APES
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
1976 - Cradle to grave accounting of toxic and hazardous chemicals.
dry acid particle deposition
Acid precipitation in the form of gases and particles, usually occurring two to three days after emission into the atmosphere
Photodegradation
Action of sunlight breaking down plastic into minute particles
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Air pollution that is a product of incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. It is colorless and odorless (and can be poisonous in large amounts) Motor vehicle exhaust contributes 56% of all emissions in the United States
Waste Stream
All the waste generated by people. What is thrown away or recycled.
hypoxic zone
Also known as Dead Zone --> result of cultural eutrophication and lack of oxygen where fish die.
PBDE
- Fire-retardant in computers, cars, TVs, plastics, pillows, mattresses etc. - Possible endocrine disruptor - Has been found in human breast milk
Ocean Dumping Ban Act
1) 1988, National 2) Amended portions of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of 1972/ banned ocean dumping of municipal sewage and industrial waste 3) NOAA, EPA
Clean Air Act
1) 1990 (1970 originally), National 2)reduce outdoor (ambient) concentrations of air pollutants that are harmful/ reducing production of chemicals that destroy ozone 3) EPA
Pollution Prevention Act
1) 1990, National 2) Focused industry, gov, and public attention to reducing the amount of pollution through cost-effective changes in production 3) EPA
Oil Pollution Act
1) 1990, National 2) Improved nation's ability to prevent/respond to oil spills- established provisions that expanded gov's ability, created the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund 3) EPA, Coast Guard
Food Quality Protection Act
1) 1996, National 2) pesticide food safety legislation, mandated a health-based standards for pesticides used in foods, provided special protections for babies and infants, streamlined approval of safe pesticides, establish incentives for creation of safer pesticides 3)EPA/FDA
Kyoto Protocol
1) 1997, International 2) Treaty thats sets binding obligations on industrialized countries to redue emission of greenhouse gases (legally binding limitations of emissions (2008-20012 or 2013-2020) 3) UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change)
Oil Spill Prevention and Liability Act
1) 2004, National 2) Amends Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to double liability limits associates with oil spills for double haul tank vessels, phases out liability limits for single-hull vessels 3) EPA, Coast Guard
Energy Policy Act
1) 2005, National 2) adresses energy production regarding (1) energy efficiency (2) renewable energy (3) oil and gas (4) coal, (5) Tribal energy (6) nuclear matters and security (7) vehicles and motor fuels (8) hydrogen (9) electricity (10) energy tax incentives (11) hydropower and geothermal energy (12) climate change technology 3)EPA
Hardrock Mining and Reclamation
1) 2007 failed, (2009 failed), National 2) Would have ended new patents for mining claims, placed 8% royalty on new mining operations, (private mineral rights not affected), 70% of royal money= cleanup fund, 30% to affected communities 3) NMA (National Mining Association)
Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
1980 -amended in 1984 with Superfund Act - Set up regulatory agency and funds for rapid cleanup/remediation response to contaminated areas deemed unsafe and toxic - came about because of Love Canal
Gap analysis
A tool used in wildlife conservation to identify gaps in conservation lands (e.g., protected areas and nature reserves) or other wildlands where significant plant and animal species and their habitat or important ecological features occur
Ecotone
A transition zone between two biomes, such as forest and grassland, where two communities meet and integrate.
Ultraviolet Radiation (UV Rays)
A type of energy from the Sun, can harm the skin and can cause cancer..
Mutualism
A type of interspecific interaction where both species benefit
Commensalism
A type of relationship in which one species benefits but the other is neither helped nor hurt
Brownfield
Abandoned area that is not being used to its potential because of pollution concerns.
Albedo
Ability of a surface to reflect light
3%
Amount of freshwater on the planet.
Superfund site
An abandoned area that requires government clean up because of hazardous and toxic waste.
Montreal Protocol (1987)
An agreement on protection of the ozone layer in which states pledged to reduce and then eliminate use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It is the most successful environmental treaty to date.
rain shadow effect
An air mass forced to rise due to an obstruction, e.g. mountain, water cools and precipitates before passing the obstruction. Once the mass is past the obstruction the air is devoid of moisture
Bioaccumulation
An increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time
Dead Zone
Aquatic region that cannot support life due to hypoxia (low oxygen level)
Water table
Area where the zone of aeration and zone of saturation meet
horse latitudes
Areas about 30-35 degrees south or 30-35 degrees north with unpredictable winds
doldrums
Areas about 5 degrees north and 5 degrees south with relatively little wind
La Niña
As air moves toward the equator to replace rising hot air, the moving air deflects to the west and helps move the surface water, allowing the upwelling
Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
Average number of children born per women during their lifetime.
Crude Death Rate
Deaths/1,000 people
Gulf Oil Spill 2010
Deepwater Horizon oil rig sank off Louisiana's coast after an explosion; broken wellheads leaked for 107 days
Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973
Defined and differentiated between vulnerable, threatened, and endangered species. Created protections for species designated endangered.
Environmental Consequences of Meat/Dairy/Egg Consumption
Deforestation, grassland degradation, green house gas production, fresh water consumption, animal waste production, antibiotic resistance, over use of hormones and additives, and loss of biodiversity
Water Scarcity
Demand for water exceeds available amount
Sex Ratio
Difference between the number of reproducing females and reproducing males that can affect birth rate
Negative effects of dams
Disrupted water and sediment flow Reduced biodiversity Decreased Fish &invertebrates Invasive species Flooding of land Thermal pollution in reservoir Lack of water downstream Displacement of people
Commercial Fishing Methods
Dragnet, Troweling, Longline
E-waste
Electronic waste that is broken down into reusable parts. It may be highly toxic and is often sent to developing nations with less strict environmental and labor laws.
Mining Act of 1872
Encourages mining on public lands.
First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy cannot be created or destroyed
geothermal energy
Energy from steam or hot water produced from hot or molten underground rocks.
