Module 1

Question 1

What are the 3 continuous cycles

Answer 1

Air, water and soil

Question 2

Explain air cycle

Answer 2

• mix of gases in atmosphere
• animals breath in o2 and exhale co2
• plants release 02

-> co2 -> plants -> o2 -> animals -> co2

Question 3

Explain the water cycle

Answer 3

-> sun heats surface water -> water vaporizes -> water condenses forming clouds -> water falls to earth as precipitation -> vaporizes

• this purifies water
• each step cleans system
• GW is the source of most freshwater

Question 4

Explain the soil cycle

Answer 4

-> organic matter deposited by plants and animals -> soil organisms break break them down -> plans and microbes use these nutrients for growth ->

Question 5

What effects soil formation

Answer 5

• parent material
• climate
• topography
• organisms presents

Question 6

What are the 5 soil horizons

Answer 6

• Litter box
• A
• B
• c
• D

Question 7

Explain the litter box soil horizon

Answer 7

Decomposing plants and animals

Question 8

Explain the A soil horizon

Answer 8

High amounts of weathering, high amounts of minerals, high organic matter,

The decaying veg sustains food for micro organisms

Question 9

Explain the B soil horizon

Answer 9

Partially weathered(from a), clay, organic matter, iron, aluminium,

Question 10

Explain C soil horizon

Answer 10

Partially weathered bedrock

Question 11

What can variation in matrix effect

Answer 11

Pollutant migration and methods of sampling

Question 12

Factors that effect sample comp

Answer 12

Water, soil and air

Question 13

What about water effects sample composition.

Answer 13

Depth, flow, proximity to source, recharge rate, soil composition, topography and nature of contaminant

Question 14

Types of water

Answer 14

Surface water 
Ground water 
Spring water 
Glacial melt water
Waste water
saline water
Estuariane water 
Bribe water 
Atmospheric water
Processes water 
Steam
***** all are subject to vertical and horizontal stratification

Question 15

How does soil effect sample composition

Answer 15

Depth, proximity to source, topography, nature of contaminant

Question 16

Explain how air effects sample composition

Answer 16

• most variable in nature
• various states for pollutant (gas drops, vapour)
• various chemical states
• Depth, proximity to source, topography, nature of contaminant

Question 17

What are the categories for air samples?

Answer 17

• volatiles > 0.1 KPA
• semi volatile = 0.1c10^-8
• non volatile < 10^-8

Question 18

Define interference

Answer 18

An interference is a chemical or physical property of a sample that causes errors in the measurement process

Question 19

Sources of interference in sampling analysis

Answer 19

1. Collection (equipment, handling, preservation, ambient contamination and containers)
2. Transport and storage (containers and cross contamination)
3. Preservation (glassware, reagents, ambient contamination, handling)
4. Analysis (syringes, carry over and memory effects, glassware, equipment, apparatus, and reagents)

Question 20

Types of interference

Answer 20

1. additive (changes intercept not slope)
2. Subtractive (results in low test results)
3. Multiplicative (changes slope not intercept)

Question 21

Types of incorrect analysis

Answer 21

1. False positive

2. False negative

Question 22

What to ask to ascertain the nature of the environment and its homogeneity before sampling takes place

Answer 22

1) is the sample homogeneous?
2) is the sample matrix heterogenous?
3) is there horizontal stratification (do we need to consider distance from source contamination?
4) is there vertical stratification(e.g. would it go to the bottom of an aquifer)

Question 23

Examples of LNAPLs

Answer 23

Gasoline, diesel,

Question 24

Examples of DNAPLs

Answer 24

Liquid hydrocarbons, creosote, pcbs,coal tars, and most chlorinated solvents