APES LAP 1-5
Nationwide standard for pollutants emissions and air quality were established in the US by
The Clean Air Act
Which of the following statements is true? Cold air is denser than warm air Warm air is denser than cold air Air has the same density, regardless of the temperature. Gases have no density; only liquids and solids have density.
Cold air is denser than warm air.
At what type of plate boundary do tectonic plates push apart from one another as magma rises up?
Divergent
What type of mining is sifting through sand and silt in riverbeds for minerals using flowing water?
Placer mining
What are geothermal energy, wind energy, and solar radiation all examples of?
Renewable environmental resources
What does reclamation of land in mining include?
Replacing trees, planting ground cover, removing mining structures, filling in holes
which of the following laws gave the EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from "cradle-to-grave," including the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste?
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
When a population approaches its carrying capacity, its resources:
become more scarce as population growth rate decreases
Greenhouse gas with the highest warming potential per molecule
chlorofluorocarbons
a consumer stores only part of the matter and energy it eats. what happens to most of the remaining energy?
it is given off in the form of heat
rocks, air, and water are:
abiotic factors
biosphere
all living things on earth, and the areas they live
which factor differentiates between forest vs. grasslands, all other factors being approximately equal?
amount of rainfall
The frequency of extreme weather events (hurricanes, floods, droughts, heat waves) in the US has ________ since 1970.
at least doubled
producer
autotroph
which of the following is most likely to increase both nutrient levels and bacterial content of lake water
runoff from a nearby hog farm
Waste from which of the following is an example of a nonpoint source of water pollution?
runoff from agricultural fields
Overuse of groundwater in coastal areas would most likely result in
saltwater intrusion
detritivore
scavenger of waste products or dead material
Curving global wind patterns and the counterclockwise spinning of hurricanes (in the northern hemisphere) are due to:
the Coriolis effect
It can be argued that the US should enact laws slowing global climate change because:
the US is a major source of the problem
Where is US geothermal energy most available?
the West
Why did the DO after one week decrease as the amount of waste increased?
the carbon dioxide increased due to algal respiration
Pollution is considered an external cost when
the cost to the environment is not reflected in the price of the products that produce the pollution
negative feedback from "The Lorax"
the effect of cutting trees down on environmental quality
habitat
the ensemble of living and nonliving things in which an organism lives
The amount of radon in a building's air is mainly determined by
the geology of the rock underneath it
Which of the following is not true regarding the greenhouse effect?
the greenhouse effect originated with anthropocentric activities
Heavy rains and mudslides cause a river to change course, isolating two groups of lizards form one another. If they remain isolated for a long period of time:
the groups will probably diverge genetically, and speciation may occur
ocean temperatures are much more stable than temperatures on land. this is explained by:
the high heat capacity of water
A sustainable society would emphasize
using energy efficiently and reusing and recycling matter
Emitted by many manufactured building and furnishing materials
volatile organic compounds
Which of the following may result in a positive mechanism that would intensify climate change?
warmer temperatures result in the melting of permafrost
A family of five recently replaced its 5-gallon-per-minute showerheads with water-saving 2-gallon-per-minute showerheads. Each memeber of the family averages 8 minutes in the shower per day. In a 30-day period, how many fewer gallons of water will the family use the new showerheads?
3600
Large inland mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas, are formed as a result of __________
A continental-continental convergence of plates
____ is a device designed to remove airborne pollutants from smokestack emissions
A scrubber
Which of the following states is expected to experience the greatest increase in temperature by the year 2100?
Alaska
In the US, what is the trend between the 1980 and the present in the level of the six major pollutants tracked by the FDA?
All have substantially decreased
Which of the following is an effect of acid deposition? Elevated level of aluminum in soil and surface waters Erosion of statues and buildings disruption of food webs crop damage all of these
All of these
Where would an "island arc" be most likely to form?
