Unit 5 Flashcards
1
Q
__________________ cells convert solar energy directly into electricity.
A
Photovoltaic
2
Q
Turning off lights when you leave a room or switching to CFL or LED lighting is an effective conservation method because lighting usually accounts for _______________ % of average home electrical costs.
A
25
3
Q
Define greenhouse gases. What human actions have led to an increase in the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere? What has been the result?
A
Greenhouse gases are gases found in the atmosphere that trap incoming solar radiation and reradiate it to Earth’s surface as heat, warming the planet. Without them, Earth would be too cold to sustain human (and most other) life. Humans have greatly added to the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, especially carbon dioxide (resulting from burning fossil fuels). The result has been a relatively rapid increase in average global temperatures leading to climate change around the world.
4
Q
A costal area that floods during high tides but is exposed to the air at low tide is known as a(n) __________________.
A
intertidal zone
5
Q
The ocean’s __________ is the most important factor in determining the abundance of life in a given region of the ocean.
A
depth
6
Q
Yellowcake is processed during an enrichment phase to increase the proportion of
A
U-235 to U-238
7
Q
Which of the following is an example of low-level radioactive waste?
A
Worker clothing and gloves
Tools used in the nuclear facility
8
Q
True or False: All species of birds that have been studied indicate a northward shift in the range of several hundred kilometers.
A
False
9
Q
What are coral reefs, and where are they found? Explain the symbiotic relationship the polyp shares with its resident zooxanthellae.
A
Corals are tiny marine organisms that live in colonies of many individual polyps. Once established, coral reefs continue to grow by using chemical cues to attract free-floating coral larvae to attach to the top of existing coral skeletons. After attaching to a surface, the larva undergoes metamorphosis to the polyp stage and secretes a calcium carbonate skeleton. A reef thus grows from corals building on top of other corals over the course of generations.
Coral reefs are found in shallow, nutrient-poor, tropical seas, between 30° S and 30° N of the equator. Their mutualistic relationship with zooxanthellae (“zooks”)—a photosynthetic algae that lives inside and shares nutrients with the coral—enables them to live in these nutrient-poor marine waters. The zooxanthellae perform photosynthesis and provide the coral with sugars, and raise the pH a little, which helps the coral lay down its calcium carbonate skeleton. The coral provides CO2 for the zook’s photosynthesis; the zooks also use coral waste as nutrients.
10
Q
Besides ocean acidification, what threats do coral reefs and other ocean ecosystems face? Describe the causes and consequences of these threats.
A
While acidification is a very big threat, oceans face many other threats, including overfishing, pollution, rising sea levels, and invasive species.
Overfishing includes taking too many fish, as well as the destruction of sea beds or killing of other nontarget species during fishing. It is the biggest threat to oceans: About 90% of top trophic level predators have already been eliminated by overexploitation. Such heavy losses disrupt the interdependent relationships needed to sustain each community. For example, without grazer fish to keep it in check, algae overgrows on coral. Pollution from sediment and high levels of nutrient runoff from agricultural areas are boosting algae production and creating algal blooms, which smother corals and block sunlight, reducing photosynthesis. Trash—from both land and sea—and petroleum from ships and boats are also polluting the marine environment at unprecedented rates.
Rising sea levels will increase the depth of ocean waters and may decrease sunlight penetration, thus reducing photosynthesis, especially in the deepening coral seas.
Invasive species pose yet another threat; more than 80% of ocean harbors around the world now host at least one invasive species. These non-natives can disrupt ecosystems and prey upon or outcompete native species, changing the makeup of the community.
11
Q
What factors determine the identification of the different ocean zones that are recognized?
A
The main factor is depth. This relates both to sunlight penetration (darkness) and temperature. The distance to shore is also important. Areas close to shore receive nutrients from the nearby land and rivers that empty into estuarine regions, providing nutrients that support a more abundant and biodiverse ecological communities.
12
Q
Which of the following is not an advantage that solar and wind power share?
Pollution free
Effective at large and small scales
The most inexpensive renewable technologies to install
Job creation
A
The most inexpensive renewable technologies to install
13
Q
Which of the following in not a characteristic of sustainable energy sources?
They must be renewable.
We must use them at or less than the rate at which they are replenished.
They must have no environmental impact.
All of these are characteristics of sustainable energy.
A
They must have no environmental impact.
14
Q
True or False: The rate of the reaction is controlled by the insertion of control rods that absorb the free protons.
