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Environmental Science > Lecture 12/13 > Flashcards

Lecture 12/13 Flashcards

1
Q

Define salt water

A

relatively high levels of dissolved salts

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2
Q

Define freshwater

A

relatively pure, with few dissolved salts
- short supply of drinkable freshwater
- groundwater (20%) and surface freshwater (1%)

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3
Q

Define pollution

A

release of matter of energy into the environment that causes undesirable impacts on the health and well-being of humans or other organisms largely caused by human actions

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4
Q

point source pollution

A

discrete locations of pollution
-e.g factory, industry, sewer pipes, shipping

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5
Q

non-point source pollution

A

pollution from multiple cumulative inputs over a large area
- e.g cities, farms, mining, logging

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6
Q

define watershed

A

the land area surrounding a body of water over which water such as rain can flow and potentially enter that body of water

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7
Q

what are some examples of water pollution

A
  1. nutrient pollution
  2. sediment
  3. thermal pollution
  4. oil pollution
  5. plastic pollution
  6. toxic chemicals
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8
Q

define coral bleaching

A

occurs when symbiotic algae leave coral

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9
Q

What leads to eutrophication

A

fertilizers, farms, sewage, lawns, golf courses

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10
Q

What are some solutions to eutrophication

A
  • phosphate-free detergents
  • planting vegetation to increase nutrient uptake
  • treat wastewater
  • reduce fertilizer application
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11
Q

Define HABS

A

Harmful algal blooms= nutrients increase populations of algae that produce toxins

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11
Q

What are some examples of sediment pollution

A

clear-cutting, mining, poor cultivation practices

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11
Q

Define red tide

A

algal species produce reddish pigments that discolour water
- causes illness/death to wildlife/humans
- economic losses to fishing industries and beach tourism

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12
Q

What are some solutions to sediment pollution

A
  • better management of farms and forests
  • avoid large-scale disturbance of vegetation
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12
Q

what are some effects of sediment pollution

A
  • dramatically changes aquatic habitats
  • fish may not survive
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13
Q

What are some examples of thermal pollution

A

warmer water holds less oxygen
- dissolved oxygen decreases as temperature increases
- industrial cooling heats water
- removing streamside cover also raises water temperature

colder water also causes problems
- water at bottom of reservoirs is colder
- when water is released, downstream water temperatures drop suddenly and may kill aquatic organisms

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14
Q

What are some solutions for thermal pollution

A

modify industrial processes to reduce thermal shock

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15
Q

What are some problems caused by oil spills

A
  • Most oil pollution from small sources: boat leakage/runoff from land
    natural leaks from the seabed
  • Oil spills coat and poison wildlife
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16
Q

What are some solutions for oil spills

A
  • Governments have implemented more stringent regulations
  • Oil spills have decreased with greater oil industry compliance
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17
Q

What are some examples of plastic debris marine life endangerment

A
  • Plastic is non-biodegradable
    • drifts for decades
    • washes up on beaches
    • wildlife eat it or get entangled
  • Marine debris affects people
    • equipment / property damage
    • negative aesthetic impacts
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18
Q

What are some examples of toxic chemicals

A
  • arsenic, lead, mercury, acid rain, acid drainage from mines
  • pesticides, petroleum products, pharmaceuticals, synthetic organic chemicals
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19
Q

What are some effects of toxic chemicals

A
  • poisoning animals and plants
  • altering aquatic ecosystems
  • affecting human health
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20
Q

What are some solutions for toxic chemicals

A
  • modify industrial processes
  • modify our purchasing decisions
  • legislating / enforcing stringent regulations of industry
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21
Q

What are some affects of mercury contamination

A
  • from coal combustion and other industrial sources (mining, paper)
  • Examples: Minimata Japan (1956) and Grassy Narrows First Nation Ontario (1970s)
  • bioaccumulates/ biomagnifies in food web
  • dangerous to young children, pregnant or nursing mothers – neurological effects
  • avoid eating swordfish, shark, albacore tuna
  • eat seafood low in mercury (catfish, salmon, canned light tuna)
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22
Q

What are some solutions for mercury (toxic chemicals)

A
  • avoid seafood from affected areas
  • monitor/regulate mercury discharges
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23
Q

What are some examples of toxic chemicals occur naturally

A

aluminum, cadmium, chromium, fluoride, lead, mercury, sulfates

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24
Q

What are some examples of groundwater pollution caused by humans

A
  • wastes leach through soils
  • pathogens enter through improperly designed wells and landfills
  • hazardous wastes are pumped underground
  • underground storage (septic tanks) leak
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25
Q

How can increasing water supply be a strategy for pollution prevention

A
  • can be transported through pipes/aqueducts
  • can be forcibly appropriated from weak communities
  • can use new sources of water (e.g. desalinization)
26
Q

Define desalinization

A

removal of salt from seawater or other water of marginal quality

27
Q

Define distilling

A

hastens evaporation and condenses vapour

28
Q

define reverse osmosis

A

forces water through membranes to filter out salts

29
Q

Define lowering demand (pollution prevention)

