Smarty Pants EnviSci Flashcards
1
Q
What are living systems organized into?
A
Specis - composed of organisms healthy enough to reproduce
Population - consists of members of a species that live in the same area for a progression of time
Community - All populations living an interacting in an area
Ecosystem- A community and the physical environment made up of biotic (living) and abiotic (nonliving)
Biosphere - The total of all ecosystems on a planet
2
Q
First Law of Thermodynamics
A
Energy is conserved
3
Q
Second Rule of Thermodynamics
A
Each transfer of energy yields less usable energy
4
Q
Productivity
A
The amount of biomass produced in a given area over a given time
5
Q
Primary Productivity
A
The amount of productivity by plants through photosynthesis
6
Q
Secondary Productivity
A
The rate at which CONSUMERS in an ecosystem store energy.
7
Q
Food Chain
A
A linear chart showing the flow of energy in an ecosystem
8
Q
Trophic Level
A
The organims feeding position in a food chain
9
Q
Primary Producers
A
Plants that support the food chain through photosynthesis
10
Q
Herbivore
A
Primary consumerwho eats primary producers aka plants
11
Q
Carnivores
A
Secondary … Tertiary … ect. those that eat secondary consumers
12
Q
Omnivores
A
Those who eat both primary producers and herbivores and carnivores
13
Q
Detritivores
A
worms, millipedes, woodlice, dung flies, and slugs are a specific type of decomposer. Actually eat shit and dead things
14
Q
Decomposers
A
Fungi and bacteria which break down organic matter to return nutrients to the soil. They do not consume they decompose
15
Q
Detritivores & Decomposers act on which trophic level?
A
All trophic levels
16
Q
Food Webs
A
Interconnected food chain where organisms can occupy more than one trophic level
17
Q
Ten percent rule
A
That only 10% of available energy is transfered to the next trophic level. Therefore there are a shit load of primary producers supporting primary consumers, which in a shit load support secondary consumers
18
Q
Biogeochemical cycles
A
The cycles that endlessly recycle mass through the enviroment
19
Q
Sink
A
Takes in and stores the element or compound in a biogeochemical cycle
20
Q
Source
A
Realeses element or compound in a biogeochemical cycle
21
Q
Transpiration
A
The process by which plants release water through their leaves (persperation)
22
Q
Water travels on land by which two methods
A
Runoff (on the surface) or percolates (goes down through the soil and into aquifers
23
Q
Aquifers
A
Underground water supply
24
Q
Hydrologic Cycle
A
aka the water cycle. Water in the group is transpired through plants to restart the cycle
25
Describe the Nitrogen Cycle
Plants can not use nitrogen from the atmosphere, because the N2 bonds are too strong. First the nitrogen is fixed by either lightning or nitrogenfixing bacteria found in the root of legumes. Lighting or nitrogen fixing bacteria produce ammonia (NH3) or ammonium (NH4+). Ammonia and ammonium are oxidized in the soil by other bacteria to produce nitrite (NO2-) or nitrate (NO3-). Now these nitrite and nitrate can be assimilated by plants and pass up the food chain. Denitrifying bacteria convert ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate back into nitrogen gas (N2)
26
Describe the Phosphorous Cycle
Phosphorous does not have an atmospheric form, so it is slow to travel. Phosphorous compounds leach from rocks over time. Plants take the inorganic phosphorous and assimilate it into organic molecules. A sink of phosphorous is found within sendiments deep in the ocean
27
Desribe the Sulfur Cycle
The source for inorganic sulfur is weathering, volcanic eruptions, and emissions from deep sea floor vents. Also another source of sulfur is the biogenic deposit of phytoplankton. Plants take in this inorganic sulfur then the sulfur is a passed to primary consumers through the food chain.
28
Human effect on Sulfur Cycle
Humans increase the amount of sulfur by burning fossil fuels which result in a greater incidence of acid percipitation which increases the ph level in habitats
29
Human Effect on Phosphorus Cycle
Humans put phosphorus in fertilizes thus increasing the amount of phosphorous. This excess of phosphorous runs off into lakers and oceans causing algal blooms and eutrophications
30
Human effect on the nitrogen cycle
Humans have increased the amount of nitrogen by including ammonia in fertilizers
31
Cause of Biodiversity
Evolution, the idea that genetic changes in populations are due to the effect of natural selection, "survival of the fittest"
32
Divergent and Convergent Evolution
Divergent Evolution - species divergefrom branch Convergent Evolution - species develop similar traits due to their common environment
33
Threat to Habitat
```
Habitat Destruction
Hunting and Fishing
Commercial Products
Introduced Exotic Species (these predators quickly use up resourcecs)
Genetic Assimilation (cross breeding)
```
34
Coevolution
Species exert pressure on each other (e.g. predator and prey)
35
Predator
Feeds on living organisms thus scavengers, detrivores, and decomposers are not predators
36
Symbiosis
When two species live together
37
Symbios: Mutualism, define commensalism
One member benefits and the other is not harmed
38
Batesian Mimicry
Harmless species adapt the color and body shape of poisenous species
39
Mullerian Mimicry
Poisenous species adapts the body type and color of another poisenous species so that predators can learn quicker not to fuck with them
40
Fundamental and Realized Niche
Fundamental Niche - the ecological niche the species can biologically occupy
Realized Niche - The part of its fundamental niche that a species occupies
41
Law of Competitive Exclusion
No two similar species can occupy the same ecological niche. If competition is too high, then the species will migrate or become extinct
42
Limiting Factor
The most in demand which determines species distribution
43
Tolerance Limits
The maximum levels (temperature, moisture, ect.) a species can survive under. The ideal place in a bell curve that represents tolerance limits is in the middle. This middle region is neutral and is called the "optimal range" To the left of the optimal range is the "zone of intolerance" you can not tolerate things that are low. Therefore the zone of intolerance represents the lower limits of tolerance limits. Upper limit of tolerance is called the "Zone of stress" You get stressed if there is too much, this zone of stress is to the right of the optimal range.
