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Environmental Science > Lecture 12/13 > Flashcards

Lecture 12/13 Flashcards

(68 cards)

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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
What are some solutions for mercury (toxic chemicals)
- avoid seafood from affected areas - monitor/regulate mercury discharges
23
What are some examples of toxic chemicals occur naturally
aluminum, cadmium, chromium, fluoride, lead, mercury, sulfates
24
What are some examples of groundwater pollution caused by humans
- wastes leach through soils - pathogens enter through improperly designed wells and landfills - hazardous wastes are pumped underground - underground storage (septic tanks) leak
25
How can increasing water supply be a strategy for pollution prevention
- can be transported through pipes/aqueducts - can be forcibly appropriated from weak communities - can use new sources of water (e.g. desalinization)
26
Define desalinization
removal of salt from seawater or other water of marginal quality
27
Define distilling
hastens evaporation and condenses vapour
28
define reverse osmosis
forces water through membranes to filter out salts
29
Define lowering demand (pollution prevention)
- politically difficult in the short term - offers better economic returns - causes less ecological and social damage
30
reducing agricultural demand for water
- 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
reducing residential (domestic) demand for water
- 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
Define xeriscaping
landscaping using plants adapted to arid conditions
33
Reducing industrial demand for water
- 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
How does climate change affect hydrological cycle
- altered precipitation patterns - early seasonal (spring) runoff - more evapotranspiration - intensified droughts - melting glaciers - more flooding
35
What are some benefits to encouraging greater water infiltration into soils
- reduce flooding - reduce run-off - prevent water pollution of surface waters - capture water for lawns and reduce irrigation needs - reduce stormwater losses
36
define non-consumptive use
does not remove, or only temporarily removes, water from an aquifer or surface water (e.g. electricity generation at hydroelectric dams)
37
define consumptive use
water is removed from aquifer or surface water body, and is not returned
38
engineering water projects: dam
Used to control/change water flow for human uses (e.g. agriculture, energy, urbanization)
39
what are some benefits of dams
- power generation - crop irrigation - drinking water - flood control - shipping - new recreational opportunities
40
what are some drawbacks to dams
- habitat alteration - fisheries declines - population displacement - sediment capture - disruption of flooding patterns - risk of failure - lost recreational opportunities
41
water supplies agricultural, industrial and residential (domestic) needs (consumptive water use)
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
Define water mining
withdrawl of water faster than replaced
43
define wetlands
drained land used for agriculture, cities
44
Why is groundwater depleted so easily
- Groundwater easily depleted - aquifers recharge slowly - 1/3 of world population relies on groundwater for freshwater
45
what happens as aquifers become depleted
- water tables drop - salt water intrudes in coastal areas - sinkholes form - wetlands dry up
46
define sinkholes
areas where ground gives away unexpectedly
47
define inland seas
large lakes that hold so much water, their biota is adapted to open water
48
define currents
ocean has flow patterns driven by density differences, heating, cooling, gravity, and wind
49
what do currents do
- transport heat, nutrients, pollution, and organisms - affect climate - create gyres
50
define gyres
vortex-like circulation patterns
51
what are the vertical zones the oceans are divided into
sunlight (epipelagic), twilight (meso and bathypelagic), darkness (abyssopelagic), hadal zone (deep trenches)
52
define how marine waters are used as transportation routes
- move people and products over vast distances
53
define how marine waters are used as energy resources
- crude oil/natural gas - issues of oil spills that damage fisheries - renewable energy sources
54
define how marine waters are used for mineral resources
- minerals - rich deposits of metals - manganese nodules are scattered along the ocean's floor
55
define how marine waters are used as food sources
- demand on fisheries worldwide for proteins - demand for food and industrialization of fisheries has significantly increased pressures on fish and seafood populations worldwide
56
define factory fishing
highly industrialized, huge vessels use powerful technologies to capture fish in huge volumes
57
define drift nets
for schools of herring, sardines, mackerel, sharks
58
define longline
fishing for tuna swordfish
59
define trawling
for pelagic fish and groundfish
60
define by-catch
the accidental capture of non-target organisms
61
define marine protected areas (MPA's)
established along coastlines of developed countries - allowed controlled fishing
62
define aquaculture
farmed fisheries - makes up for loss of capture through fisheries - growing industry to supply seafood - replacing traditional fisheries
63
what are two types of aquaculture
- open-water pens - land-based tanks
64
what are some benefits of aquaculture
1. improves food security 2. reduces pressure on wild stocks 3. 10-100 times more energy-efficient
65
what are some drawbacks of aquaculture
1. increased disease causes more antibiotic use 2. high-density fishery causes more waste

Environmental Science (9 decks)

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