A
False
15
Q
True or False: Current warming can be explained by the Milankovitch cycles.
A
False
16
Q
solar
convert solar energy
directly into electricity.
A
photovoltaic cells
17
Q
The urban heat island effect is caused by:
minimal green space.
lots of pavement and buildings.
high energy use in the city as a whole.
all of the above.
A
all of the above
18
Q
Barnacles, starfish, and mussels are found in the _______ ocean zone.
A
intertidal
19
Q
The majority of geothermal sites are located in _________ and the western part of the ____________.
A
Iceland; United States
20
Q
The Bronx River was historically covered with ______________________
A
salt marshes
21
Q
Which of the following threats to ocean ecosystems contributes to damage in coral reef areas?
Fishing with dynamite or using toxic chemicals to capture reef fish
Overfishing
Sediment runoff from land
All of the above
A
all of the above
22
Q
The urban heat island effect is caused by too little ____________, too much _____________, and high energy use
A
plant life, pavement
23
Q
Trying to decrease the extent or impact of future climate change is known as ___________, whereas taking steps to adjust to current or inevitable climate change is known as____________.
A
Mitigation, adaptation
24
Q
True or False: Light surfaces like snow have a lower albedo than darker surfaces like water.
A
False
25
The ______ may have been the first species to go extinct due to climate change.
golden toad
26
Ground temperature being harnessed to either heat or cool a house is always around ________________ degrees Fahrenheit.
55
27
Samsø used_____________,_______________, and __________energy sources to meet its energy needs.
Wind, solar, and biomass
28
In response to redlining in the 1960s, landlords in the Bronx:
burned their buildings to collect insurance money.
29
In a nuclear fuel assembly, control rods are used to regulate the nuclear reaction. But even if all the control rods are inserted into the fuel assembly, heat is still produced. Explain why.
The nuclear material spontaneously decays, even if the fission reaction has been halted. This spontaneous decay generates heat. (This is why spent fuel rods still generate heat and must remain in a cooling water bath.)
30
The largest segment of renewable energy is ____________________.
biomass
31
True or False: Coral reefs are nutrient-rich areas where shallow rivers meet the ocean.
False
32
Nuclear fission is a reaction that:
splits an atom, releasing energy.
combines two or more atoms, producing energy.
results in large explosions.
is required to make atoms radioactive.
splits an atom, releasing energy.
33
In the winter of 2010, the northeastern part of the United States had several large snowstorms that resulted in record high snowfall amounts. How does this weather fit in with the notion of global climate change?
Weather doesn’t equal climate. Isolated events such as snow storms cannot be taken as evidence either for or against climate change. Climate change models don’t predict that every location on Earth will be warmer, just that global averages will increase. Climate change is about changing climates, not just warming — shifts in the atmospheric jet streams or ocean currents that result from warmer temperatures may shift seasonal weather patterns resulting in colder or stormier weather in some places or simply more variable weather.
34
True or False: NOAA estimates that more than half of coral reefs worldwide are threatened by human activities or environmental changes.
True
35
Reduction of the use of commercial fertilizer will _____________ algae blooms.
decrease
36
Isotopes are atoms that have different numbers of ____________ in their nucleus but the same number of ____________
neutrons; protons
37
Net _________________ (2 words) emissions have fallen to zero because of Samsø's switch to renewable energy sources.
carbon dioxide
38
```
________ energy can be
captured on a small scale to
lower home heating and
cooling costs or on a large scale
to produce electricity or heat.
```
Geothermal
39
Describe the characteristics of the four sustainable energy sources presented here for generating electricity: wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric power. Why are all sources not practical for every location?
Electricity produced from wind, geothermal, and water all share the common feature of some force turning a turbine which spins adjacent to copper wiring within a generator to generate electricity. Wind energy uses the power of wind to turn turbines (windmills). Geothermal energy uses the heat produced by the Earth to heat water and produce steam which turns a turbine. Water energy uses the energy of water falling downhill and/or running by to turn a turbine. Solar energy is different in that it uses the energy of the sun to displace electrons in a photovoltaic cell which generates electrical current. All sources are not practical for every location because all locations don’t have abundant sunlight, or water, wind, etc. The practicality of these depends on abundance, and abundance varies across the planet.
40
Which of the following has the greatest albedo?
A forest
A light-colored roof
A dark asphalt road
The surface of the ocean
a light-colored roof
41
Which disadvantage of large dams can the smaller run-of-the-river dams avoid?
