Environmental Science: Final Exam
reservoir
(1) An artificial water body behind a dam that stores water for human use. (2) A location in which nutrients in a biogeochemical cycle remain for a period of time before moving to another reservoir. Can be living or nonliving entities.
biomass
(1) In ecology, organic material that makes up living organisms; the collective mass of living matter in a given place and time. (2) In energy, organic material derived from living or recently living organisms, containing chemical energy that originated with photosynthesis.
What are the IPCC predictions for global mean temperature increase and sea level rise?
(1.8-6.7 F) or (1.0-3.7 C) (26- 82 cm) or (10-32 in )
adaptation
(re: evolution) (1) The process by which traits that lead to increased reproductive success in a given environment evolve in a population through natural selection. (2) A trait that confers greater likelihood that an individual will reproduce.
What are the ecological costs of using bottled water? Is bottled water cleaner than tap?
****in destroys the planet and no it's not cleaner
What does sustainability and sustainable development mean? Is our society sustainable?
-A guiding principle of environmental science, entailing conserving resources, maintaining functional ecological systems, and developing long-term solutions, such that Earth can sustain our civilization and all life for the future, allowing our descendants to live at least as well as we have lived. -Development that satisfies our current needs without compromising the future availability of natural capital or our future quality of life. -NO.
Place the following steps in the scientific method in the correct order from start to finish.
-Make observations and ask questions -Develop a hypothesis -Test predictions, ideally using an experiment -Collect and analyze data -Accept or reject hypothesis
What are the steps in eutrophication?
1- nutrients wash into river or stream 2- Algae grow quickly in response to increased nutrients 3- Algae block sunlight to aquatic plants= slow photosynthesis, less oxygen in water, low DO levels 4- Decomposer populations increase due to more food(algae) they use up all of the oxygen for respiration = high BOD levels 5- Fish and other consumers die due to lack of oxygen and lack of producers at the base of the pyramid 6- Oxygen levels decline and dead organic matter forms sediments on the lake or river - turbidity increases 7- All life is gone and sediment settles to leave a clear blue lake
What ecosystems have high net primary productivity?
1. Algel beds and reefs 2. Tropical rainforest 3. Swamp and Marsh
Order the following countries from the one with the the largest population (1) to the one with the smallest population (6).
1. China 2. India 3. United States 4. Indonesia 5. Brazil 6. Pakistan
Put the following steps in the overall process of eutrophication into order from the first step to the last step.
1. Nitrogen and phosporus input from runoff 2.phytoplankton (algae) grow at surface due to fertilization 3.Dead algae drift to bottom of water, providing food for microbial decomposers (bacteria and fungi) 4.Microbial decomposer population grows and consumes more oxygen 5.Insufficient oxygen (hypoxia) creates a dead zone where shellfish, shrimp and small fish can die
Order the following renewable energy sources from highest (1) to lowest (5) consumption in the U.S. (not electricity generation).
1. bioenergy 2.hydropower 3.wind 4. solar 5. geothermal
1.wind energy 2.soil 3.crude oil
1.most renewable 2.can be renewed on intermediate time scales 3.can be renewed on intermediate time scales
How much energy transfers up each step in a food chain? Why does a plant-based diet use less land and water than a meat-based diet?
10 % "when we eat meat, we consume 10x more plants per calorie than when we eat plants directly
How much energy transfers up each step in a food chain? 90% 50% 25% 10%
10%
How much of the US energy supply is from renewables? 1% 5% 10% 20%
10%
Approximately what % of world energy production is from renewable energy sources?
10-15%
What is the best estimate for the human population in the year 2100 (using a medium fertility scenario)?
11.2 billion
What will the human population be closest to by 2100? 5 billion 7 billion 9 billion 12 billion
12 Billion
During which time period did the world's population more than triple?
1950-2000
When did global population growth peak? How do growth rates differ between more, less, and least developed countries? (Figure 6.11)
1960
The IPCC predicts average global temperatures will increase by: less than 1 F 2 to 7 F 10 to 15 F more than 20 F
2 to 7 F
How much of the world's water is fresh water? 50% 25% 2.5% <1%
2.5%
What % of water is freshwater? What % of freshwater is frozen? What % is groundwater?
2.5% 79% 20%
The U.S. average footprint is roughly ____________ the average world footprint.
3 times larger
The U.S. is ____ of the world's population & ______ of global energy consumption. 4%, 4% 18%, 18% 18%, 4% 4%, 18%
4%, 18%
The U.S. makes up around ____ of the world's population & almost ______ of global energy consumption.
4%, 18%
If a population is growing at a rate of 1.4%, the population would double in size in how many years?
50
The human population is closest to ________.
7 billion
The global human population is: 330 million 7.8 million 7.1 billion 7.8 billion
7.8 Billion
What is the human population right now?
7.8 Billion
What % of freshwater use is for agriculture? Households? What are ways to increase water efficiency in agriculture? In homes?
70% 10% Drip irrigation and water use reduction
How much of the world's freshwater is frozen? 75% 50% 25% 10%
75%
How much of U.S. energy is supplied by fossil fuels? 20% 40% 60% 80%
80%
The richest 1/5 of the world's people possess over ________ times the income of the poorest 1/5 and use ________% of the world's resources.
80, 85
What is population predicted to be in 2050? 2100? (Fig. 6.6)
9.8 Billion, 11.2 Billion
molecules
A combination of two or more atoms.
soil
A complex plant-supporting system consisting of disintegrated rock, organic matter, air, water, nutrients, and microorganisms.
organic molecules
A compound made up of carbon atoms (and, generally, hydrogen atoms) joined by covalent bonds and sometimes including other elements, such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorus. The unusual ability of carbon to build elaborate molecules has resulted in millions of different organic compounds showing various degrees of complexity.
undernutrition
A condition of insufficient nutrition in which people receive fewer calories than are needed on a daily basis for a healthy diet.
humus
A dark, spongy, crumbly mass of material made up of complex organic compounds, resulting from the partial decomposition of organic matter.
soil degradation
A deterioration of soil quality and decline in soil productivity, resulting primarily from forest removal, cropland agriculture, and overgrazing of livestock.
fuel cells
A device that can store and transport energy to produce electricity, much as a battery can. A hydrogen fuel cell generates electricity by the input of hydrogen fuel and oxygen, producing only water and heat as waste products.
horizon
A distinct layer of soil.
directional drilling
A drilling technique (e.g., for oil or natural gas) in which a drill bores down vertically and then bends horizontally to follow layered deposits for long distances from the drilling site. This enables extracting more fossil fuels with less environmental impact on the surface.
negative feedback loop
A feedback loop in which output of one type acts as input that moves the system in the opposite direction. The input and output essentially neutralize each other's effects, stabilizing the system.
positive feedback loop
A feedback loop in which output of one type acts as input that moves the system in the same direction. The input and output drive the system further toward one extreme or another.
organic fertilizers
A fertilizer made up of natural materials (largely the remains or wastes of organisms), such as animal manure, crop residues, charcoal, fresh vegetation, and compost.
inorganic fertilizers
A fertilizer that consists of mined or synthetically manufactured mineral supplements. Inorganic fertilizers are generally more susceptible than organic fertilizers to leaching and runoff and may be more likely to cause unintended off-site impacts.
desertification
A form of land degradation in which more than 10% of a land's productivity is lost due to erosion, soil compaction, forest removal, overgrazing, drought, salinization, climate change, water depletion, or other factors. Severe desertification can result in the expansion of desert areas or creation of new ones.
petroleum
A fossil fuel produced by the slow underground conversion of organic compounds by heat and pressure. Oil is a mixture of hundreds of different types of hydrocarbon molecules characterized by carbon chains of different lengths.
element
A fundamental type of matter; a chemical substance with a given set of properties, which cannot be broken down into substances with other properties. Chemists currently recognize 92 elements that occur in nature, as well as more than 20 others that have been artificially created.
red tides
A harmful algal bloom consisting of algae that produce reddish pigments that discolor surface waters.
The layer below the O horizon in an idealized profile
A horizon
feedlots
A huge indoor or outdoor pen designed to deliver energy-rich food to animals living at extremely high densities. Also called a factory farm or concentrated animal feeding operation.
green collar jobs
A job resulting from an employment opportunity in a more sustainably oriented economy, such as a job in renewable energy.
mountaintop removal mining
A large-scale form of coal mining in which entire mountaintops are blasted away in order to extract the resource. While this process is economically efficient, large volumes of rock and soil slide downhill, causing extensive impacts on surrounding ecosystems and human residents.
levees
A long raised mound of earth erected along a river bank to protect against floods by holding rising water in the main channel. Synonymous with dike.
coral reefs
A mass of calcium carbonate composed of the skeletons of tiny colonial marine organisms called corals.
concentrated solar power
A means of generating electricity at a large scale by focusing sunlight from a large area onto a smaller area. Several approaches are used.
genetic diversity
A measurement of the differences in DNA composition among individuals within a given species.
wind turbines
A mechanical assembly that converts the wind's kinetic energy, or energy of motion, into electrical energy for the generation of wind power.
compost
A mixture produced when decomposers break down organic matter, such as food and crop waste, in a controlled environment.
slash-and-burn
A mode of agriculture frequently used in the tropics in which natural vegetation is cut and then burned, adding nutrition to the soil, before farming begins. Generally, farmers move on to another plot once the soil fertility is depleted.
compound
A molecule whose atoms are composed of two or more elements.
