APES Final Review

Identify the major EMERGENT infectious diseases

- HIV / AIDS - caused by a virus that weakens the immune system - Ebola - caused by a highly lethal virus. - Mad Cow disease - caused by a prion that damages the nervous system. - Bird Flu - Lethal virus that is easily spread. - Swine Flu - Lethal virus that is easily spread. - SARS - type of pneumonia caused by a virus. - West Nile virus- normally infects birds buy can be transmitted to humans by mosquitoes.

How to reduce infectious disease

-improve drinking water conditions in developing countries -decrease malnutrition to improve immune systems -implement education programs to reduce HIV/AIDS -increase availability of vaccines to ppl in developing countries -REDUCE UNNECESSARY USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN HUMANS AND LIVESTOCKS U ID

Non vs Renewable Today

80% energy from fossil fuels, renewable growing much faster than nonrenewable

Carcinogen

A chemical that causes cancer.

Leach field

A component of a septic system, made up of underground pipes laid out below the surface of the ground

Nonpoint source

A diffuse area that produces pollution

Point Source

A distinct location from which pollution is directly produced

Thermal shock

A dramatic change in water temperature that can kill organisms

Fecal coliform bacteria

A group of generally harmless microorganisms in human intestines that can serve as an indicator species for potentially harmful microorganisms associated with contaminated sewage

Perchlorates

A group of harmful chemicals used for rocket fuel

Acid deposition

Acids deposited on Earth as rain and snow or as gases and particles that attach to the surfaces of plants, soil, and water

Teratogens

Agents that damage the process of development of fetus/embryo, such as drugs and viruses.

Median Lethal Dose (LD50)

Amount of a toxic material per unit of body weight of test animals that kills half the test population in a certain time.

Dissolved Oxygen

Amount of oxygen found in water

The Food and Drug Administration

Bottled water is regulated by who?

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemical pollutants that have the potential to substitute for, or interfere with natural hormones.

How is the economic development level of a country related to disease?

Countries with a low income have risks associated w/ poverty (incl. unsafe drinking water, poor sanitation, and malnutrition). Many die from diarrhea and are simultaneously malnourished. Countries with high income high blood pressure and obesity.

Name carcinogens

Fat, UV light, cigarette smoke, and testosterone, asbestos

Artesian water

From a confined aquifer

Spring water

From an underground formation that naturally flows to the surface

List the major historical and emerging infectious diseases

HISTORICAL: Plague, malaria, tuberculosis, EMERGENT: HIV/AIDS, Ebola Hemorrhagic fever, Mad Cow Disease, Bird Flu, West Nile virus

From corroded lead pipes, paint (Mostly found in older buildings) (Used bc cheap) Use a filter for your water

How does lead get into water systems? How can you prevent lead poisoning?

Safe Drinking Water Act

Legislation that sets the national standards for safe drinking water passed in 1974

Clean Water Act

Legislation that supports the "protection of propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water" by maintaining and, when necessary, restoring the chemical, physical, and biological properties of surface waters

The Environmental Protection Agency

Municipal tap water is regulated by who?

Name the 5 major types of toxic chemicals

Neurotoxins Carcinogens Teratogens Allergens Endocrine disruptors

Thermal pollution

Nonchemical water pollution that occurs when human activities cause a substantial change in the temperature of water

3 major categories of human health risks

PHYSICAL RISKS, like natural disasters that can cause injury and loss of life, excess exposure to UV radiation (sunburn), exposure to radioactive substances (i.e. radon). BIOLOGICAL RISKS like disease, i.e. pneumonia, STDs. CHEMICAL RISKS like exposure to chemicals ranging from naturally occurring arsenic to synthetic chemicals and pesticides

Name neurotoxins

Pesticides: Designed to attack insects nervous system. Lead: Found in paint Mercury: Cadmium:

Photovoltaic Cells

Solar cells that convert the sun's energy directly into electricity; movement of electrons from one layer to another, producing electric current

Sludge

Solid waste material from wastewater

Active Solar Energy

Sun power heats something directly Ex: Greenhouse

Bioaccumulation

The accumulation of a substance over time, such as a toxic chemical, in various tissues of a living organism.

Renewable Benefits

Unlikely to run out, replace fossil fuels, less dependent on foreign nations, will create new jobs

Cholera, Typhoid fever, Hepatitis A, many diarrheal diseases caused by many viruses and microorganism (often coming from human or animal waste)

What are some disease causing organisms?

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary

What are the three processes of wastewater treatment?

Natural and Anthropogenic

What are the two categories of water pollution?

Any relatively large solid material (rocks, gravel, sand, solid human and animal waste, twigs, cans, etc.) and Fats, Oils, or grease (FOG)

What components of sewage does primary treatment removal target?

Sewer overflow if a large storm or other excess water events occur

What is a problem with sewage treatment plants?

Name a teratogen

alcohol

Persistence

how long a chemical remains in the environment

Scientists often measure persistence by:

observing the TIME needed for the chemical to DEGRADE to 1/2 its original concentration - HALF-LIFE OF THE CHEMICAL.

Persistence depends on:

temperature pH whether the chemical is in water or soil whether it can be degraded by sunlight whether it can be broken down by microbes

Risk-Benefit Analysis

weighing the risks against the benefits of a research study to ensure that the benefits outweigh the risks

oil pros

cheap, easy to transport (by truck/pipeline), generally easily extracted, high net energy yield

natural gas (50-90% methane) pros

cheaper than oil, reserves estimated to last 65-80 years, high net energy yield, less air pollution than other fossil fuels (it burns cleaner), easier to process, possible vehicle fuel source

Mutagen

chemical or physical agents in the environment that interact with DNA and may cause a mutation

minerals formed- magmatic concentration

chromium oxides, platinum

water pros

clean, efficient, no "fuel"

minimum viable population (MVP)

The smallest population size at which a species is able to sustain its numbers and survive.

Maximum contaminant level (MCL)

The standard for safe drinking water established by the EPA under the Safe Drinking Water Act

nitrogen cycle

The transfer of nitrogen from the atmosphere to the soil, to living organisms, and back to the atmosphere

Historical Population Sizes

The world population has steadily grown since 1350, when the black death pandemic ended. The current world population is 7.6 billion. 1960 - 3.037 billion 1970 - 3.687, 1980 - 4.439 billion 2000 - 6.102 billion

T/F We are exceeding the carrying capacity for humans in parts of the world and eventually for the entire world.

True

T/F: Nitrogen is a critical limiting factor for plant growth. A majority of nitrogen exists as an inert gas (N2).

True

wetland destruction

clearing water from wetlands and swamps to make land accessible for farming. Can lead to the destruction of an ecosystem if not done properly.

Main 3 fossil fuels US depends on

coal, natural gas & petroleum

where are majority of fish concentrated

coastlines WHY: because there are more inorganic and organic nutrients

deforestation causes

commercial farming, tourism, grazing cattle The massive deforestation around the planet also adds to the greenhouse effect because our natural carbon dioxide sinks are compromised.

energy pyramid (10% rule)

for every trophic transfer after chemical energy, 10% of energy is lost with every trophic level

tar sand pros

found in canada, venezuela, columbia (see other oil pros)

air pollutants

gases and particulate material added to the atmosphere that can affect climate or harm people or other organisms

cons of pesticides

genetic resistance, ecosystem imbalance, pesticide treadmill, persistence, bioaccumulation, biological magnification Much of the sprayed pesticide doesn't reach the actual target. 25 million agricultural workers in developing countries are seriously poisoned by pesticides each year At least 75% of the active ingredients approved for use in U.S. pesticide products cause cancer in test animals.

Overfishing

harvesting fish to the point that species are depleted and the value of the fishery reduced

How does Radon-222 infiltrate into "inside"?

he gas gets into buildings through cracks, drains, hollow concrete which can cause it to build up in high levels

Jimmy Carter & National Parks

used the Antiquities Act (1906) to triple the amount of land in the National Wilderness System and double the land in the National Park System

reducing climate change

"Reducing climate change requires abandoning our current way of life." 1, Reducing production of greenhouse gases by using less coal to provide electricity, drive high mileage cars, use less plastic, LEED buildings, public transportation, buy local. 2, Reducing carbon sequestration by reducing deforestation, reducing tundra thawing, reducing polar ice thawing.

stratospheric ozone layer

"good" ozone layer extends upward from about 10 to 30 miles and protects life on earth from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays (UV-b)

Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

(1977) requires coal strip mines to reclaim the land

How does a typical nuclear reactor work?

(In order) 1) Harness heat energy from fission to make steam 2) Steam turns into a turbine 3) Turbine turns a generator 4) Electricity is produced!

Bitumen

(Tar/Pitch) Degraded type of petroleum that forms when a petroleum deposit is not capped with nonporous rock.

bottom trawling fishing

(cod, flounder, shrimp, scallops) • Drag a net or a line with hooks along the ocean bottom • Catches many nontarget species (bycatch) • Benthic habitat destruction

mineral formation- magma

(molten rock- below, lava- above) as lava cools, minerals form

Thermal Inertia

Ability of a material to retain heat or cold. Stay hot when heated or cold when cooled.

What countries have experienced the benefits of nuclear power?

- France - Germany - Spain - The UK - Japan - South Korea

What are the risks of nuclear power?

- Generates thermal pollution due to hot water from reactors getting dumped in nearby waterways. - Possibility of accidents - Radioactive wastes (Yucca Mountain, NA was an option, but not anymore)

How do we differentiate between the types of radioactive waste?

- Low-level waste - High-level waste

What are the benefits of nuclear power?