Second Law of Thermodynamics
Energy is lost with each successive transfer
Immigration
Entering a new population
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)
Especially dangerous air pollutants, including carcinogens, neurotoxins, mutagens, teratogens, endocrine system disrupters, and other highly toxic compounds.
Redtide
Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and humans
Smelting
Heating ore to release mineral. Produces pollutants including surfer dioxide
Atrazine
Herbicide - endocrine disruptor and known to cause amphibians to be hermaphrodites and reproductively deformed
Pre-industrial / Pre-modern stage (stage 1)
High birth rates and death rates
Transitioning / Industrializing (stage 2)
High birth rates and falling death rates
jet stream
High speed currents of wind that occur in the upper troposphere
Population distribution
How individuals are distributed with respect to one another
Anthropogenic
Human related
Positive effects of dams and reservoirs
Hydroelectric power Control flooding Divert water for irrigation Store water from run off and melting snow Recreation
How does the human population not have a food deficit?
Innovation and Technology
Aldicarb
Insecticide - teratogen and respiratory issues, nausea, and headaches - legal in the U.S.
Asbestos
Insulation in old buildings - cancer mesothelioma - scarring of the lungsasbestiosis
Clean Water Act of 1972
Intended to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters. - Reduce the discharge of pollutants into the nations water - Achieve water quality levels that are fishable and swimmable - Makes special funds available to states and territories to develop nonpoint source pollution management programs.
Symbiosis
Interaction between organisms
Food web
Interconnecting food chains
Obligate mutualism
Interdependent relationship that is essential to the survival of two different species.
Faculative mutualism
Interdependent relationship that is not essential to the survival of two different species
IPCC
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Density Independent Factors
Issues that limit a population size no matter the size of the population (natural disasters, seasonal changes, and human activities)
Density Dependent Factors
Issues that limit a population size that are due to the size of the population (competition, disease, predation, and parasitism)
chemical dispersants
It represents a chemical cleanup method that involves coagulants and dispersing agents
Keystone Species
Keystone or Busch? Jk nah this is a species that plays a role in its community that is far more important that ints relative abundance might suggest
Disruption of Conveyor Belt
Lack of nutrient upwelling and distribution. Disruption in climate regulation in North Atlantic
eutrophic lake
Lake with a large or excessive supply of plant nutrients, mostly nitrates and phosphates.
Ocean trench
Large basin created at subduction zones
Ogallala Aquifer
Large midwestern aquifer. Currently being pumped faster than it can refill
Famine
Large scale food shortage, massive starvation, social disruption, and economic chaos
Ocean gyres
Large system of circular ocean currents formed by global wind patterns and forces created by Earth's rotation
Factors that determine species richness
Latitude (distance from equator), Time (older the habitat, the higher SR), Habitat size (larger=greater)
Ozone
Layer of gas that absorbs ultraviolet radiation in the stratosphere
Emigration
Leaving a population
Leachate
Liquid that filters down through the anaerobic breakdown of trash in a landfill. It is toxic and must be kept out of ground water.
Sanitary landfill
Location of trash deposition which is designed to accommodate municipal trash and is highly regulated.
Post industrial (stage 4)
Low birth rates and low death rates
Troposphere
Lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. Lies about 10-20 km (5-10 miles)
Competition
The struggle of individuals to obtain a limiting resource
Demography
The study of human populations and population trends
Community Ecology
The study of the interactions between species in a habitat
Demographic Transition
The theory that as a country moves from a subsistence economy to and industrialized one, it undergoes a predictable shift in population growth
Thermosphere
The thinnest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, directly above the mesosphere and directly below the exosphere. Also known as the ionosphere
Doubling time
The time it will take for a population double.
Population size
The total number of individuals within a defined area at a given time
Bycatch/Bykill
The unintended marine life caught and killed in commercial fishing.
water table
The upper level of the saturated zone of groundwater
Predation
The use of one species as a resource by another species
Sewage
The water and human wastes that are washed down sinks, toilets, and showers
Indirect water use
The water that goes into a food or product that you use.
Climate
The weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
These reduce concentration of ozone in the stratosphere and created the ozone hole, they are responsible for more UVB radiation in the surface of earth
Bioaccumulation
They build of of chemicals in body tissue
Population
They number of organisms in the same species at the same time in the same place
Industrial smog
Type of air pollution consisting mostly of a mixture of sulfur dioxide, suspended droplets of sulfuric acid formed from some of the sulfur dioxide, and suspended solid particles.
Parasitoids
Type of predation when species lay eggs inside other organisms
Parasites
Type of predation when species live on or in the organism they consume
Wealth Gap
Unequal distribution of wealth and consumption around the world. The wealthiest nations consume the bulk of the earth's resources and is responsible for the bulk of environmental degradation and loss of biodiversity.
Exponential growth
Unlimited growth of a population expressed with a "J shaped" curve
Logistic growth
Unlimited growth that slows or stopped due to environmental pressures. Expressed with a "S shaped" curve
Ocean dumping
Unregulated dumping of trash into the ocean.
Open dumps
Unregulated mass of trash that may be biological, toxic, hazardous, or organic. Dumps are open and in public areas.
Biotic Potential
Unrestrained population growth.
Bioremediation
Use of living organisms such as prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to detoxify polluted ecosystems.
Biodiversity
Variety of life: genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem diversity
convection cell
Warm moist air rises into the cooler atmosphere, cooling to the dew point creating clouds and then precipitation. The coo drl air is now denser than the surrounding air, it now sinks to the earth's surface where is can be warmed, starting the cycle over again
Issues of Food Waste
Waste of water, soil, and land. Unnecessary application of pesticides and fertilizers. Lost landfill space. Methane production from landfill.
direct water use
Water that comes out of a faucet -Sanitation (cleaning and washing) -Drinking, cooking -Landscaping
Heterotroph
Organisms that must obtain their energy from other organisms
cultural eutrophication
Over nourishment of aquatic ecosystems with plant nutrients (mostly nitrates and phosphates) because of human activities such as agriculture, urbanization, and discharges from industrial plants and sewage treatment plants.
tropospheric ozone vs stratospheric
Ozone in its normal layer versus ozone that can affect human health in the wrong layer of the atmosphere.
