolution - scale that transcends the boundaries of a single species, creating a new one.

Answer 48

The range of genetic material present in a gene pool or population of a species.

Answer 49

1. Artificial Selection - Human's breeding of useful traits from the natural variation among different organisms 2. Natural Selection - A natural process resulting in the evolution of organisms best adapted to the environment. 3. Random Processes - Mutation - Genetic Drift - Bottleneck Effect: When pops reduced, genetic variation reduced - Founder Effect: Few colonizers give rise to new population

Answer 50

A change in a gene or chromosome

Answer 51

1. Individuals produce an excess of offspring 2. Not all offspring survive 3. Individuals differ in their traits 4. Trait differences can be passed onto offspring 5. Trait differences affect the ability to survive and reproduce

Answer 52

No favorable environment to move to, new environment may be already occupied, environmental change occurs too fast with no time to adapt

Answer 53

Half of vertebrate are extinct, habitat destruction, over harvesting, many invasive species, climate change, and emerging diseases.

Answer 54

Study of dynamics within a population (grow/shrink?)

Answer 55

1. Individual 2. Population (All individuals of same species in given area) 3. Community (All populations within a given area) 4. Ecosystem (All biotic and abiotic components of area) 5. Biosphere (Biomes)

Answer 56

1. Population size 2. Population density (# in given area) 3. Population distribution (clumped/even?) 4. Population sex ratio 5. Population age structure (determines speed of growth)

Answer 57

Influence survival and reproduction ex: Limiting resource, carrying capacity

Answer 58

Unpredictable events ex: Natural disasters

Answer 59

Growth Rate - # of offspring - death rate Intrinsic Growth Rate - Max rate of growth Exponential Growth - dN/dt equals r*N Logistic Growth - dN/dt equals r*(N(1-N/k)

Answer 60

Species that produce a few, often fairly large offspring but invest a great deal of time and energy to ensure that most of those offspring reach reproductive age. Seldom overshoot carrying capacity. ex: Deer

Answer 61

Species that produce large numbers of usually small and short-lived offspring in a short period. Often overshoot carrying capacity. ex: Fish

Answer 62

Each species' unique way of obtaining a limiting resource

Answer 63

What ever resource is in lowest supply relative to its demand will limit the expanse of a population

Answer 64

1. Temporal - Being active at different periods of time ex: Wolves and Coyotes 2. Spacial - Using different areas of a system ex: Fish and Wolves 3. Morphological - Differences in body or shape to consume different types of resources ex: Darwin's Finches

Answer 65

What is a True Predator?

Answer 66

1. Behavioral - playing dead when seen 2. Morphological - camouflage or prickles 3. Chemical - toxic or distasteful 4. Mimicry - mimicking different organism

Answer 67

1. Mutualism - benefits both species ex: humans and dogs 2. Commensalism - benefits one species while the other is neither harmed nor helped ex: fish hiding behind coral 3. Parasitism - benefits one species at the detriment of the other ex: tape worms

Answer 68

When loss can disproportionately have a large effect on ecosystem (usually in low #'s) ex: kelp in trophic cascades (direct actions that control ecosystems)

Answer 69

When a predator increases competition of other species for resources

Answer 70

Species that creates/maintains habitat for other species ex: beaver dams

Answer 71

Ecological Succession - Process by which species and habitat changes over time 1. Primary Succession - Occurs on surface devoid of soil (lava, glaciers) 2. Secondary Succession - Disturbed areas that have not lost soil (forrest fire, post hurricane)

Answer 72

Human population was growing exponentially while food growth was linear. (Alternate view is that innovation could alter Earth's carrying capacity)

Answer 73

The study of populations and how they grow Immigration - moving into Emigration - moving out of Crude Birth Rate - # births per 1,000 Crude Death Rate - # deaths per 1,000

Answer 74

Years it takes for population to double (70/growth rate) (US is 35 years)

Answer 75

Average # of children each woman will have, education is #1 way to reduce. (US is 2.1 children)

Answer 76

The total fertility rate required to offset the average number of deaths

Answer 77

*Crude death rate can be balanced by large # of old people. Population pyramids give age structure for countries - If even, no growth, if inverted, more younger than old, if pyramidal, fast growth because more young than old