colony collapse disorder
A mysterious malady afflicting honeybees, which has destroyed roughly one-third of all honeybees in the United States annually over the past decade. Likely caused by chemical insecticides, pathogens and parasites, habitat and resource loss, or combinations of these factors.
fossil fuels
A nonrenewable natural resource, such as crude oil, natural gas, or coal, produced by the decomposition and compression of organic matter from ancient life. Fossil fuels have provided most of society's energy since the industrial revolution.
pollination
A plant-animal interaction in which one organism (for example, a bee or a hummingbird) transfers pollen (containing male sex cells) from flower to flower, fertilizing ovaries (containing female sex cells) that grow into fruits with seeds.
harmful algal blooms
A population explosion of toxic algae caused by excessive nutrient concentrations.
species
A population or group of populations of a particular type of organism whose members share certain characteristics and can breed freely with one another and produce fertile offspring. Biologists may differ in their approaches to diagnosing species boundaries.
cogeneration
A practice in which the extra heat generated in the production of electricity is captured and put to use heating workplaces and homes, as well as producing other kinds of power.
electrolysis
A process in which electrical current is passed through a compound to release ions. Electrolysis offers one way to produce hydrogen for use as fuel: Electrical current is passed through water, splitting the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen atoms
ground source heat pumps
A pump that harnesses geothermal energy from near-surface sources of earth and water to heat and cool buildings. Operates on the principle that temperatures belowground are less variable than temperatures aboveground.
shelterbelts
A row of trees or other tall perennial plants that are planted along the edges of farm fields to break the wind and thereby minimize wind erosion.
conservation biology
A scientific discipline devoted to understanding the factors, forces, and processes that influence the loss, protection, and restoration of biodiversity within and among ecosystems.
demography
A social science that applies the principles of population ecology to the study of statistical change in human populations.
keystone species
A species that has an especially far-reaching effect on a community.
hypothesis
A statement that attempts to explain a phenomenon or answer a scientific question.
theory
A statement that attempts to explain a phenomenon or answer a scientific question.
tributary
A stream or river that flows into a larger river
fertilizers
A substance that promotes plant growth by supplying essential nutrients such as nitrogen or phosphorus.
wetlands
A system in which the soil is saturated with water and which generally features shallow standing water with ample vegetation. These biologically productive systems include freshwater marshes, swamps, bogs, and seasonal wetlands such as vernal pools.
photovoltaic cells
A technology designed to collect sunlight and directly convert it to electrical energy. When light strikes one of a pair of metal plates in the cell, this causes the release of electrons, which are attracted by electrostatic forces to the opposing plate. The flow of electrons from one plate to the other creates an electrical current. This is the basis of PV solar power technology.
demographic transition
A theoretical model of economic and cultural change that explains the declining death rates and birth rates that occurred in Western nations as they became industrialized. The model holds that industrialization caused these rates to fall naturally by decreasing mortality and by lessening the need for large families. Parents would thereafter choose to invest in quality of life rather than quantity of children.
mangrove forests
A tree with a unique type of roots that curve upward to obtain oxygen, which is lacking in the mud in which they grow, or that curve downward to serve as stilts to support the tree in changing water levels. Mangrove forests grow on the coastlines of the tropics and subtropics.
cap-and-trade
A type of emissions trading system in which government determines an acceptable level of pollution and then issues polluting parties permits to pollute. A company receives credit for amounts it does not emit and can then sell this credit to other companies.
carbon taxes
A type of green tax charged to entities that pollute by emitting carbon dioxide. Carbon taxation is one approach to carbon pricing, and gives polluters a financial incentive to reduce emissions in order to address global climate change.
carbon offsets
A voluntary payment to another entity intended to enable that entity to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that one is unable or unwilling to reduce oneself. The payment thus offsets one's own emissions.
thermohaline circulation
A worldwide system of ocean currents in which warmer, fresher water moves along the surface and colder, saltier water (which is denser) moves deep beneath the surface.
Agriculture will face which of the following challenges in the future?
A) Increasing food production to feed 2 billion more people than we do today B) Increasing food security around the world C) Protecting the integrity of soil, water and ecosystems
Which of the following factors are thought to play a role in the colony collapse disorder of bees?
A) invasive parasitic mites B) pesticide exposure C) loss of flowers
How does the greenhouse effect work?
Absorbs radiation emitted from the surface and re-emitted back down
Which continent will grow the fastest this century? Asia South America Africa North America
Africa
If we improved water conservation and efficiency, which of the following sectors would see the largest reductions in water use?
Agriculture
traditional agriculture
Agriculture in which human and animal muscle power, along with hand tools and simple machines, performs the work of cultivating, harvesting, storing, and distributing crops.
sustainable agriculture
Agriculture that can be practiced in the same way and in the same place far into the future. Sustainable agriculture does not deplete soils faster than they form, nor reduce the clean water, genetic diversity, pollinators, and other resources essential to long-term crop and livestock production.
no-till farming
Agriculture that does not involve tilling (plowing, disking, harrowing, or chiseling) the soil. The most intensive form of conservation tillage.
conservation tillage
Agriculture that limits the amount of tilling (plowing, disking, harrowing, or chiseling) of soil.
industrialized agriculture
Agriculture that uses large-scale mechanization and fossil fuel combustion, enabling farmers to replace horses and oxen with faster and more powerful means of cultivating, harvesting, transporting, and processing crops. Other aspects include large-scale irrigation and the use of inorganic fertilizers. Use of chemical herbicides and pesticides reduces competition from weeds and herbivory by insects.
organic agriculture
Agriculture that uses no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides but instead relies on biological approaches such as composting and biological control.
Who wrote the (almost) famous line: "to keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering"?
Aldo Leopold
Which of the following are the causes for sea level rise with warming global average temperature?
All of the above
hydrosphere
All water—salt or fresh, liquid, ice, or vapor—in surface bodies, underground, and in the atmosphere.
Paris Climate Agreement
An agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020.
passive solar energy collection
An approach in which buildings are designed and building materials are chosen to maximize direct absorption of sunlight in winter and to keep the interior cool in the summer.
active solar energy collection
An approach in which technological devices are used to focus, move, or store solar energy
marine protected areas
An area of the ocean set aside to protect marine life from fishing pressures. An MPA may be protected from some human activities but be open to others.
biodiversity hotspot
An area that supports an especially great diversity of species, particularly species that are endemic to the area.
estuaries
An area where a river flows into the ocean, mixing fresh water with saltwater.
recharge zone
An area where water infiltrates Earth's surface and reaches an aquifer below.
clean coal technologies
An array of techniques, equipment, and approaches to remove chemical contaminants (such as sulfur) during the process of generating electricity from coal.
pesticides
An artificial chemical used to kill insects (called an insecticide), plants (called an herbicide), or fungi (called a fungicide).
conservation ethics
An ethic holding that people should put natural resources to use but also have a responsibility to manage them wisely.
preservation ethics
An ethic holding that we should protect the natural environment in a pristine, unaltered state.
La Nina
An exceptionally strong cooling of surface water in the equatorial Pacific Ocean that occurs every 2-8 years and has widespread climatic consequences.
methane hydrates
An ice-like solid consisting of molecules of methane embedded in a crystal lattice of water molecules. Most is found in sediments on the continental shelves and in the Arctic. Methane hydrate is an unconventional fossil fuel.
biophilia
An inherent love for and fascination with nature and an instinctive desire people have to affiliate with other living things. Defined by biologist E.O. Wilson as "the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life."
Green Revolution
An intensification of the industrialization of agriculture in the developing world in the latter half of the 20th century that dramatically increased crop yields produced per unit area of farmland. Practices include devoting large areas to monocultures of crops specially bred for high yields and rapid growth; heavy use of fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation water; and sowing and harvesting on the same parcel of land more than once per year or per season.
Kyoto Protocol
An international agreement drafted in 1997 that called for reducing, by 2012, emissions of six greenhouse gases to levels lower than those in 1990. It was extended to 2020 as nations worked toward the Paris Accord. An outgrowth of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change.
hydrocarbons
An organic compound consisting solely of hydrogen and carbon atoms.
autotrophs
An organism that can use the energy from sunlight to produce its own food. Includes green plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Producers
heterotrophs
An organism that consumes other organisms. Includes most animals, as well as fungi and microbes that decompose organic matter. Consumers
aquifers
An underground water reservoir.
dams
Any obstruction placed in a river or stream to block the flow of water so that water can be stored in a reservoir. Dams are built to prevent floods, provide drinking water, facilitate irrigation, and generate electricity.
run of river
Any of several methods used to generate hydroelectric power without greatly disrupting the flow of river water. Run-of-river approaches eliminate much of the environmental impact of large dams.
At the end of this century, the IPCC predicts temperatures will be how much higher than today's temperatures?
Around 2-7 degree F
Why are the EROI ratios declining for oil and natural gas?
Because the ease reserves have been uses and only difficlut reserves remain
What was the Green Revolution? What techniques were used to increase food production?
Began the start of industrial agriculture using irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, chemical pesticides and fossil fuel powered equipment
Which renewable provides the most electricity?
Biomass provides the most electricity around the world
How do the safety and environmental impacts of nuclear power compare to those of coal?
Both safety and environmental impacts are significantly less likely than coal but when they do happen its really not good
What are the 2 main sources of extra atmospheric CO2? Where else is this extra CO2 going besides the atmosphere?