- Minimal air pollution - Reduces our dependence on fossil fuels - Generates a HUGE amount of energy (most exothermic of all chemical reactions)

Differences as compared to coal-burning fuel

- Primary concrete shield and steel lining: containing the heat and radiation so that maintenance is manageable for safety. - Lots of water present - water serves as a "moderator" (controls the chain reaction so that nothing is happening too quickly). - Control rods are found w/the fuel: control the fission reaction (help slow down)

Where does nuclear energy derive from? How do we make this fuel usable?

- The uranium we find in the ground is U-238. B/c this is unstable, it releases radiation and a byproduct known as Radon gas - The U-238 is mixed out of the ground. - The U-238 is "enriched" and turns into U-235 - The reaction to harness this power is called NUCLEAR FISSION

Wetland examples

swamps, bogs, marshes

Sustainable Land Use Strategies

- crop rotation - habitat management area: areas actively managed to maintain biological communities - national parks: One form of reserve that is intended to protect natural and scenic areas of national or international significance for scientific, educational and recreational use - sustainable forestry - reforestation

Problems with water from unconfined aquifers

- recharge very quickly - contamination with chemicals

species movement

-As the world's climate changes, many species are being forced out of their old habitats

Species movement

-As the world's climate changes, many species are being forced out of their old habitats Certain species play vital and unique roles in their communities and ecosystems, and if they left the ecosystem they are part of could change dramatically

Biggest Threats (HIPPO) to Biodiversity

-Habitat Loss (Exploitation, Conversion, Fragmentation, Bleaching of Coral) -Invasive Species -Pollution -Population (Human) -Over-Exploitation

Remediation

-Most often used with cleanup of chemical contaminants in a polluted area.

recommendations for future energy use

-Promote conventional energy sources: use more natural gas to reduce our reliance on energy from foreign countries -Encourage alternative energy: support and subsidize wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen, and biofuels -Provide for energy infrastructure: ensure that electricity is transmitted over dependable, modern infrastructure -Promote conservation measures -Carefully evaluate the pros and cons of nuclear power -Promote research

Energy Consumption - Industrial Revolution

-The industrial revolution drastically increased the world's use of energy, especially coal -Capital and population can technically grow exponentially, but we may not have the energy to fuel it -Energy crisis in the 70s wa when the OPEC countries refused to give the us oil and prices skyrocketed and it was really hard to get oil

US energy consumption

-US uses 20% of total energy consumed in world -direct relationship btw country's standards of living & amount of energy used Currently, the United States uses the most oil in the world marking at approx. 20 billion barrels a day

consequences of global warming

1) Higher temperatures cause seawater to expand & ice to melt, thus increasing the sea level - if it rises too much, it can cause flooding & destroy habitats 2) Increasing temperatures & the amount of rainfall changes may change the distribution of wild animals & plant species - species needing warmer temperatures may become more widely distributed whilst species needing cooler temperature may have smaller ranges 3) Changes in migration patterns 4) Biodiversity could be reduced if some species are unable to survive a change in the climate, thus becoming extinct

What factors create world hunger?

1) Over consuming resources 2) Distribution is not equal 3) Poor soil/assess to irrigation 4) War and armed conflicts 5) Natural disasters 6) Poverty 7) Politics 8) Economics

What are the 5 main air pollutants that cause health effects?

1. Carbon monoxide (CO) 2. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) 3. Nitrogen Oxides (NO/NO2) 4. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) 5. Particulate Matter/suspended particles

Types of Agriculture

1. Commercial 2. Subsistence

3 Ways to Produce Hydroelectric Energy

1. Impoundment hydropower system, uses a DAM to store river water in a reservoir. Water released from the reservoir flows through a turbine, spinning it, which in turn activates a generator to produce electricity. 2. DIVERSION Also called run-of-river, facility channels a portion of a river through a canal or penstock. It may not require the use of a dam. 3. PUMPED STORAGE Another type of hydropower called pumped storage works like a battery, storing the electricity generated by other power sources like solar, wind, and nuclear for later use. It stores energy by pumping water uphill to a reservoir at higher elevation from a second reservoir at a lower elevation.

The Two Major Types of Food Production

1. Industrialized agriculture (high-input agriculture) . -- uses large amts. of fuel energy, water, commercial fertilizers & pesticides; Plantation agriculture (cash crops) 2. Traditional subsistence agriculture Traditional intensive agriculture

Reasons for Projected Population Growth

1. Large number of baby-boom women still in child-bearing years 2. Increase in number of unmarried mothers (incl. teenagers) 3. Continued higher fertility rates for women in some racial and ethnic groups than for Caucasian women. 4. High levels of legal and illegal immigrants (43% of US pop. growth). 5. Inadequate family-planning services.

Two useful indicators of overall health in a country

1. Life expectancy (the avg. number of years a newborn infant can expect to live) 2. Infant mortality rate (the number of babies out of every 1000 born each year that die within 1 year)

How are Governments Planning to Reduce Population Growth?

1. Provide universal access to family planning services and reproductive health care. 2. Improve health care for infants, children and pregnant women 3. Encourage pop. policies as part of social and economic development policies 4. More equitable relationships between men and women. 5. Increase access to education, esp. for girls 6. Increase involvement of men in child-rearing responsibilities and family planning 7. Take steps to eradicate poverty 8. Reduce or eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption

causes of global warming

1. burning of fossil fuels 2. deforestation

electricity production

1. chemical reactions between electrodes and electrolyte set up a charge difference between electrodes 2. if the electrodes are connected by a wire, the charge is able to flow

four management steps to making fishing more sustainable

1. closed fisheries 2. less boats 3. less subsidies 4. consumer awareness

three benefits of of aquaculture

1. highly efficient 2. high yields in small amounts of water 3. good way to boost global production while taking pressure off overharvested marine fisheries

Today national forest are used for...

1. logging mining 2. livestock grazing farming 3. oil and gas extraction 4. sport and commercial fishing and hunting 5. conservation of watershed, soil, and wildlife ***More than 60 million people in 33 states obtain their drinking water from national forest lands***

six issues that contribute to overfishing

1. population growth/affluence 2. too many boats 3. increase of technology on boats 4. by-catch 5. lack of regulation/conflict of interest 6. gear

three negatives of aquaculture

1. predatory fish that are farmed need food and as a result smaller fish are harvested to feed them 2. significant loss of sensitive coastal ecosystems 3. large inputs of land, feed, and water needed

seven major threats to fisheries

1. too many boats 2. destruction of coastal habitats 3. pollution 4. global warming 5. decline of coral reefs 6. ozone depletion 7. increase population growth

US National Parks System Threatened by

1. tourists 2. poachers / hunters (3,000 elk killed in Eagle Creek Montana each year) 3. too little money being available 4. too few personnel 5. roads, cars, snowmobiles 6. mining, logging, livestock grazing, coal burning, water diversion, and urban development, and waste

Criticisms about Clean Air Act (6)

1. we clean-up instead prevent 2. need higher fuel efficiency 3. Not strict about PM 4. gave trash incinerators 30 yr permits 5. weak standards for incinerators 6. not reducing greenhouse gases enough

What is the current growth rate of the human population?

1.2%

What Plants and Animals Feed the World?

15 plant and 8 animal species supply 90% of our food wheat, rice and corn provide ~50% of the calories people consume; all three are annuals 2/3 of the world's people live primarily on grains (rice, wheat and corn)

Wild Refuge

1901 Teddy Roosevelt established 51 wildlife refuges. There are now 511 in nearly 40 million hectares of land *Refuges face threats from external activities such as water pollution *biggest battle currently is about drilling in Alaska

US National Park System

1912 = U.S. National Park System was created by Congress

Sustainable Fisheries Act

1996 act that required federal fisheries managers to develop management plans to prevent overfishing and to restore depleted stocks

Federal rangelands

43% of rangelands are owned and protected by the government in the U.S.

groundwater problems

45% of aquifers in US have been polluted (carcinogens, pesticides, solvents (Ex. trichloroethene TCE), pollution enters through recharge zone); Groundwater mining; salt water intrusion; subsidence

Global energy use

492 exajoules, 87% nonrenewable; 13% renewable

Oil and Natural Gas provide how much of world's energy?

60% - world 62% of US

global water use

69% agriculture 23% industry 8% household use

How many periods of warming and cooling cycles have there been in the Earth's history?

7

Irrigation Facts

73% of all freshwater used for irrigation 15% crops are irrigated world wide 80% water irrigated NEVER reach destination (because of evaporation and seepage) Irrigation can cause waterlogging or desalination by poor practices

At the current rate of consumption, available natural gas reserves are expected to last another:

75 years

Composition of the Atmosphere

78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 1% other gases

oil cons

80% depleted in 44 years, polluting, land disturbance and oil spills, alters global climate, dependence on foreign countries, non-renewable

Where is the water

97% by volume is found in the ocean (salt water) 3% is fresh water with 2.997% locked up in ice caps and glaciers 0.003% easily available as soil moisture, usable groundwater, water vapor, lakes and streams

Define Sustainable Agriculture

: (regenerative farming) -aim to produce food and fiber on a sustainable basis and repair the damage caused by destructive practices. do not deplete soil, water, air, or wildlife resources

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

A colorless, odorless gas that occurs as a by-product of fuel combustion that may result in death in poorly ventilated areas.