DDT
POP - Banned insecticide breaks down into DDE - traveled up the food chain and destroyed the shells of predatory birds - brought to the public attention by Rachel Carson
PCB
POP - Industrial chemical found in lubricants, electronics, etc. - Neurotoxin
Pthalates
POP - class of chemicals to make plastics soft also found in "fragrance" - endocrine disruptor and many possible other effects
Bisphenol- A (BPA)
POP - used to make plastic hard - endocrine disruptor and many possible other effects - look for BPA free on all things plastic
impervious services
Paved (concrete, asphalt, other) that does not allow water to infiltrate into ground water. Rain and melting snow runs off the surface.
El Nino
Phenomenon that pushes wet weather and warm weather east.
Hydrologic compartment with the greatest amount of fresh water
Polar ice caps and glaciers
point source pollution
Pollutants discharged from a single identifiable location (e.g., pipes, ditches, channels, sewers, tunnels, containers of various types).
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Pollutants that do not dissipate from the environment. They stay around indefinitely or break down into equally harmful substances. They can travel around with the water cycle.
Acid Mine Drainage (AMD)
Pollution caused when sulfuric acid and dissolved lead, arsenic or cadmium wash out of mines into nearby waterways
hydroelectric power
Power generated from moving water.
Survivorship Curve 2
Probability of death is unrelated to age.
Eutrophication
Process by which nutrient runoff from land leads to algae blooms in aquatic environments.
Infiltration
Process by which water filters down from the surface into aquifers
Desalination
Process that removes salt from ocean water to make it potable.
Acid Rain
Rain containing acids that form in the atmosphere when industrial gas emissions (especially sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) combine with water.
precipitation
Rain, Snow, Hail, Sleet
Three types of population distribution
Random, Uniform, Clumped
Boom and Bust Cycle
Rapid population growth followed by a rapid decline that occurs above and below the carrying capacity.
Dam removal concerns
Redistribution of sediments Invasive species in the reservoir Pollutants in the reservoir Flooding down stream
Albedo
Reflection of solar radiation from light colored surfaces.
Troposphere
Region of the atmosphere where we live and where our weather takes place.
Zone of intolerance
Region where few to no members of a species can survive for a specific limiting factor
Optimal zone
Region where most members of a species thrives for a specific limiting factor
Zone of physiological stress
Region where some members of a species may survive, but not flourish for a specific limiting factor
Zone of Saturation
Regions of ground water/ aquifers
Clean water act of 1972
Regulates pollutants discharged into waterways.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
Regulates the movement of endangered species between countries.
Family Planning
Regulating the number or spacing of children through the use of birth control
Survivorship curve
Relative longevity among species represented by curves that depict the number of individuals that survive to at various ages.
k selected species
Reproductive strategy defined by few offspring with high parental investment and low infant mortality.
r selected species
Reproductive strategy defined by many offspring with limited parental investment and high infant mortality.
Tailings Dams
Reservoirs that contain mining waste
Igneous rock
Rock created by the cooling and hardening magma
Metamorphic rock
Rock that is recrystallized from heat and pressure.
monsoon
Seasonal winds that are usually accompanied by very heavy rainfall
Food chain
Series of feeding relationships
primary sewage treatment
Sewage enters a tank and sits so suspended solids settle out as sludge in a sedimentation tank and oils float to the top
primary, secondary, tertiary treatment
Sewage treatment stages
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
Situation in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building but no specific illness or cause can be identified.
Logistic Growth
Slow down in population growth as population reaches carrying capacity begins to level out. Represented by a "S/Sigmoidal growth curve).
Phosphorous cycle
Slow process by which phosphorous cycles through rocks, soil, and biomass (no atmospheric phase)
Microplastics
Small plastic particles posing negative consequences to marine environments and wildlife
Ecosystem services
Soil formation, water and air purification, shelter, clothes, food, and medicine.
Convection currents
Solar energy warms Earth's surface, the heat is transferred to the atmosphere by radiation. The warmed gases expand, become less dense, and rise creating vertical currents
Infrared radiation
Solar radiation felt as heat
particulates (aerosols)
Solid and liquid particles, dust, ash, pollen, salt, sand) found suspended in the atmosphere. Many are hygroscopic, or they absorb water, and water condenses around them to form clouds. Some absorb or reflect sunlight, thus decreasing the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth's surface.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Source: auto exhaust and fertilizers Effects: acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog & ozone
foundation species
Species that plays a major role in shaping communities by creating, maintaining, and enhancing a habitat that benefits other species.
Heap leaching
Spraying caustic substances such as cyanide on piles of ore so that mineral may filter out.
Hadley cell
Starts its cycle over the equator, where the warm moist air evaporates and rises into the atmosphere. The precipitation in that region is one cause of the abundant equatorial rainforests. The cool dry air then descends 30 degrees north and south of the equator, forming belts of deserts seen around those areas of latitude.
Trophic level
Step on a specific food chain
Carbon sinks
Store carbon (biomass, ocean sediments, atmosphere, and fossil fuels).
hurricane
Storms with wind speeds in excess of 80 mph or 130 kph in the Atlantic Ocean
typhoon
Storms with wind speeds in excess of 80 mph or 130 kph in the Pacific Ocean
Aqueduct
Structure to carry water from one region to another
Fish ladders
Structure to help fish move up dammed rivers
Ecology
Study of the interaction of organisms with each other and their environment.
Carcinogen
Substance that causes cancer
Teratogen
Substance that may cause a miscarriage or cause birth defects
Allergen
Substance that may cause an adverse reaction from the body's immune system
Endocrine disruptor
Substance that may interfere with the body's ability to secrete and regulate hormones.
Neurotoxin
Substance that may interfere with the normal function or homeostasis of an adult nervous system. It may also interfere with the normal development of a young person's nervous system.