44
Genetically modified Organisms are used for which type of remediation
bioremediation
45
Reclamation
Chemical and physical cleanup and reconstruction of severely degraded areas
46
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Calls for better reclamation techniques after land has been mined
47
Exponential growth
When a population increases by constant rate every year. Occurs when there is no limit to the resources
48
J-curve represents which type of growth
Exponential growth
49
Biotic Potential
The maximim productive rate of a species in ideal circumstances. The maximum slope of a J-curve, which represents exponential growth
50
Biotic Potential is represented as the maximum slope of which growth
exponential growth
51
Environmental Resistance
Limiting factors in a population such as disease, food supply, and limited space
52
Density-dependent limiting factor
These limiting factors have a higher impact based on population (e.g. predation, competition, stress)
53
Density-independent limiting factors
These limiting factors have the same effect regardless of population size (e.g. climate)
54
Carrying Capacity
The maximim number of organisms an ecosystem can support
55
Logistic Growth
Takes into account environmental resistance (limiting factors) and carry capacity.
56
Logistic Growth is represented by
S-curve
57
Irruptive Growth
Also called Maltusian growth. Population explosion and then dieback. Overshoots carrying capacity and then dies down
58
Irruptive Growth is also referred to as
Malthusian growth
59
r-selected species
Experience high reproductive rates and exponential growth pattern such as dandelinons, rats, and cockroaches. Their population fluctuates above and bellow carrying capacity
60
K-selected species
Experience population that follows a logistic growth pattern. Include humans. The population stays around carrying capacity
61
Doubling Time formula
70/% annual growth (do not turn annual growth into a decimal)
62
Natality
the number of births per 1000 (birth rate)
63
Mortality
number of deaths per 1000 individuals (crude death rate)
64
Immigration
the number of organisms moving into an area
65
Fertility
number of offspring produced per female in population
66
Fecundity
physical ability to reproduce
67
Life Span
maximum number of years a species survive
68
Life expectancy
Maximum number of years a species can survive
69
Population growth rate % =
birth rate - death + immigration rate - emigration rate
70
Thomas Malthus wrote ... predicting ...
"Essay on the Principle of Population" predicting that humans will reach their carrying capacity and this will result in war, famine, and disease to reduce population.
71
Neo-Malthusians
advocate birth control as a means of stabilizing the population
72
Carl Marx
Believed exploitation of lower classes are causes of pollution, famine, and resource depletion
73
Neo-Marxists
Believe population will stabilize through social justice, the distribution of wealth and resources
74
Brandt Line
An imaginary line that divides the developed and developing worlds 20% of the population above the brandt line uses ... percent of the Earth's resources 80.00%
75
Malnourishment
imbalance in vitamins and nutrients
76
Undernourishment
not taking enough calories
77
Age-structured histograms represent ...
The growth of a population http://www.algebralab.org/img/fba2228e-1ba1-47a7-b6a2-8e9399ad21c5.gif
78
Wider bases in a age-structure histogram represent
Rapid growth
79
Zero growth histograms have what types of rectangles
the same length
80
Replaement level fertility
Having only enough children to replace the parents
81
Negativee growth histogram
The base of the histogram is smaller than the top
82
Demographic Transition
When a nation gradually improves its living conditions
83
The demographic transition model is based off of
Once the birth and death rate decrease then a country becomes developed economocically
84
How can a country make a demographic transition
Decreasing death rate through healthcare and medicine and decreasing birth rate since parents know that their offspring will survive
85
Urbanization
The growth of cities cause problems such as food shortage less adequate infastructure
86
Urban Sprawl
ulimited outward expansion of city boundries that lowers population density, leads to decay of central cities
87
Pathogeons
Disease causing organisms such as bactaria, viruses, and parasites
88
Morbility
a measure of the rate of illness
89
Keystone species
the impact that this species has on the community is much greater than its biomass indicates. If this species is removied, the ecosystem might fall appart
90
Keystone species
the impact that this species has on the community is much greater than its biomass indicates. If this species is removied, the ecosystem might fall appart
91
Complexity
the number of species in each trophic level
92
Stability
constancy in community, resistence to catastrophe
93
The more complex and diverse a community is, the more ... it is
Resilient since another species can take the role
94
Ecotone
the boundary between two different communities
95
Open Ecosystem
when one ecosystem merges into another
96
Ecological succssion
The sequence of changes through which a community passes
97
Primary Succesion
Occurs when a community begins to develop on a site previously unoccupied
98
Secondary Succession
Develop life on a destroyed ecosystem where life existed
99
Pioneer species
Species that undergo primary succession lichen and mosses
100
Seral Community
Replace primary community
101
Climax Community
reached when the community reaches a stable state
102
Equilibrium Community
areas that experience periodic disruption
103
Biomes
ecosystem characterized by distinct climate, soil conditions, and biolgical communities
104
these two factores effect the determining of distribuion of biomes
rain and temperature
105
Desert
characterized by low moisture levels and infrequent percipitation along with poor-quality soil and temperature fluctuates. Home to kangaroos, rates, mice
106
Grassland
temperature and percipitation are moderate enough to support grass (prairies and savannas) best for farming. The plants have deep roots, so they can surive fires. Home to migratory grazers like bison.
107
Tundra
treeless biome found at high altitudes or mountain tops. Damage heels slowly. Vegetation includes low-growing perennial plants, mosses, and lichens. Animals hibernate in Tundra.
