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AP Environmental Science > Unit 8 Exam - Chapter 13 > Flashcards

Unit 8 Exam - Chapter 13 Flashcards

1
Q

How long is the Colorado River?

A

Flows 2,300 km through seven U.S. states

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2
Q

How many days and reservoirs does the Colorado River have?

A

14 dams and reservoirs

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3
Q

From where is the Colorado River supplied?

A

snowmelt of the Rocky Mountains

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4
Q

What four places does the Colorado River supply electricity and water to?

A

Las Vegas, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Diego

Also irrigates crops

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5
Q

What three issues is the Colorado River experiencing?

A

Very little water is reaching the Gulf of California

System has experienced severe drought since 1999

Lake Mead fell to record low water level in 2015

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6
Q

Freshwater …

A

One of the earth’s most important forms of natural capital

Used inefficiently and polluted

Low cost encourages waste

Not accessible to many people

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7
Q

Why is access to freshwater a GLOBAL HEALTH issue?

A

Over 4,000 people die each day from lack of access to safe drinking water - water borne diseases and diarrhea

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8
Q

Why is access to freshwater an ECONOMIC issue?

A

Water is vital for producing food and energy

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9
Q

Why is access to freshwater an ENVIRONMENTAL issue?

A

Excessive withdrawal

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10
Q

Why is access to freshwater a NATIONAL AND GLOBAL SECURITY issue?

A

“Amidst ever-growing geopolitical tensions, economies experience added pressure on precious natural resources. And as water scarcity forces people to seek resources elsewhere, they risk being exploited or harmed as countries react to the increased migratory flows.”

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11
Q

What percent of the water supply in the world is available freshwater?

A

0.024% of water global supply

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12
Q

Where does freshwater come from?

A

Groundwater, lakes, rivers, and streams

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13
Q

Hydrologic Cycle

A

Movement of water in the seas, land, and air

Distributed unevenly

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14
Q

How do humans alter the Hydrologic Cycle?

A

Withdrawing and polluting water, and causing climate change

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15
Q

Why is there freshwater scarcity?

A

More than enough renewable freshwater

Unevenly distributed and polluted

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16
Q

Water footprint

A

Rough measure of all the water an individual uses

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17
Q

Virtual Water

A

Virtual water is water used indirectly to produce products and food, but is considered part of a person’s water footprint depending on what they consume

Virtual water = Water used to produce food and other products

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18
Q

Where does much of the water from precipitation go?

A

Seeps underground and into aquifers

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19
Q

What are some of the biggest example of water use in US households?

A

Washing clothes

Showers

Toilets

Leaks

Faucets

Electric Power Plant Cooking

Irrigation

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20
Q

What do the Nile, Jordan, Yangtze, and Ganges have in common?

A

Many of the world’s major river systems are highly stressed

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21
Q

How many countries face water scarcity / what is the prediction for the future?

A

More than 30 countries face freshwater scarcity

Estimate: 60 countries by 2050

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22
Q

What percent of Earth’s land experiences drought?

A

30% of the earth’s land area experiences severe drought

Research predicts this will worsen

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23
Q

Is groundwater use sustainable?

A

Groundwater withdrawals are Unsustainable in Some Areas

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24
Q

Groundwater

A

Groundwater - water under ground - like aquifers

Can drop a well if there’s one under your house - it is legal!

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25
Q

Withdrawing Groundwater : Advantages

A

Useful for drinking and irrigation

Exists almost everywhere

Renewable if not over pumped or contaminated

Cheaper to extract than most surface waters

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26
Q

Withdrawing Groundwater : Disadvantages

A

Aquifer depletion from overpumping

Sinking of land (subsidence) from overpumping

Some deeper aquifers are nonrenewable

Pollution of aquifers lasts decades or centuries

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27
Q

Ogallala Aquifer

A

OVERPUMPED

largest known aquifer

Irrigates the Great Plains

Very slow recharge

Water table dropping

Water pumped 10–40 times faster
than recharge rate

Government farm subsidies result in further depletion

Biodiversity threatened in some areas

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28
Q

Groundwater Depletion : Prevention

A

Use water more efficiently

Subsidize water conservation

Limit number of wells

Stop growing water-intensive crops in dry areas

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29
Q

Groundwater Depletion : Control

A

Raise price of water to discourage waste

Tax water pumped from wells near surface water

Build rain gardens in urban areas

Use permeable paving material on streets, sidewalks, and driveways

30
Q

What does overpumping aquifers do to food production + the economy?