Answer 78

As country moves from subsistence economy (not money) to industrialization, undergoes predictable shift in population growth. 1. Preindustrial - birth rate and death rate are high and equal 2. Early industrial - birth rate is high, death rate very low 3. Mature industrial - birth rate collapses and matches death rate 4. Postindustrial - birth rate and death rate fluctuate but remain relatively even

Answer 79

Estimation of human lifestyle on earth (Impact = Population x Affluence x Technology) Total impact = (population) x (consumption per person) x (impact per person)

Answer 80

1. Core - innermost layer - dense, mostly nickel and iron 2. Mantle - molten rock - magma circulates in convection cells 3. Asthenosphere - outer mantle - semi-molten rock 4. Crust - outermost layer - chemically distinct - Lithosphere: made up of plates that sit on top of Asthenosphere

Answer 81

Outer core's high temp causes magma to move in convection cells under crust. Also occurs with radioactive decay of elements (potassium, uranium)

Answer 82

Proposed Pangea in 1912 from rock formations and similar fossils

Answer 83

Earth's lithosphere is divided into plates, most of which are in constant motion

Answer 84

Oceanic Plates - beneath ocean, high in iron and dense Continental Plates - beneath land high in silicon dioxide and less dense

Answer 85

All plate movement is driven by convection cells beneath the surface **(move 1.4 inches yearly)**

Answer 86

1. Divergent - plates move away from each other causing seafloor spreading and creation of mid ocean ridge 2. Convergent - plates collide and create coastal mountains and deep sea trenches 3. Transform - plates move sideways past each other producing earthquakes

Answer 87

Constant formation and destruction of rocks. All rocks come from deposited material and eventually become sub-ducted turning into magma

Answer 88

Minerals - solid chemical substances with uniform structures Rocks - substance found in the lithosphere composed of one or more minerals

Answer 89

Rocks breaking up through erosion

Answer 90

Formed directly from magma - Intrusive Igneous: when magma rises and cools in place underground - Extrusive Igneous: when magma cools above Earth's surface by volcano or seafloor spreading Basaltic Rock - dark, high in iron, dominant in ocean plates Granitic Rock - light color, high in mica and quartz, dominant rock of continental plates

Answer 91

Formed when mud, sand, or gravel fused together over long time - Sandstone: made from compressed sand - Conglomerate: mixed cobbles, gravel, and sand

Answer 92

When sedimentary, igneous, or other rocks are subjected to high temperature and pressure ex: slate or marble

Answer 93

When sedimentary, igneous, or other rocks are subjected to high temperature and pressure ex: slate or marble

Answer 94

Mix of geologic and organic components that connect overlaying biology with underlaying geology

Answer 95

1. Medium for plant growth 2. Recycling system 3. Habitat for organisms 4. System for water supply & purification

Answer 96

Comes from the physical and chemical weathering of rocks plus accumulation of organic material

Answer 97

1. Parent material - base rock material 2. Climate - don't develop below freezing 3. Topography - steep slopes more erosion 4. Organisms - plants remove nutrients, animals mix soil 5. Time - older soils have more organic matter

Answer 98

Texture - determined by % of sand (large particles), silt (medium), and clay (small) Porosity - How quickly water drains through soil, determined by texture (sand - fast, clay - slow)

Answer 99

Allows plants to get water through roots and provides water to springs Water Table - uppermost level at which water is fully saturated in rock or soil Groundwater Recharge - when rain water or surface water pores through soil into an aquifer at a "recharge area" Artisan Wells - pressure of overlaying rock pushes water to surface

Answer 100

Unconfined - found in porous rock covered with soil, recharges in days or weeks (more likely to be polluted because closer to surface) Confined - surrounded by a layer of impermeable rock or clay, recharges in up to 20,000 years

Answer 101

- Spring fed streams may dry up - Shallow wells no longer reach water table - *Cone of depression: water table near well is deeper than others - *Saltwater intrusion: adjacent saltwater fills fresh groundwater

Answer 102

Lakes surrounding rivers *Formed 2 ways - **Tectonic: formed by land** - Glaciers: large depression of land