Mutagen
Substance that mutates DNA
heavy metal pollution
Such as mercury and lead, can cause various health problems and bio magnify in the aquatic food web.
Coal Pollutants
Sulfur dioxide, Nitros oxides, mercury, arsenic , carbon dioxide
dew point
Temperature at which water vapor condenses into liquid
Replacement Level Fertility
The TFR that keeps a population stable
the lack of clean drinking water
The United Nations says the #1 health issue facing developing countries
Resource partitioning
The ability of two or more species to use the same resources with out competition
Food security
The ability to receive adequate nutrition on a regular basis
ENSO events
The alterations of atmospheric conditions the lead to El Niños or La Niñas
Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)
The amount of oxygen needed by microorganisms to decompose biological wastes into carbon dioxide, water, and minerals.
Life Expectancy
The average number of years that an infant born in a particular year in a particular country can be expected to live, given the current average life span and death rate of that country
Tropopause
The buffer between the troposphere and the stratosphere
water cycle
The continuous process by which water moves from Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back
Secondary succession
The creation of a climax community in an area that was disturbed but had soil (forest fire)
Primary succession
The creation of a climax community in an area where there was no soil before (volcanic eruption or glacier retreat).
oxygen sag curve
The curve obtained when the concentration of dissolved oxygen in a river into which sewage or some other pollutant has been discharged is plotted against the distance downstream from the sewage outlet
Weather
The day-to-day properties such as wind speed and direction, temperature, amount of sunlight, pressure, and humidity.
Demographic Transition
The difference in birth and death rates as a population transitions from fast doubling time to a slow doubling time.
LD50
The does at which a substance is lethal to 50% of a specific population
Trophic cascade
The effect that top or mid level consumers can have on other members of a food web.
tidal energy
The energy captured by transforming the wave motion of water into electrical energy using a turbine
Base Load (energy)
The energy required to provide electricity to municipalities 24/7
Indicator Species
The first species to suffer due to environmental disturbances. Their numbers and condition can indicate the health of an ecosystem.
Ground water flow
The flow of water that has soaked into the ground
Biomagnification
The increase in toxicity of chemicals as they travel up the food chain
Lagoon System
The lagooning technique is a natural treatment technique that consists in the accumulation of wastewater in ponds or basins, known as biological or stabilization ponds, where a series of biological, biochemical and physical processes take place.
watershed (drainage basin)
The land from which surface water drains into a particular river, lake, wetland, or other body of water.
Clean Air Act of 1970 (CAA)
The law aimed at combating air pollution, by charging the EPA with protecting and improving the quality of the nation's air. Last modified in 1990 to include regulations on criteria pollutants and hazardous air pollutants.
Stratosphere
The layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, extending to about 20-50 km (12-30 miles) above the earth's surface
Carrying Capacity (K)
The maximum number of individuals that can be supported by an environment
pH
The measure of concentration of H ions in water
bituminous coal
The most common form of coal; produces a high amount of heat and is used extensively by electric power plants.
El Niño
The normal trade winds are weakened or reversed because of the reversal of the high and low pressure regions on either side of the tropical Pacific
Population density
The number of individuals per unit area at a given time
Growth Rate
The number of offspring an individual can produce in a given period of time, minus the deaths of the individual or offspring during the same period
El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
The periodic changes in winds and Pacific ocean currents, causing cooler and wetter conditions in the southeastern United States and unusually dry weather in southern Africa and Southeast Asia.
Nitrogen Fixation
The process by which lightening and specialized bacteria that turn nitrogen into a usable form for plants.
Greenhouse effect
The process by which radiation from a planet's atmosphere warms the planet's surface to a temperature above what it would be without its atmosphere
carbon capture and sequestration/storage (CCS)
The process of capturing waste CO2, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere, normally underground.
hydraulic fracturing (fracking)
The process used to extract natural gas from the deep layers of rock in which it is embedded.
nutrient pollution
The process where too many nutrients, mainly nitrogen and phosphorus, are added to bodies of water and can act like fertilizer, causing excessive growth of algae.(from fertilizers and animal waste)
Primary Productivity
The rate at which photosynthesis occurs
energy efficiency
The ratio of the amount of work done to the total amount of energy introduced to the system
Mesosphere
The region of the earth's atmosphere above the stratosphere and below the thermosphere, between about 30 and 50 miles (50 and 80 km) in altitude.
3 Major crops
Wheat, corn, and rice
Topographic pollution
When the physical geography of an area traps pollution and creates poor air quality
Intraspecific Competition
When two individuals within the same species compete over one limited resource
Interspecific Competition
When two species compete over one limited resource
Resource partitioning
Where species work together and divide up a resource like birds in a tree-this can reduce competition
Coriolis effect
Winds moving north from the equator in the Northern Hemisphere are deflected to the right or east, and winds moving south from the equator in the Southern Hemisphere are deflected to the left or west.
trade winds
Winds that blow between about 30 degrees latitude and the equator are steady and strong, and travel at a speed about 11-13 mph
Ogallala Aquifer
World's largest aquifer; under parts of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas (the Midwest). Holds enough water to cover the U.S. with 1.5 feet of water. Being depleted for agricultural and urban use.
zone of aeration (unsaturated zone)
Zone in soil that is not saturated with water and that lies above the water table.