At a subduction zone between oceanic plates
Which of the following causes most indoor pollution in developing countries? Substance used to make carpeting Cigarette smoke Volatile components of plastics Burning Fuel
Burning Fuel
Which of the following is an example of an ozone-depleting substance? CFC Carbon monoxide Carbon dioxide Particulate pollution all of these
CFC
Greenhouse gas produced by microbes decomposing matter in landfills, swamps, and rice fields
CH4
A catalytic converter is used to reduce _____ emissions in vehicle exhaust
CO and NOx
Predominant greenhouse gas produced by burning of coal and petroleum products
CO2
Acidic material in the atmosphere
Can travel long distances from where it originated
Which of the following substances is not regulated by the EPA? Carbon Monoxide Particulates Lead Carbon dioxide Ozone
Carbon dioxide
natural capital examples
potable water, copper ore, wind, soil
Which of the following effects is caused by ultraviolet radiation? Damage to tissues of living organisms Warming of the planet Air pollution Depletion of the ozone layer
Damage to tissues of living organisms
One solution to address the problems caused by the pollution being emitted by the factor would be for the federal government to institute a command-and-control policy to set limits on the amount of pollution that the factory can discharge. What federal regulating agency would be responsible for instituting such a command-and-control policy?
EPA
Which of the following events occurs most frequently at transform boundaries?
Earthquakes
What is tantalum, an element mined in Africa, primarily used for?
Electronics
The Acid Rain Program of the Clean Air Act of 1990 set up an effective ___ to fight acid deposition in the US
Emissions trading system for SO2
the market value in dollars of goods and services produced in a country for use within a year is the
GDP
What is the best way to decrease concentrations of indoor air pollutants?
Good ventilation
Found in acid deposition due to vehicle emissions
HNO3
Equatorial areas experience heavy rainfall. Deserts are often found at 30 degrees north or south of the equator. North of these effects are due to:
Hadley Cells
Which statement is true about air pollution in Houston? Houston has more air pollution than it had in the 1980s. Air quality measurements are not routinely done in Houston. Houston's air quality is currently worse than that of LA Houston has better air quality now than it had in the 1980s.
Houston has better air quality now than it had in the 1980s
The current practice of geothermal power generation may not always provide a practical renewable energy source because...?
In some cases, the heated groundwater is used much faster than it is recharged
Photochemical smog differs from industrial smog in that photochemical smog:
Is formed only in the presence of sunlight
Why was the earthquake that struck Haiti in 2010 so much more deadly than the earthquake that struck Tohoku, Japan in 2011?
Japan has stricter building codes
groups of organisms with low biotic potential such as gray whales are...
K-selected
What is stratigraphy the study of?
Layers of sedimentary rock
What does weathering and erosion do to all three types of rock?
Make them sediments
What is a naturally occurring solid chemical element or inorganic compound with a distinct chemical composition ad a crystal structure?
Mineral
What does the US Surface Mining Control and Reclamation of 1977 require?
Mining companies to post bonds to cover restoration of mined areas before permits are granted
The most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere
N2
Greenhouse gas that is a by-product of synthetic fertilizer use, feedlots, forest fires, and auto emissions
N2O
Which gas comprises the largest portions of Earth's atmosphere?
Nitrogen
Stratospheric greenhouse gas that absorbs the sun's incoming short-wave radiation
O3
What type of mining is excavating a giant hole in the landscape to remove widely spread mineral deposits?
Open pit mining
Which of the following is a secondary air pollutant? Sulfur dioxide Ozone Carbon monoxide Particulates Radon
Ozone
Step P: water is passed through a screen. Step Q: pathogenic organisms are killed by chlorination, UV, or ozone. Step R: suspended particles clump and settle out. Step S: a floccing agent, such as alum, is added to the water. The processes described above are steps in the purification and treatment of municipal wastewater. The steps are listed in random order. What is the correct order?
P S R Q
What does the US General Mining Act of 1872 do?