Answer 103

(based on level of primary productivity) *low nutrients is low productivity Oligotrophic - low productivity Mesotrophic - moderate productivity Eutrophic - high productivity

Answer 104

1. Absorb water to help prevent floods 2. Clean and purify water 3. Food (rice feeds half of worlds pop.) 4. Shoreline and storm protection 5. Cultural (hunting, fishing, and sightseeing) 6. Habitat (contain 40% of planets species and 12% of animal species - Nursery for important finfish and shellfish - Migratory birds stay as well

Answer 105

- Direct loss of human life, livestock, and crops - Can alter nutrient cycling and soil fertility - Poor land use can worsen during drought

Answer 106

Surfaces like pavement or buildings that prevent water penetration causing streams and river to possibly overflow *In healthy systems, porous soils and wetlands can soak up excess rain water

Answer 107

Bank of soil on both sides of river sed to prevent flooding in floodplains (dike-ocean levee) Problems: - Reduces fertility of soils - Nutrients carried downriver, settling in estuaries - Can cause greater flooding downstream - Encourages building in floodplains

Answer 108

Water help back by dam to control water for supply, electricity, flood creation and recreation - can cause great floods - fish must use ladder to get back up to optimal point

Answer 109

Ditches that carry water from one location to another - can cause rivers to dry up **Aral Sea lost 60% of its size and formed two smaller lakes creating hotter summers and cooler winters**

Answer 110

Removing salt from seawater - Distillation: boiling water and capturing steam - Reverse Osmosis: water forced through semipermeable membranes that saltwater cant pass through, creates brine that can causes environmental problems)

Answer 111

Used once and cannot be replaced *Includes: - Fossil fuels (coal, petroleum), nuclear energy, and natural gas

Answer 112

Basic unit of energy - Total world consumption is 500EJ per year

Answer 113

Some energy forms better suited for certain jobs *EROEI - energy return on energy invested

Answer 114

*Secondary source of energy Produced from coal, oil, and natural gas

Answer 115

*Most common electricity source Made from remains of trees, ferns, and plants from 280 to 360 million years ago Generation: Steam energy turns blade of turbine - Combined cycle: uses natural gas along with coal (gas combustion turns 2 turbines which turn generators) *35% efficient Pros: reliable, large global reserves, inexpensive Cons: CO2 pollution, dangerous for miners, destroys natural habitats, not very efficient Byproduct: ash, pollution

Answer 116

Surface Mining - safe and cheap Subsurface Mining - higher cost and health concerns

Answer 117

*Used for mobile combustion engines Formed from remains of phytoplankton 50 to 100 million years ago. Common in areas where wedged between porous and nonporous rock Pros: Relatively dense and cleaner than coal (85% emissions), good for combustion engines Cons: CO2 pollution, can cause spills Byproduct: pollution, oil spills

Answer 118

Oil can be refined by heating into: Tar, asphalt, lubricating oils, heating oils, etc. *Heat determines state of oil

Answer 119

Fossil energy source found beneath Earth's surface. Generated by hydraulic fracking - 80 to 95% methane - Used for electricity and industry Pros: Has fewer impurities than coal Cons: 25x as potent as greenhouse gas, can cause explosions Byproduct: heavy pollution, explosions

Answer 120

Energy captured from nuclear reactions Uses heat from nuclear fission (neutrons strike each other) to turn steam turbines. Control rods absorb extra neutrons in the form of plutonium preventing meltdown Pros: no CO2 Released, highly efficient, good for countries independent from oil, cost effective Cons: can cause meltdowns, creates radioactive waste, uranium mining is dangerous Byproduct: nuclear waste, some pollution during mining process

Answer 121

Modern carbon - comes from biomass/biofuels like corn or trees that have been created from the suns photosynthesis recently **Carbon Neutral** Fossil Carbon - carbon in fossil fuels created long ago *Releases CO2

Answer 122

Conserving our energy is the #1 to reduce impact Governments - Increase tax on energy use by implementing tiered rate system (low rate for low use, high rate for high use, credits for less energy) Sustainable Design - Natural lighting, thermal inertia, green roof, recycled materials