Dams
a barrier that runs across a river or stream to control the flow of water
hydrogen fuel cell
a cell that generates electricity from a controlled reaction between hydrogen and oxygen
Zone of Saturation
a certain depth where these spaces are completely filled with water
Great Ocean Conveyor Belt -thermohaline circulation
a constantly moving system of deep-ocean circulation driven by temperature and salinity
Bag house filter
a fabric filter that allows gases to pass through but not particles (effective for removal of PM 10 and PM 2.5)
Keeling Curve
a graph which plots the ongoing change in concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth's atmosphere since 1958
Lake Chad
a lake in Africa at the junction of four countries: Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria. 5000 to 10,000 sq. mi.; similar situation to Salton Sea where it is slowly drying up
Aral Sea
a lake in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (formerly Soviet Union), east of the Caspian Sea, formerly the fourth largest lake in the world: shallow and saline, now badly polluted; use of its source waters for irrigation led to a loss of over 50% of its area between 1967 and 1997, after which the reduction began to be slowed. Area originally (to 1960) about 68 000 sq km (26 400 sq miles); water area reduced by 2004 to about 17 158 sq km (6625 sq miles) and the lake divided into sections; diverted water was mostly used for irrigation
turbine
a large wheel that rotates when pushed by water, wind, or steam
ozone layer
a layer in the stratosphere (at approximately 20 miles) that contains a concentration of ozone sufficient to block most ultraviolet radiation from the sun
dead zone
a location within a body of water that does not have enough dissolved oxygen to sustain life.
turbidity
a measure of the cloudiness of water from sediments, microscopic organisms, or pollutants (NTU)
apex predator
a predator residing at the top of a food chain upon which no other creatures prey
drip irrigation
a process by which pipes placed near plant roots drip only as much water as the plants need - most efficient form of irrigation
Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)
a publicly available database containing information on toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities in the United States. - currently 187 chemicals
Fish ladder
a series of ascending pools providing a passage for salmon to swim upstream past a dam
Salton Sea
a shallow saline lake in S California, in the Imperial Valley, formed by the diversion of water from the Colorado River into a salt-covered depression; slowly drying up mainly due to evaporation
Lignite (brown coal)
a soft brownish coal showing traces of plant structure, intermediate between bituminous coal and peat.
Riparian Rights
a system for allocating surface water among those who possess land along its path. It has its origins in English common law. Riparian water rights exist in many jurisdictions with a common law heritage, such as Canada, Australia, and states in the eastern United States.
Aqueducts
a system of large surface pipes and channels used to transport water.
thermal pollution
a temperature increase in a body of water that is caused by human activity and that has a harmful effect on water quality and on the ability of that body of water to support life
nuclear power plant
a type of nuclear technology involving the controlled use of nuclear fission to release energy for work including propulsion, heat, and the generation of electricity.
23. Which of the following pollution sources simultaneously releases pollutants containing nitrogen, carbon and sulfur? a. Burning fossil fuels b. Runoff from artificial fertilizers c. Agricultural animal waste d. Volcanic eruptions e. Decaying plastic
a. Burning fossil fuels
5. Compounds of this element form layers of sedimentary rock on the ocean floor. As one tectonic plate slides under another, much of this sedimentary rock is scrapped off, but some can be pulled down into a subduction zone. Heat and pressure change it into a new, gaseous compound, which volcanoes can release into the atmosphere. This element is a. Carbon b. Sulfur c. Nitrogen d. Phosphorus e. Calcium
a. Carbon
52. When the temperature of the air or land changes a. Condensation of water vapor occurs b. Populations migrate c. Leaves change color d. Snow falls e. Transpiration is increased
a. Condensation of water vapor occurs
43. The idea that matter is neither created, nor destroyed, but recycled through natural cycles is known as a. Conservation of matter b. Origin of species c. Residence time d. Transconfiguration e. Respiration
a. Conservation of matter
41. When plants pull water from the soil, use the dissolved minerals to grow and release the water back through the leaves, it is known as a. Evapotranspiration b. Respiration c. Condensation d. Transport e. condensation
a. Evapotranspiration
12. Unless these two natural phenomena are in balance, global atmospheric carbon dioxide accumulates rapidly I respiration II photosynthesis III sedimentation IV subduction a. I and II b. II and III c. I and IV d. III and IV e. I and III
a. I and II
34. Of the following human activities, which two add sulfur dioxide to the environment? I burning fossil fuels II smelting ores to obtain metals III disposing of radioactive waste IV releasing fertilizer into rivers a. I and II b. II and III c. III and IV d. II and IV e. I and IV
a. I and II
15. Which of the following elements accounts for the greatest proportion of the atmosphere? a. Nitrogen b. Oxygen c. Phosphorus d. Hydrogen e. Calcium
a. Nitrogen
14. Calcium stored in subsurface rock can return to the surface, but it usually does so as a result of a. Tectonic plate movement pushing these rock layers upward b. Erupting volcanoes spewing calcium-rich magma c. Chemical reactions releasing calcium-rich gas, which diffuses upward d. These rock layers slowly dissolving into the ocean e. Phytoplankton extracting calcium from exposed rock
a. Tectonic plate movement pushing these rock layers upward
19. One negative effect of human interference in the nitrogen cycle is a. The production rain containing nitric acid b. A decrease in species that thrive on high levels of nitrogen compounds c. Increased ozone in the stratosphere d. A decrease in the total amount of nitrogen present in the atmosphere e. An increase in the overall pH of the oceans
a. The production rain containing nitric acid
Advantages and Disadvantages to Water Transfer
advantages: makes water-poor areas more suitable for growing food, grazing, and other business activities; makes it more likely that businesses will invest, jobs will be created, and economies will be strengthened in those areas; disadvantages: encourages unsustainable water use
Most water is used for this sector
agriculture
gray water
all of the wastewater that drains from washing machines, sinks, dishwashers, tubs or showers and can be reused for non-sanitary purposes
primary and secondary pollutants
an air pollutant emitted directly from a source. The other type is not directly emitted as such, but forms when other pollutants react in the atmosphere.
Floodplain
an area of low-lying ground adjacent to a river, formed mainly of river sediments and subject to flooding
recharge zone
an area of the Earth's surface from which water percolates down into an aquifer
Aqueduct
an artificial channel for conveying water, typically in the form of a bridge supported by tall columns across a valley
noise pollution
any noise that causes stress or has the potential to damage human health.
wastewater
any water that has been used by humans. This includes human sewage, water drained from showers, tubs, sinks, dishwashers, washing machines, water from industrial processes, and storm water runoff.