Hydroelectric power plants

A dam is built across a river to hold back a reservoir. The water is released from reservoir through turbines

ecological pyramid

A diagram that shows the biomass of organisms at each trophic level

Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

A group of industrial compounds used to manufacture plastics and insulate electrical transformers, and responsible for many environmental problems

Septic tank

A large container that receives wastewater from a house as part of a septic system

Septage

A layer of fairly clear water found in the middle of a septic tank

Watt

A measure of power equal to one joule of work per second.

energy efficiency

A measure of the fraction of energy used compared to the total energy available in a given source

Eutrophication

A phenomenon in which a body of water becomes rich in nutrients

natural selection

A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.

Septic system

A relatively small and simple sewage treatment system, made up of a septic tank and a leach field, often used for homes in rural areas

Ozone (Osub3)

A secondary pollutant made up of three oxygen atoms bound together.

threatened species

A species that could become endangered in the near future

Indicator species

A species that indicates whether or not disease-causing pathogens are likely to be present

endangered species

A species whose numbers are so small that the species is at risk of extinction

climax community

A stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species over time

Explain does responsive study

A study that exposes organisms to different amounts of a chemical and then observes a variety of possible responses, including mortality or changes in behavior or reproduction.

Explain retrospective study

A study that monitors people who HAVE BEEN exposed to an environmental hazard at some time in the past.

Explain prospective study

A study that monitors people who MIGHT BECOME exposed to harmful chemicals in the future.

Extinction

A term that typically describes a species that no longer has any known living individuals.

How does age structure affect population growth?

A wide base (0-14 years) has a strong built-in momentum to increase pop.

The Measurement for Air pollution

AQI ( Air Quality Index)

AQI

Air Quality Index- used to measure and report air quality in a specific area (color coded & numbers)

Explain strategies and techniques for controlling sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter.

Air pollution is best controlled by increasing the efficiency of processes that cause pollution, thereby reducing emissions, or by removing pollutants from fuel before combustion. After combustion occurs, filters and scrubbers remove pollutants from the exhaust stream before they can be released into the environment

Ethanol

Alcohol. Made by converting starches and sugars from plant material into alcohol and CO2.

environmental risk factors

All the physical and social conditions surrounding a person and the influence they have on that person

Successful Comebacks - Endangered species

American alligator, Bald Eagle and California condor

energy density

Amount of energy contained in a given volume or mass of an energy source

Global Water Problems

Amount of freshwater on planet can meet human needs - but it is unevenly distributed and some places lack stable runoff Problems -climate change -drinking water -population growth -sharing water resources among countries

Carbon Neutral

An activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations

Montreal Protocol (1987)

An agreement on protection of the ozone layer in which states pledged to reduce and then eliminate use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It is the most successful environmental treaty to date.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

An agricultural practice that uses a variety of techniques designed to minimize pesticide inputs. each crop and its pests are evaluated as parts of an ecological system. Then a control program is developed that includes a mix of cultivation and biological and chemical methods applied in proper sequence with the proper timing. The overall goal is not to eliminate pest populations, but reduce crop damage to an economically tolerable level. IPM requires expert knowledge about each pest situation, and is much slower acting then conventional pesticides. Although long-term costs are typically lower than the costs of using conventional pesticides, initial costs may be higher.

heat island

An area in which the air temperature is generally higher than the temperature of surrounding rural areas. EX: Increased temp in big city

Cultural eutrophication

An increase in fertility in a body of water, the result of anthropogenic inputs of nutrients

global warming

An increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere (especially a sustained increase that causes climatic changes)

Urbanization

An increase in the percentage and in the number of people living in urban settlements.

Eutrophication

An overgrowth in algae, over productive, such as in an algal bloom

Aquifers

An underground water reservoir. Ogalla (in Great Plains) - more water being taken than replenished.

Curie

Another unit of measure for radiation. 37 billion decays per second.

Which type of coal is the cleanest and most efficient?

Anthracite

Volcanism

Any activity that includes the movement of magma toward or onto Earth's surface. • Volcano- mountains formed by magma from Earth's interior • Active volcanoes- currently erupting or have erupted in recorded history • Dormant volcanoes- never known to erupt • Extinct volcanoes- never erupt again • Rift volcanoes- plates move away from each other • Subduction volcanoes- plates collide and slide over each other • Hot spot volcanoes- found at areas where magma rises to surface, Hawaiian islands

Biomass material

Any organic matter that can be used as fueled when burned

noise pollution

Any unwanted, disturbing, or harmful sound that impairs or interferes with hearing, causes stress, hampers concentration and work efficiency, or causes accidents. EX: transportation, machinery, and construction.

Wildlife Refuges

Areas set aside to shelter, feed, and protect wildlife; due to political and economic pressures, refuges often allow hunting, trapping, mineral exploitation, and other activities that threaten wildlife.

Potentially Renewable

As long as we do not consume them more quickly than can be replenished. Wood Biofuel

future energy needs - US

As of right now we consume fifty percent more energy than 1973. With population increasing, new technology developing, and our demand for more energy that's more efficient, it is necessary that we focus our attention on conserving the non-renewable resources we use so quickly today. Tidal, solar, biomass, geothermal, and wind are renewable resources America and other nations are pursuing today to keep our standard of living as it currently stands.

Name a few endocrine disruptors

Atrazine (pesticide), DDT (pesticide), Phthalates (BPA)

Reducing Ozone Depletion

Avoid the consumption of gases dangerous to the ozone layer, due to their content or manufacturing process. ... Minimize the use of cars. ... Do not use cleaning products that are harmful to the environment and to us. ... Buy local products.

Why is Biodiversity such an important ecosystem service

Biodiversity ensures there are the variety of living creatures in the ecosystem to provide the services we needs such as : nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, pest regulation and pollination, sustain agricultural productivity

Biofuels

Biomass can be processed or refined into liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel.

The greenhouse effect is responsible for many beneficial aspects of the earth's atmosphere. Name a few of these...

Blocking some harmful radiation from penetrating through the atmosphere All of the choices are created by the greenhouse effect Keeping the surface of the earth at a homogeneous temperature Trapping some infrared radiation from the earth within the atmosphere

Ozone depletion caused by

CFC's, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, halon, methyl bromide all of which attack stratospheric ozone

Hydrogen

Can be burned as fuel; most abundant element in universe; no carbon, thus no pollutants associated with burning fossil fuels

What do we do w/low-level waste?

Can be stored on site, until enough of it has decayed (this will be in a short amount of time), then put in landfills.

Flex-Fuel Vehicles

Can run on either gas or E-85 (85% ethanol, 15% gas) fuel.

Photovoltaic Solar Cells

Capture energy from the sun as light, not heat, and convert it directly to electricity.

Modern Carbon

Carbon in biomass

Fossil Carbon

Carbon in fossil fuels.

Evolution

Change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.

Define pesticide & Name types

Chemicals developed to kill organisms that we consider undesirable. 1. Insecticides - Insect-killers 2. Herbicides - Weed-killers 3. Fungicides - Fungus-killers 4. Nematocides - Roundworm-killers 5. Rodenticides - Rat- and Mouse-killers

What three countries have the world's largest populations?

China, India, and the United States

climate, weather

Climate is the average weather usually taken over a 30-year time period for a particular region and time period. -- NOT the same as weather, but rather, it is the average pattern of weather for a particular region. Weather describes the short-term state of the atmosphere. --Temp, precipitation, wind, sunlight Climate is what you expect Weather is what you get Can directly and indirectly affect organisms

advantage of utilizing coal as an energy source

Coal is abundant and confirmed reserves are predicted to last three hundred years. Clean coal technology is a promising technology that reduces the environmental impact of modern coal plants. Coal is very energy-dense and has a high energy yield.

CTL

Coal to liquid. Process to make solid coal a liquid fuel

Cogeneration

Combined heat and power. Use of fuel to generate electricity and heat.

Tidal Energy

Comes from the movement of water. This is driven by the gravitational pull of the moon.

Interaction among species can happen in three different ways

Competition: species compete for limited resources o Interference - One species limits the access that another species has to the resource. o Exploitation - A couple of species have equal amounts of access but because one uses the resources more frequently and beneficially, they then gain the advantage. o Resource partitioning - Two or more species have equal access to the resource but each use the resource at different times or different places Predation: One species eats another o Carnivore - Predator eats other animal (prey) o Herbivore - Animal eats grasses and plants in the ecosystem Symbiosis: One organism lives on or inside another o Parasitism - One organism benefits while the other is hurt or killed. o Mutualism - Both organisms benefit from the relationship. o Commensalism - One organism benefits while the other does not but isn't harmed in the process

Indoor Air Pollution

Compounds that affect breathing that occur indoors. Examples: woodstove smoke, furnace emissions, formaldehyde, radon, household chemicals

Electrical Grid

Connects power plants together and links them with end users of electricity.

Fuel Rods

Containment structure enclosing the nuclear fuel which is contained in a cylindrical tube.

high-level waste

Contains high amounts of radioactive material w/long half-lives - Ex: * U-235 or U-238: nuclear fuel rods that are "spent" or used. * Kr-85 & Ba -140 (byproducts of fission)

low-level waste

Contains low amounts of radioactive materials, for a short amount of time (short half-lives) - Ex: * Items/tools used in nuclear power plant's maintenance (rags, clothing, etc) * Medical isotopes (used in hospitals, etc)

CITES Treaty

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. In 1989, participating countries agreed to ban the sale of endangered species and their body parts.

Wind power

Converting wind's kinetic energy to electric energy

Wind Turbine

Converts kinetic energy of moving air into electricity.

Tiered Rate System

Customers pay a low rate for the first increment of electricity they use and pay higher rates as their use goes up.