Answer 123

Derived from nature (wood, charcoal, manure, plant remains) Wood - Used by 3 billion people for heating and cooling. Can use more timber than what naturally grows back Charcoal - Made from "half burned" wood. Lighter and contains 2x as much energy as wood and produces less smoke Dried Animal Manure - Used where wood is low, releases pollutants Ethanol (Liquid Biomass) - Starches and sugars converted to alcohol and CO2. US 90% comes from corn. Can be mixed with gasoline to make "gasohol." Some areas have E-85 Ethanol. Less energy than gasoline Biodiesel: Usually B-20 (20% biomass). Comes from mostly soy beans

Answer 124

*Uses heat from radioactive decay of underground elements *Circulates cool liquid underground to be heated Can be used for electricity, heating water to steam Ground source Heat Pump - Uses ground's retainment of sun's energy

Answer 125

(2nd most common renewable in US) *Generated by energy of moving water Examples: Run of River - Common, retained by small dam and usually low electricity produced Water Impoundment - Storing large amounts of water in reservoir behind dam Tidal Energy - Attempts to obtain energy from tide shift. Not very efficient Pros: - Does not create air pollution - Cheaper than natural gas/nuclear - Controls floods Cons: - River must be help back - People possibly forced to relocate - Loss of organisms - More disease abundant in impound waters - Reservoir slowly fills with sediment

Answer 126

*Capturing energy from sun Examples: Passive Solar Energy - Natural heating, cooking eggs on floor Active Solar Energy - Capturing sun's energy and using it different ways Photovoltaic Systems - Low voltage electricity generated by capturing 12-20% of heat Concentrating Solar Power Plants - Best in deserts, use lens to concentrate sunlight to produce steam-powered turbine Pros: - No pollution or CO2 - May be cheap Cons: - May be expensive - Hard to install - May require batteries

Answer 127

*Result of energy produced by unequal Earth heating *High EROEI (US is largest producer) Examples: Modern (350 ft tall, can supply 400 homes), Offshore (even larger) Pros: - No pollution - Can share land Cons: - Needs batteries - Produces noise - 40,000 birds killed each year

Answer 128

*Electricity generated by reacting hydrogen and water **Protons forced through a membraned while electrons move in different direction generating electric current** *Car can be hydrogen fueled Pros: - 80% efficient - Byproduct is water Cons: - Requires energy to produce - Hydrogen can explode

Answer 129

Disease causing organisms 1. Viruses 2. Bacteria 3. Protozoans 4. Parasitic worms/flukes (1/3 of world infected w/ worm)

Answer 130

*Not previously known/absent ex: SARS (Severe acute respiratory syndrome) - Virulent corona viruses jumping from animals to humans

Answer 131

*90% of diseases occur in developing nations where 10% of health care is spent *2% of people with AIDS have access to modern medicine

Answer 132

*Natural Selection allows organisms to evolve quickly Malaria was nearly wiped out, but protozoans became resistant to antibiotics Mosquitos are now resistant to insecticides Feedlots can use a lot of antibiotics and hormones

Answer 133

*The study of toxins (poisons) and their effect on living systems

Answer 134

1. Neurotoxins - Attack nerves - Heavy metals (lead, mercury) can kill nerve cells permanently - Anesthetics (chloroform) disrupt functions 2. Mutagens - Chemicals/radiation that damages DNA - Can cause birth defects, tumors, changes in reproduction 3. Teratogens - Chemicals that disrupt embryonic development - ex: fetal alcohol syndrome can cause facial abnormalities, developmental decays, behavioral and mental deficits 4. Carcinogens - Substances that cause cancer (out of control cell-division) - 2nd leading killer in US - 50% of men and 30% of women get cancer in their lifetimes 5. Endocrine Hormone Disruptors (EDCs) - Chemicals that disrupt hormone/gland function - DDT and PCB interfere with growth - Environmental estrogen/androgen can cause heath problems

Answer 135

1. Animal Testing (mice, rats, primates) 2. Computer Simulations 3. Cell Cultures 4. LD50 - Lethal dose for 50% of tested group

Environmental Science Exam General and Key Terms Flashcards

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