The environmental damage of creating a reservoir is avoided.
42
Which atom is more stable, Uranium-238 or Uranium-235?
Uranium-238
43
True or False: Barring a major accident, it is less hazardous to your health to live near a nuclear reactor than a coal-fired power plant.
True
44
Acidic solutions contain a greater amount of ________ ions.
hydrogen
45
It is estimated that ______% of all ocean species spend some portion of their life in a coral reef.
25
46
There are different types of radiation. Which one is most energetic and can therefore penetrate many surfaces, including skin?
Gamma radiation
47
Coral reefs are found in environments that are nutrient rich or poor?
poor
48
Identify several reasons suburban dwellers might have bigger ecological footprints than urban dwellers.
The biggest footprint factors revolve around energy usage. Longer commutes and a car-culture community (stores and amenities not in walking distance) greatly increase the use of individual or family vehicles for transportation. Homes tend to be larger in the suburbs and tend to be single family homes; this increases energy use in the home. Higher consumption of consumer goods (more space to hold their stuff) also can increase the waste generated by a suburban dweller.
49
The heat from the fission of ____________ isotopes is used to create steam, which is converted to electricity.
radioactive
50
According to the stabilization wedge strategy proposed by Pacala and Socolow we:
must reduce atmospheric CO2 concentrations below the 350ppm to avoid disastrous consequences.
can continue to burn fossil fuels for the next 50 years if we reduce greenhouse gas emissions in other ways.
can use a variety of currently available strategies to prevent atmospheric CO2 from exceeding 500 ppm.
should focus our efforts on adapting to inevitable climate change rather than mitigation
can use a variety of currently available strategies to prevent atmospheric CO2 from exceeding 500 ppm.
51
How are spent fuel rods currently disposed of in the United States?
The spent fuel rods are initially stored in steel lined pools on site at the power plant to allow some of the short half-life material to decay. After a few years, it can be moved to above-ground dry cask storage. From here, it should go to an underground storage facility but as yet there is none available so these fuel rods either remain in steel lined pools or in dry cask storage.
52
True or False: An isotope with two half-lives has more daughter particles than an isotope with five half-lives.
False
53
____________________ are places where fishing and other human activities are restricted or completely prohibited.
MPAs
54
Coral are:
algae.
animals.
plants.
protozoa.
animals
55
True or False: Because the pH scale is logarithmic, even a small change in pH, like the 0.1 pH unit drop in ocean pH, represents a significant change.
True
56
```
_________ energy
sources are those that
meet our needs, have
acceptable impacts, and
are readily replenished.
```
Sustainable
57
If urban centers have better health care and job opportunities than outlying areas, why are some city residents exposed to worse, not better, living conditions?
While some areas improve and boast good jobs, healthcare centers, cultural attractions, and schools, other areas may be the place where the city’s trash is dealt with, where industry resides, or where sewage treatment plants are located. In other words, one area may be wealthy and clean because another area is poor and polluted.
58
Radioactive tailings are created in the __________ step of the nuclear fuel production.
milling
59
Global climate changes will impact both mean annual temperature and ______, which will cause shifts in tree populations.
precipitation
60
rom an economic standpoint, which type of electricity production—nuclear or fossil fuel—is less expensive? Explain. Remember to include both internal and external costs in your answer.
Fossil fuel power plants are cheaper to build than nuclear plants and have a longer lifespan. Operating costs of the two plants are similar. Taking a nuclear power plant offline and making the structure safe costs far more than a similar situation for a coal-fired plant. In the average year where a nuclear accident has not occurred, health costs associated with fossil-fuel use far exceed those of the nuclear industry. However, in the unlikely event of an accident or natural disaster at a nuclear plant, then nuclear fuel costs soar due to clean-up, health costs, etc. In the end, nuclear is probably more expensive than coal.
61
True or False: The amount of future warming that Earth will experience in the next 100 years depends on the choices we make now.
True
62
describe the steps used in mining and processing uranium to the point where it is packed into fuel rods.
Uranium ore is mined. The ore is crushed and blended with an acid (or base) to separate the uranium from the ore forming yellowcake, uranium oxide. The leftovers (tailings) must be covered with clay and rock to prevent radioactive dust from entering the atmosphere. The yellowcake is concentrated (producing hazardous waste) and formed into pellets, which are loaded into fuel rods. The fuel rods are combined into a fuel rod assembly (interspersed with control rods) and more than 100 fuel assemblies are placed into a reactor core.