Control Rods

Cylindrical devices that can be inserted between the fuel rods to absorb excess neutrons. thus slowing and stopping the fission reaction.

acid deposition effects

Damages statues, acidify forests and water, release harmful ions into plants

Explain deforestation & its effects

Deforestation is one of the most serious ecological problems of this century. The earth's forests have been reduced by 20-50% and the destruction continues to this day. We cause this by using land for farming, housing, commercial use, so on. Deforestation has many harmful environmental effects: reduces ecological services of forests, releases large amounts of carbon dioxide in the air, produces a drier and hotter climate; reduces the control of water movements, and increases soil erosion.

Fossil fuels

Derived from biological material that became fossilized millions of years ago. (Coal, Oil, Natural gas)

Nuclear Fuels

Derived from radioactive materials that give off energy

Hydrologic Cycle

Describes the mechanisms by which water moves throughout Earth -Heat from the sun causes water to evaporate from rivers, lakes, oceans, or the soil -Plant roots extract water from the soil and release some of it into the atmosphere through their leaves, a process called transpiration -As the evaporated water moves up into the atmosphere, it loses heat and condenses into clouds and the water then returns to the Earth as precipitation -Some of that water will form runoff -The rest will soak into the soils, which is where we get most of our groundwater and how nutrients move throughout the soil

Major terrestrial biomes

Desert, Savanna, Chaparral, Temperate grassland, Temperate deciduous forest, Temperate coniferous forest, Taiga, Tundra

Overgrazing

Destruction of vegetation caused by too many grazing animals consuming the plants in a particular area so they cannot recover It compacts the soil so it can't hold as much water, soil erodes and mesquite and prickly cactus takes over Range Condition is classified as either excellent, good fair or poor

Solar Energy

Energy from the sun

Noise pollution is regulated by ____

EPA

trophic level

Each step in a food chain or food web

Smart grid

Efficient, Self-Regulating electricity distribution network that accepts any source of electricity and distributes it automatically to end users.

Electrolysis

Electric current is applied to water to split it into hydrogen and oxygen.

Hydroelectricity

Electricity generated by the kinetic energy of moving water. 2nd most common form of renewable energy.

Smoking risks

Emphysema, heart disease, lung disease, cancer, infertility, and stroke

Benefits of Solar Power

Endless, quiet and safe, no greenhouse gases, little maintenance, can lower electric bills if hooked into grid

first law of thermodynamics

Energy can be transferred and transformed, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

Geothermal energy

Energy from heat in the earth; powers turbines which transform energy into electricity, US is largest world producer

Renewable Energy

Energy from sources that are constantly being formed. Includes solar, wind, water and the Earth's heat energy.

geothermal energy

Energy from steam or hot water produced from hot or molten underground rocks.

Hydroelectricty

Energy produced from moving water

WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT (1986)

Established and maintains dam safety programs

1996 Food Quality Protection Act

Established single standard for pesticides Uses "a reasonable certainty of no harm" policy Includes special protection for children

What is the difference between natural selection and evolution?

Evolution is a GRADUAL CHANGE in the inherited traits of a population over many generations. Natural selection is a mechanism where the members of a population best suited to their environment have the BEST CHANCE OF SURVIVING to pass on their genes.

Disadvantages of Hydroelectric Power

Expensive to build, damages ecosystems, dams trap sediments,

Particulates and other substances removed from wastewater during primary and secondary treatment create a significant amount of solid material which must then be disposed of elsewhere.

Explain how sewage treatment plants create a solid waste problem?

Energy Crisis

Faced by the US in the 1970s because OPEC reduced the amount of oil exported to the US

How can Economic Rewards and Penalties be used to Help Reduce Births?

Family planning alone cannot curb pop. growth enough in developing countries. Economic Rewards and Penalties are needed. Penalties (China): higher taxes, other fees, elimination of tax deductions for a third child, lose health care benefits, food allotments and job options. Economic rewards and penalties designed to lower birth rates work best if they encourage (rather than mandate) people to have fewer children, reinforce existing customs and trends toward smaller families, or increase a poor family's economic status. A population out of control may be forced to use coercive methods to prevent mass starvation and hardship.

Biofuel: Ethanol

Fermentation of starches or sugar; can be used by itself or as supplement for cars; reduces emissions

Energy Conservation

Finding ways to use less energy

pioneer species

First species to populate an area during primary succession often microbes, mosses and lichens

Long Line Fishing

Fishing by dragging extremely long lines with baited hooks spaced along their lengths

nuclear fission and fusion

Fission: Neutrons are made to bombard the nuclei of heavy elements to split them in two Fusion: two light elements to form a heavier one, done with the hydrogen bomb originally

Dams and Flood Control

Flood Control Dams - impound floodwaters and then either release them under control to the river below the dam or store or divert the water for other uses.

Genetic engineering crops

Food production can be increased by using crossbreeding techniques on similar organisms and using genetic engineering on different organisms. Genetic engineering, including using advanced tissue culture techniques, is growing in use many people are concerned about the potential harm such crops may cause. Called - genetically modified organisms (GMO's) or Frankinsteinian foods! have DNA containing genes borrowed from unrelated species. Ex: "golden rice": gene from daffodil- makes rice produce beta carotene (artificial nutrient in many poor countries).

Pros of fossil fuels

Fossil fuels are relatively cheap to extract. Extracting fossil fuels creates jobs and boosts the economy. At this point in history, fossil fuels are relatively plentiful. It takes a very long time for fossil fuels to form.

Capacity Factor

Fraction of time a plant is operating.

greenhouse gases

Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect.

4 types of biodiversity

Genetic Diversity: variety in genetic material Species Diversity: number of species present in a habitat Ecological Diversity: variety of ecosystems present in an area Functional Diversity: biological and chemical processes required for the survival of species, communities, and ecosystems

Peak Demand

Greatest quantity of energy used at any one time.

How do we calculate growth rate?

Growth Rate (r) = ((births + immigration) - (deaths +emigration)) / Total Population

disposal of hazardous waste

Hazardous wastes are disposed of legally in the U.S. by: Discarding them on the surface of the land Storing them in slurry ponds Dumping them into landfills or into the ocean (dredged material, sewage, radioactive waste) Incineration

Geothermal Energy

Heat that comes from the natural radioactive decay of elements deep within the earth.

Natural seeps from oil deposits at the ocean floor, Runoff from land, discharge from ships, Oil spills

How does oil end up in the water?

Persistence

How long a pollutant stays in the air, water, soil, or body. See also inertia.

Manure Lagoon

Human-made pond lined with rubber build to handle large quantities of manure produced by livestock

Impact of population growth

Hunger Poverty Disease Depletion of resource (water, energy, minerals) Living space (urbanization) Habitat destruction

Describe the four major periods or stages in the history of the human population.

Hunters and gatherers (less than few million). Rise of agriculture (First major increase in population). Industrial Revolution (Rapid increase in the human population). Today, rate is slow in developed nations but fast in developing nations.

Run-of-the-river

Hydroelectricity generation, water behind a low dam and runs through a channel before returning to the river.

territorial waters

The area of sea around a country's coast recognized as being under that country's jurisdiction

What did the U.S. Clean Air Act do?

Identified six pollutants that significantly threaten human well-being, ecosystems, and structures: Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, tropospheric ozone, and lead

Risk Analysis

Identifying hazards, evaluating the nature and severity of risks (risk assessment), using this and other information to determine options and make decisions about reducing or eliminating risks (risk management), and communicating information about risks to decision makers and the public (risk communication).

rapid climate change

If global temps change over the next decades we will not be able to switch food-growing regions and relocate the world's population near the coast. Lead to deaths, chaos and reduction in biodiversity. Temperatures have shifted as much as 10`F in past decades that lasted 1000+ years The shifts are disastrous for humans

Dead zone

In a body of water, an area with extremely low oxygen concentration and very little life

Impact of Transportation Systems on ecosystem

In general, in order to build transportation infrastructure, natural land must be converted for development. This results in a loss of natural land, which animals and plants rely on for survival. Animals are often forced to move to a different location. In addition to removing natural habitats, while building transportation infrastructure, there is also an increased risk of pollution due to the increased abundance of work vehicles and machines. Pollution from cars after the roads are built. Habitat fragmentation - dividing the area animals live and roam free

Which of the following is not a projected issue following the furthering of global warming?

Increased insect-borne illnesses Faster spread of fungal diseases All of these are potential issues More deaths (maybe 2x more) due to asthma and bronchitis ALL

Causes of Urbanization

Industrialization has driven urbanization Urbanization began when agricultural surpluses allowed people to leave their farms Created specialized manufacturing professions, class structure, political hierarchies, and urban centers The industrial revolution spawned technology Created jobs and opportunities in cities Increased production efficiencies

Hydroelectric Energy Cons

Interference Caused by Dams: areas behind dams flood Power lines and roadways have to be moved Negative Impact on Fish Life: kills fish disturbs their feeding and breeding Expensive to Build: very expensive to build Few ideal areas to build a PROFITABLE PLANT Some countries cannot afford it

K-strategist species

K-Strategist Species - reproduce late, have few offspring with long generation times; have big bodies, live for a long time, spend little of their energy on reproduction tend to do well in competitive conditions when pop. is near carrying capacity prone to extinction

Turbine

Large device that will turn to spin a shaft of a generator which produces electricity.

carrying capacity

Largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support

Law of the Sea

Law establishing states rights and responsibilities concerning the ownership and use of the earth's seas and oceans and their resources.