108
High Altitude tundra
alpine tundra
109
Mountaintop tundra
arctic thundra
110
Coniferous forest
dominated by cone-bearing trees, low moisture soil and cool temperatures. Plants have evolved thin, needle-like leaves with thick waxy coating to reduce water loss
111
Boreal Forest
A broad band of mixed coniferous and deciduous trees that stretches across northern North America (and also Europe and Asia). Low moisture and cool temperatures. The northern edge is called Taiga.
112
Taiga
the northern most edge of the boreal forest characterized by harsh, cold temperature
113
Deciduous forest
The biome characterized by warmer temperatures than the boreal forest and plenty of precipitation thats huge forests of broadleaf trees; covers regions in southeastern Canada, and eastern United States. Dense canopy that protects sping flowers. Have both warm and frozen season. The main threat is deforestation.
114
Chaparral
Occur in areas with a mediterranean climate (hot, dry summers, cooler winters, low percipitation) thick growth of thorny evergreen. Frequent fires. Plants have wax coating to withstand fire. Home to jackrabbits, chipmunks.
115
Tropical moist forest
all have rainfall and uniform temperature. Most biologically diverse biomes in the world, slow to recover from disruption
116
Cloud forests
found on mountaintops where fog and mist always keeps vegetation moist
117
Tropical rainforests
occur near the equator where rainfall is abundant and temperatures are warm year round
118
3 freshwater biomes
lakes, streams, rivers
119
Thermostratification
a categorization of fresh water lakes that is based off of temperature
120
Epilimnion
Thermostractification of freshwater biome, warmer layer on the surface
121
Hypolimnion
Thermostratification of freshwater biome At the bottom and cooler
122
thermocline
in the middle of epilimnion and hypolimnion. There is a rapid decrease in termperature
123
benthos
lake bottom, little oxygen but rich organic matter from the detritus that sinks to the bottom
124
Seasonal turnover
water mixes freely to replenish nutrients and oxygen, there is no thermocline
125
littoral zone
shallow region near the shore
126
limnetic zone
deeper region further from shore
127
riparian
ecosystem around a river
128
difference between lakes and river
rivers move down stream
129
vertical statification
marine biome categorization
130
marine biomes
oceans and seas
131
photic zone
Layer in the vertical stratifcation of marine biomes. This layer is closer to top of water, gets enough sunlight to support photosynthesis for algae and phytoplankton
132
aphotic zone
do not have enough sun light to support photosynthesis (ocean stratofication)
133
abyssal zone
deepest part od ocean
134
interidal zone
area closest to the shore where tides come in
135
pelagic zone
open ocean near the surface. Under the pelagic zone is the photic zone.
136
wetland
land that remains flooded with fresh or salt water throughout the year
137
wetland benefits (4)
support a high degree of biodiversity, replenish aquifers, prevent flooding by acting like sponges and filter pollutants
138
estuary
a bay where river empties into sea, mixing fresh water with salt water, where birds nes and fish lay plants
139
rehabilitation
rebuilding curtain elements of ecosystem in order to make it usable by humans
140
remediation
poluted area is cleaned by removing contaminent
141
bioremediation
living organisms clean environment
142
Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)
a health measure assessing the total burden of disease on productivity and quality of life
143
Emergent Diseases
those that were not previously known or had not showed up for 20 years
144
Problem with antibiotics in terms of bacteria
Bacteria gradually become resistent, because the bacteria that have the resistence trait survive and pass this trait on
145
Toxins
Chemicals that kill cells or alter growth
146
Allergens
substance that trigger the immune system. Ex formaldehyde, when you become hypersensitive to chemicals
147
LD50
a measurement system for the toxicity of chemicals, the lower the more toxic (kinda like a ph scale where the lower, the more acidic, just a connection to help u remeber)
148
4 Categories of toxins
NeurotoxinsMutagensCarcinogensTeratogens
149
Neurotoxins like mercury, lead, and other heavy metals do what
kill neurons in the nervous system
150
Mutagens
cause mutations by altering DNA
151
Carcinogens
Cause cancer
152
Delaney Clause of US Food and Drug Act
States that no carcinogens causing reasonable harm can be added to food or drugs
153
Teratogens (name example and effect)
toxins such as alcohol, cause abnormal embryonic cell division, which results in birth defects
154
Antagonistic Toxins
Interfere with the effects of other chemicals
155
Additive Toxins
Increase the level of toxity when many chemicals are mixed together
156
Synergistic Toxins
Toxin exacerbates the effect of another, basically making the combined toxin more toxic than if it were alone
157
Bioaccumulation of a toxin occurs when
an organism absorbs and stores the toxin in its tissues
158
Biomagnification
When a toxin enters the food chain through a low trophic level and becomes more concentrated as the toxin moves up the food chain
159
Racheal Carson
Wrote Silent Spring, which exposed the biomagnification occuring due to the use of DDT insecteside. Silent Spring spear headed the environmental movement
160
Ecological Economis
asserts that certain resources can not be replaced like biodiversity.