Burning Fossil Fuels and deforstation The ocean has absorbed enough carbon dioxide to lower its pH by 0.1 units, a 30% increase in acidity. THE OCHIN
Which of the following is NOT a likely impact of climate change on people? Question options: A) forest (and therefore timber) will be impacted more by insects, droughts, and wildfires B) crop productivity will change, increasing in some areas and decreasing in other areas C) richer nations will suffer greater impacts D) increased health hazards such as tropical diseases, respiratory ailments, sanitation problems
C) richer nations will suffer greater impacts
Which one is an organic compound? N2 H2O C6H12O6 O2
C6H12O6
Which one is a greenhouse gas? N2 O2 CH4 C6H12O6
CH4
What is the greatest environmental effect of using fossil fuels? water pollution habitat loss ozone hole CO2 emissions
CO2 emissions
What animal product requires the most land and water per unit of protein? The least?
COW and milk (chicken)
How are GMOs different from traditionally bred crops? What are examples of beneficial GMOs? What are drawbacks to GMOs? How common are GMOs?
Can move individual genes and can mix gene from different species up Examples: potatoes, corn, soybeans, golden rice, "round up ready" and disease resistance Drawbacks: Pesicide resistance Patented Genes Only 10 Companies produce GMOS Farmers have to buy seeds every year Soybeans, Corn, Cotton, canola
Which cycle is biggest in the lithosphere? nitrogen phosphorus oxygen carbon
Carbon
Collecting CO2 produced from combusting coal and injecting it below ground is called: Scrubbers Net metering Carbon capture and storage Cogeneration
Carbon capture and storage
What are examples of ecosystems services?
Carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, water cycle, production of food, raw materials, recreation, regulating temp and precipitation and oxygen
The worst nuclear accident in the world occurred at Three Mile Island, US Fukushima Daiichi, Japan Chernobyl, Ukraine Mumbai, India
Chernobyl, Ukraine
Which country uses the most coal? China Russia U.S. Japan
China
What are the top 3 most populated countries?
China, India, United States
_______ is the world's most populous nation, home to ________ of the people living on Earth.
China; 1/5
What is colony collapse disorder? What causes it?
Colony Collapse Disorder is the phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear and leave behind a queen, plenty of food and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees and the queen Traditional bee pests and diseases. Bee management. Queen source. Chemical use in bee colonies. Chemical toxins in the environment. Varroa mites and associated pathogens. Nutrition Undiscovered or new pests and diseases.
Creating steam that turns a turbine that powers a generator is used in Active solar Photovoltaics Passive solar Concentrated solar power
Concentrated solar power
biocontrol
Control of pests and weeds with organisms that prey on or parasitize them, rather than with chemical pesticides.
these are areas of very high biodiversity due to the complex structures made from the skeletons of tiny marine animals.
Coral reefs
How are we dealing with the nuclear waste disposal issue that comes with nuclear power?
Currently held in temporary storage at nuclear plant
biodiesel
Diesel fuel produced by mixing vegetable oil, used cooking grease, or animal fat with small amounts of ethanol or methanol (wood alcohol) in the presence of a chemical catalyst. A major type of biofuel.
freshwater
Does not contain any saltwater and can be rivers, lakes, streams,ponds, and wetlands
What is the US doing to reduce GHGs?
EPA regulates Clean Air Act, Cap and trade through house but not Senate Clean Power Plan US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement
What are the various benefits of biodiversity?
Ecological life support— biodiversity provides functioning ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean air and water, pollination of plants, pest control, wastewater treatment and many ecosystem services. Recreation—many recreational pursuits rely on our unique biodiversity , such as birdwatching, hiking, camping and fishing.
ENSO
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) A systematic shift in atmospheric pressure, sea surface temperature, and ocean circulation in the tropical Pacific Ocean. ENSO cycles give rise to El Niño and La Niña conditions.
A hydrogen fuel cell is used to produce: Electricity Heat Light Motion
Electricity
What are "energy efficiency" and "energy conservation" and what are examples of each?
Energy efficiency is getting the best bang for you buck and energy conservation is using less energy. Conservation: Drive less turn off lights fewer appliances buying less stuff efficiency: LEDS More efficient appliances and heating fuel efficient vehicles
tidal energy
Energy harnessed by erecting a dam across the outlet of a tidal basin. Water flowing with the incoming or outgoing tide through sluices in the dam turns turbines to generate electricity.
bioenergy
Energy harnessed from plant and animal matter, including wood from trees, charcoal from burned wood, and combustible animal waste products, such as cattle manure. Fossil fuels are not considered biomass energy sources because their organic matter has not been part of living organisms for millions of years and has undergone considerable chemical alteration since that time.
wave energy
Energy harnessed from the motion of ocean waves. Many designs for machinery to harness wave energy have been invented, but few are commercially operational.
What is different about the ways energy and matter move through systems?
Energy moves one direction, matter is a cycle
kinetic energy
Energy of motion.
potential energy
Energy of position.
The application of ethical standards to relationships between humans and nonhuman entities is known as:
Environmental ethics
these are bodies of water where rivers flow into the ocean, mixing freshwater with salt water
Estuaries
cellulosic ethanol
Ethanol produced from the cellulose in plant tissues by treating it with enzymes. Techniques for producing cellulosic ethanol are being developed because of the desire to make ethanol from low-value crop waste (residues such as corn stalks and husks), rather than from the sugars of high-value crops.
Which continent has the lowest total fertility rate? Africa South America Europe North America
Europe
What human activities increase soil erosion? What techniques can farmers use to prevent erosion?
Excessive Plowing, Overgrazing, clearing forests Contour Plowing, Reduced plowing, no plowing, windbreakers for fields, alternating crops
What are the main drawbacks of using nuclear power?
Expensive, waste storage, risk of accident, public anxiety
What was the pattern of population change over the past 10,000 years? What were the two main causes of growth?
Exponential Industrial and Agricultural Revolution
Acid mine drainage can result from strip mining but not underground mining.
FALSE
All GMOs decrease the need for pesticides.
FALSE
Aquaculture is only used for saltwater fish, not freshwater.
FALSE
Certified organic food must be grown without pesticides, so it mostly relies on pest-resistant GMOs.
FALSE
China's one-child policy is the world's only successful population control program.
FALSE
Cutting GHGs is good for the environment, but bad for the economy.
FALSE
Footprints of developing countries are low because of their small populations.
FALSE
GMOs can mix genes from different species, but not different kingdoms (plants and animals)
FALSE
Hydroelectric power has no negative environmental effects.
FALSE
Integrated pest management (IPM) does not include the use of pesticides.
FALSE
Invasive species may be plants or animals, but not insects, fungi, or diseases.
FALSE
More organisms can be supported at the top of the food chain than at the bottom.
FALSE
Nuclear waste in the US is stored at the Yucca Mountain facility in Nevada.
FALSE
Nutrients flow through ecosystems one way, energy recycles.
FALSE
Oceans are becoming more acidic due to warming water.
FALSE
Proven recoverable reserves are deposits that will be technically and economically practical to extract in the future.
FALSE
The EROI of oil is improving due to recent discoveries of proven recoverable reserves.
FALSE
The Endangered Species Act outlaws killing of species, but not destroying their habitat.
FALSE
The Kyoto Protocol was signed by every country in the world.
FALSE
The U.S. is on track to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.
FALSE
The U.S. uses natural resources sustainably.
FALSE
The growth rate of the human population is increasing.
FALSE
The nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island exploded and released radiation into the community.
FALSE
Carbon capture and storage is a proven technology that is being used at most power plants in the United States.
False
Due to the fact that global catch (of fish) has remained steady over the past several decades, we can be reassured that the fish populations are healthy.
False
Energy Returned on Investment (EROI) ratios for oil and natural gas are increasing in the US because new, easily recovered reserves of oil and gas have recently been discovered.
False
Environmental science uses only the natural sciences to learn about environmental problems, not social sciences.
False
Environmentalism is a scientific approach to understanding environmental problems.
False
Feedlots have no environmental benefits, only negative consequences.
False
Gasoline taxes in the United States are similar to gas taxes in the rest of the world.
False
Having large deposits of oil is beneficial for a country or group of people, since they always profit from the money generated from extracted and selling the oil.
False
If the population growth rate of a country is constant, population size will stabilize.
False
No-till farming is not common in the U.S.- it is mostly an idea presented in college textbooks.
False
Oil pollution from accidents involving oil tankers has greatly increased in the past 30 years.
False
Organisms called zooplankton form the base of the food chain in oceans.
False
Over the past 50 years, our ability to produce food has not kept pace with the growth of the human population.
False
Poorer societies have lower birth rates than more affluent societies.
False
The current human population is about 5 billion and is beginning to decline.
False
The renewable energy industry has received far more money in government subsidies than the fossil fuel and nuclear energy industries.
False
The three most widely grown GM crops are wheat, rice and cotton.
False
Topsoil is a relatively sterile substance, with only a few living organisms sparsely scattered through it.
False
Using fossil fuel alternatives, like oil shale and oil or tar sands, can help to minimize the environmental impacts of fossil fuel use.
False
When scientific paradigms change or are abandoned, it is a sign that the scientific method is not working.
False
Worldwide, per person meat production and consumption has decreased since peaking in 1980.