Layers of earth atmosphere

Layer of gases covering Earth o troposphere (weather, clouds) o tropopause (temp increases) o stratosphere (greenhouse effect from ozone) o mesosphere (meteors burn up) o thermosphere (aka ionosphere, absorbs solar wind from Sun)

Crude Oil

Liquid petroleum that is removed from the ground. Oil=crude oil=petroleum

What is the primary source of the greenhouse gas Nitrous Oxide (NO2)?

Livestock feedlots and synthetic fertilizers

preservation

Maintenance of a resource in its present condition, with as little human impact as possible. Remaining wilderness areas on public lands should be left untouched

Habitat loss and fragmentation

Makes some habitats too small to support some species of birds, limits dispersal, and increases Edge Effects The primary threat to species worldwide is habitat degradation and loss-with perhaps the most dramatic example being the clearing of millions of acres of tropical rain forest. However, the loss of even a relatively small area can still significantly disturb species

How is man upsetting Nitrogen Cycle?

Man is upsetting the natural balance of nitrogen by fixing nitrogen artificially to make fertilizers. These fertilizers as well as excess sewage rich in nitrogen (from large animal farms or crappy municipal waste systems for humans) is added to aquatic ecosystems by rain runoff or sewage overflows. This in turn destroys the health of our fresh water streams and ponds by promoting rampant algae growth, which eventually renders the aquatic environment lifeless!!!

Disadvantages of Solar Power

Manufacturing of devices can create pollution, some regions are not sunny enough, expensive to build

Capacity

Maximum Electrical output of a plant

Peak Oil

Maximum amount of oil that can be extracted before it begins to decline.

Becquerel (Bq)

Measures the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays.

Two types of biological evolution

Microevolution is a change in genetic material that results in a new adaptation to a species' surroundings; basically the end result of quite a few generations worth of the process of natural selection Macroevolution is when changes in genetic material continue for so long that a new species is created

More than half of the world's oil reserves are located where?

Middle East

Concentrating Solar Power (CSP)

Mirrors used to concentrate solar power

Madrid Protocol

Moratorium on mineral exploration for 50 years in Antarctica

Offshore Wind Farms

More wind than on land; costs more; produces more

demographic transition

Movement from a high birth rate, high death rate to a low birth rate, low death rate.

Combined Cycle

Natural gas-fired power plant. 2 turbines and generators. Natural gas is burned to spin a turbine and the waste heat will boil water which will turn another turbine.

Effects of ozone depletion

Negative effects include increased UV, skin cancer, cataracts, and decreased plant growth

Benefits of Hydroelectric Power

Nothing is burned, no air pollution, cheap to run

Fission

Nuclear reaction in which a neutron strikes a relatively large atomic nucleus which then splits into 2 or more parts.

Which of the following is not a type of water pollution?

Nutrient pollution Sediment pollution Toxic chemical pollution Diseases and pathogen pollution ALL of these are types of water pollution

Nonrenewable

Once gone, no more. Oil Coal Nuclear

Nonrenewable

Once they're gone, there's no more

Fuel Cell

Operates like a battery. This reaction happens in a closed container to which no additional elements are added.

Habitat destruction and fragmentation

The biggest reason for the current increase in extinction is habitat loss. Habitat Fragmentation: Habitat fragmentation divides populations into isolated groups that are vulnerable to catastrophic events.

major pollutants

Particulate Matter Carbon Monoxide (CO) Sulfur Oxides (SOx) Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Ozone (O3) Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH)

Innocent Passage

Passage is "innocent" as long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order, or security of the coastal state. The high seas are free for reasonable use of all states. Fishing, polluting, weapons practice, and spying are not "innocent", and submarines and other underwater vehicles are required to navigate on the surface and to show their flag

formation of coal

Peat is the raw material from which coal is formed. Over time and under increasing pressure, various types of coal are formed

Phosphrous Cycle

Phosphorus circulates through water, the earth's crust, and living organisms in the phosphorus cycle. VERY SLOW PROCESS Soils contain very little phosphorous naturally, so it is also major limiting factor for growth. Phosphorous does not circulate as easily as nitrogen because it does not exist as a gas, but is released by weathering of phosphate rocks. The phosphorous (PO4) is then dissolved in water and absorbed by plants. Animals that eat plants then pass the phosphorous along to the decomposers through their waste products, or when they die and decay. The decomposers then break down the phosphorous to the soil.

Renewable

Potentially Renewable and Nondepletable

Risk

Probability that something undesirable will result from deliberate or accidental exposure to a hazard. See risk analysis, risk assessment, risk-benefit analysis, risk management.

Risk Assessment

Process of gathering data and making assumptions to estimate short- and long-term harmful effects on human health or the environment from exposure to hazards associated with the use of a particular product or technology.

cellular respiration

Process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food molecules in the presence of oxygen Exact reverse of photosynthesis Used by everything that doesn't use photosynthesis

Fuel Cells

Produces electricity chemically by combining hydrogen fuel with oxygen from the air (reverse of electrolysis) Waste product: water and heat

Noise Control Act (NCA)

Promotes a national environment free from noise that jeopardizes health and welfare. Establishes research, noise standards, and information dissemination.

Leader in Renewable Energy

Wind power; 50% increase in use every year

Rangeland facts

Rangeland is land that supplies forage or vegetation for grazing and browsing animals and that is not intensively managed Most rangeland and grasslands are arid and too dry for non-irrigated crops 42% of worlds rangeland is used for grazing livestock (34% of the total US land = rangeland) 2% of cattle and 10% of sheep graze on public rangelands in the US

Nuclear Fusion

Reaction that powers the Sun and other stars. Lighter nuclei are forced together to produce heavier nuclei. Lots of heat is generated.

Secondary Succession

Reestablishment of a damaged ecosystem in an area where the soil was left intact Disruption may be caused by natural catastrophe, human activity

Environmental Impact of burning coal

Releases large quantities of CO(2_ into atmosphere -Greenhouse gas Releases other pollutants into atmosphere -Mercury -Sulfur oxides -Nitrogen oxides -Can cause acid precipitation

Fossil fuel extraction

Removing carbon in the form of oil, coal, and natural gas from the earth

Net Removal

Removing more timber than is replaced by growth. Unsustainable practice -> Deforestation.

Hydroelectric Energy Pros

Renewable Energy Source Reliable Energy Source: dependable for the most part provides a large percentage the power of some nations minimal complications Clean Energy Source: no greenhouse gases from the production of the energy

Mitigation

Repairing/Rehabilitating a damaged ecosystem or compensation for damage. Most often by providing a substitute or replacement area; frequently involves wetland ecosystems. The areas most severely UNDER PROTECTED AREAS are grasslands, aquatic ecosystems and islands. The LEAST DISTURBED biomes are temperate conifer forests and arctic tundra.

Soil Erosion - Globally

Reports estimate that topsoil is eroding faster than it is replenished on 38% of the world's cropland

More than half of the world's natural gas reserves are located where?

Russia and Iran

forest management

Scientific planning and administration of forest resources for sustainable harvest, multiple use, regeneration, and maintenance of a healthy biological community

How have fertility rates and birth rates changed in the US since 1910? How rapidly is the US population growing?

Since 1910 fertility rates in the US were declining until the baby boom and then they dropped again and have stabilized (currently 1.88). The US has a population growth rate of 0.6% meaning it will double in 117 years.

Oil Sands

Slow flowing viscous deposits of bitumen mixed with sand, water and clay.

Soil Problems

Soil erosion, nutrient mineral depletion, soil salinization, desertification

soil formation

Soil forms as rock is broken down by weathering and mixes with other materials on the surface.

Soil Erosion - US Farmers

Soil on cultivated land in the U.S. is eroding 16x faster than it can form.

Nondepletable

Solar, Wind, Hydro etc. Energy for all time.

Coal

Solid fuel formed by remains of plants that were preserved at least 280 million years ago.

Examples of Pesticide Harm

Some pesticides can harm wildlife. DDT had harmful effects in the environment when it biologically magnified in food webs. This resulted in certain birds being listed on the endangered species list in the U.S. because of fatal effects. Each year 20% of honeybee colonies in the U.S. are wiped out by pesticides, while another 15% are damaged, costing farmers over $200 million annually.

Energy Carrier

Something that can move and deliver energy into a convenient, usable form to end users.

Water Impoundment

Storing water in a reservoir behind a dam. Allows for on demand electricity generation.

Passive Solar Energy

Sun power is gathered by collectors and used to heat water or buildings

Ecosystem services can be:

Supporting (e.g. soil formation, nutrient cycling, primary production) Provisioning (e.g. food, fresh water, fuelwood, fiber, biochemicals, genetic resources) Regulating (e.g. climate regulation, disease regulation, water regulation, water purification, pollination) Cultural (e.g. spiritual and religious, recreation and ecotourism, aesthetic, inspirational, educational, sense of place, cultural heritage).

Synfuel and Other Fossil Fuel Resources

Synthesized fuel from coal and other naturally occurring sources Use in place of oil or natural gas SOME SOURCES ARE: -Tar sands -Oil shales -Gas hydrates -Liquefied coal - Coal gas

Ground Source Heat Pumps

Take advantage of the high thermal inertia of the ground.

Passive Solar Design

Technique that takes advantage of solar radiation to maintain a comfortable temperature in a building.

Active Solar Energy

Technologies capture the energy of sunlight with the use of technologies. Includes, Small scale solar water heating systems, photovoltaic solar cells etc.

During prolonged periods of __________, air pollutants build up and are trapped in a dense, cool layer of air beneath a layer of less dense, warm air.