A

Limits food production and raises prices

Widens gap between rich and poor

31
Q

Land Subsidence examples for overpumped aquifers examples

A

San Joaquin Valley in California

Mexico City

32
Q

Groundwater pollution/overpumping : coastal

A

Groundwater overdrafts near coastal regions

Contamination of groundwater with saltwater

33
Q

How can we increase freshwater supply?

A

Large dam-and-reservoir systems

Greatly expanded water supplies in some areas

Disrupted ecosystems and displaced people

EX: Chatfield Reservoir, Reallocation Project

34
Q

What is the main goal of a dam and reservoir system?

A

Capture and store runoff

Release runoff as needed for:
Flood control
Generating electricity
Supplying irrigation water
Recreation (reservoirs)

35
Q

Reservoirs - advantage

A

Increase the reliable runoff available for use

36
Q

Reservoirs - disadvantages

A

Displace people

Impair ecological services of rivers-
What are some ecological services of rivers?

Endanger plant and animal species

Fill up with sediment within 50 years

37
Q

Oroville Dam - California

A

Oroville dam in California was compromised by extremely heavy rainfall after a severe drought

Main spillway was damaged which almost caused the weir to collapse

180,000 people were evacuated with only an hour’s notice.

38
Q

What is a weir? (dams)

A

Weir? is a small barrier built across a stream or river to control and raise the water level slightly on the upstream side. It generally allows the water to flow over the crest (which is the top) or sometimes underneath some sections.

39
Q

How does climate change intensify weather extremes?

A

Mountain snowpack will be reduced, making less freshwater available downstream

When water levels drop, hydroelectric dams cannot function

Colorado River will not be able to meet water needs in Arizona, New Mexico, and California

40
Q

How can dams kill an estuary?

A

Only a small amount of Colorado River water reaches Gulf of California

Threatens aquatic species in river and species that live in the estuary

Current rate of river withdrawal is not sustainable

Inefficient use of irrigation water for agriculture

41
Q

Proposed actions for states using the Colorado River

A

Enact strict conservation measures

Phase out agricultural subsidies

Shift water-thirsty crops to less arid areas

Raise the price of freshwater

42
Q

Dam that opened up in the documentary in order to fill the delta temporarily

A

2014: Morelos dam near Yuma, AZ opened for two months to release water through the delta to the Gulf of California

Dramatic short-term results

43
Q

What is National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?

A

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that an environmental impact statement be developed for every federal project likely to have an effect on environmental quality
Impact on water, soils, air quality, wildlife habitat, etc

44
Q

Desalination methods (for turning saltwater to freshwater for drinking)

A

Distillation
Reverse osmosis

More than 17,000 desalination plants currently operating in 150 countries

Most in arid nations of Middle East, North Africa, Caribbean, and Mediterranean

45
Q

Desalination Issues

A

Issues: high cost, high energy use, and large amounts of salty wastewater

46
Q

Water Transfers: Advantages

A

Transferring water from one place to another has greatly increased water supplies in some areas

Has also disrupted ecosystems

47
Q

Water transfers: Issues/Disadvantages

A

Has also disrupted ecosystems

Water loss through evaporation and leaks

Ecosystem degradation

48
Q

Water Transfers : Real Life Examples

A

China -
South-North Water Diversion Project
Diverts six trillion gallons of water per year

California central valley -
Aqueducts

49
Q

The Aral Sea Disaster: Water Transfer Issue

A

Large-scale water transfers in dry central Asia have led to:

Wetland destruction

Desertification

Greatly increased salinity

Fish extinctions and decline of fishing

Blowing salt and dust destroying wildlife and crops

Increased glacial melting in the Himalayas

50
Q

How has the shrinkage of the Aral Sea disrupted the local climate?

A

Hot, dry summers, colder winters, and a shortened growing season

51
Q

Aral Sea : Restoration Efforts

A

Cooperation of neighboring countries- Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

More efficient irrigation

Dike construction raised level of Northern Aral Sea

52
Q

Ways to use Freshwater More Sustainably

A

Cut water waste

Raise water prices

Slow population growth

Protect aquifers, forests, and other ecosystems that store and release freshwater

53
Q

How much of the world’s water supply is wasted and why?