False
salt marshes
Flat land that is intermittently flooded by the ocean where the tide reaches inland. Salt marshes occur along temperate coastlines and are thickly vegetated with grasses, rushes, shrubs, and other herbaceous plants.
oil sands
Fossil fuel deposits that can be mined from the ground, consisting of moist sand and clay containing 1-20% bitumen. Oil sands represent crude oil deposits that have been degraded and chemically altered by water erosion and bacterial decomposition.
Computer software that takes data on geology, hydrology, vegetation, animal species, and human development and overlays them on a common set of geographic coordinates to show how they are arrayed spatially and how they may be correlated
GIS
organisms that have been genetically engineered using recombinant DNA
GMO
Which of the following did NOT contribute to the Green Revolution? more fertilizers more irrigation improved crop breeds GMOs
GMOs
Who was the first chief of the U.S. Forest Service?
Gifford Pinchot
Why is climate change expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events?
Global warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of some types of extreme weather. For example, warming is causing more rain to fall in heavy downpours. There are also longer dry periods between rainfalls. This, coupled with more evaporation due to higher temperatures, intensifies drought.
The large increase in food production from 1940-1980 is called the _________. Farming Revolution Industrial Revolution Green Revolution GMO Revolution
Green Revolution
Which of the following statements correctly describe the negative impacts of dams? (select all that apply)
Habitat alteration both upstream and downstream, Disruption of natural flooding downstream that rebuilds topsoil, Sediment settles behind dams, filling reservoir instead of nourishing downstream floodplains, Decline in fish populations due to blocked migration passage
What are the main causes of biodiversity loss?
Habitat destruction, overharvesting, invasive species, pollution, and climate change
Which of the following statements is NOT a disadvantage of nuclear power when compared to coal power.
Health problems and fatalities among workers is greater
Why are the ecological footprints of developing countries different from the footprints of developed countries?
Higher Income Countries have bigger carbon footprints than less developed countries
Which renewable energy source do we generate the most electricity from in the US? Hydroelectric Nuclear Wind Solar
Hydroelectric
What is the IPAT model and what do the letters stand for? Which factor influences I the most?
I (Impact) = P (Population) x A (Affluence/ Wealth) x T (Technology)
What are the 2 main reasons sea level is rising?
Ice melting, and expansion of water molecules
Can science prove hypotheses? Why or why not?
If an experiment fails to disprove a hypothesis, this leads support to hypothesis but does not prove it correct. This way it can still be tested to disprove or accumulate more test that support it
dead zone
In a body of water, an area with extremely low oxygen concentration and very little life
endangered
In danger of becoming extinct in the near future.
ecosystem
In ecology, an assemblage of all organisms and nonliving entities that occur and interact in a particular area at the same time.
upwellings
In the ocean, the flow of cold, deep water toward the surface. Upwelling occurs in areas where surface currents diverge.
downwellings
In the ocean, the flow of warm surface water toward the ocean floor. Downwelling occurs where surface currents converge.
Which country is NOT one of the world's top 3 most populated? Indonesia United States China India
Indonesia
Which of the following groups have the highest species diversity? Mammals Plants Insects Birds
Insects
Which groups of organisms have the highest number of species? Where are a lot of species concentrated?
Insects Rainforests
these ecosystems extend between the farthest reaches of high tide and low tide, so organisms are adapted to being submerged in water and being exposed to air
Intertidal zones
What happened to the Aral Sea?
It drastically shrunk due to its water being used unsustainably for irrigating cotton crops.
What countries have aging populations due to low or negative growth rates? What problems are associated with aging populations?
Japan, Italy, and Greece The biggest problems associated with an aging population is a decline in the money of eligible workers.
Who argued for the creation of wilderness preserves in the United States? Aldo Leopold Gifford Pinchot John Muir
John Muir
large brown algae grow from the floor of continental shelves and provide food and shelter for other species
Kelp forests
cropland
Land that people use to raise plants for food and fiber.
rangeland
Land used for grazing livestock.
xeriscaping
Landscaping using plants that are adapted to arid conditions.
kelp forests
Large brown algae, or seaweed, that can form underwater "forests," providing habitat for marine organisms.
Which of the following regions has a total fertility rate at or below replacement fertility? (select all that apply)
Latin America, Asia North America, Europe
Leopold
Leopold, Aldo (1887-1949) American scientist, scholar, philosopher, and author. His book The Land Ethic argued that humans should view themselves and the land itself as members of the same community and that humans are obligated to treat the land ethically.
threatened
Likely to become endangered soon.
biofuels
Liquid fuel produced from biomass sources and used primarily to power automobiles. Examples include ethanol and biodiesel.
these tropical forests occur along sandy or silty coastlines and are dominated by trees that have stilt-like roots.
Mangrove forests
What techniques does Integrated Pest Management (IPM) use? Can pesticides be used in IPM?
Moniter Pests, biocontrol, mechanical removal, no till, planting diverse crops, crop rotation, GMO's, SOME CHEMICALS WHEN NECESSARY
What percentage of the world's fish populations can not be harvested any more intensively they they currently are without being depleted?
More than 50%
Which fossil fuel is the most polluting? the least polluting?
Most: Coal Least: Natural Gas
Muir
Muir, John (1838-1914) Scottish immigrant to the United States who eventually settled in California and made the Yosemite Valley his wilderness home. Today, he is most strongly associated with the preservation ethic. He argued that nature deserved protection for its own intrinsic value (an ecocentrist argument) but also claimed that nature facilitated human happiness and fulfillment (an anthropocentrist argument).
Is nuclear power growing? Why or why not?
No because it's very expensive and their is a public fear over safety
Should groundwater be managed as a renewable or nonrenewable resource? Why?
Nonrenewable because it takes a long time to be replenished
Which region of the world has the highest biodiversity? Oceans Tropical rain forests Grasslands Deserts
OCHIN
What are the basic steps in the scientific method?
Observations, questions, hypothesis, predictions, test, results
intertidal zones
Of, relating to, or living along shorelines between the highest reach of the highest tide and the lowest reach of the lowest tide.
pelagic ecosystems
Of, relating to, or living between the surface and floor of the ocean.
benthic
Of, relating to, or living on the bottom of a water body.
Most of the grain grown from Oklahoma to South Dakota is irrigated using: Mississippi River water Ogallala aquifer water Platte River Water rain water
Ogallala aquifer water
Know the general order of energy sources in order of consumption (from most used to least used). Know which energy sources are renewable or nonrenewable.
Oil Coal Natural Gas Bioenergy Nuclear Hydropower Wind Power Solar Geothermal
crude oil
Oil in its natural state, as it occurs once extracted from the ground but before processing and refining.
Which ecosystem would be the most resilient to disturbances? One with 1000 species One with 10 species
One with 1000 species
What is the most serious threat to oceans? What are the other threats and forms of pollution?
Overfishing!! Eutrophication Plastic Debris Raw Sewage
What exactly is responsible for the low oxygen levels in the Chesapeake Bay's and Gulf of Mexico's "Dead Zones"?
Oxygen being taken up by microbial decomposers (bacteria)
What have been the 2 major international agreements to combat climate change?
Paris Climate Agreement,
Planting deciduous trees on the south side of buildings is an example of Active solar Photovoltaics Passive solar Concentrated solar
Passive solar
Be able to identify photosynthesis and respiration from equations
Photosynthesis- 6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2 Respiration -C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O
Which technology converts solar energy into electricity in the fewest number of steps? Active solar Photovoltaics Passive solar Concentrated solar
Photovoltaics
Pinchot
Pinchot, Gifford (1865-1946) The first professionally trained American forester, Pinchot helped establish the U.S. Forest Service. Today, he is the person most closely associated with the conservation ethic.
intercropping
Planting different types of crops in alternating bands or other spatially mixed arrangements.
What is the relationship between population growth rates and: family planning, female education, wealth?
Population Growth rates decrease with family planning, females education and wealth
Be able to identify an example of a positive feedback loop and a negative feedback loop
Positive Feedback goes in one direction increasing the outcome. Negative Feedback goes in opposition directions so the results is balenced
The energy in still water that is held behind a dam is best described as:
Potential energy
chemical energy
Potential energy held in the bonds between atoms.
biopower
Power attained by combusting biomass sources to generate electricity.
Fluxes of the Hydrologic Cycle
Precipitation, evapotranspiration, and runoff
What leads skewed sex ratios? Why are skewed sex ratios a problem?
Preference of parents to have one sex over the other.
The purpose of dikes and levees is to:
Prevent floods along rivers
What happened at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima?
Problems happened at the Nuclear Plants
net metering
Process by which homeowners or businesses with photovoltaic systems or wind turbines can sell their excess solar energy or wind power to their local utility. Whereas feed-in tariffs award producers with prices above market rates, net metering offers market-rate prices.
Which of the following was NOT a part of the Green Revolution?
Promoting the use of polycultures
What are the pros and cons of feedlots?
Pros: Efficient food production Less Land impacted Cons: Water and air Pollution Poor waste containment causes outbreaks of disease Heavy use of antibiotics to control disease
genetic material patched together from the DNA of different organisms to create new hybrids
Recombinant DNA
What methods have been shown to successfully lower population growth rates?
Regulations, Education and Job oppurtunies for women
Which resources are renewable or nonrenewable, and which ones are in between?
Renewable- Solar, Wind, Wave, Geothermal Exhaustible Renewable- Fresh Water, Forest products, biodiversity, soils Non-renewable- Crude Oil, natural Gas, Coal, Minerals
endemic
Restricted to a particular geographic region. An endemic species occurs in one area and nowhere else on Earth.
these occur where tides wash over gently sloping sandy or silty flats. They are thick with rushes, grasses, and shrubs.