63
___________ use has lead to coral bleaching.
Fertilizer
64
One of the biggest factors preventing trees from migrating in Minnesota's North Woods is ______.
deer
65
Deliberately thinning out paper birches in an effort to cultivate more oaks and white pines in Minnesota in light of massive paper birch die-offs is an example of ___________ forestry.
resistance
66
True or False: Currently more people live in rural areas that cities, but that is expected to change soon.
False
67
True or False: To be LEED-certified, a building must be constructed with recycled materials and use sustainable energy sources such as solar panels.
False
68
What is the difference between a positive feedback loop and a negative feedback loop? Give a climate-related example of each.
A positive feedback loop is one in which an initial event that causes a response then sets into motion future events which enhance that response (i.e. warming that melts land or sea ice decreases the albedo of the surface and would lead to more warming). A negative feedback loop is one in which an initial event causes a response that reverses the response (i.e. warming that increases the formation of clouds could lead to cooling).
69
Which of the following is an example of environmental injustice?
Locating industries away from where people live
Building garbage dumps in high-poverty, low-income areas
People chaining themselves to trees to prevent the trees from being cut down
Preventing the construction of a dam to save an endangered species of fish
Building garbage dumps in high-poverty, low-income areas
70
A decrease in ocean plankton increases ocean acidity. This statement is an example of:
positive feedback cycle
71
The population size generally considered as classifying a city as a "megacity" is _________ million.
10
72
___________________ rods are used in a nuclear plant to absorb neutrons and regulate the speed of the fission chain reaction.
control
73
he highest percentage of destroyed coral reefs are found in the________, while the___________ has the lowest percentage of destroyed coral reefs.
Indian Ocean; Pacific Ocean
74
solar
use of mechanical equipment to
capture and convert solar energy to usable form.
active solar
75
Axial precession involves the ____________of Earth on its axis, changing the direction of the axis point.
wobble
76
solar
capture of solar
energy without electronic or mechanical aids
passive solar
77
Recent sea level rise is attributed to:
a - melting glaciers.
b - thermal expansion of water.
c - melting icebergs.
d - a and b.
e - a, b, and c.
d
78
Explain how a geothermal heat pump works and how it can lower both heating and cooling costs for homeowners.
Fluid filled pipes are buried underground and this fluid is pumped through the pipes from the ground to the house and back again. The fluid picks up the 55°F temperature of the ground and delivers this to the home. In the summer this can be used to cool the home (reducing air conditioning bills). In the winter the home only needs to be heated from a starting place of 55°F — requiring that a furnace work much less than if it were heating the house up from the outside temperature, thus lowering heating bills.
79
The deepest zone in the ocean is the ____________.
hadal
80
Explain the triple bottom line, using the Bronx waterfront restoration as an example.
The triple bottom line is an evaluation in which one considers the economic benefits, ecological benefits, and social benefits of any action. In the Bronx, waterfront restoration had economic benefits for developers, created jobs and is expected to attract new businesses. People benefit from cleaner air and water, a place for recreation, and job creation (also considered a social benefit). The environment benefits from a reduction in pollution and the creation of natural habitat for wetland species; aquatic species would also benefit from less pollution entering the river.
81
What is ocean acidification? Describe the causes and consequences of this phenomenon.
Ocean acidification is the lowering of pH in seawater. So far, CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning by humans have reduced the ocean’s pH by about 0.1, which corresponds to a 30% increase in ocean water acidity. If present trends continue, the ocean’s surface waters will be about 150% more acidic in 2100 than they were in 1800.
Acidification could decrease the ability of organisms to make their shells; it could also actually cause shells to dissolve. Acidification could also alter the availability of key nutrients like nitrogen and iron, which would threaten the stability of marine ecosystems by affecting primary production—plankton biomass may have already decreased by 40% in the 20th century. Less plankton could enhance acidification (positive feedback) because less CO2 would be sequestered and more would be left behind to further acidify the water. Or there could be a negative feedback effect on climate change: Less nitrification would occur, meaning less N2O (a potent greenhouse gas) would be produced and possibly less would be released into the atmosphere.
82
Point out several reasons why the typical city dweller has a lower ecological footprint than a suburban dweller. What are some problems that might be greater for a large city than for a smaller suburban one?