A

One-half to two-thirds of water is wasted

Evaporation, leaks, and inefficient use

54
Q

On the True Cost of water

A

The cost of water to users is low

Government subsidies mask the true cost of water

No subsidies for improved efficiency

55
Q

Raising the price of water: disadvantage and solution

A

Raising prices could hurt lower-income farmers and city dwellers

Solution: establish lifeline rates for low income users

56
Q

Solutions: Reducing Irrigation Water Losses

A

Avoid growing thirsty crops in dry areas

Import water-intensive crops and meat

Encourage organic farming and polyculture to retain soil moisture

Monitor soil moisture to add water only when necessary

Expand use of drip irrigation and other efficient methods

irrigates at night to reduce evaporation

line canals that bring water to irrigation ditches

irrigates with treated wastewater

57
Q

Flood irrigation: Problems/Issues/Disadvantages

A

Flood irrigation -
45% of water lost

Not efficient / efficiency needs to be improved

58
Q

More efficient Flood Irrigation Techniques

A

Center pivot, low pressure sprinkler

Low-energy, precision application sprinklers- LEPA

Drip or trickle irrigation, micro irrigation

—– Costly

—– Less water waste

59
Q

Poor Farmers Conserve Water Using Low-Tech Methods

A

Human-powered treadle pumps bring water into irrigation ditches

Harvest and store rainwater

Capture water from fog

Use polyculture to create canopy vegetation

Reduces evaporation

Use no till agriculture- leaving plants on soil reduces runoff and keeps the temperature down which reduces evaporation and transpiration

60
Q

Solutions: Reducing Water Losses

A

Redesign manufacturing Process to Use Less Water

Recycle water in industry

Fix water leaks

Landscape yard with plants that require little water

Use drip irrigation for gardens and lawns

Use water-saving showerheads, appliances, and toilets (or waterless composting toilets)

Collect and reuse gray water in and around houses, office buildings, and apartments

Raise water prices and use meters, especially in dry urban areas

61
Q

More : Cutting Freshwater Losses in Industry and Homes

A

Recycle water used in industry

Use low-flow toilets, showerheads, and front-loading washing machines

Fix leaks in the plumbing systems - A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. That’s the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers

Use native plants in landscaping

Use gray water

Water meters reduce water use

62
Q

Gray Water

A

water that already has been used domestically, commercially and industrially. This includes the leftover, untreated water

63
Q

What can You do? : Water use and Waste

A

use water saving toilets, showerheads, and faucets

take short showers instead of baths

turn off sink faucets while brushing teeth, shaving, or washing

wash only full loads of clothes or use the lowest possible water-level setting for smaller loads

repair water leaks

wash your car from a bucket of soapy water, use gray water, and use hose for rinsing only

if you use a commercial car wash, try to find one that recycles its water

replace your lawn with native plants that need little of any watering

water lawns and gardens in the early morning or evening and use gray water

use drip irrigation and mulch for gardens and flowerbeds

64
Q

Freshwater and waste

A

Large amounts of freshwater used to flush away wastes

65
Q

Wastewater reusing

A

Only about 7% of wastewater is currently recycled- some of our clean treated sewage water is put back in McLellan reservoir for reuse

66
Q

How can we reduce the threat of flooding?

A

Protecting more wetlands and natural vegetation in watersheds
Not building in areas subject to frequent flooding

67
Q

Floodplain

A

Area flooded when a stream overflows its channel

Fertile soils for farming

Recharge groundwater and refill wetlands

68
Q

Human Activities that Damage Floodplains

A

Vegetation removal

Draining of wetlands

Rising sea levels from global warming means more coastal flooding

69
Q

Case Study: Living Dangerously on Floodplains in Bangladesh

A

Dense population on coastal floodplain

Moderate floods maintain fertile soil

Recent increased frequency of severe floods

Destruction of coastal wetlands

Mangrove forests cleared

Increased storm damage

Adapting: using more flood-tolerant crops

70
Q

Solutions: Reducing Flood Damage – PREVENTION

A

preserve forests in watersheds

preserve and restore wetlands on floodplains

Increase use of floodplains for sustainable agriculture and forestry

71
Q

Solutions: Reducing Flood Damage – CONTROL

A

Strengthen and deepen streams (channelization)

Build levees or floodwalls along streams

Build dams

AP Environmental Science (10 decks)

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