Groundwater Depletion
aquifers are being depleted faster than they are being renewed; over pumping can increase gap between rich and poor, cause land to sink, and contaminate with saltwater
near-shore zone
area of water close to the beach these areas are usually rich in seaweed and serves as nurseries for young fish
wetlands (estuaries, swamps, marshes)
area where the water table stands at or near the land surface, the soil is either permanently or seasonally saturated, water can be saltwater, freshwater, or brackish biologically diverse ecosystems filter and clean water, allow for aquifer recharge buffer zones for storms and ocean surges
CO and CO2
automobile exhaust as well as burning of wood and coal
51. A growing plant transpires up to times as much water volume as it holds at one time. a. 2 b. 10 c. 18 d. 22 e. 25
b. 10
36. By dry weight, approximately what % of carbon are humans composed of? a. 20% b. 50% c. 65% d. 70% e. 90%
b. 50%
6. Compared to the total amount of carbon in and on the earth now, the amount of carbon present during the planet's formation was a. Much greater b. About the same c. Much smaller d. Slightly greater e. Almost zero
b. About the same
3. If the residence time of N2 is 400 million years, then a. Fusion reactions first created the N2 400 million years ago b. Each molecule of N2 remains chemically unchanged for an average of 400 million years c. Nitrogen's total duration as a nitrate and as a nitrite is an average of 400 million years d. No molecule of N2 lasts longer than 400 million years e. N2 undergoes radioactive decay in approximately 400 million years
b. Each molecule of N2 remains chemically unchanged for an average of 400 million years
39. When freshwater has high concentrations of calcium and/or magnesium, it is commonly called a. Calciferous b. Hard water c. Soft water d. Mineralization e. Lime
b. Hard water
33. Nitrification results in the two final products a. Ammonia and nitrogen gas b. Nitrate ions and nitrite ions c. DNA and proteins d. Ozone gas and oxygen gas e. Nitrous oxide and nitric oxide
b. Nitrate ions and nitrite ions
31. Most of the carbon in the earth's crust is stored in a. The atmosphere b. Ocean sedimentation and sedimentary rocks c. Fossil fuels d. Plants e. The soil
b. Ocean sedimentation and sedimentary rocks
26. Which term describes water moving through soil and permeable rock groundwater storage aquifers? a. Infiltration b. Percolation c. Condensation d. Transpiration e. Transport
b. Percolation
9. To construct their shells, phytoplankton get carbon dioxide directly from a. The air b. The surrounding water c. The ocean floor d. Prey organisms e. Volcanic vents
b. The surrounding water
21. Most terrestrial phosphate originates from a. Freshwater lakes b. Uplifted rocks c. Phosphate-fixing bacteria d. The air e. Lightning
b. Uplifted rocks
infectious agents
bacteria, viruses, parasites
Physical methods for cleaning up oil spills
booms, skimmers, vacuums, and fires
bridge fuel
bridge toward cleaner renewable energy
30. Approximately what percentage of evaporated water worldwide comes from land? a. 50% b. 75% c. 15% d. 40% e. 2%
c. 15%
42. Plants are known as primary producers of a. Methane b. Biomineralization c. Biomass d. Water pollution e. Limestone
c. Biomass
46. Organisms that consume litter, debris and dung are called a. Carnivores b. Herbivores c. Detritivores d. parasites e. omnivores
c. Detritivores
2. The law of conservation of matter holds that a. Consumers must avoid disposing of petroleum-based materials improperly b. When matter is involved in chemical reactions, only a very tiny amount is destroyed c. Except under very unusual circumstances, matter is never created or destroyed d. An object at rest tends to stay at rest, and an object in motion tends to stay in motion e. Objects fall toward each other at the same rate, regardless of size
c. Except under very unusual circumstances, matter is never created or destroyed
25. The hydrologic cycle is driven by a. The earth's rotation b. Magma convection in the earth's interior c. Heat from the sun d. The moon's gravity e. Hurricanes and other large atmospheric events
c. Heat from the sun
49. Inorganic sulfur is predominantly found in rock and minerals as iron pyrite and a. Gneiss b. Iron metals c. Matter d. Carnivores e. Core materials
c. Matter
50. All things that take up space and have mass are known as a. Sedimentary rock b. Heavy metals c. Matter d. Carnivores e. granite
c. Matter
32. Which of the following lists begins with the largest calcium reservoir and ends with the smallest? a. Atmosphere, oceans soil b. Soil, atmosphere, oceans c. Oceans, soil, atmosphere d. Oceans, atmosphere, soil e. Soil, oceans, atmosphere
c. Oceans, soil, atmosphere
38. Carbon containing material from living or nonliving sources is called a. Pyroclastic material b. Inorganic material c. Organic material d. Sublimation e. Biomineralization
c. Organic material
18. The term nitrification describes which process? a. The conversion of N2 to NO b. The conversion of N2 to NH3 c. The conversion of NH3 to NO2- and NO3- d. The conversion of N2 to N2O e. The conversion of NO2- and NO3- into N2
c. The conversion of NH3 to NO2- and NO3-
24. In which of the following nutrient cycles does the key nutrient remain chemically unchanged throughout? a. The sulfur cycle b. The hydrogen cycle c. The hydrologic cycle d. The phosphorus cycle e. The carbon cycle
c. The hydrologic cycle
1. The term geochemical cycle describes a. The production and breakdown of man-made synthetic materials b. The movement of sulfur and other gases from the mantle into the atmosphere c. The movement of elements through a repeating series of chemical forms d. The movement of magma in the earth's mantle e. The transformation of sedimentary rock into igneous rock and back to sedimentary rock
c. The movement of elements through a repeating series of chemical forms
27. Of the following hydrologic events, which is most accelerated by warm conditions? a. Percolation b. Condensation c. Transpiration d. Precipitation e. Transport
c. Transpiration
28. Which of the following processes requires condensation nuclei in order to occur? a. Water vapor condensing into moisture droplets in clouds b. Liquid water evaporating from land c. Water droplets becoming precipitation d. Purification of liquid water by decomposer bacteria e. The conversion of precipitation into surface runoff
c. Water droplets becoming precipitation
uneven heating of earth's surface
cause by angle of the sun's rays , tilt of the Earth on its axis; affects the climates and biomes that exist on the planet
allogenic ecosystem engineers
change the physical environment by transforming living and nonliving materials into another state.
CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)
chemicals used in coolants, solvents, and aerosol cans that damage the ozone layer
Competition for World's Water and Resources
cities are outbidding farmers for water supplies from rivers and aquifers; countries are importing grain as a way to reduce water use; more crops are being used to produce biofuel
turbitidy
cloudiness of water
40. The residence of oxygen in the atmosphere is a. 12 weeks b. 300 years c. 1,000 years d. 6,000 years e. 1 million years
d. 6,000 years
13. Deep in the ocean, falling calcium-carbonate shells dissolve at a certain depth, while they collect at a slightly shallower depth. The dividing line between these depths is known as a. A thermocline b. A lithosphere c. The estuarine zone d. A lysocline e. A trophic level
d. A lysocline
35. When calcium carbonate is used to build the shells of seas creatures. It is called a. Lime b. Condensation c. Sublimation d. Biomineralization e. Transfiguration
d. Biomineralization
17. Which of the following human activities can alter both the carbon and nitrogen cycles at the same time? a. Allowing artificial fertilizer to run into rivers and streams b. Growing large numbers of livestock whose waste adds gases to these cycles c. Constructing dams that obstruct the natural paths of rivers d. Destroying existing vegetation-rich ecosystems, such as forests e. Mining large amounts of rock for fertilizer components
d. Destroying existing vegetation-rich ecosystems, such as forests
20. Carnivores get the majority of their usable nitrogen compounds by a. Extracting them from the air we breathe b. Nurturing nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their guts c. Absorbing them from water d. Eating herbivores and other carnivores e. Eating small amounts of soil rich in nitrogen-fixing bacteria
d. Eating herbivores and other carnivores
54. Matter exists in three forms, solid, liquid and a. Metallic b. Ice c. Nuclear d. Gas e. Pyrotechnic
d. Gas
7. Plants directly interact with the biological carbon cycle through I. respiration II. photosynthesis III. decomposition a. Only I and II b. Only II and III c. Only I and III d. I, II and III e. Only III
d. I, II and III
44. All the following are natural water reservoirs except a. Aquifers b. Living organisms c. streams d. Limestone e. The atmosphere
d. Limestone
47. When ammonia is taken up by plants, dissolved by water, or remains in the soil to be converted to nitrates, it is known as a. Calcification b. Residence time c. Photosynthesis d. Nitrification e. Neutralization
d. Nitrification
11. Without these organisms, the geological carbon cycle could not take place a. Terrestrial photosynthesizing organisms' b. Decomposing organisms and detritus eaters c. Secondary consumers and top predators d. Shell-forming marine organisms e. Lichens and other rock-weathering organisms
d. Shell-forming marine organisms
37. Scientists have studied the carbon cycle in all the following geochemical reservoirs except a. The oceans b. Soil c. Fossil fuels d. The Earth's core e. Plant life
d. The Earth's core
10. All of the following are major carbon storage reservoirs EXCEPT a. Fossil fuels b. Sedimentary rocks c. The air d. The earth's core e. The oceans
d. The earth's core
22. Humans' release of excess phosphates into lakes and rivers can results in a. The poisoning of herbivores b. Phosphate-based gases depleting the ozone layer c. Acid rain d. The overgrowth of aquatic bacteria and algae e. Global warming
d. The overgrowth of aquatic bacteria and algae
China's Three Gorges Dam
debate over advantages and disadvantages; world's largest; helps reduce flooding and provide electricity but displaces many people and will cause flooding in different areas; may even collapse because it is built over a major seismic fault
Withdrawing Groundwater Disadvantages
depletion from over pumping, sinking of land from over pumping, pollution, saltwater intrusion, reduced water flows into surface waters, increased cost and contamination with more depth
Ownership and Management
disputes over government or private management; 85% of Americans get water from publicly owned utilities
Drainage Basin
drainage basin or catchment basin is an extent or an area of land where all surface water from rain, melting snow, or ice converges to a single point at a lower elevation, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another body of water, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean
Watershed
drainage basin; the land fro which surface water drains into a river, lake, wetland, or other body of water
53. When plants absorb carbon dioxide and sunlight to make glucose and build cellular structures, it is known as the a. Calcium cycle b. Sulfur cycle c. Hydrogen cycle d. Phosphorus cycle e. Biological carbon cycle
e. Biological carbon cycle
4. This element is the basic building block of all organic materials a. Nitrogen b. Oxygen c. Phosphorus d. Hydrogen e. Carbon
e. Carbon
16. Nitrogen is an essential element for many biologically important molecules, but organisms can use atmospheric N2 only once it has been altered by a. Biominerlization or dissolution in water b. Volcanic eruptions or reactions with sunlight c. The decomposition of organisms or respiration d. Reactions with acidic gases or photosynthesis e. Lightning or soil-bacteria processes
e. Lightning or soil-bacteria processes
45. A plant's reaction that captures visible light wavelengths (0.4 to 0.7 µm and transforms them into chemical energy is known as a. Sublimation b. Biominerlization c. Biomass d. Evapotranspiration e. Photosynthesis
e. Photosynthesis
8. Sugars and carbohydrates are products of a. Metabolism b. Subduction c. Respiration d. Decomposition e. Photosynthesis
e. Photosynthesis
29. Which of the following terms specifically describes the hydrologic cycle's distribution of water around the world, especially from the oceans to land? a. Transpiration b. Precipitation c. Evaporation d. Infiltration e. Transport
e. Transport
48. The location where planetary water is stored for a length of time is called a. Sink hole b. Geological cycle c. Lake d. Karst e. Water reservoir
e. Water reservoir
solar power
energy from the sun that is converted into thermal or electrical energy
IPAT equation
environmental Impact=Population, Affluence, Technology
Total Fertility Rate (TFR)
estimate of the average number of children each woman will bear in her lifetime
eutrophication
excessive richness of nutrients in a lake or other body of water, frequently due to runoff from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life and death of animal life from lack of oxygen.