Salt marshes
oil shale
Sedimentary rock filled with kerogen that can be processed to produce liquid petroleum. Oil shale is formed by the same processes that form crude oil but occurs when kerogen was not buried deeply enough or subjected to enough heat and pressure to form oil.
What ecosystem services do wetlands provide?
Slows runoff, reduces flooding,recharges aquifers, filters pollution
What are 2 good websites for verifying facts?
Snopes.com, Factcheck.org
Which one is renewable, but should be managed as a non-renewable? wind solar soil coal
Soil
Which renewable is most in need of a way to store electricity? Hydroelectric Geothermal Solar Biomass
Solar
What 3 factors influence earth's climate most?
Sun, Atmosphere, Ocean
What is sustainable agriculture? Is industrial agriculture sustainable?
Sustainable agriculture maintains healthy soil, clean water, pollinators, and genetic diversity in crops . industrial agriculture is not sustainable
What is not allowed in organic farming? What are benefits of organic farming?
Synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and GMO's reduced chemical pollution maintains soil health less pesticide residue sells at a higher price
Ecosystems with high biodiversity can provide more ecosystem services.
TRUE
Geothermal energy can be used to heat houses and generate electricity.
TRUE
If the thermohaline ocean current slows down, Europe could get colder. TRUE FALSE
TRUE
The EROI of tar sands and oil shale is less than the EROI of natural gas.
TRUE
Which energy source is transported by the Keystone Pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico? Tar sands Natural gas Oil shale Ethanol
Tar sands
carbon capture and storage
Technologies or approaches to remove carbon dioxide from emissions of power plants or other facilities, and sequester, or store, it (generally in liquid form) underground under pressure in locations where it will not seep out, in an effort to mitigate global climate change. We are still a long way from developing adequate technology and secure storage space to accomplish this reliably
peak oil
Term used to describe the point of maximum production of petroleum in the world (or for a given nation), after which oil production declines. This is expected to be roughly the midway point of extraction of the world's oil supplies.
Which state generates the most wind electricity?
Texas
Which state is NOT a part of the Colorado River compact? Wyoming California Utah Texas
Texas
Which state produces the most wind power? Colorado Texas California Florida
Texas
topsoil
That portion of the soil that is most nutritive for plants and is thus of the most direct importance to ecosystems and to agriculture. A soil horizon also known as the A horizon.
What is the Endangered Species Act?
The Endangered Species Act is designed to protect any plant or animal species in danger of extinction.
IPCC
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a scientific and intergovernmental body under the auspices of the United Nations, set up at the request of member governments, dedicated to the task of providing the world with an objective, scientific view of climate change and its political and economic impacts.
Where/what is the largest aquifer in the world and what is happening to it?
The Ogallala, also known as the High Plains Aquifer, is one of the largest underground freshwater sources in the world. Its going away way to quick
How much of the energy used worldwide is by the US? What is our percentage of total population?
The US makes us about 4% of the world population and almost 18% of global energy consumption
resilience
The ability of an ecological community to change in response to disturbance but later return to its original state.
energy efficiency
The ability to obtain a given result or amount of output while using less energy input. Technologies permitting greater energy efficiency are one main route to energy conservation.
ethanol
The alcohol in beer, wine, and liquor, produced as a biofuel by fermenting biomass, generally from carbohydrate-rich crops such as corn or sugarcane.
proven recoverable reserve
The amount of a given fossil fuel in a deposit that is technologically and economically feasible to remove under current conditions.
deposition
The arrival of eroded soil at a new location.
irrigation
The artificial provision of water to support agriculture.
growth rate
The average number of children born per female member of a population during her lifetime.
total fertility rate
The average number of children born per female member of a population during her lifetime.
background extinction rate
The average rate of extinction that occurred before the appearance of humans. For example, the fossil record indicates that for both birds and mammals, one species in the world typically became extinct every 500-1000 years.
parent material
The base geologic material in a particular location
salinization
The buildup of salts in surface soil layers.
hypoxia
The condition of extremely low dissolved oxygen concentrations in a body of water.
malnutrition
The condition of lacking nutrients the body needs, including a complete complement of vitamins and minerals.
overgrazing
The consumption by too many animals of plant cover, impeding plant regrowth and the replacement of biomass. Overgrazing can worsen damage to soils, natural communities, and the land's productivity for further grazing.
Evaporation
The conversion of a substance from a liquid to a gaseous form.
nuclear fission
The conversion of the energy within an atom's nucleus to usable thermal energy by splitting apart atomic nuclei.
aquaculture
The cultivation of aquatic organisms for food in controlled environments.
terracing
The cutting of level platforms, sometimes with raised edges, into steep hillsides to contain water from irrigation and precipitation. Terracing transforms slopes into series of steps like a staircase, enabling farmers to cultivate hilly land while minimizing their loss of soil to water erosion.
contraception
The deliberate attempt to prevent pregnancy despite sexual intercourse.
extirpation
The disappearance of a particular population from a given area, but not the entire species globally.
extinction
The disappearance of an entire species from Earth. Compare extirpation.
birth control
The effort to control the number of children one bears, particularly by reducing the frequency of pregnancy.
family planning
The effort to plan the number and spacing of one's children to offer children and parents the best quality of life possible.
watershed/drainage basin
The entire area of land from which water drains into a given body of water.
mass extinction events
The extinction of a large proportion of the world's species in a very short time period due to some extreme and rapid change or catastrophic event. Earth has seen five mass extinction events in the past half-billion years.
hydropower
The generation of electricity using the kinetic energy of moving water.
food security
The guaranteed availability of an adequate, safe, nutritious, and reliable food supply to all people at all times.
How does a commercial nuclear power plant convert the energy of the atomic nuclei into electricity?
The heat produced by the nuclear reaction boils water and the steam rotates a turbine, which then drives a generator
species diversity
The number and variety of species in the world or in a particular region.
lithosphere
The outer layer of Earth, consisting of crust and uppermost mantle and located just above the asthenosphere. More generally, the solid part of Earth, including the rocks, sediment, and soil at the surface and extending down many miles underground.
How does pesticide resistance develop?
The pest that has some kind of natural immunity to pesticide becomes the one responsible for reproducing and thus his kids have immunity
polycultures
The planting of multiple crops in a mixed arrangement or in close proximity. An example is some traditional Native American farming that mixed maize, beans, squash, and peppers.
Which of the following was NOT true of China's One-Child Policy?
The policy completely stopped population growth in China.
reproductive window
The portion of a woman's life between sexual maturity and menopause during which she may become pregnant.
control
The portion of an experiment in which a variable has been left unmanipulated, to serve as a point of comparison with the treatment.
treatment
The portion of an experiment in which a variable has been manipulated in order to test its effect.
crop rotation
The practice of alternating the kind of crop grown in a particular field from one season or year to the next.
community-based conservation
The practice of engaging local people to protect land and wildlife in their own region.
captive breeding
The practice of keeping members of threatened and endangered species in captivity so that their young can be bred and raised in controlled environments and subsequently reintroduced into the wild.
contour farming
The practice of plowing furrows sideways across a hillside, perpendicular to its slope, to help prevent the formation of rills and gullies. The technique is so named because the furrows follow the natural contours of the land.
energy conservation
The practice of reducing energy use as a way of extending the lifetime of our fossil fuel supplies, of being less wasteful, and of reducing our impact on the environment. Conservation can result from behavioral decisions or from technologies that demonstrate energy efficiency.
Endangered Species Act
The primary legislation, enacted in 1973, for protecting biodiversity in the United States. It forbids the government and private citizens from taking actions (such as developing land) that would destroy threatened and endangered species or their habitats, and it prohibits trade in products made from threatened and endangered species
peer-review process
The process by which a scientific manuscript submitted for publication in an academic journal is examined by specialists in the field, who provide comments and criticism (generally anonymously) and judge whether the work merits publication in the journal.
habitat fragmentation
The process by which an expanse of natural habitat becomes broken up into discontinuous fragments, often as a result of farming, logging, road building, and other types of human development and land use.
nitrogen fixation
The process by which inert nitrogen gas combines with hydrogen to form ammonium ions (NH4+), which are chemically and biologically active and can be taken up by plants.
leaching
The process by which minerals dissolved in a liquid (usually water) are transported to another location (generally downward through soil horizons).
weathering
The process by which rocks and minerals are broken down, turning large particles into smaller particles. Weathering may proceed by physical, chemical, or biological means.
ocean acidification
The process by which today's oceans are becoming more acidic (attaining lower pH) as a result of increased carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. Ocean acidification occurs as ocean water absorbs CO2 from the air and forms carbonic acid. This impairs the ability of corals and other organisms to build exoskeletons of calcium carbonate, imperiling coral reefs and the many organisms that depend on them.
eutrophication
The process of nutrient enrichment, increased production of organic matter, and subsequent ecosystem degradation in a water body.
refining
The process of separating molecules of the various hydrocarbons in crude oil into different-sized classes and transforming them into various fuels and other petrochemical products.
net primary productivity
The rate at which net primary production is produced. The energy or biomass that remains in an ecosystem after autotrophs have metabolized enough for their own maintenance through cellular respiration. Net primary production is the energy or biomass available for consumption by heterotrophs.
floodplain
The region of land over which a river has historically wandered and periodically floods.
age structure
The relative numbers of individuals of different ages within a population. Age structure can have a strong effect on rates of population growth or decline and is often expressed as a ratio of age classes, consisting of organisms (1) not yet mature enough to reproduce, (2) capable of reproduction, and (3) beyond their reproductive years.