161
Steady-state economy
categorized by the recycling of material, low birth and death raites, and emphasis on efficiency and durability of goods
162
Two types of resources
Renewable and nonrenewable
163
Renewable
trees, sunlight, and air are naturally replenished
164
Nonrenewable
fossil fuels, minerals, and other metals
165
"The Tradgedy of the Commons" describes
under an open access system where everyone has unregulated access to a resource, the resource will be degraded by self-interest (e.g. farmers sharing land will overgraze in order to maximize profit). Suggested Communal resource system under which each person in the community is given a sense of responsibility to take care of the resources. Written by Hardin
166
Technologies effect on economy
Technology helps to decrease of resources and these resources are used more effectively
167
GNP
does not account for environmental depletion or damage, therefore environmentalists use the HDI (human development index) in order to measure the growth of a state's economy
168
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
forms the cornerstone for U.S. environmental regulations and law. Authorizes the Council on Environmental Quality to oversee environmental conditions. Second, it directs federal agencies to take into account environmental consequences. Finally, it requires an Environmental Impact Statement for any major federal project
169
Policy Cycle
Process through which problems are identified and acted upon
170
Wicked Problems
problems with no simple solution such as global warming
171
Precautionary Principle
A principle followed when making policies about wicked problems. Asserts that we should leave a margin of error for unexspected development
172
Soil
A renewable resource made up of a mixture of weathered rock material, partially decomposed organic molecules, and living organizations
173
Humus
Component of soul consisting of decomposed organic matter, which gives soil structure by sticking particles together. Increases absorbtion of nutrients and water.
174
The best type of soil for farming
sany loam
175
Heavy soil has which type of particle
clay (smallest particles)
176
Light Soil
more sand and silt
177
Horizons
horizontal statification of soil
178
6 Horizons
O HorizonA HorizonE HorizonB HorizonC HorizonBedrock
179
O Horizon
Surface litter
180
O Horizon
surface litter
181
A Horizon
topsoil, made up of humus, nutrients, and organisms. This is where plants have their roots. Grasslands have a very large A horizon, which is ideal for farming
182
E Horizon
Zone of leaching; where nutrients seep downward
183
B Horizon
subsoil; accumulates leached nutrients from the E horizon
184
C Horizon
weathered parent material; partially broken down rock
185
Bedrock
solid rock
186
Hardpan Layer
Desserts have a narrow A horizon and a hardpan, a dense layer of nutrients and salt residue
187
Initiative
vote on a policy that is initiated by the people
188
Erosion
results in the loss of topsoil, which decreases crop production. Also erosion can lead to siltation of reservoirs and sendimentation of rivers and lakes
189
Turbidity
Muddiness of water
190
Rill Erosion
running water cuts small channels into the soil
191
Gully Erosion
When rill erosion leads to enlarged rills
192
#1 Cause of soil Degradation
overgrazing of land. Animals strip land of vegetation and compact the soil with their hooves
193
Desertification
degrading of land that was once fertile
194
Sustainable Argiculture
an agricultural system that is economically viable and social just, yet ensures ecological sustainability (e.g. strip farming)
195
Green Revolution
a dramatic increase in the agriculutrual production brought about by the development of high-yield grain. Require optimum levels of fertilizer, water, and presticides
196
Closed-canopy
(e.g. Tropical rainforests) where three crowns spread out over 20% or more of land area
197
Open-canopy
(e.g. woodland) where tree crowns cover less than 20% of land area
198
Old-growth forests
original, ancient forests like the redwoods in Cali
199
Forests regulate climate through
transpiration
200
Tropical forests make up only .. % of the population, yet contains .. % of species
10% of the population yet contains 50% of the species
201
Forests are threatened by logging
which leads to less topsoil (due to erosion) and thus sendimentation of rivers
202
T or F : The US Forest Service allows logging to occur in national forests
T
203
Nature preserves lay out corridors to
connect habitats and allow species to migrate between these protected areas
204
Wilderness Area
undisturbed land without many roads where humans can visit
205
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The largest wildlife refuge in the US.
206
Biological Pest
Organism that devalues resources useful to humans
207
Pesticides
chemicals used to kill or drive away pests
208
T or F: The US is the greatest consumer of presticides
T
209
Problem with Presticides
harm non-target speciies. Also pesticides get rid of species that are predators, thus other pests rise.
210
Pesticide treadmill
need for increasing doeses or new pesticides to prevent pest resurgence
211
Biological Controls
Natural predators, pathogens, or competitors that can regulate prest populations
212
Integrated Pest Management
a pest control strategy that uses a combination of the pesticide controls
213
Civil Rights
usually refer to the promotion of equality
214
Civil Liberties
Promotion of freedom
215
Most liberal democracies advocate
free spheech association, but vary in terms ofthe rights to assemble and critisize the government
216
Industrial Sector
employs people that make tangible goods
217
Agricultural Sector
Smaller for post modern societies. Mechanization of farmining means few farmers can support the service and industry sectors.
218
National Health Service
created under the leadership of the labour party.
219
core
Inermost center of the earth. Hot mass of metal made up mostly of iron
220
Mantle
Surrounding the core, a liquid layer of hot molten rock called magma
221
Convention Currents
Magma in the mantle rises and sinks in circular patterns
222
Lava
Magma that rises to the surface
223
Crust
the cool light weight crust floats on the mantle. The most abundant element on the crust is oxygen.
224
How are techtonic plates created
Convention currents in the mantle break the overlying current into a mosaic of huge blocks called techtonic plates
225
Techtonic Activity leads to
seafloor spreading, formation of mountains via geologic uplifting, cracks in the crust, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
226
Subduction
when an oceanic plate collides with a continental landmass, the oceanic plate dives under the continent and melts, rising back to the surface as lava
227
Mineral
Natureally occuring inorganic (no carbon) solid with a definite chemical composition and as crystalline structure
228
Aggregate of minerals are called
Rocks
229
rock cycle
the environmental processes that forms and changes rocks
230
3 types of rocks
Igneous, metamorphic, and Sedimentary
231
3 types of rocks
Igneous, metamorphic, and Sedimentary
232
Sedimentary Rock
Made up of sendiments weathered awat from other types of rocks and compiled
233
Weathering
the process that occurs when chemical and physical agents gradually break down rock
234
Examples of Sedimentary rocks
conglomerate (compiled pebbles), sandstone (compiled sand), limestone (compiled shells and dead organisms) and shale (compiled mid)
235
Examples of Sedimentary rocks
conglomerate (compiled pebbles), sandstone (compiled sand), limestone (compiled shells and dead organisms) and shale (compiled mid)
236
Metamorphic
When intense heat and pressure morph sedimentary or igneous rocks. Examples marble (pressurized limestone) and slate (pressurized shale)
237
Which metal is consumed the most in the world
iron
238
Strategic metals and minerals
materials a country cannot produce itself, but are essential for the country
239
Geographic materials are extracted from the earth as
ore, rock that contains needed materials.