The lower impact can be due to: smaller homes and multi-family homes that tend to be more energy efficient due to a smaller footprint; smaller homes means individuals own less “stuff”, reducing the impact from producing and shipping those items; less personal automobile travel (more public transit and less distance traveled than a suburban area). “Big city” problems include the need to import food and other goods and export large volumes of waste — the logistics of this is formidable because of the high population density. Violence may be greater and disease may spread more easily in high density areas. Less green space also leads to stormwater drainage issues.
83
Which of the following should you do first if you want to lower your electric bill?
Install PV panels on your rooftop
Have an energy audit done to see where your home is most inefficient
Replace your appliances with energy-efficient models
Install more insulation in your attic and exterior walls
Have an energy audit done to see where your home is most inefficient
84
nergy advisors say “the greenest kilowatt is the one:
you never use.”
85
Compare and contrast the production of electricity by a wind turbine and the production of electricity by heating water to produce steam (thermoelectric production).
In both cases the ultimate goal is to turn a turbine attached to a generator to produce electricity. With a wind turbine, the wind mechanically rotates the generator. With thermoelectric methods, steam turns the turbine to rotate the generator. The main difference is the production of waste products (emissions from burning a fuel or nuclear waste) from thermoelectric production. Another difference is scale and ease of increasing output on demand - a single coal or nuclear power plant can produce as much electricity as hundreds of wind turbines and their output is more easily increased or decreased to meet demand.
86
rue or False: A warmer climate should result in more heat extremes and in new record high temperatures.
True
87
Using __________ (2 words) as an electricity energy source is least expensive for the consumer.
fossil fuel
88
Day-to-day changes in meteorological conditions are known as ____________, whereas long-term patterns of meteorological conditions are known as____________.
weather, climate
89
In 2014, the world's largest wind farm was located in ____, with a generation capacity of 1,548 megawatts (MW).
California
90
solar advantages
```
Abundant
• Low env. impact
• Portable
• Large & small scale
• Surplus: store in
batteries or sent
back to grid
• Jobs
```
91
Compared to inner city dwellers, suburban and exurban dwellers tend to:
live in lower population density communities
92
Ecologist's studying the boreal forest in Minnesota's North Woods have witnessed which of the following changes?
A rapid die-off of adult birch trees occurred.
93
The remora fish and manta ray are an example of a _______________ interspecific interaction.
commensalism
94
Energy from sources that are replenished
| or are perpetually available
renewable energy
95
Corals will __________ zooxanthellae when stressed.
expel
96
True or False: Current CO2 levels in the atmosphere can be measured, but there are no good methods for determining CO2 levels in the distant past.
False
97
_________ is an important “source” of
| energy.
Conservation
98
Based on fossil plant and pollen records, which of the following happened in northern Minnesota after the North American ice cap retreated about 10,000 years ago?
Prairie plants took root
99
Solar technologies that capture heat without any electronic or mechanical assistance are called:
passive solar technologies
100
The exurbs are:
areas outside suburbs with even bigger houses and longer commutes.
101
What role do scientific studies like those conducted by Marc Slattery play in helping us deal with threats to ocean ecosystems?
Scientific studies help us to understand the nature, scope, causes, and seriousness of the problems faced by ocean ecosystems. This information can be used to develop effective strategies for dealing with problems that arise.
102
Which of the following renewable energy sources contributes the largest proportion of energy worldwide?
biomass
103
A chain reaction is created in a nuclear plant when U-235 in the fuel rods is bombarded with ___________________ causing the nucleus to become unstable and to split.
neutrons
104
True or False: All people and places will suffer from climate change.
False
105
solar disadvantages
```
Location
• Nights & cloudy days
• Higher set up cost &
lower EROEI (~ 6:1)
than other renewables
```
106
Hydroelectric power is an example of a source with _________limitations.
geographic
107
Which major economic power currently has the lowest carbon footprint?
China
108
solar
active capture of solar
energy for heating.
solar thermal system
109
Outline the evidence for climate change. Do you feel that this evidence supports the conclusion that climate is changing? Explain.
Evidence that climate is changing includes an increase in global average temperature since 1880, increased ice melt (from the warmer temperatures), a rise in sea level (from melting land ice and thermal expansion of water), changes in precipitation patterns consistent with warmer temperatures, changes in seasonal and daily temperature events (Fall is arriving later, Spring is coming sooner, nights are warmer than they used to be), and species responding as if the climate was changing (range shifts toward cooler regions, temperature dependent blooming and hatching is occurring sooner, some insects that would normally die back in the winter are staying alive and even going through additional breeding cycles). Whether students feel this evidence is sufficient to conclude that climate is changing will depend on their analysis of the data as well as what other factors they choose to consider.