Practically gives away resources located on public land
What is the source of radon as an indoor pollutant?
Radioactive decay of uranium
Indoor air pollutant that may cause lung cancer
Rn
Requires minimum safety standards for community water supplies
Safe water drinking act
What type of mining is extracting minerals from underground by dissolving them and then sucking or pumping the dissolved minerals out of the ground?
Solution Mining
Which part of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
Stratosphere
What type of mining is removing surface layers to expose and extract horizontal mineral deposits?
Strip Mining
"Challenger Deep" is the deepest known ocean trench, and is found off the Marianas Trench in the Pacific. It is likely that this is found in __________________.
Subduction zone
What type of mining is tunneling deep underground to extract minerals?
Subsurface mining
Acid deposition usually begins with the emission of ____ into the atmosphere
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
The international effort to halt the depletion of the ozone layer, a model of international cooperation to address global problems, was called
The Montreal Protocol
Why do environmentalists and scientists advocate immediate action, including stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions?
These industries produce the most greenhouse gases.
What do undersea earthquakes and volcanic eruptions produce?
Tsunamis
In the wake of the U.S. failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol ________.
US cities and states are setting their own programs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Which of the following is an adaptation response to climate change?
a Pacific island nation building higher seawalls
population
a group of organisms of the same species, living in a particular area
niche
a species' role; its use of resources and the surroundings
ecosystem
a system composed of a community, its environment, and interactions between them
which of the following is not included in a water footprint
a waterfall in a recreational area
secondary consumer
a wolf that preys on deer
Anolis lizard species that live up high in the trees have larger toe pads than those living on the ground. The larger toe pads are an example of:
an adaptation that enhances survival in a particular environment
example of intrinsic value of an ecosystem
an estuary is often a stopover location for millions of migrating shorebirds that need to stop and fuel up on the invertebrates living in the mudflats
a key "take-home message" about Easter Island
an island population must live as responsible stewards of its sources
Which of the following inorganic substances is naturally occurring in rocks, soluble in groundwater, and toxic at low concentrations
arsenic
which of the following is a successful solution to the problem of fish mortality caused by dams
building fish ladders around the dam
benefits of artificial wetlands
can treat waste water, manage pollution/run off from a city, provide a recreational area
Which of the following are market mechanisms for addressing climate change?
cap-and-trade and carbon offsets
Human wastewater entering into bodies of water can be dangerous because
causes increase in biological oxygen demand, can lead to cultural eutrophication, the wastewater can carry pathogens
how is global climate change expected to affect global per capita GDP by the year 2200
climate change is expected to decrease GDP by greater than 5% annually by the year 2200 as economies struggle because of the economic effects of flooding
What are the 3 distinct layers of the earth?
core, mantle, crust
effects of ocean acidification
decay of shells of marine life, certain coral cannot survive
As urbanization increases and natural soil surfaces are covered, the groundwater supply is reduced due to
decreased surface runoff
which of the following is the best illustration of the tragedy of commons?
depletion of fishing stocks in North Atlantic
Seasons are a result of:
differences in the amount and intensity of sunlight due to the tilt of the Earth's axis
a _________ is best defined as one who evaluates an action based on its impact on water and air quality
ecocentrist
triple bottom line goals
economic development, environmental protection, and social equity
the consumption of mosquitoes by bats and the control of flooding provided by tropical forests in mountainous areas of Central America are examples of
ecosystem services
The largest source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases in the United States is
electricity generation
which is the best example of a point source of water pollution
factory effluent
true/false: ocean currents are always rapid and powerful
false
which of the following terms applies to the economic approach of including external costs in the price of goods and services?
full-cost pricing
decomposer
fungi and bacteria
By definition, parasites ________ their host.
get nourishment from and harm
which of the following displays eutrophication on a large scale
gulf of mexico
primary consumer
herbivorous grazing animals
Which surface has the highest albedo?