Transpiration
The release of water vapor by plants through their leaves.
erosion
The removal of material from one place and its transport to another by the action of wind or water.
desalination
The removal of salt from seawater to generate fresh water for human use.
How is the 6th mass extinction different from the previous 5 mass extinction periods?
The sixth mass extinction is believed to be caused by human-related factors.The sixth mass extinction is believed to be caused by natural forces.The sixth mass extinction is believed to affect relatively fewer species.The sixth mass extinction is believed to affect relatively fewer areas.
atoms
The smallest component of an element that maintains the chemical properties of that element.
biosphere
The sum total of all the planet's living organisms and the nonliving portions of the environment with which they interact.
Where does the energy in ecosystems come from? Where does it go?
The sun and it disappears as heat
atmosphere
The thin layer of gases surrounding planet Earth.
replacement fertility
The total fertility rate (TFR) that maintains a stable population size.
monocultures
The uniform planting of a single crop over a large area. Characterizes industrial agriculture.
water table
The upper limit of groundwater held in an aquifer.
IPM
The use of multiple techniques in combination to achieve long-term suppression of pests, including biological control, use of pesticides, close monitoring of populations, habitat alteration, crop rotation, transgenic crops, alternative tillage methods, and mechanical pest removal
precision agriculture
The use of technology to precisely monitor crop conditions, crop needs, and resource use to maximize production while minimizing waste of resources.
independent variable
The variable that a scientist manipulates in an experiment.
dependent variable
The variable that is affected by manipulation of the independent variable in an experiment.
biodiversity
The variety of life across all levels of biological organization, including the diversity of species, genes, populations, and communities. The term is short for biological diversity.
runoff
The water from precipitation that flows into streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds, and (in many cases) eventually to the ocean.
One of the biggest environmental advantages of nuclear power over fossil fuels is:
There are no net emissions of carbon dioxide and low emissions of other air pollutants
How has temperature and CO2 concentrations changed over the past 800,000 years?
There has been peaks and valleys (ice age and non ice ages) but today we breath the worst hottest air in the last 800,000 years
geothermal energy
Thermal energy that arises from beneath Earth's surface, ultimately from the radioactive decay of elements amid high pressures deep underground. Can be used to generate electrical power in power plants, for direct heating via piped water, or in ground-source heat pumps.
What is thermohaline circulation and how might climate change affect it?
Thermohaline circulation begins in the Earth's polar regions. When ocean water in these areas gets very cold, sea ice forms. ... These deep-ocean currents are driven by differences in the water's density, which is controlled by temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline). This process is known as thermohaline circulation. Global warming can affect this by warming surface waters and melting ice that adds fresh water to the circulation, making the waters less saline; this freshening of the water can prevent the cold waters from sinking and thus alter ocean currents. As the planet warms, more and more fresh water is entering the system.
What are marine protected areas and marine reserves? Can they help marine species recover?
They are areas in the oceans that fisherman are not allowed to go, it can help marine species recover but these areas are hard to regulate
Which of the following describes a characteristic of fuel cells?
They are highly efficient.
How is electricity generated in a power plant?
Through the use of steam spinning a turbine that turns mechanical energy into electrical energy
The average number of children born per female member of a population is the __________ Growth rate Birth rate Total fertility rate Fertility rate
Total fertility rate
The policy completely stopped population growth in China.
Total fertility rate
How do traditional and industrial agriculture differ?
Traditional agriculture uses human and animal muscle power, hand tools, and simple machines whereas industrial agriculture uses large scale mechanization and fossil fuels to boost yields
At which stage of demographic transition does population grow the fastest? Pre-industrial Transitional Industrial Post industrial
Transitional
What are the 3 important components of a good controlled experiment?
Treatment, Control, Replication
According to estimates, the global ecological footprint has already surpassed the earth's biocapacity to support it.
True
Countries with slow or no population growth will have difficulties supporting the elderly population in the future.
True
Forests act as carbon sinks and their removal can reduce the biosphere's ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
True
Higher sea levels are not only expected to flood large areas of island nations such as the Maldives, but also cause salt water to contaminate drinking water supplies.
True
In the net metering system, homeowners who generate electricity with photovoltaic cells can sell the excess to the power company and receive credit for the power donated.
True
Selective breeding mixes genes from individuals of the same species, whereas GMOs can have genes from different species mixed together.
True
The United Kingdom achieved the greatest reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990-2015.
True
The melting of glaciers will impact people that live near mountains by reducing their summer supply of water that originates from glacier melt.
True
When the total fertility rate drops below 2.1 the population (in absence of immigration) will shrink.
True
Which part of an electrical power plant transforms wind, water, or steam energy into mechanical energy? Boiler Condenser Turbine Generator
Turbine
What is the fuel type needed for nuclear reactors? Plutonium U-235 U-238 Krypton
U-235
Which country uses the most oil and natural gas? China Russia U.S. Japan
U.S.
What country produces the most nuclear power? What % of our electricity in the US is nuclear?
United States - 20%
What material is mined for nuclear power? How is nuclear power used to generate electricity?
Urnanium- 235
Which of the following methods does organic farming include?
Use of biocontrol Use of compost or manure
Which of the following is a non-consumptive use of water?
Using water to generate hydroelectricity
Which renewables are growing the fastest?
WIND AND SOLAR
What are the common greenhouse gases?
Water Vapor (H20), Ozone (O2), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Nitrious Oxide (N2O), Methane (CH4)
ground water
Water held in aquifers underground.
Which of the following is NOT true about the Ogallala Aquifer?
Water is being overdrawn mostly for use in nearby cities and suburbs
surface water
Water located atop Earth's surface.
How is desalination accomplished? What are its disadvantages?
Water molecules pass through the pores, while salt ions are turned back. Desalination methods can utilize either thermal processes (involving heat transfer and a phase change) or membrane processes (using thin sheets of synthetic semipermeable materials to separate water from dissolved salt). Expensive Leaves Excess Salt
Precipitation
Water that condenses out of the atmosphere and falls to Earth in droplets or crystals.
Why are keystone species important? What are examples of keystone species?
Without its keystone species, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist altogether. Keystone species have low functional redundancy. This means that if the species were to disappear from the ecosystem, no other species would be able to fill its ecological niche Sharks. Sea Otter. Snowshoe hare. The African Elephant. Prairie dogs. Starfish. Gray Wolves. Grizzly bears.
Has food production kept up with population?
Yes but food distribution has not
ecosystem engineers
a keystone species that creates or maintains habitat for other species
All of the following correctly describe fossil fuels EXCEPT: -ancient solar energy stored in the form of chemical energy releases heat energy when burned -dead organic material, buried, compressed and heated -a renewable energy source -includes coal, oil, and natural gas
a renewable energy source
independent variable
a variable that a scientist manipulates or changes in an experiment
Which one has the most influence on a nation's total environmental impact? population affluence technology
affluence
We use most of our freshwater for ______. lawns houses industry agriculture
agriculture
Biomass can be used generate energy for which of the following uses? heating electricity powering vehicles
all of the above
Which of the following are possible negative effects of hydraulic fracking? -fracking fluids can contaminate ground water -the fracking process can lead to air pollution -methane can leak into well water increasing the risk of explosions -fracking depletes freshwater supplies -all of the above
all of the above
Which of the following can do respiration? producers consumers decomposers all of the above
all of the above
Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?
all of the above are greenhouse gases
Which of the following is affecting coral reefs? nutrient pollution acidic ocean water warmer water all of these
all of these
Which of the following energy sources is not found in western Colorado? oil shale natural gas uranium all of these are found here
all of these are found here
Be able to predict how an anthropocentrist, biocentrist, and ecocentrist would differ in a given scenario.
anthropocentrism-A human-centered view of our relationship with the environment. biocentrism-A philosophy that ascribes relative values to actions, entities, or properties on the basis of their effects on all living things or on the integrity of the biotic realm in general. The biocentrist evaluates an action in terms of its overall impact on living things, including—but not exclusively focusing on—human beings. ecocentrism - A philosophy that considers actions in terms of their damage or benefit to the integrity of whole ecological systems, including both living and nonliving elements. For an ecocentrist, the well-being of an individual is less important than the long-term well-being of a larger integrated ecological system.
an underground water reservoir
aquifers
the layer of air surrounding the planet
atmosphere
Solutions with a pH more than 7 are called:
basic
Why is our current energy use not sustainable?
because we use fossil fuels which will run out
Which animal product requires the most land and water per pound of protein? chicken pork beef milk
beef
During the last million years, the climate of the Earth has not changed gotten warmer gotten colder been warm and cold
been warm and cold
The use of a living organism to control pests and weeds is called:
biocontrol
Using a living organism to control pests defines: organic farming biocontrol IPM precision agriculture
biocontrol
___________________ is a renewable form of methane. biodiesel biogas ethanol methane hydrates
biogas
the pathway that a nutrient cycles through in the environment
biogeochemical cycle
What is a major natural flux in the nitrogen cycle? industrial N fixation weathering photosynthesis biological N fixation
biological N fixation
How does soil form? Why is topsoil the most important soil layer for agriculture?