110
True or False: As one moves from the city center to the suburbs and exurbs, home size tends to increase.
True
111
True or False: Adaptation refers to efforts intended to minimize the extent or impact of climate change.
False
112
What is the concept of “payback time,” and how can it be useful in deciding what types of conservation measures to pursue?
Payback time is the time it takes for the energy savings of an energy upgrade to pay for the cost of its purchase and installation. Knowing the payback time of different options allows homeowners to choose the most cost-effective upgrades.
113
Atoms that have the same number of protons and electrons but different numbers of neutrons are called:
isotopes
114
_____________ (2 words) of ore is needed to make 1 to 5 pounds of usual yellow cake.
one ton
115
rue or False: Alpha particles cause more damage than gamma particles.
False
116
True or False: The establishment of a marine protected area around the damaged coral reefs of the Phoenix Islands in Kiribati did little to help the reefs recover.
False
117
Compare and contrast the major radiative forcers, including both those that are natural and those that are humanmade. Overall, which forcers are currently having the greatest effect on global climate? Are they natural or produced by human actions?
Radiative forcers include greenhouse gases, albedo, ozone, stratospheric water vapor, aerosols, cloud albedo, and solar irradiance. Negative forcers are those things that have a cooling effect (such as light colored surfaces and particles, and some types of clouds that reflect away incoming solar radiation) whereas positive forcers have a warming effect such as dark surfaces (asphalt) or particles (like soot) that absorb more of the incoming solar. Greenhouse gases such as CO2 and methane are positive forcers that trap solar radiation and re-radiate it as heat, warming the atmosphere. The positive forcers currently are having a greater effect on the climate than the negative forcers such that overall we are experiencing a net warming. By far, most positive forcers (around 95%) are human-caused and include CO2 release and tropospheric ozone production from fossil fuel use, methane release (from agriculture, waste and energy extraction), and synthesized halocarbons.
118
Organisms that live on the ocean floor are said to live in the:
benthic zone.
abyssopelagic zone.
hadal zone.
pelagic zone.
benthic zone.
119
energy harnessed from moving water
hydropower
120
The number of _____________ is unique to a given element and gives an element its atomic number.
protons
121
True or False: While geothermal power plants need to be built near sources of underground heat such as hot springs, geothermal heat pumps can be installed in any homes built on land.
True
122
After four half-lives, about how much radioactive parent material is left?
25%
40%
0. 5%
6. 25%
6.25%
123
Both solar and wind power suffer from issues of ____________.
intermittency
124
Which of the following is least compelling line of evidence in that climate is indeed changing?
An increase in the number of hurricanes
An increase in global average temperature
Temperature-dependent shifts in the ranges of species
Sea level rise
An increase in the number of hurricanes
125
In some areas of Florida, divers who remove non-native lionfish from coral reefs are eligible for a $10,000 prize. This is because lionfish are an example of an _________ species.
invasive
126
A city that promotes smart growth:
mixes land uses to place residential and commercial areas together.
127
What relationship is seen between temperature and atmospheric CO2 levels?
They are positively correlated.
They are negatively correlated.
They are not correlated in any meaningful way.
They are positively correlated
128
Urban areas being warmer than the surrounding countryside is known as ___________________. (four words)
urban heat island effect
129
What are the pros and cons tof generating energy from a nuclear source versus a fossil fuel source (coal)?
Both damage the environment in the extraction stage and contribute to soil, air, and water pollution though the type of pollution differs: coal mining contributes toxic metals and acids to water and land; uranium mining leaves radioactive tailings. Hazardous waste is produced in processing for both. The waste is radioactive for nuclear fuel; it is toxic for coal processing. The biggest difference may be in the use of the fuel. Both are used for thermoelectric production of electricity: coal is burned (and contributes significant air pollution including mercury, acids, particulates and CO2), but with nuclear power, nothing is burned so it does not contribute to air pollution or significant levels of increasing carbon dioxide. However, nuclear waste is radioactive; at the current time we have no good methods for dealing with its disposal. Finally, in the operation of a nuclear power plant, if something goes wrong it could be catastrophic.
130
Which of the following is TRUE about ocean acidification?
Acidification results when the calcium carbonate shells of marine organisms dissolve in seawater.