240
Ore is exstracted through
Placer MiningUnderground MiningString Mining
241
Placer Mining
washing pure nuggests from streams sendiments using pans or a hose to spray the riverbed. It is environmentally harmful because it chokes stream ecosystem with sendiment
242
Underground mining
also known as tunneling. Is exstremely dangerous in that the tunnels can collapse, explode, cause fire, or lead to the releasing of contaminated water
243
Strip Mining
also known was open-pit mining. Uses truckss to dig huge pits terraced with long ridges called spoil banks, which erode easily. Suscrptible to leaching, destory vegetation by contaminating soil. Ground water often accumulates in the put, resulting in a toxic soup that endangers wildlife and nearby watersheds
244
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
Calls for better restoration techniques in mining, such as filling in pit mines
245
Smelting
Heating up ore to high temperatures to seperate out pure metals. This process gives off sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain
246
Heap-leach extraction
uses chemicals to extract pure metals (usally gold) from ore. The ore is sprayed with cyanide and gold is dissolved into a liquid.
247
Atmosphere
Envelope of gases surrounding the Earth. The atmosphere used to contain mostly hydrogen and helium, but these gases diffused, and photoshynthesis and volcanic emissions caused nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (20 %) to be the most abundant
248
Troposphere
One of the atmosphere's four distinct zones, which differ in terms of temperature. The troposphere is the layer of air closest to the Earth's surface and it is responsible for weather events. It redistributes mosture around the globe. As altitude increases the temperature of throposphere drops.
249
Tropopause
One of the four zones of the atmosphere, which differ according to temperature. The sharp thermal boundary between the tropsphere and the stratosphere.
250
Stratosphere
One of the four zones in the atmosphere, which differ in terms of temperature. The stratosphere has higher temperature, since it absorbs solar energy. Relatively calm and experiences little mixing. The stratosphere contains the ozone layer
251
Ozone Layer
Contained in the stratosphere, which is one of the zones in the atomosphere. The ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing UV radiation.
252
Chloroflurocarbons (CFC)
currently banned by nations, the use of CFCs has created a huge hole in the ozone (contained in the stratosphere) over Antartica, incewasing UV radiation, which causes skin cancer, cartaracts, crop failures, and genetic mutations.
253
Mesosphere
The middle layer, where temperature drops again
254
Thermosphere
The farthest layer from the Earth, which consists of ionized gases heated by solar energy.
255
Aurora Borealis
Northern lights, caused by ionized gases heated by solar energy in the thermosphere
256
Weather
denotes faily temperature and moisture conditions in certain areas
257
Climate
Long-term weather patterns
258
Weather Patterns are driven by
Solar Energy. Uneven heating with warm air closer to the equator (because the sun shines there directly) produces pressure differences that cause convection currents, wind, rain, and storms
259
Coriolis Effect
The movement of wind is related to the rotation of the Earth
260
Jet Streams
Forceful winds that circle the Earth at the top of the throposphere
261
Latent Heat
The stored energy that water vapor produced by evaporating water contains
262
Albedo
the reflectivity of the surface of the earth
263
Weather Fronts
boundaries between air masses of different temperatures and densities
264
Warm front
is a warm air mass that is less dense than surrounding air and leads to clouds
265
Cold Front
Colder and more dense that the surrounding air and forms big puffy storm clouds
266
Clashes between warm and cold air lead to
cyclonic storms over water (hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones) and tornados over land
267
Milankovitch Cycles
Periodic climatic changes are affected by the orbit of theEarth, the angle of the Earth's tilt, and the wobbling of the Earth's axis
268
El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
When every 3-5 years, when the warm surface water from Western Pacific moves eastward. During the intervening years the warm water remains in the Western Pacific. El Nino leads to wacky weather conditions such as excess rain in the Eastern Pacific and froughts or fires in the Western Pacific
269
glass of a greenhouse
transmit sunlight but trap heat inside.
270
Greenhouse Gases
Heat-trapping gases such as carbon-dioxide, methane (coal mines and landfills), Nitrous Oxides, CFCs, and Sulfur Hexafluoride (the has is medical inhalers).
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Aerosols
Tiny water droplets suspended in the air are thought to cool temperature by reflecting sunlight, but they are not the answer to global warming because they dont last long in the air
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Effects of Global Warming
Increases temperature above the range of tolerance for animals, coral reefs undego bleaching that kills off their mutualistic algae. Contribute to change in ocrean circulation and the occurence of severe storms. The growth of insentcts and rodents that carry diseases. Melt permafrost in the tundra, releasing pockets of methane previously locked in the frozen layer.
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Kyoto Protocol
International agreement to reduce greenhous gas emissions. US representatives refused to sign because it sets tighter limits for industrialized countries.
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Antropogenic
pollution caused by human activity.
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The Clean Air Act of 1970
Set limits for the criteria pollutants (also called the conventional pollutants) . These seven major air pollutants are considered the most serios threat to human welfare. The Clean Air Act also set primary standards, insteded to protect human health, and set secondary standards to protect property, crops, and visibility.