A
  • politically difficult in the short term
  • offers better economic returns
  • causes less ecological and social damage
30
Q

reducing agricultural demand for water

A
  • low-pressure spray irrigation that sprays water downward
  • drip irrigation systems that target individual plants
    match crops to land and climate
  • selective breeding and genetic modification to raise crops that require less water
31
Q

reducing residential (domestic) demand for water

A
  • Install low-flow faucets, toilets, showerheads, washing machines
  • Use automatic dishwashers instead of washing dishes by hand
  • Water lawns at night, when evaporation is minimal
  • Eat less meat
32
Q

Define xeriscaping

A

landscaping using plants adapted to arid conditions

33
Q

Reducing industrial demand for water

A
  • Shift to processes that use less water
    • wastewater recycling
    • excess surface water runoff used for recharging aquifers
    • patching leaky pipes
    • auditing industries
    • promoting conservation/education
34
Q

How does climate change affect hydrological cycle

A
  • altered precipitation patterns
  • early seasonal (spring) runoff
  • more evapotranspiration
  • intensified droughts
  • melting glaciers
  • more flooding
35
Q

What are some benefits to encouraging greater water infiltration into soils

A
  • reduce flooding
  • reduce run-off
  • prevent water pollution of surface waters
  • capture water for lawns and reduce irrigation needs
  • reduce stormwater losses
36
Q

define non-consumptive use

A

does not remove, or only temporarily removes, water from an aquifer or surface water (e.g. electricity generation at hydroelectric dams)

37
Q

define consumptive use

A

water is removed from aquifer or surface water body, and is not returned

38
Q

engineering water projects: dam

A

Used to control/change water flow for human uses (e.g. agriculture, energy, urbanization)

39
Q

what are some benefits of dams

A
  • power generation
  • crop irrigation
  • drinking water
  • flood control
  • shipping
  • new recreational opportunities
40
Q

what are some drawbacks to dams

A
  • habitat alteration
  • fisheries declines
  • population displacement
  • sediment capture
  • disruption of flooding patterns
  • risk of failure
  • lost recreational opportunities
41
Q

water supplies agricultural, industrial and residential (domestic) needs (consumptive water use)

A

70% –> agriculture
20% –> industry
10% –> domestic

Proportions of these three types of use vary among nations
- arid countries use water for agriculture
- developed countries use water for industry

42
Q

Define water mining

A

withdrawl of water faster than replaced

43
Q

define wetlands

A

drained land used for agriculture, cities

44
Q

Why is groundwater depleted so easily

A
  • Groundwater easily depleted
    • aquifers recharge slowly
    • 1/3 of world population relies on groundwater for freshwater
45
Q

what happens as aquifers become depleted

A
  • water tables drop
  • salt water intrudes in coastal areas
  • sinkholes form
  • wetlands dry up
46
Q

define sinkholes

A

areas where ground gives away unexpectedly

47
Q

define inland seas

A

large lakes that hold so much water, their biota is adapted to open water

48
Q

define currents

A

ocean has flow patterns driven by density differences, heating, cooling, gravity, and wind

49
Q

what do currents do

A
  • transport heat, nutrients, pollution, and organisms
  • affect climate
  • create gyres
50
Q

define gyres

A

vortex-like circulation patterns

51
Q

what are the vertical zones the oceans are divided into

A

sunlight (epipelagic), twilight (meso and bathypelagic), darkness (abyssopelagic), hadal zone (deep trenches)

52
Q

define how marine waters are used as transportation routes

A
  • move people and products over vast distances
53
Q

define how marine waters are used as energy resources

A
  • crude oil/natural gas - issues of oil spills that damage fisheries
  • renewable energy sources
54
Q

define how marine waters are used for mineral resources

A
  • minerals
  • rich deposits of metals
  • manganese nodules are scattered along the ocean’s floor
55
Q

define how marine waters are used as food sources

A
  • demand on fisheries worldwide for proteins
  • demand for food and industrialization of fisheries has significantly increased pressures on fish and seafood populations worldwide
56
Q

define factory fishing

A

highly industrialized, huge vessels use powerful technologies to capture fish in huge volumes

57
Q

define drift nets

A

for schools of herring, sardines, mackerel, sharks

58
Q

define longline

A

fishing for tuna swordfish

59
Q

define trawling

A

for pelagic fish and groundfish

60
Q

define by-catch

A

the accidental capture of non-target organisms

61
Q

define marine protected areas (MPA’s)

A

established along coastlines of developed countries
- allowed controlled fishing

62
Q

define aquaculture

A

farmed fisheries
- makes up for loss of capture through fisheries
- growing industry to supply seafood - replacing traditional fisheries

63
Q

what are two types of aquaculture

A
  • open-water pens
  • land-based tanks
64
Q

what are some benefits of aquaculture

A
  1. improves food security
  2. reduces pressure on wild stocks
  3. 10-100 times more energy-efficient
65
Q

what are some drawbacks of aquaculture

A
  1. increased disease causes more antibiotic use
  2. high-density fishery causes more waste

Environmental Science (9 decks)

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