biological imputs forms hummus and weathering of parent material. Topsoil is the most important because ir contains the most organic material
Developing countries use more of this energy than developed countries. hydroelectric wind coal biomass
biomass
all of the planet's living organisms and the nonliving portions of the environment with which they interact (includes soil)
biosphere
the application of biological science to create products derived from organisms.
biotechnology
Which one is an example of climate change adaptation (not mitigation)? using LED lights driving electric cars using solar panels building seawalls around Miami
building seawalls around Miami
Which natural process is found in all three cycles (C, N, P)? photosynthesis burial fixation respiration
burial X(
What human flux makes the biggest difference in the carbon cycle? burning fossil fuels and deforestation burial photosynthesis weathering
burning fossil fuels and deforestation
Which of these is not currently a problem with nuclear power in the US? it's expensive radioactive waste cancer near power plants negative public opinion
cancer near power plants
A system in which governments determine an acceptable level of pollution and then issues permits to polluters that will allow them to pollute, or not pollute and sell their permit to another polluter
cap-and-trade
simple sugars that fuel living cells
carbohydrates
The cumulative amount of carbon dioxide that a person or institution is indirectly responsible for emitting into the atmosphere
carbon footprint
When an individual, business, or other entity emits no net carbon dioxide
carbon neutral
Voluntary payments intended to enable another entity to reduce emissions that one is unable to reduce oneself
carbon offsets
Which animal product requires the least land and water per pound of protein? chicken pork beef milk
chicken
computer programs that combine data on atmospheric circulation, ocean circulation, atmosphere-ocean interactions, and feedback cycles to simulate climate dynamics
climate models
Consumption of electricity made from ________ is declining in the United States. wind hydroelectricity coal methane
coal
The most abundant fossil fuel in the world is:
coal
Which of the following emits the most particulates and CO2 when burned? uranium oil coal methane
coal
Which one is a non-renewable resource? wind solar coal geothermal
coal
_________ means plowing perpendicular to the slope. no-till crop rotation contour farming intercropping
contour farming
A scientist wants to test the effects of different amounts of fertilizer on yields of corn. In 4 fields he grows corn without any fertilizer. In 4 other fields, he adds 10 lbs of fertilizer per acre. In still another 4 fields, he adds 20 lbs of fertilizer per acre. At the end of the growing season, he harvests the corn and measures the weight of the crop that results (crop yield). In this experiment, the field without any fertilizer is called the:
control
All of the following would be effective strategies to reduce the rate of global climate change, except ________.
converting natural gas burning electrical generation plants to coal
The most species diverse aquatic ecosystem. estuaries swamps mangroves coral reefs
coral reefs
What is the main source of ethanol in the United States?corn
corn
______ means changing the type of crop that is grown each year. no-till crop rotation contour farming intercropping
crop rotation
For oil, coal and natural gas know the following: How are they formed? Where are the largest reserves? Which country uses the most? What are the environmental impacts of extracting and using it?
decomposed and highly compressed organic materials form fossil fuels Reserves Coal: United States Natural Gas: Iran Oil: Venezuela Use: Coal:China Oil: United States Natural Gas: United States Extracting it uses CO2 and Using it releases CO2
Which of the following factors may prevent the least developed countries from completing demographic transition?
demographic fatigue
the model of change in birth and death rates in countries as they became industrialized industrialization pre-industrial stage demographic transition family planning
demographic transition
A scientist wants to test the effects of different amounts of fertilizer on yields of corn. In 4 fields he grows corn without any fertilizer. In 4 other fields, he adds 10 lbs of fertilizer per acre. In still another 4 fields, he adds 20 lbs of fertilizer per acre. At the end of the growing season, he harvests the corn and measures the weight of the crop that results (crop yield). In this experiment, the weight of the corn crop is called the:
dependent variable
What is the Colorado River Compact? What states are a part of it? Does the Colorado River reach the ocean? Why is Is it so salty?
distribution of water Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, California, Arizona It rarely reaches the ocean Erosion of geological forms that have salt in them
The state reached when processes within a system are moving in opposing directions at equivalent rates so that their effects balance out.
dynamic equilibrium
Which of the following is NOT consistent with the idea of sustainability? a)Living within our planet's means, so that the earth's resources can sustain us and all living things into the future b)Leaving our grandchildren a world as rich in biodiversity and healthy as the world we live in now c)Conserving earth's resources so our descendants will be able to use them as well d)Maintaining fully functional ecosystems e)Living on nature's capital, rather than living on nature's interest
e)Living on nature's capital, rather than living on nature's interest
A ________________person would value the well-being of entire species, communities, or ecosystems over the welfare of a given individual.
ecocentric
A transitional zone where ecosystems meet
ecotone
Which sectors are the two largest sources of anthropogenic greenhouse gases in the United States?
electricity generation; transportation
Species that are only found in one place on the planet. generalists specialists endangered endemic
endemic
EROI
energy returned on investment- The ratio determined by dividing the quantity of energy returned from a process by the quantity of energy invested in the process. Higher EROI ratios mean that more energy is produced from each unit of energy invested.
The study of how the natural world works, how our environment affects us, and how we affect our environment is:
environmental science
The area where rivers flow into the ocean. estuaries swamps mangroves salt marshes
estuaries
Which of the following has the lowest EROI among renewables? geothermal ethanol hydropower wind
ethanol
The term for the overall phenomenon or process that occurs and leads to dead zones is called:
eutrophication
What is the name of the process that leads to dead zones? respiration weathering eutrophication transpiration
eutrophication
how water moves from surface water into the atmosphere
evaporation
When a population of a species disappears from one area. extinction mass extinction extirpation endemic
extirpation
Which one is correlated with high total fertility rates? female education low infant mortality rates farming cultures access to family planning
farming cultures
Since 1940, food production has grown ________ than the human population. slower faster
faster
When funds from a carbon tax are transferred to taxpayers as a tax refund
fee-and-dividend approach
A circular process in which a system's output serves as input to that same system.
feedback loop
The main source of excess nitrogen and phosphorus that ends up in Chesapeake Bay and leads to eutrophication is:
fertilizer and manure from agriculture
What is a flux in the nitrogen cycle that humans are mostly responsible for?
fertilizer production
"Dead Zones" are created from runoff that specifically contains:
fertilizers
Which of the following is NOT true about the process of eutrophication?
fish die due to lack of light caused by algae
The splitting of an atom into lighter elements is called:
fission
Which process releases nuclear energy? fusion fission combustion fermentation
fission
movement of nutrients between pools
flux or flow
any process where scientists manipulate an organism's genetic material in the lab by adding, deleting, or changing segments of its DNA.
genetic engineering
Heating and cooling buildings by running liquid in pipes between buildings and soil underground is a form of _____________________ energy.
geothermal
Which of these contain the most fresh water? lakes rivers groundwater atmosphere
ground water
water held in saturated zones under the ground
groundwater
The greatest cause of species loss is invasive species habitat loss pollution disease
habitat loss
"Peak oil" is when __________ of the world's oil is depleted. 10sec most half none
half
Wind turbines are generally best positioned ________.
higher to minimize turbulence and maximize wind speed
The tendency of a system to maintain constant or stable internal conditions.
homeostasis
The name for an individual layer of soil
horizon
The cause of the sixth mass extinction event is: an asteroid a volcano ice ages humans
humans
Which one influences earth's climate the least (for now)? sun oceans humans atmosphere
humans
an organic compound consisting of hydrogen and carbon
hydrocarbons
A non-consumptive use of water would be golf courses hydropower industry agriculture
hydropower
Which of the following has the highest EROI among renewables? geothermal ethanol hydropower wind
hydropower
all water - oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, icecaps, and clouds
hydrosphere
Water pollution in the United States has ________.
improved in the last 30 years
In what environment did most of the Earth's coal deposits originally form?
in swamps
The most accurate terms describing the trend in the global ecological footprint over the past 50 years are ________.
increasing and unsustainable
Which of these is NOT an ecosystem service of wetlands? recharging aquifers absorbing nutrients increasing runoff reducing flooding
increasing runoff
________ means planting a variety of crops in a field. no-till crop rotation contour farming intercropping
intercropping
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ________.
is an international panel of scientists that reviews and summarizes research on climate change
The study of how landscape structure affects the abundance, distribution, and interaction of organisms.
landscape ecology
when minerals suspended or dissolved in solution are transported downward in soil
leaching
do not dissolve in water and may include oils, waxes, and steroids
lipids
Where is the largest pool or reservoir in the phosphorus cycle?
lithosphere
the earth's rock and sediment layers
lithosphere
Which of the following is the name of the shallow zone along the edges of lakes or ponds usually filled with aquatic plants?
littoral
marsh
lowland with moist soil and tall grasses
substances like DNA and proteins, whose subunits are small molecules
macromolecules
Tropical forests that occur in coastal tidal zones. estuaries swamps mangroves salt marshes
mangroves
bog
marsh, swamp, wetland
What is the main cause of sea level rise with warming climate? thermal expansion of water more rainfall melting ice sinking land
melting ice
Which one consumes so much oxygen that dead zones develop? algae microbe decomposers fish phytoplankton
microbe decomposers
mitigation
mitigation (re: climate change) The pursuit of strategies to lessen the severity of climate change, notably by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Why is the ocean becoming more acidic and what are effects of ocean acidification?
more acidic (attaining lower PH) as a result of increased carbon dioxide. Ocean absorbs carbon dioxide and forms carbonic acid. Impairs ability of corals and other organisms to build exoskeletons of calcium carbonate, impelling coral reefs and many organisms that depend on them
Climate change will cause _______. later snow melt less flooding more droughts less evaporation
more droughts
A spatial configuration of patches arrayed across a landscape
mosaic
Which animal was not reintroduced to Colorado? bighorn sheep Canadian lynx mountain lion moose
mountain lion
What energy source do we (U.S.) produce the most electricity from? coal natural gas nuclear dams
natural gas
A feedback loop in which output of one type acts as input that moves the system in the opposite direction. The input and output essentially neutralize each other's effects, stabilizing the system.
negative feedback loop
What cycle is the atmosphere biggest? carbon phosphorus nitrogen water
nitrogen
Is switching to renewables bad for the economy and jobs?
no.