Ocean pH has now dropped below a pH of 7.0.
Ocean acidification is harmful, as CO2 forms carbonic acid when dissolved in water, which eats away at existing calcium-based materials.
In a more acidic ocean, the increase in key nutrients such as nitrogen and iron stabilizes almost all marine ecosystems, counteracting the effects of global warming.
Ocean acidification is harmful, as CO2 forms carbonic acid when dissolved in water, which eats away at existing calcium-based materials.
131
Provides more electricity around the world than any
| other renewable source
hydropower
132
In 2025, where will most of the world’s megacities be found?
Asia
133
Renewable energy with low
| environmental impact
sustainable energy
134
How were Native Americans and wild salmon populations adversely affected by the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam? Do you think this dam should have been built? Justify your answer.
The Native Americans lost their homes and ancestral lands — villages, burial grounds and other sacred places were permanently flooded and inaccessible. The salmon were unable to access their spawning streams. Whether the construction of this dam was worth the price depends on how much weight one gives the benefits (electricity to the region; reduced need to burn fossil fuels) and the disadvantages described above.
135
True or False: Urban dwellers typically have lower carbon footprints than people who live in rural or suburban areas.
True
136
As a greenhouse gas, a molecule of methane traps ______ heat as does a molecule of carbon dioxide.
25 times more
137
True or False: When studying tree range migration, mature trees tell you where the current range is.
True
138
Since it is projected that ________________% of future human population growth will occur in large cities, it is important that urban planners design cities that are environmentally friendly.
90
139
What problem related to nuclear power do we not yet have a workable solution for?
Safe disposal of HLRW
140
What is New Urbanism, and why do its proponents feel that cities may be one of our biggest answers to many of the environmental problems we face today?
New Urbanism is a movement that promotes the sustainable development of cities. Proponents point out that with the majority of the human population living in cities now, and even more so in the future, it is imperative that we develop our cities to reduce their impact. But they also say that the cities are the best places to do this because of the many advantages of a well-designed city and the lower per capita ecological footprint of its residents.
141
True or False: Slattery’s research suggests that the species that inhabit coral reefs all have sufficient genetic diversity to allow them to adapt to current and near-future levels of acidification.
False
142
Describe the types of problems that global climate change causes for human health. Which do you feel is likely to cause the biggest problem? Why?
Some problems include increases in weather-related mortality, infectious diseases, and respiratory illnesses. The impacts on agriculture will include lower crop yields, biomes will change in both species composition and range leading to a loss of ecosystem function, water supply and quality will decline in many areas, coastal areas will be subject to increased erosion and flooding, and habitat loss will result in the loss of species. Student answers regarding the biggest problem will vary but should be supported with evidence that explains why they feel this is the biggest problem.
143
Changes brought on by warming lead to cooling. This is an example of a _______ feedback cycle.
negative
144
Which of these strategies would most directly address the problem of ocean acidification?
Limit development in coastal areas to prevent sediment pollution.
Reduce overfishing in general and prohibit bottom trawling in particular.
Designate vulnerable areas as marine protected areas.
Reduce the use of fossil fuels.
reduce the use of fossil fuels
145
An increase of a few degrees in the "average temperature" results in a(n) ______ in the number of years that have the previous "extreme" hot weather and a(n) ______ in temperature for the new extreme.
increase: increase
146
In 2010, what state in the United States had the largest wind farm?
Texas
147
The three types of radiation given off by radioactive isotopes include _______ radiation, beta radiation, and gamma radiation.
alpha
148
Bleaching of coral:
a - may be adaptive if it allows the coral to take up different species of zooks.
b - results when coral expel their resident zooks.
c - occurs in the winter season, when coral are less productive.
d - Both a and b are correct.
e - All of the above are correct.
d
149
True or False: The use of fossil fuels is projected to decline in the next 50 years as the use of renewable energy sources increases.
False
150
_____________ is the greatest threat that coral reefs face.
overfishing
151
As a member of the city council in a small town in New Mexico, you must vote on a new source of energy for your growing community. What should be the first step in determining where the energy will come from?
Conduct an assessment of available energy sources, both renewable and nonrenewable.
152
Why is U-235 used in more nuclear reactors than U-238?
U-235 is more reactive
153
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During radioactive decay, radioactive isotopes can give off which of the following?
heat
particles
gamma radiation
none of the answers is correct
all of the answers are correct
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all of the answers are correct
