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Environmental Science 101 > Exam 3 > Flashcards

Exam 3 Flashcards

(71 cards)

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1
Q

Historic Atmospheric Composition

A

Hydrogen
Helium
Ammonia
Methane
Carbon Dioxide

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2
Q

Current Atmospheric Composition

A

78% nitrogen
20% oxygen

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3
Q

Thermosphere

A

Upper most layer
Very not
Absorbs harmful radiation

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4
Q

Mesosphere

A

Temps ↓ with altitude
Very little oxygen

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5
Q

Stratosphere

A

Dry and low density
Contains ozone layer

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6
Q

Ozone Layer

A

Absorbs and scatters UV radiation

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7
Q

Troposphere

A

At earth’s surface
Weather
Temp ↓ with altitude

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8
Q

Tropopause

A

Cap of low temp air that prevents mixing of troposphere and stratosphere

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9
Q

Volcanoes

A

Natural air pollutant
Large amounts of soot, dust, sulfur, and carbon dioxide

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10
Q

Forest fires

A

Significant natural air pollutant

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11
Q

Dust

A

Wind blows loose soil into the air
Dust Storms

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12
Q

Tobacco smoke

A

Indoor air pollutant
7000 chemicals and carcinogens
Cause second-hand and third-hand smoke

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13
Q

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

A

Indoor air pollutant
Plastics made of hydrocarbons release VOCs
Health issues: cancers, respiratory issues and organ damage

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14
Q

Radon Gas

A

Indoor air pollutant
Colorless, odorless gas that seeps into basements
Radioactive gas from natural decay of uranium in rocks

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15
Q

Clean Air Act of 1970

A

Regulation of air pollutants that are harmful to human health

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16
Q

Regulated Air Pollutants

A

Carbon Monoxide
Sulfur Dioxide
Particulate Matter
Hydrocarbons
Nitrogen Oxide
Ozone

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17
Q

Carbon Monoxide

A

Colorless and odorless gas
Source: fuel combustion
Extended exposure can be fatal

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18
Q

Sulfur Dioxide

A

Source: combustion of coal
Water Vapor + Sulfur Dioxide = Sulfuric Acid
Effects: acid rain kills vegetation

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19
Q

Nitrogen Oxide

A

Source: vehicles & electricity production
Redfish-brown gas with odor

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20
Q

Tropospheric Ozone

A

Source: chemical reaction
Secondary pollutant
Causes poor air quality

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21
Q

Particulate Matter

A

Any solid/liquid that can be be carried into atmosphere
Ex: fly ash and lead

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22
Q

Hydrocarbons

A

Vehicle fuels and emissions
Industrial solvents

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23
Q

Cap & Trade

A

Sets pollution limits for companies
Companies can trade excess pollution credits

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24
Q

Ozone Depletion

A

CFCs make again reaction that breaks it down
Chlorine destroys ozone → oxygen
Continual breakdown of ozone to oxygen

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25
Montreal Protocol 1987
180 nations Reduced CFCs by 95%
26
Greenhouse Effect
Natural process that maintains warm temps for liquid water
27
Greenhouse Gases
Carbon Dioxide Methane Nitrous Oxide
28
Evidence of Atmospheric Change
Ice Cores Sediment Cores Keeling Curve El Niño Southern Oscillation Sea Surface Temps
29
Evidence of Climate Change
Climate Models Jet Stream Changes
30
Kyoto Protocol 1997
Agrees to ↓ carbon dioxide emissions by 5% of 1990 levels
31
Paris Climate Agreement
Participants agreed to reduce carbon dioxide emission to combat global warming Rapid replacement of fossil fuels
32
Climate Mitigation
↓GHGs emissions ↑GHGs capture
33
Climate Adaption
Migration Change construction and agriculture techniques
34
Fossil Fuels
Non-renewable Formed from remains of dead organisms from millions of years ago
35
Coal
Type of fossil fuel Releases pollutants when burned
36
Mountain Top Removal
Surface mining technique where mountaintop is removed to access coal
37
Carbon Sequestration
Collects carbon dioxide and stores it in the ground
38
Petroleum
Liquid mixture of hydrocarbons that is extracted from certain rocks
39
Electricity Generation
Fuel burned Steam turns turbine in generator Electricity generated
40
Turbine
Machine that transforms fluid/air into useable energy
41
Generator
Machine that converts mechanical energy into electricity
42
Hydroelectricity
Uses kinetic energy of falling water to turn turbines in generator
43
Photovoltaic
Directly converts sunlight to electricity
44
Concentrated Solar Power
Concentrates solar energy to heat a liquid
45
Wind Energy
Harnesses kinetic energy of wind to generate electricity
46
Geothermal
Using heat from Earth as energy source
47
Municipal Solid Waste
Household materials that can no longer be used
48
Sewage
Waste that is flushed down drains and toilets
49
Landfills
Trash disposal where waste is buried under layers of Earth Lined with clay and plastic Vented for methane Compacted daily
50
Incineration
Controlled burning of waste that reduces volume and mass of materials
51
The R’s
Refuse Reduce Reuse Recycle Compost Zero Waste
52
Recycle
Creating new raw material from waste
53
Zero Waste
Use less
54
Wastewater Treatment
Removal and elimination of contaminants from wastewater
55
Primary Treatment
Removes largehon-biodegradable solids before main treatment
56
Secondary Treatment
Chemical or microbial processes used to remove soluble organic compounds
57
Biological Nutrient Removal
Uses microorganisms to remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater
58
Disinfection
Water filtered through coa/sand Disinfected with chlorine or UV
59
Anaerobic Digestion
Breakdown of organic matter in oxygen poor enrollment
60
Septic System
Underground tank that holds resident’s wastewater
61
Byrd-Hagel Resolution
Emphasized that U.S should n't commit to binding GHGs emission restrictions unless developing counties committed
62
Natural Gas
Naturally occurring mixture of combustible gases Type of fossil fuel Primarily methane Found in underground reservoirs
63
Clean Coal Technologies
Techniques that will reduce environmental impact of coal Ex: Carbon Capture & Storage
64
Peak Oil
Global oil production reaches maximum rate Rapid decline follows
65
Hubbert Curve
Model used to approximate production rate of finite resource over time
66
Hydraulic Fracking
Technique used to extract natural gas and ol from deep rock formations Injection of high pressure mix of water, sand, and chemicals to cause rock fractures
67
Landfill Liners
Low permeable barrier which is laid under landfills Prevents waste from contaminating groundwater
68
Leachate
A liquid that forms when water percolated through solid waste
69
Tanglers
Let me know if you know what this means
70
Biogas
Methane produced by anaerobic decomposition
71
Storm Water Runoff
Flow of water across landscapes

Environmental Science 101 (3 decks)

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