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7 Criteria Polutants
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)Carbon Monoxide (CO)Particulate MaterialVolatile Organic Compounds (VOC)Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)OzoneLead
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Criteria Pollutant: Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Natural sources include sea-spray and oceanic vents. Antropogenic sources include burning of coal and oil. Sulfur dioxide oxidizes and dissolves in water to form sulfuric acid, which falls to earth as acid deposition (acid rain)
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Criteria Pollutants: Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Colorless, oderless, highly toxic gas produced by incomplete conbustion of fuel. It inhibits respiration in humans by binding to hemoglobin and prventing absorbtion of oxgen.
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Criteria Pollutants: Particulate Material
Particulates are particles that float in the airm such as dust, ash, soot, smoke, or pollen. They reduce visibilitty and breathing them in can damage lung tissue.
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Criteria Pollutants: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
VOCs are oganic gases, such as methane. In nature, they are given off in small quantities by plants. Anthropogenic sources are industrial plants, the burining of hydrocarbons (like benzene in gasoline), and vinyl chloride used in plastic production.
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Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
A natural source of nitrogen oxide is the bacteria in the nitrogen cycle. The main anthropogenic source is combustion of fossil fuels. Nitrogen oxides are a major component of photochemical smog. NOx may also change into nitric acid, which can be another source of acid deposition.
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Ozone
Whereass stratospheric ozone is good, protecting us from UV rays, ozone in the troposphere is a harmful photochemical oxidant nd a component in smog. Ambient (meaning in the surrounding air) ozone has an acrid odor and damages vegetation, animal tissues, and building materials. It is formed when solar energy drives a reaction with nitrogen cycle
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Lead
Lead accounts for a majority of metallic air pollution. Other polluting metals are mercury from burning coal, nickel, uranim, and plutonium. Lead previously came from leaded gasoline, but may also be released through mining or manufacturing. Lead and mercury are neurotoxins.
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Primary Pollutants
those released directly in hazardous form
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Secondary Pollutants
released in nontoxic form, then react to become more toxic
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Unconventional Pollutants
The Clean Air Act of 1970 also identified unconventional pollutants, which are not as common as criteria pollutants, but are still toxic. (e.g. asbestos, PCBs).
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Indoor Pollutants
Air contaminant, smoke from cigarrets, radon
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Fugitive Emissions
Emissions that do not come out of chimney, exaust pipe, they are fugitive. (e.g. dust from mining or leaks from industrial valves)
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Two methods of controlling air pollution that goes through a smokestack
Filters and electrostatic precipitators (electrically charged devices that carry opposite chrages and stick to the device like a magnet)
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Fluidized bed combustion
Method of preventing sulfur oxide pollution. Forces high-pressure air through coal and crushed limestone on a combustion bed. The limestone reacts with the sulfur, converting it into a harmless form.
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Flue-gas Scrubbing
Spraying sulfur oxide with limestone
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Catalytic Converter
Used by carts to convert nitrogen oxide into other chemicals
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To remove Volatile Organic Compounds (hydrocarbon) cars use
PCV which recycles unused fuel and returns it to the engine
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Air Polution can cause these 3 things
Bronchitis, Emphysema, and chlorosis, where plants have a difficult time oxidizing chlorophyll, and acid rain
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Acid Deposition
damage fish eggs, small invertebrates, causes nutrients to leach out of soil, acid also reacts with aluminium in soil and makes it precipitate out. Kills mycorrhize, a symbiotic root fungus that helps trees absorb water.
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Withdrawal
the amount of water taken from a source
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Consumption
fraction of withdrawn water that is evaporated, absorbed, or lost in transmission as a result of human use
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Drip Irigation
a water efficient technique that delivers small quanities of water directly to a palnt
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Residence time
the amount of time a water molecule spend in the world's water suppy, usually 3000 years
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Renewable Water Suppy
Oceans are not part of the renewable water supply. Fresh water ~ 2.5% is compposed of ground water, glaciers, rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and the atmosphere.
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Humidity
the amount of water in the atmosphere
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Atmospere as a renewable source of energy
Holds the smallest percentage of water and fastest turnover rate
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Dew Point
The temp @ which condensation occurs
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Condensation Nuclei
particulates in air help condensation occur on the surface of these particulates.
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Cloud Seeding
Utilizes condensation nuclei principle, particulates are sprayed into the air to encourage rain.
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Mountain and rain pattern
up-slope side of mountain is wet and rainy, while down-slope rain shadow is dry and experiences less rain
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Infilitration
Rain that doesnt evaporate or runoff, percolates through the soil in a process called infiltration
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Zone of Aeration
The upper layers of soil, containing both water and pockets of air, make up the zone of aeration
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Zone of Saturation
The source of wells, where soil layers are completely waterlogged
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Water Table
the top of the zone of saturation is called the water table
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Cone of Depression
The section of the water table where groundwater is being depleted faster than it is renewed
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Two negative effects of groundwater depletion
Subsidence - sinking of land, may form a sink holeSaltwater Intrusion - salt water contaminates an aquifer, since it moves in to fill the void left by depleted freshwater
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Water Stress
When groundwater in an area is being used up faster than it can be renewed
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To increase the water supply to dry areas try
cloud seeding and desalinization
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Desalinization
involves removing salt water from ocean water; however this is very expensive.