Temperature Inversion

Population Case Study

The Graying of Japan 1949: TFR = 4.5 1998: TFR = 1.4 (one of the world's lowest) *TFR: total fertility rate - estim # a children woman will have in her life Declining workforce: encourage automation and women working outside the home. Japan resists increasing immigration - fearing a breakdown in its social cohesiveness. Solutions: Influencing Population Size. U.S. Immigration - 1998 - 935,000 legal immigrants and refugees; 400,000 illegal immigrants (constituting 43% of pop. growth). 75% of legal immigrants live in CA, FL, IL, NY, NJ and TX. Immigrants provide labor for jobs many Americans refuse to do. Immigrants pay taxes Immigrants increase the need for goods and services Immigrants increase the need for social services (incl. schools) Immigrants have children who are automatically US citizens (?)

Biogeochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

The amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over a period of time at specific temperatures

sulfur cycle

The chemical and physical reactions by which sulfur moves into or out of storage and through the environment. SLOW PROCESS Most sulfur is bound up inside rocks (like pyrite and gypsum). Sulphur is important for the functioning of proteins and enzymes in plants, and in animals that depend upon plants for sulphur. Plants absorb sulphur when it is dissolved in water. Animals consume these plants, so that they take up enough sulphur to maintain their health.

Biomagnification

The concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of its ingesting other plants or animals in which the toxins are more widely disbursed.

Water pollution

The contamination of streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, or groundwater with substances produced through human activities

water cycle

The continual movement of water among Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land surface through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation

Coriolis effect

The effect of Earth's rotation on the direction of winds and currents.

Tradegy of the Commons

The idea that where there is no clear ownership of rights to a natural resource, the users of the resource are likely to overexploit it. This becomes an argument either for strong government intervention or for privatization of rights to the resource. ...

Kyoto Protocol (1997)

The main international treaty on global warming, which entered into effect in 2005 and mandates cuts in carbon emissions. Almost all the world's major countries, except the United States, are participants.

Air Pollution Control Act of 1955

The nation's first piece of federal legislation regarding air pollution. Identified air pollution as a national problem and announced that research and additional steps to improve the situation needed to be taken. It was an act to make the nation more aware of this environmental hazard.

species diversity

The number and relative abundance of species in a biological community.

population doubling time

The number of years it takes a population to double; calculated by dividing the number 72 by the rate of natural increase

Atmospheric & Ocean Interactions

The oceans and atmosphere interact in many different ways. There can be a net exchange of heat, salt, water and momentum between them. When wind blows over the ocean, energy is transferred from the wind (slowing it down) to the surface layers, some of which then drives ocean currents.

urban sprawl

The process of urban areas expanding outwards, usually in the form of suburbs, and developing over fertile agricultural land.

natural gas formation

The remains of tiny aquatic plants and animals die, sink to the ocean floor, and decay; time & pressure causes GASES to form (often alongside crude oil)

five reasons why the world's death rate has declined over the past 100 years.

The world's death rates have declined over the past 100 years for reasons like: medical advances, increased food supplies, better nutrition, improved sanitation, and safer water supplies.

Persistent Pesticides

These can be harmful to unintended victims especially when built up in water systems (DDT)

Oil Pollution Act of 1990

This followed the Exxon Valdez spill and states that operators of oil tankers are responsible for all cleanup costs and it increased the maximum liability for losses by businesses and private individuals. It also phased out single-hulled tankers in favor of double-hulled tankers, which reduced losses in an oil spill by 4-6 times

Mercury

This is a heavy metal found in nature, and in contaminates water through burning coal or garbage. Inorganic ________ is relatively harmless but when bacteria convert it is becomes hazardous and can damage the central nervous system

Tertiary treatment

This is any additional treatment, such as the removal of nitrates and phosphates

Arsenic

This is found naturally in Earth's crust and can dissolve into groundwater. Mining can contribute high levels of this in water. This will cause cancer in the skin, lungs, kidneys, and bladder. Very high concentrations of this is found in the West and Midwest, and we can get rid of it by distillation, as chlorine cannot remove it

Lead

This is rarely found in natural sources of drinking water and it affects fetuses, infants and children the most. It can cause brain and nervous system damage, kidney damage, and learning disabilities from brain damage.

Secondary Treatment

This is when bacteria is added to decompose organic matter, and after the bacteria is killed, often with chlorine.

Primary treatment

This is when the sewage is held in a large containment vessel and heavy solids that sink to the bottom are removed as sludge and the water may also be aerated to remove smell, and the sludge that is leftover is decomposed with bacteria or composted

Subsistence energy sources

Those gathered by individuals for their own immediate needs. More used in developing countries.

Commercial energy sources

Those that are bought and sold, (coal, oil, wood, etc)

Nuclear Safety

Time. Distance. Shielding. is the application of engineering and management principles, criteria, and techniques to protect nuclear weapons against the risks and threats inherent in their environments within the constraints of operational effectiveness, time, and cost throughout all phases of their life cycle.

Restoration

To bring back to former natural condition Active restoration seeks to reestablish a diverse, dynamic community at sites that have been degraded.

Green Revolution

To eliminate hunger by improving crop performance Movement to increase yields by using: • New crop cultivars • Irrigation • Fertilizers • Pesticides • Mechanization Results: • Did not eliminate famine • Population still increasing • Increase cost of production • An increased negative environmental impact • Didn't work for everyone

Reasons for Renewable energy

To reduce fossil, to reduce air pollution, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases

Energy Intensity

Total energy is increasing, but energy per person is staying constant.

What is wrong with sprawl?

Transportation: people are forced to drive cars Pollution: carbon dioxide, air pollutants, ozone, smog, acid precipitation Health: sprawl promotes physical inactivity because driving cars replaces walking Land use: less forests, fields, farmland, or ranchland

by-catch

unwanted marine creatures that are caught in the nets while fishing for another species

country with most coal

US

global reserves

US and China have the largest reserves of coal. Middle East has one of largest reserves of oil. Water is also considered a global reserve.

Coal Facts

US has 25% of world's coal supplies Known coal deposits could last 200 years

Formation of stratospheric ozone

UV breaks the bonds holding together O2 leaving 2 separate oxygens, other O2 molecules react with the free O molecules forming O3 can go O2+ O-> O3 or O3+ UV->O2

Risk Management

Using risk assessment and other information to determine options and make decisions about reducing or eliminating risks.

Biodiesel

Vegetable oil; usually mixed with conventional diesel fuel.

Radioactive Waste

Waste after the nuclear fuel is used up and can't produce heat, but still emits radioactivity.

Distilled water

Water has been boiled and recollected. Contains no minerals

Wastewater

Water produced by livestock operations and human activities, including human sewage from toilets and gray water from bathing and washing of clothes and dishes

Purified water

Water that has been filtered by deionization or reverse osmosis

The most abundant greenhouse gas in the Earth's atmosphere is __________.

Water vapor is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the Earth's atmosphere. Infrared radiation that gets absorbed and reflected by the Earth's surface gets trapped and reflected back to the Earth's surface by greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere in a process known as the "greenhouse effect."

What do we do w/high-level waste?

We store it on site, deep underground, in steel containers.

Dissolved/suspended organic materials such as human waste products, soaps, detergents, food waste, pathogens, phosphates and nitrates, etc.

What components of sewage does secondary treatment removal target?

E. coli (Fecal coliform bacteria)

What is the indicator species to tell if any disease causing organisms are present?

It is non-degradable, and exposure to sunlight will cause it to break apart into smaller pieces which then accumulate in gyres, animals ingest

What is the problem with plastic?

Dead organisms, human/animal waste, oil, fertilizer, heavy metals, fertilizer, radioactive waste

What types of things can pollute a water body?

BOD; DO

When ________ levels increase ________ levels decrease

silting

When sediment becomes clogged behind a dam.

climate shifts

When temperatures fluctuate dramatically, the normal populations may die off due to loss of food and habitat

Pharmaceuticals and Hormones

When you take ____________________________ and then your waste ends up in the water those can really be bad for the water ecosystems

The Great Pacific Trash Vortex, located in the South Pacific gyre

Where is the largest collection of plastic pollution?

Pollution from nonpoint sources

Which type of water pollution is hardest to fix?

Petroleum

Widely used fossil fuel. Mixture of hydrocarbons, water and sulfur that occurs in underground deposits.

Wind Energy

Widely used in some countries and making a comeback in others.

Endangered Species Act

a 1973 U.S. act designed to protect species from extinction

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

a colorless gas detected by its pungent odor; produced by the burning of fossil fuels, especially coal, that contain sulfur as an impurity; can react in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid, a component of acid deposition

What is Radon-222?

a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and naturally occuring radioactive gas (formed when U-238 decays)

purse-seine fishing

a fishing method used to catch surface-dwelling species such as tuna, mackerel, anchovies, and herring, which tend to feed in schools near the surface or in shallow areas. It usually involves a spotter plane. Known to be the safest fishing method for protecting dolphins. A technique where a rope passes through all the rings of a net and when pulled, draws the rings close to one another catches the fish. •Avoids the seabed, preserving the interior of the area •Takes out large amounts of fish from a wide area at one time

sonar fishing

a fishing technique where sonar waves are used to detect objects in water and different methods are collecting fish are performed. •Easy to detect anything in the area •Good for navigation •Beneficial in Ice Fishing

survivorship curve

a graph that represents the distinct patterns of species survival as a function of age. 3 CURVE TYPES Type I curves - individuals that have a high probability of surviving to adulthood. Type II curves - individuals whose chance of survival is independent of age. Type III curves - individuals that mostly die in the early stages of their life.