Run-off from a suburban neighborhood would be considered which of the following types of pollution?
non-point source
Which one will warm the most with climate change? tropical forests oceans north pole United States
north pole (OH NO NOT SANTA)
Which of the following is not renewable? wind biomass geothermal nuclear
nuclear
carry the hereditary information for organisms and direct the production of proteins
nucleic acids
Which energy source does the world use the most of? coal natural gas oil nuclear
oil
The main component of the O horizon
organic matter
The greatest threat facing ocean ecosystems. oil spills plastic trash overfishing dead zones
overfishing
One of the biggest problems currently facing marine life in oceans is:
overharvesting fish populations
Fossil fuels require all of these conditions to form except heat pressure time oxygen
oxygen
Which of the following is NOT caused by climate change? melting glaciers extreme weather sea level rise ozone hole
ozone hole
Which of the following is not one of the main causes of species loss. Habitat loss Climate change Over harvesting Ozone hole
ozone hole
The base geological material for soils in a particular area
parent material
Use of overhangs that block sunlight in summer but allow the sunlight in winter to warm up the building is an example of:
passive solar energy collection
Spatial areas within a landscape. that may consist of habitat for a particular organism, or communities, or ecosystems
patches
Which source should you trust the most? newspaper peer-reviewed article website book
peer-reviewed article
What cycle is this not a part of the atmosphere? carbon phosphorus nitrogen sulfur
phosphorus
The following chemical equation describes which process: CO2 + H2O + light --> C6H12O6 + O2
photosynthesis
What is this: H2O + CO2 + light ⇨ O2 + C6H12O6 eutrophication photosynthesis respiration nitrogen fixation
photosynthesis
a location that nutrients remain in for a period of time before moving to a different location
pool or reservoir
A feedback loop in which output of one type acts as input that moves the system in the same direction. The input and output drive the system further toward one extreme or another.
positive feedback loop
Climate warms ⇨ permafrost melts ⇨ methane gas released. This is a: positive feedback loop negative feedback loop
positive feedback loop
With increased global temperatures, ice melts in the Polar Regions exposing dark soil surfaces. These dark surfaces absorb more solar radiation than ice (white reflects sunlight), leading to further warming. This scenario is an example of a:
positive feedback loop
The type of energy stored in a reservoir created by a dam is: kinetic chemical potential heat
potential
when water vapor condenses into rain or snow
precipitation
hydraulic fracturing
process to extract tight oil or shale gas, in which a drill is sent deep underground and angled horizontally into a shale formation; water, sand, and chemicals are pumped in under great pressure, fracturing the rock; and gas migrates up through the drilling pipe as sand holds the fractures open. Also called hydrofracking or simply fracking.
Which of the following can photosynthesize? producers consumers decomposers all of the above
producers
Hydropower generated through dams ________.
produces little air pollution
made up of long chains of amino acids
protein
various types of indirect evidence that serve as substitutes for direct measurement, such as using air bubbles trapped in ice cores to estimate past levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide
proxy indicators
the amount of change in thermal energy that a given factor, such as aerosols or carbon dioxide, causes in the earth's energy balance
radiative forcing
Why do experts consider corn ethanol unsustainable?
raises the price of corn includes all the negative impacts of argiculture
By-catch ________.
refers to the capture of marine animals not intended to be caught
subsurface flow
refers to water that flows underground
Canada's age structure diagram ________.
reflects an aging population
riparian
relating to or situated on the banks of a river.
Which of the following is not an ecosystem service provided by biodiversity? controlling insects pollinating plants storing carbon repairing the ozone hole
repairing the ozone hole
the amount of time that nutrients will spend in a given pool
residence time
What is this: C6H12O6 + O2 ⇨ CO2 + H2O + heat eutrophication photosynthesis respiration nitrogen fixation
respiration
Which of the following approaches could generate electricity from rivers while minimizing the environmental impacts of changing natural flood cycles.
run of river technique
The water from precipitation that flows on the soil surface into nearby streams is ______. runoff precipitation transpiration infiltration
runoff
What process goes from bio to hydro in the phosphorus cycle? mining runoff burial photosynthesis
runoff
Grassy areas along flat temperate coastlines are called: estuaries swamps mangroves salt marshes
salt marshes
swamps
shallow water in forested areas
a reservoir that accepts more nutrients than it releases
sink
Select all of the ecosystem services of wetlands from the list below.
slowing runoff, filtering pollutants, reducing flooding, recharging aquifers
The removal of soil from one place through wind or water is called:
soil erosion
a reservoir that releases more nutrients than it accepts
source
A flooded freshwater forest. estuary swamp mangrove salt marsh
swamp
Coal formed mostly from volcanos phytoplankton swamps dinosaurs
swamps
This freshwater ecosystem consists of shallow water in a forested area.
swamps
A network of relationships among a group of parts, elements, or components that interact with and influence one another through the exchange of energy, matter, and/or information.
system
Proven recoverable reserves of a fuel, such as oil, refer to the amount in a deposit that is:
technologically and economically possible to extract
Which area of the globe is expected to warm the most over the coming century?
the Arctic
All of the following countries obtain the majority of their electricity from hydropower except _____________________.
the United States
Carbon dioxide is ________.
the anthropogenic greenhouse gas with the most warming effect (radiative forcing)
treatment
the manipulated part of an experiment or the effect that is to be studied, like fertilizer addition. Is similar to "independent variable"
Which of the following is NOT caused by global warming?
the ozone hole
Fracking has decreased _________________ the supply of natural gas water consumption water pollution the price of natural gas
the price of natural gas
Why does only about half of the solar energy emitted towards the earth actually arrive at the earth's surface?
the rest is absorbed by the atmosphere or reflected back into space
Which of the following are the main three factors influencing earth's climate?
the sun, the atmosphere, and oceans
control
the unmanipulated part of an experiment that serves as a comparison
dependent variable
the variable affected by a manipulated condition
Evolution by natural selection, plate tectonics, and general relativity are all:
theories
Evolution by natural selection, plate tectonics, and general relativity are: facts hypotheses theories paradigms
theories
Which of the following forms of pollution can be caused by removing riparian vegetation?
thermal pollution
Natural gas that formed over millions of years is called thermogenic biogenic ethanol biodiesel
thermogenic
a worldwide oceanic current system that moves warm tropical water towards Europe, making Europe's climate warmer than it would be otherwise
thermohaline circulation
_____ is the release of water vapor through plants leaves. evaporation precipitation transpiration infiltration
transpiration
the release of water vapor by plants through their leaves
transpiration
The average U.S. footprint is about ____________ the average world footprint. the same as less than double triple
triple
Which one has the highest net primary productivity? ocean bottoms deserts tropical forests boreal forests
tropical forests
Which of the following areas or ecosystem types have the most net primary productivity?
tropical rain forests
Co-firing is the process where biomass is combined with coal to produce electricity.
true
Fuel efficiency of automobiles in the U.S. improved (increased) greatly in the late 1970s, but then declined from 1987 to 2004.
true
by-catch
unwanted marine creatures that are caught in the nets while fishing for another species
What do nuclear reactors use as a fuel source?
uranium-235
A study's results are deemed worthy of acceptance into the body of scientific knowledge if they are published in journals which ________
use the peer review process
Hydrogen fuel cells produce ________ as a waste product.
water
the upper limit of the saturated zone below ground
water table
An area of land where all water drains to the same river. aquifer tributary watershed floodplain
watershed
The boundary separating the saturated and unsaturated zones of an aquifer is called: groundwater recharge zone water table floodplain
watertable
The breakdown of large rocks into smaller pieces by physical, chemical and biological processes is called________.
weathering
What is a natural flux in the phosphorus cycle? biological P fixation weathering mining respiration
weathering
Which process adds minerals to soil? decomposition erosion weathering mining
weathering
The term "pesticide resistance" describes
when insect populations develop a resistance to pesticides through the process of natural selection
The fastest-growing source of electricity generation using renewable resources is ________. geothermal tidal hydropower wind
wind
Which of these energy sources is growing the fastest in the U.S.? hydroelectric nuclear geothermal wind
wind
Which of the following energy sources currently produces 20 times as much energy as it consumes?
wind turbines
Which of the following is an example of a keystone species? grass grasshopper wolf bison
woof
Which website is best for verifying facts? www.infowars.com www.snopes.com www.theonion.com www.facebook.com
www.snopes.com
Approximately, what percentage of global energy usage is supplied by fossil fuels?
~80%
Around how much of the energy used in a car is "lost" (escapes as waste heat and doesn't contribute to moving the car forward)?
~85%