midterm

Question 1

What percentage of the world’s total energy comes from renewable sources?

Answer 1

About 13.5%.

Question 2

What factors are driving investment in renewable energy?

Answer 2

Competitive pricing with fossil fuels and responses to climate change.

Question 3

What are the major types of renewable energy?

Answer 3

• Biomass conversion
• Hydroelectric power
• Solar energy
• Wind energy
• Geothermal energy
• Tidal power

Question 4

How is biomass energy produced?

Answer 4

Through the conversion of sunlight into plant material via photosynthesis.

Question 5

What are the four major types of biomass energy sources?

Answer 5

• Fuelwood
• Municipal and industrial waste
• Crop residues and animal waste
• Energy plantations

Question 6

What are two environmental concerns of biomass energy?

Answer 6

• Habitat loss
• Air pollution from burning biomass

Question 7

How is hydroelectric power generated?

Answer 7

By converting the kinetic energy of flowing water into electrical energy using dams and turbines.

Question 8

What percentage of global electricity comes from hydroelectric power?

Answer 8

About 16%.

Question 9

Name two environmental concerns of hydroelectric power.

Answer 9

• Displacement of communities
• Alteration of fish migration patterns

Question 10

What are the three ways solar energy is used?

Answer 10

• Passive heating
• Active heating
• Electricity generation

Question 11

How do passive solar systems work?

Answer 11

They absorb sunlight and store heat in materials like floors and walls to release heat later.

Question 12

What is a photovoltaic (PV) cell?

Answer 12

A semiconductor device that converts sunlight directly into electricity.

Question 13

What percentage of global electricity comes from wind energy?

Answer 13

About 2%.

Question 14

What is a major drawback of wind power?

Answer 14

It is variable and must be supplemented with other energy sources.

Question 15

What is one solution to reduce bird deaths from wind turbines?

Answer 15

Painting one of the turbine blades black to improve visibility.

Question 16

How is geothermal energy harnessed?

Answer 16

By tapping into underground heat to produce steam that powers turbines.

Question 17

What country produces 25% of the world’s geothermal electricity?

Answer 17

The United States.

Question 18

What is a major environmental issue with geothermal energy?

Answer 18

Emission of hydrogen sulfide gas and mineral corrosion of equipment.

Question 19

How does tidal power generate electricity?

Answer 19

Using the movement of tides to turn turbines or through tidal barrages.

Question 20

What is a major limitation of tidal power?

Answer 20

It requires a tidal range of at least 5 meters and has very few suitable locations.

Question 21

How does energy conservation act as an energy source?

Answer 21

By reducing energy demand, making it easier to meet future needs.

Question 22

What is the relationship between cost and energy efficiency?

Answer 22

Energy-efficient products have a higher upfront cost but save money in the long run through reduced energy consumption.

Question 23

Name one government incentive to encourage energy efficiency.

Answer 23

Tax incentives for upgrading insulation, windows, and appliances.

Question 24

What is an example of an ex-situ conservation approach?

Answer 24

Seed bank.

Question 25

What term describes the number and evenness of species in a particular region?

Answer 25

Species diversity.

Question 26

Where do many of the world’s major medicines come from?

Answer 26

Biodiversity.

Question 27

How does nature influence people's identities?

Answer 27

Through non-material contributions, such as cultural and emotional connections to nature.

Question 28

What are the two most important factors that determine species diversity in an area?

Answer 28

* Energy * Water availability

Question 29

What is the effect of grazing by domesticated animals on rangelands?

Answer 29

It changes vegetation because domesticated animals feed differently than native animals.

Question 30

What is habitat management?

Answer 30

The process of modifying natural environments to encourage the increase of specific species.

Question 31

What is a major cause of desertification?

Answer 31

Overgrazing and cutting trees for firewood.

Question 32

What is happening to the amount of forest land in Central and South America?

Answer 32

It is decreasing.

Question 33

What is population augmentation?

Answer 33

The release of individuals into an existing population to increase its size.

Question 34

What is a habitat corridor?

Answer 34

A route that animals use to move between patches of natural habitat in a fragmented landscape.

Question 35

What does CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) aim to do?

Answer 35

Prevent international trade of endangered species.

Question 36

Which species is least likely to go extinct?

Answer 36

Rabbit.

Question 37

What concept is NOT included in biodiversity?

Answer 37

Climate diversity.

Question 38

What are the four components of biodiversity?

Answer 38

* Species diversity * Genetic diversity * Ecosystem diversity * Functional diversity

Question 39

What is floodplain zoning?

Answer 39

A designation that restricts future building in floodplains.

Question 40

What is a major problem caused by suburban and shopping area development on the city’s edge?

Answer 40

High costs of providing water, sewer, and electricity.

Question 41

What is tract development?

Answer 41

The construction of similar residential units over large areas.

Question 42

What was a primary contributor to suburban growth?

Answer 42

Rising automobile usage.

Question 43

Why are mass transportation systems difficult to establish?

Answer 43

Many metropolitan areas have very dispersed housing patterns.

Question 44

By 2030, what percentage of the world’s population is projected to live in urban areas?

Answer 44

60%.

Question 45

What is smart growth urban planning a reaction to?

Answer 45

The twin problems of deteriorating central cities and dysfunctional suburban development.

Question 46

What is a major conflict concerning federally owned land?

Answer 46

The kinds of uses that are prohibited.

Question 47

Where were early towns typically built?

Answer 47

Near rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Question 48

What is NOT a characteristic of a well-planned community?

Answer 48

Encouraging use of abandoned industrial sites in the city.

Question 49

Which is NOT a major consideration when dealing with urban transportation problems?

Answer 49

Restricting highway construction to discourage automobile use.

Question 50

What is one of the major uses of public land in the United States?

Answer 50

Outdoor recreation.

Question 51

What is land-use planning?

Answer 51

The construction of an orderly list of priorities for the use of available land.

Question 52

What is urban sprawl?

Answer 52

Unplanned suburban growth.