Wetlands

a lowland area, such as a marsh or swamp, that is saturated with moisture, especially when regarded as the natural habitat of wildlife.

tree plantation/tree farm/commercial forest

a managed forest containing only one or two species of trees that are all of the same age

soil composition

a mixture of rock particles, minerals, decayed organic material, air, and water

Federal Highway System

a network of controlled-access highways that forms a part of the National Highway System

slope mining

a sloping access shaft travels downwards towards the deposit USES CARS

Keystone Species

a species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend, such that if it were removed the ecosystem would change drastically. EX: dung beetle, sea otters, gopher tortoises, American alligator, elephants and rhinoceroses, beavers, wolves, leopards, lions, giant anteaters, great white shark, giant armadillo.

Allergen

a substance that produces an allergic reaction in an individual

Plate Techtonic Theory

a theory that states that the earth's outermost layer is made up of large and small plates that drift. It explains biological evolution, formation of mountains, volcanoes, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. • TECTONIC PLATES are large pieces of lithosphere that float on the asthenosphere. • There are about 15 Tectonic Plates that drift slowly over the mantle. • The largest plate is the Pacific Plate

national park

a tract of land declared by the national government to be public property

Joules

a unit of energy; used to express both energy and work

Kilowatt

a unit of power equal to 1000 watts

Why are forest being cleared so fast in US?

a) reversion of marginal farmlands to forests b) planting of tree farms, c) efficient use of paper and wood products d) paper and wood recycling e) substitution of all other materials for construction lumber Most of the remaining old-forests are in US public lands in Washington, Oregon and Northern California

Third Law of Thermodynamics

absolute zero cannot be reached

Biomagnification

accumulation of pollutants at successive levels of the food chain

Sustainable Agriculture Practices

agriculture that meets the needs of the present generation without jeopardizing the ability of further generations to meet their own needs and without limiting their choices

cone of depression

an area from which the groundwater has been rapidly withdrawn

chronic effect

an effect that results from long,term exposure to low levels of toxin.

World Bank

an international bank that offers low-interest loans, advice, and information to developing nations

old growth/primary forest

an uncut or regenerated forest that has not been seriously disturbed by human activities or natural disasters for 200 years or more

national forest

area of federally-owned land where logging and grazing are permitted under more heavily-managed conditions

Canals and channels

artificial waterways for water conveyance, or to service water transport vehicles

Benthic

bottom of an aquatic ecosystem; consists of sand and sediment and supports its own community of organisms

minerals formed- sedimentation

calcium, limestone

oil shale pros

can help meet oil demand, also has other pros of oil

nuclear energy cons

cannot compete economically w/o large gov't subsidies, low net energy yield, catastrophic accidents can happen, major accidents have a high environmental impact, no widely acceptable solution for long-term storage of radioactive wastes and decommissioning worn out plants

Greenhouse gases include

carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide

roadless areas

conservation policy limiting road construction and the resulting environmental impact on designated areas of public land

soil conservation techniques

contour and strip plowing, terracing, planting perennial species, plant ground cover and use mulch, reduced tillage systems, vegetarian or locavore, join community-supported agriculture program, add legumes (nitrogen) to the soil

rangeland management

control number of animals, rotate areas, active restoration, increased feedlots

Mineral Formation

crystallization from magma, crystal growth in the solid state, precipitation from solution

status of the world's fisheries

declining because there are not enough fish to sustain the world's populations

loss of biodiversity

declining number and variety of the species in an area Environmental Degradation causes this.

Law of the Seas (UNCLOS)

defines the rights and responsibilities of nations with respect to their use of the world's oceans, establishing guidelines for businesses, the environment, and the management of marine natural resources. came into force on November 16, 1994, is an international treaty

impacts of dams

disrupt integrity of river system above the dam: flooding, sediment deposition, loss of functional floodplain below the dam: loss of normal river flow patterns, river biota, and functional floodplain

ways to reduce air pollution

drive fuel efficient cars, car pool, walk more, use renewable energy sources (solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, wind)

natural pollutants include

dust from wind, sulfur oxide from volcanoes, carbon oxides and nitrogen oxides from forest fires, methane and hydrogen sulfide from decaying plants, hydrocarbons and pollen from plants, and salt particulates from the sea

Possible future energy crisis

energy planning has focused on providing larger supplies of coal, natural gas, and oil; key to energy planning is a diversity of energy sources; if we are unable to make transition as world production declines, we will face energy crisis

Soil Erosion Act

established the soil conservation service. mandates the protection of the nation's soil reserves. deals with soil erosion problems, carries out soil surveys, and does research on soil salinity. provides computer databases for scientific research

solar cons

expensive for initial costs, ugly, latitude issues

natural gas cons

highly toxic H2S gas can be released, "fracking" process likely pollutes groundwater, must be converted to liquid (cooled) if to move by tanker, difficult to transfer from one country to another, requires an investment in pipeline infrastructure, when shipped across the ocean, highly explosive

population age structure

how many individuals fit into particular age categories

drift-net fishing

huge fish are caught by huge drifting nets that can hang as deep as 50 feet below the surface and extend 40 miles long. This method can lead to overfishing of the desired and unwanted species.

Dams and Salmon on the Klamath River

hydroelectric dams, along with the drainage of two large lakes at the river's source for agriculture, impeded the flow of water and PREVENTED the natural migration of salmon to their breeding grounds; conflict over water use between farmers, fisherman, Native Americans, industry, etc. led to overuse and exploitation of this resource and massive fish kills (increased temperatures, disease, toxic algae); the dams are scheduled to be removed in 2020

Mineral Reserve

identified deposits currently profitable to extract

Consequences of desertification

include worsening drought, famine, declining living standards, increasing numbers of environmental refugees

Mining Law of 1872 (General Mining Act)

individuals or companies have the right to stake claim on public land without the need to pay royalties to the federal government; encouraged settlement of the West

Ultraviolet Radiation (UV)

invisible rays from the sun that can cause skin cancer

minerals formed- hydrothermal processes

iron, copper, manganese. gold found @ edge of volcanic vents in ocean

photochemical smog

is a complex mixture of air pollutants produced in the lower atmosphere by the reaction of hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides under the influence of sunlight. Photochemical smog is common in sunny cities with lots of motor vehicles.

Geological Time Scale (GTS)

is a system that uses the earth's layers of sedimentary rock (aka strata) and preserved fossils to determine major evolutionary events. Each layer of rock represents a time in history. • 4 Eras Precambrian- origin of the earth Paleozoic- first fishes, land plants & reptiles Mesozoic- first dinosaurs and birds Cenozoic- humans develop

Industrial smog (gray-air smog)

is a type of air pollution consisting mostly of a mixture of sulfur dioxide, suspended droplets of sulfuric acid forms from some of the sulfur dioxide, and a variety of suspended soil particles. Commonly found in urban areas and is the result of coal-burning power plants.

Total fertility rate (TFR)

is an estimate of the average number of children a woman will have during here childbearing years under current age-specific birth rates. In 1998, TFR was 2.9 Highest TFR: Africa = 5.6 children per woman.

Main cause of acid deposition

is atmospheric concentrations of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. When they react with water, oxygen, carbon dioxide,and sunlight in the atmosphere, they form sulfuric and nitric acids, which are the main forms of acid deposition. Human produced SO2 and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) are produced when fossil fuels are burnt by large industries. Vehicle emisissions also largely responsible fro NOx.

forest

land dominated by trees and other woody vegetation and sometimes used for commercial logging

nuclear energy pros

large fuel supply, low environmental impact, emits 1/6 CO2 as coal, moderate land disruption and water pollution (w/o accidents), moderate land use

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR)

largest wildlife refuge in US, located on Alaska's North Slope - Lots of oil underneath - Environmentalists want to protect fragile tundra ecosystem - Having increased human activity could greatly damage ecosystem

hazardous waste

liquid, solid, gaseous, or sludge waste material that is harmful to humans or ecosystems

water cons

little growth potential, flooding, block fish migration, traps sediment, evaporative water loss since it expands surface area

What Influences that Formation of Smog?

local climate, topography, population density, industry, the fuels the industry use, heating of homes, and transportation

tar sand cons

low net energy yield, lots of H20 required, plants create huge waste disposal ponds, non-renewable

mineral resources

low-grade deposits that may become profitable to extract in the future

radioactive waste disposal

low-level: give off small amounts of radiation - hospitals, research facilities, nuclear power plants are the main sources of these minor contaminants. High-level: nuclear power plants & nuclear weapons facilities; may cause massive pollution and contamination; no satisfactory means of disposing high-level radioactive waste (e.g. most is stored in the facilities themselves, although salt effectively blocks some radiation).

oil shale cons

lower net energy yield, processing requires a lot of H20, surface mining causes damage/pollution, very expensive process, non-renewable

Major Aquatic Biomes

marine and freshwater

shaft mining

method of excavating a vertical or near-vertical tunnel from the top down, where there is initially no access to the bottom USE BUCKETS

physical and chemical properties of soil

mineral content, texture, cation exchange capacity, bulk density, structure, porosity, organic matter content, carbon-to-ni- trogen ratio, color, depth, fertility, and pH

world reserve base (total resources)

mineral reserves + mineral resources

coal pros

most abundant fossil fuels, large reserves, high net energy yield and pretty stable, cheap to extract

Planned development

neighborhood or commercial center that is planned and built by a single entity.

food web

network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem

nitrogen cycle steps

nitrogen fixation, ammonification, nitrification, and denitrification

temperature inversion

occurs in the troposphere when temperature increases as altitude increases

Pelagic

open water - away from the bottom of the lake/ocean

Desertification causes

overgrazing, deforestation, erosion, salinization, soil compaction, natural climate change