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Evironmental impact of dams
Good for providing water and hydroelectricityConsequences:Raise water level, flood towns, loss of free-flowing river, decrease river flow and disrupts migration of fish, Collect silt, water lost through evaporation
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Point Sources
Factories, power plants, and oil wells, these release pollution directly from specific locations such as pipes
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Nonpoint sources
runoff from farm fields, logging sites, and urban areas, are hard to monitor, because they have no specific discharge point
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Water is tested for the presence of
coliform bacteria (e. coli) these bacteria are present in feces
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Red Tides
occur when dinoflagellates or algae releases toxins in water that damage humans
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How is oxygen added and removed from water
Added trhough photosynthesis or diffusion of water. Removed through respiration.
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Biochemical oxygen Demand
the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by organisms is a standard measure of water contamination. Since when organic material like sewage is added to water, stimulates oxygen consumption by decomposers. The higher the BOD the worse
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Oxygen Sag
A decline in the DO
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Zones in water
Clean zone is before pollution source, Decomposiiton zone is where decomposers begin to metabolize waste material, after the decomposition zone is the septic zone where water becomes so oxygen depleted that fish die and only worms and microorganisms survive. Past this zone is the recovery zone, where since there were fewer decomposers the DO rose. After the recovery zone in another clean zone.
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Cultural Eutrophication
caused when nutrients enter a waterway. Algal blooms reduce water clarity and oxygen levels in a process called cultural eutrophication
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Hypoxic zone
Results from a lack of oxygen in waterm where fish die
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Oligotrophic
when there are low levels of nutrients in a water body
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Placer Mining
involves washing pure niggests from stream sendiment using pans or a hose to spray the riverbed.
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oligotrophic
when there are low levels of nutrients in a water body
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Water pollution includes sendiment. What are the effects of this sendiment
Sendiment mostly from agricultural erosion. The sendiment fills up reservoirs, suffocates coral reefs, and ruins spawning grounds
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Thermal Pollution
occurs when power plants release heated water into rivers, which disrupts aquatic organisms and decreases oxygen levels
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Clean Water Act
make all surface waters fit for fishing and swimming. Need permit to discharge pollutant into navigatable water. Best Practicable Technology (BPT) be used to clean up point source, Best Available Technology (BAT) used to clean up toxin
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Clean Water Act: Total Maximum Daily Load
the maximum daily pollution amount allowed for each pollutant and body of water in the US
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Primary Treatment in Wastewater treatment
filters out solid material and takes out sendiment with a grit chamber. During this step, the steeling tanks allow some dissolved organic solids to fall out as sludge.
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Wastewater treatement: Secondary Treatment
removes disease-causing pathogens by adding chlorine. This step also involves treating sludge using iether lagoons or aeration tanks
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Wastewater treatment: Lagoon System
places sludge in shallow basins for several months, allowing for natural, gradual degradation of sewage.
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Wastewater treatment: Lagoon System
places sludge in shallow basins for several months, allowing for natural, gradual degra
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Wastewater treatment: Aeration Tank
pumps air through a tank filled with aerobic bacteria that break down the sludge more quockly. This is also called the activated sludge process.
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Wastewater treatment: Tertiary treatment
gets rid of dissolved nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates. This is often accomplished by allowing effluent, a term that refers to water being treated, to flow through wetland
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Effluent
water being treated for waste
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Septic Tank
Developing countries rel on septic tanks instead of municipal (town wide) sewage treatment. Septic tanks hold solid waste to be decomposed by bacteria. The septic tank system allows liquids to percolate through drain fields, where they are aerated to presumably kill germs
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Waste Stream
the waste a society produces
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most common method of Waste dumping in developed countries
sanitary landfills, where solid wastes are compacted and buried under soil
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"LAw of the sea" London Dumping Convention
ended all ocean dumping of plastics, oil effluent, and industrial waste by signatory countries
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Problem with incinerators and sanitary landfills
PEople refuse to have landfils or incinerators in their area. Locally Unwanted Land Uses. Not in my backyard
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Incineration
the heat form incineration can produce steam used directly for heating buildings or generating electricity. Incineration is very expensive
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Refuse-derived fuel
Garbage that can produce higher fuel content, because the unburnable or recyclable materials
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Demanufacturing
the disassembly and recycling of obselete consumer products like television sets
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Composting
the breakdown of organic matter under aerobic (oxygen rich) conditions. Compost makes a nutrient-rich soil amendment that improves crop yields, slows erosion, and aids in water retention, produces methane
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Methods of dealing with hazardous waste
recycled, converted to less hazardous form, bioremediated (use of microorganisms to breakdown hazardous material), placed in permanent retrievable storage
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Brownfields
large polluted area that has been abandoned
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Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
requires industry to keep meticulous account of every hazardous waste they handle
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CERCLA (Superfund Act)
aimed at rapid containment, cleanup, or remediation of abandoned toxic waste sites. Authorizes EPA to undertake emergency actions to cleanup these sites using superfund, a fund produced by collecting taxes from the producers fo tociv material.
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National Priorities List (NPL) sites
hazardos to human health and environment
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BTU
unit of energy
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Fossil Fuels
Energy rich chemicals derived from wastes and dead organisms (e.g. oil, coal, natural gas)
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Shale Oil
consists of kerogen (yields petroleum) trapped in sendimentary rock
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Tar Sands
Made up of oil and sand coated with hydrocarbobs. However these oil sources are often dificult and expensive to extract and refine
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Lignite
the softest, has low sulfur content, but does provide much energy
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Coal: Bituminous
this coal has higher sulfur content and more energy efficient
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Coal: Anthracite
Has the highest energy yield and the lowest sulfur content
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Drawbacks of coal as a fuel resource
coal releases toxins like mercury and is associated with the collapsing tunnels and fires, erosion, leaching of chemicals, sendimentation, contamination of ground water, and destruction of habitat
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Why is natural gas cleaner than burning oil and coal
produces half the amount of CO2 as coal.