ice
type of rock formed when lava cools?
igneous
High population density can ________.
increase the incidence of disease transmission
cause of ocean acidification
increased levels of H2CO3 in the atmosphere leads to a decreased ocean pH
in a river ecosystem, dissolved oxygen concentrations drop quickly downstream from a point source input of organic matter into the river. this effect is due to
increasing bacterial activity as organic matter decays
which of the following is an example of external costs?
individuals pay for medical treatment of lung disease aggravated by pollution from a coal-fired power plant
Earth's climate...
is changing as a result of natural and human processes
The concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere:
is currently higher than it has been for the past 400,000 years
Photochemical smog differs from industrial smog in that it ________.
is formed only in the presence of sunlight
Recent research indicates that the variation in solar output:
is less than any of the anthropocentric factors affecting climate change
The ocean is an important factor in the change climate because:
it is a major carbon sink
the use of tidal and wave energy as a renewable energy source involves converting __________ energy to electricity
kinetic
which of the following is a measure of the amount of suspended material in water
leachate concentration
the invasive european buckthorn invades a local forest preserve. Initially, the population of buckthorn rapidly increases, and then it begins to level of. This pattern of population growth most closely resembles:
logistic growth
green taxes
may affect consumers if the companies paying the taxes raise the price of their product
When more carbon dioxide dissolves in the ocean, a direct result is that its water becomes:
more acidic and lower in pH value
which of the following statements is true? a. Energy is recycled over and over in an ecosystem without losing quality b. energy and matter are both recycled in ecosystems c. an ecosystem's second trophic level stores the same amount of energy as the first trophic level d. most ecosystems require regular input of solar energy
most ecosystems require regular input of solar energy
which of these is not a type of marine ecosystem
mountain stream
several species of warblers can live off of resources provided by the same spruce tree ONLY because:
occupy different niches within the tree
Rising sea levels result in all of the following except
ocean acidification
Which process stores carbon in the "terrestrial ecosystem?"
photosynthesis
The major biological source of dissolved oxygen in the ocean comes from
photosynthesis by phytoplakton
One factor contributing to US resistance to legal intervention regarding global climate change is:
political influence of the petroleum, coal, and automobile industries
Carbon dioxide is:
produced during the combustion of fossil fuels
environmental policy aims to
promote fairness among people and groups in the use of resources and protection from pollution
An environmentally sustainable society
protects the prospects of the future generations of humans and other species, meets the needs of its people without jeopardizing the needs of the future generations, satisfies the needs of its people by harvesting without depleting the Earth's capital, manages its economy and population size without doing irreparable environmental harm
which of the following practices would have the greatest impact on achieving global sustainability?
reducing human population size
Which of the following would not be considered an action to mitigate climate change?
relocating coastal communities further inland
Which of the following samples in NOT used by scientists to collect information about past climate?
rock samples
natural resources are
substances and energy sources that we take from the environment
Substance that contributes to short-term atmospheric cooling
sulfate aerosol
what does the ring of fire consist of?
tectonic plate boundaries
cost-benefit analysis of the risks associated with an environmental hazard involving health and safety, which of the following concerns is NOT typically taken into account?
the long-term value and peace of mind to society resulting from a cleaner, healthier environment
Why is the melting of polar ice and snow of concern to scientists?
the populations of animals that live there are declining
The decrease in NOx emissions in the US from 1970 to 2014 can be partially attributed to which of the following?
the use of catalytic converters in motor vehicles
The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in a sample of river water suggests which of the following?
the water is contaminated with animal waste
which is true of sewage treatment plants in the United States
they are not designed to remove pharmaceutical chemicals from wastewater
The energy content and biomass of ________ is lowest in a terrestrial food web.
top carnivores
The greenhouse effect involves the warming of Earth's surface and the:
troposphere
which biomes are characterized by relatively low temperatures
tundra and taiga (boreal forest)