Types of water pollution

physical, biological, chemical

Urban growth boundaries

place restrictions on development outside a designated area. Oregon's UGB was one of the first large-scale attempts to limit sprawl this way

secondary pollutants

pollutants that are formed by the combination of primary pollutants in the atmosphere. SO3, HNO3, O3, H2SO4, formed when primary pollutant react with one another and or sunlight

primary pollutants

pollutants that are put directly into the air by human or natural activity. CO, CO2, NO, and SO2, they are emitted directly into the trophosphere

wind pros

potential energy from wind is large, don't need power plant, wind energy is cheapest form of alt. energy, highest economic return, creates thousand of jobs + investment opportunities, technology producing more efficient wind turbines

acid deposition (acid rain)

precipitation with an acidic pH (<5.6) that can cause environmental harm, specifically to forests and freshwater sources

Photosynthesis

process by which plants and some other organisms use light energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and high-energy carbohydrates such as sugars and starches 6CO2 + 6H2O + light --> C6H12O6 + 6O2

Marine Mammals Protection Act (MMPA)

protected marine mammals from falling below their optimum sustainable population levels

National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

protects rivers with due to aesthetic, recreational, wildlife, historical, or cultural reasons.

r-Strategist Species

r-Strategist Species - species with a high intrinsic rate of increase (r) - Many small and unprotected young

radiation and human health

radiation sickness is determined by the dose and dose rate

atmospheric circulation

redistributes heat over earth's surface by exchanging warm tropical air with cold polar air.

geothermal pros

reliable reservoirs, moderate net energy yield, very little CO2 emitted, competitive cost

environment issue of "by-catch"

removes food for larger predators and eventually causes those larger predators to die. over 20 million metric tons - yearly.

principle of sustainable yield

renewable resources should not be harvested faster than they are replenished

Biodiversity is one of the most important

renewable resources we have 4 types of biodiversity

biomass pyramid

represents the amount of living organic matter at each trophic level

principle of multiple use

same land is used for a variety of things - timber, grazing, recreation, etc.

pros of pesticides

saves lives from insect-transmitted diseases, increases food supply, increases profits for farmers

solar pros

saves money, creates 2-5 jobs/unit, eliminates/reduces fossil fuels, less pollution, less environmental damage

geothermal cons

scarcity of reservoirs, deforestation to build plants, land subsidence, noise, odor

Safe Drinking Water Act (1974)

set maximum contaminant levels for pollutants in drinking water that may have adverse effects on human health

numbers pyramid

shows how many organisms are needed at each trophic level

conservation of matter

states that matter can be neither created nor destroyed. This means that all matter in a chemical reaction must be accounted for. For instance, if you look at the photosynthesis equation above, you will notice that there are the same number of each atom on both sides of the equation.

Primary Succession

succession that occurs in an area in which no trace of a previous community is present ex. island, new volcanic flow

acute effects

sudden, severe effects

coal cons

terrible for environment and human health, extraction causes damage to land/nearby water sources, black lung disease is still an issue, "dirtiest" fossil fuel to burn (most impurities), releases pollutants damaging to environment and human health, dangerous to extract

deforestation

the action of clearing a wide area of trees.

Aquaculture (or aquafarming)

the cultivation of seafood under controlled conditions -typically inside containers

dose-response relationship

the effect on an organism at different levels of exposure to a pollutant or other hazardous substance

Biomagnification

the increase in a chemical concentration in animal tissues as the chemical moves up the food chain

Sustainable forest management

the management of forests as ecosystems wherein the primary objective is to maintain the biodiversity and function of the ecosystem

ecosystem services

the many benefits that humans freely gain from the natural environment and from properly-functioning ecosystems. Such ecosystems include, for example, agroecosystems, forest ecosystems, grassland ecosystems and aquatic ecosystems.

carbon cycle

the movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back Short cycle: Photosynthesis and Respiration. Carbon is incorporated into a sugar during photosynthesis and then released during respiration. Plants, animals and microbes all respire which send the CO2 back into the air. Long term cycle: Carbon can stay in one form for years to thousands of years before changing. coal, oil, atmosphere, and limestone (CaCO3). Man is upsetting this cycle by burning fossil fuels and tearing down the jungles and woodlands of the world.

wind cons

unpredictable since wind is highly variable, kills birds, uses large areas of land, ugly

Desertification

the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

ecological succession

the process by which organisms occupy a site and gradually change environmental conditions b creating soil, shade, shelter, or increasing humidity

Globalization

the process in which countries are increasingly linked to each other through culture and trade

land management

the process of managing the use and development of land resources

population ecology

the study of factors that cause populations to increase or decrease

Seasons are caused by

the tilt of the earth's axis & the revolution around the sun

Replacement level fertility

the total fertility rate required to offset the average number of deaths in a population in order to maintain the current population size

greenhouse effect

the trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface.

hydraulic mining

the use of powerful jets of water to break apart earth and find gold

Biodiversity

the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

soil erosion

the wearing away and removal of rock and soil particles from exposed surfaces by agents such as moving water, wind, or ice

two main benefits and two main disadvantages of synfuels (natural gas or liquid)

they can be easily transported through pipes they can be produced with less pollutiom they have a low net energy yield and are expensive

pollution and biodiversity loss

toxic contaminants (pesticides, heavy metals, acids, oil/dispersant) and endocrine disruptors from the air and water can inhibit species' survival and reproduction (fitness); release of nutrients can also cause algal blooms, dead zones, and thermal pollution that make climate unsuitable for marine organisms

Neurotoxins

toxic substances, such as lead or mercury, that affects the brain and nervous system.

Rachel Carson

was a scientist who wrote Silent Spring in 1962. •It addressed the growing use of pesticides (DDT) and their unpredicted effects on song birds. •Original users of pesticides did not know that the poisons used to kill insects would accumulate in other living things and kill them too. BIOACCUMULATION

National Forest Management Act

was passed in 1976 with the intent to ensure multiple use and sustainable yield of commercial forests

second law of thermodynamics

when energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy (usually heat)

nuclear fission energy

when the nucleus of an atom divides Controlled reaction which produces heat, driving steam turbines to produce energy.

food chain

• A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms through which nutrients and energy pass as one organism eats another. • In a food chain, each organism occupies a different trophic level, defined by how many energy transfers separate it from the basic input of the chain.

Water Conservation

• Changes in personal habits • Could construct dams & reservoirs • Could desalinate water (low rate of production, expensive) • Use Drip irrigation (reduces evaporation) • Education how to conserve • Rebates/legislation on low-water use items(low-flush toilets) • Reprocess/recycle water (gray water used for irrigation, requires separate pipeline)

Main soils types

• Clay: smallest particles of broken rock in soil, less than .0002mm in diameter • Sand: small pieces of rock 2mm to .05mm diameter • Silt: slightly larger pieces of rock than clay .002 mm to .05 mm diameters

Earthquake

• From vibrations of plate movements deep in Earth • Focus- location where earthquake begins inside Earth • Epicenter- spot on surface of earth directly above focus • Seismograph- measures size or magnitude

MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF FOOD PRODUCTION

• Loss and degradation of habitat from clearing grasslands and forests and draining wetlands • Fish kills from pesticide runoff • Killing of wild predators to protect live stock • Loss of genetic diversity from replacing thousands of wild crop strains with a few monoculture strains

Rock Formation depends on five major factors:

• Parent material • climate • living organisms • topography • time

solar intensity and latitude

• Solar intensity refers to the amount of sunlight hitting the planet's surface. • Latitude is the North-South position on the planet. • Solar intensity varies with latitude based on the shape and angle of the planet.

Biomes & Human Impact

• Tropical rainforest - Characterized by high biodiversity and poor soils, this biome being destroyed for cattle pasture and cropland. • Temperate forest - Home to many of the major cities of the US, Europe, and Asia, much of this biome has been degraded by urbanization. • Taiga - The coldest of the forest biomes, this biome is logged for timber • Savanna - Large herbivores and frequent fires prevent trees from establishing in this tropical biome. • Temperate grassland - Frequently converted to cropland Because of their deep, fertile soils. Climate change could convert much of this biome to temperate desert. • Chaparral - Warm, sunny summers and mild winters make this climate an attractive location for human settlement, despite high risk of fires. (CALIFORNIA!)

Global Water Stressed

• Water Stressed: renewable annual water supply of about 1,000 to 2,000 m3 per person • Water Scarce: less than 1,000 m3 per person - developing countries w/rapidly increasing population - EX: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Kenya, Rwanda, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia

causes of urban sprawl

• cost of living in uptowns is high • the American Dream • the invention of the automobile with better roads and infrastructure • the GI Bill • pollution, crime, and taxes increase

biological population

• is a group made up of the same species • shares many physical and genetic attributes

biological communities

• is a group made up of two or more populations of different species but live in the same area. • share many of the same needs for sustained living (specific climate, or food source)

Ecological Niches

• is a species' way of life or its functional role in a community. • Everything that affects its survival and reproduction (temperature tolerance, water needs, space needs, interactions with other organisms, etc.) • helps a population survive by the adaptive traits that its organisms have acquired.

WATER RESOURCES PLANNING ACT (1964)

• plans to formulate & evaluate water/land resource projects maintain adequate water supplies in USA

CLEAN WATER ACT (1972 & 1987)

• sets & maintains the chemical, physical & biological integrity of nation's water • regulates discharge of pollutants