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What is dificult about relying on natural gas
natural gas is difficult to transport and store
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Unconventional sources of natural gas
methane hydrate which is trapped in the tundra's permafrost and methane digesters, which trap methade released when decomposers break down human and animal waste
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Blank is the most commonly used isotope of an element used in nuclear power plants
U-235. About 100 rods make up a fuel assembly
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Nuclear Power Plants rely on which chemical process
nuclear fission
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amplifying chain reaction
fission reaction grows out of control
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Pressurized-Water Reactors (PWR)
The design of the majority of the world's nuclear plants, water circulates through the core to absorb heat. The water is pumped to a steam generator
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Boiling Water Reactor
A popular design in the USSR, uses graphite both as a moderator and as a structural material for rods, this design is unsafe because the graphite can melt
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Passive Heat Absorption
The simplest use of solar energy involves using natural materials to gather and hold heat
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Active Solar System
Pump a heat-absorbing lfuid through a collector
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Solar energy can be stored in these 2
Water bins or eutectic chemicals
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Photovoltic Cel
capture solar energy and directly convert it to an electric current. These products have virtually no down side.
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Energy source for developing countries
Biomass such as organic material like wood, charcoal, agricultural or timber waste, and shit.
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Effect of using biomass as fuel
Emits less SO2 and reduces bioinvaders, however this process is time-consuming, releases carbon oxides (soot).
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Biodiesel
directly uses vegetable oil instead of gas
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Hydroelectric Energy
renewable energy source that generates electricity when water flows through a turbine, usually a dam.
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Tidal Energy
Related to hydroelectric energy uses tides along the coast to generate electricity. It contributes to coastal erosion and destroys habitats.
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OCean Thermal Electric Conversion (OTEC)
uses temperature differences between warmer surface water and cooler deep waer to generate electricity with a heat exchanger and turbine
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The ultimate source of wind energy is
the sun, which drives the movement of air masses.
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Wind Farm
concentration of wind generators producing commercial electricity. Causes minimal environmental disruption.
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Wind Farm
concentration of wind generators producing commercial electricity. Causes minimal environmental disruption.
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Geothermal Energy
uses heat from the Earth as in hot springs to generate electricity
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Fuel Cell
a device that uses ongoing electrochemical reactions powered by hydrogen to produce an electrical current.
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Cogeneration
Reuses waste heat for other purposes like heating water
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Chernobyl, Ukraine
The plant's operators were careless and violated procedures, causing the graphit-moderated Boiling Water Reactor to lose its coolant water and explode. The subsequent blasts released radioactive matter into the atmosphere. Two people were initially killed by the explosion, while thousands suffered radiation illness
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Chernobyl, Ukraine
The plant's operators were careless and violated procedures, causing the graphit-moderated Boiling Water Reactor to lose its coolant water and explode. The subsequent blasts released radioactive matter into the atmosphere. Two people were initially killed by the explosion, while thousands suffered radiation illness
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Love Canal, NY
Early in the 1940s, a chemical company purchased the abandoned Love Canal to use as a dump, filled it to capacity with toxic waste, and covered the toxins with dirt. The company then sold the land to the area's Board of Education. The site became a playground, heavy rains in 1977 caused the toxins to seep into the soil, making people in the neighborhood suffer serious illnesses such as Epilepsy, liver malfuntion, miscarriages, skin sores, rectal bleeding, and birth defects. The outcry encouraged congress to pass CERCLA (Superfund)
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Bhopal, India
The Bhopal disaster in 1984 was the worst industrial disaster in history. It was caused by the accidental release of huge quantities of toxic MIC gas from a pesticide plant. The MIC leak killed thousands outright and caused many to suffer from neurological issues
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Three Mile Island, PA
In 1979, the nuclear power plant at Three Mile Island suffered a partial core meltdown. The cooling system had failed, building up pressue in the reactor core. The disaster caused a serious decline in the popularity of nuclear power in the US
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Minamata, Japan
From 1932 to 1968, a Japanese petrochemical and power company dumped an estimated 27 tons of mercury compounds in Minamata Bay. Thousands of townspeople whose regular diet consisted of fish from the bay developed Mercury poisoning. 900 deaths
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Minamata, Japan
From 1932 to 1968, a Japanese petrochemical and power company dumped an estimated 27 tons of mercury compounds in Minamata Bay. Thousands of townspeople whose regular diet consisted of fish from the bay developed Mercury poisoning. 900 deaths
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Carson
Author of Silent Spring and founder of the modern environmental movement who revealed the harmful ecological effects of the presticides DDT
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Carson
Author of Silent Spring and founder of the modern environmental movement who revealed the harmful ecological effects of the presticides DDT
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Roosevelt & Pinchot
Roosevelt moved forest management into the Dep. of Agriculture, naming Pinchot the first chief of the new Forest Service. Roosevelt and Pinchot established the framework of the national forest, park, and wildlife refuge system and helped pass game protection legislation. Actions based off of utilitarian conservation. The principle that forests should be saved not for nature's sake, but to provide jobs and homes for people
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Utilitarian Conservation
The principle that forests should be saved not for nature's sake but to provide jobs and homes
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Muir
Influential conservationist who worked to preserve wildlide from commercial exploitation. His efforts helped to established Yosemite. Founded Sierra Club.
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Leopold
Often considered the father of wildlife ecology, Leopold was the author of the sand county almanac in which he outlined "land ethic". He advocated restoration of damaged land combined with Stewardship of nature.
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Carbon Cycle
Carbon cycle is driven by photosynthesis
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Human effect on CO2 cycle
Combustion of fossil fuels leads to more carbon being released. Carbon sinks include plants, the ocean, calciulm carbonate (limestone and coral reefs).