wet scrubber
fine mists of water vapor trap particulates and convert them to a sludge that is collected and disposed of usually in a landfill
Irrigation Types
flood irrigation-delivers far more water than necessary; center pivot-pumped from underground and sprayed from mobile boom with sprinklers; low pressure sprinkler-uses pumps to spray on crops; low energy precision application sprinklers-center pivot method, sprays water closer to ground and with larger droplets; drip irrigation-microirrigation, perforated plastic tubing is at or below ground level deliver water to plant roots; gravity flow-water comes from nearby aqueduct or river
Marcellus Shale
founded in Marcellus, NY; spans over NY, PA, OH, and WV; combines with Devonian; worth $1 trillion. shale = grained rock type; does not outcrop the surface, up to one mile deep
ozone
gas that absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation, found in the stratosphere, a zone between 15 and 50 kilometers (9 to 30 miles) above Earth's surface.
Aquifers
geological layers deeper down like caverns and porous, layers of sand, gravel, or bedrock through which groundwater flows; contain much more freshwater than lakes and rivers
Water Options
get more water from rivers and aquifers, desalinate ocean water, waste much less water
Nonrenewable Aquifers
get very little, if any, recharge; deep underground from thousands of years ago; withdrawing will amount to mining a nonrenewable resource - a major problem in today's societies
tropspheric ozone
harmful to humans because it cannot help against UV rays and it damages respiratory systems secondary pollutant, also is a major factor in photochemical smog
Nuclear power disadvantages
has been very politically unpopular, hard to site with NIMBY, decommissioning waste issues unresolved, potential for ecological disaster
Distillation
heating saltwater until it evaporates, leaves behind salts in solid form, and condenses as freshwarer
natural gas disadvantages
highly volatile (dangerous) gas when it is handled or transported carelessly. Powerful greenhouse gas
Population age structure
how many individuals fit into age categories. Shown by age structure diagrams
physical treatment
in a sewage treatment plant, the initial filtration that is done to remove debris such as stones, sticks, rags, toys, and other objects that were flushed down the toilet.
artisen well
in confined aquifers the water is under pressure and rises in wells to a level above the top of the aquifer, a well that spouts water
Living on Floodplains in Bangladesh
increased flooding from upstream deforestation of Himalayan mountain slopes and clearing of mangrove forests on its coastal floodplains; increased runoff from the soil and monsoon rains increase severity of flooding; living on the floodplain means coping with storm surges, cyclones, tsunamis, earthquakes, etc
furrow irrigation
involves digging trenches and filling them with water
Global Outlook: Use of World's Freshwater
irrigation is the biggest use of eater (70%), then industries (20%), and cities and residences (10%)
natural gas advantages
it has fewer impurities, it is less chemically complex, and its combustion generally results in less pollution, reliable
umbrella species
its protection means a wide range of other species will also be protected
hypoxic zone/dead zone
lack of oxygen in region (due to nitrate, phosphate runoff) causes fish to die
flagship species
large and charismatic species used as spearheads for biodiversity conservation
Advantages and Disadvantages to Large Dams
large dams and reservoirs produce cheap electricity, reduce downstream flooding, and provide year-round water for irrigating crop land but also displace people and disrupt aquatic systems; advantages include less flooding, electricity, water for irrigation and recreational activities; disadvantages include tensions among shared countries, and reducing downstream flow
Reducing Irrigation Water Waste
line canals bringing water to irrigation ditches, level fields with lasers, irrigate at night to reduce evaporation, monitor soil moisture to add water only when necessary, polyculture, organic farming, don't grow water thirsty crops, grow water efficient crops, irrigate with treated urban waste water, import water intensive crops and meats, rainwater harvesting
effluent
liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea.
cap and trade system
market-based pollution control system in which the government sets an overall limit on how much of a pollutant is acceptable and issues vouchers to pollute to each company, which companies are then free to trade
Reverse Osmosis
microfiltration; uses high pressure to force salt water through a membrane filter with pores small enough to remove the salt (pushes freshwater out of salt water)
Petroleum (Crude Oil) Formation
microscopic aquatic organisms in sediments converted by heat and pressure into a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons
dissolved oxygen
microscopic bubbles of gaseous oxygen (O2) that are mixed in water and available to aquatic organisms for respiration (mg/L)
autogenic ecosystem engineers
modify the environment using parts of their own physical bodies (both living and dead). As these organisms grow, they create habitat for other species.
Radon (Rn)
naturally occurring colorless, odorless, radioactive gas, found in some types of soil and rock, can seep into homes and buildings, formed from the decay of uranium (U), causes lung cancer
Nuclear power advantages
no Co2 emissions, doesn't contribute to climate change no Sox or Nox, doesn't cause acid rain, or smog
fugitive emissions
no smokestack, dust from strip mining, rock crushing, building construction/destruction
stationary sources
non-moving sources of pollution, such as factories.
exponential growth models
occurs when populations are not limited by resources. (J-curve)
logistical growth model
occurs when populations reach a carrying capacity established by a limiting resource and initially experience large growth but then level off. However, they do not exist exactly at carrying capacity. They fluctuate above and below.
Grasshopper effect
occurs when volatile air pollutants are transported by evaporation and winds from tropical and temperate areas though the atmosphere to the earth's polar areas, where they are deposited.
Anthricite Coal
oldest and hardest form of coal
Availability of Freshwater
only about 0.024% of the earth's water supply is available to us as liquid fresh water
Salt water intrusion
over pumping of groundwater near coast causes salt water to move into aquifer.
Peat
partially decayed plant matter found in bogs (pre-coal)
criteria pollutants
particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, lead
Dakota Access Pipeline
pipeline that was heavily protested in North Dakota- was recently completed and now is ready to transport Bakken Crude oil
criteria pollutants
pollutants judged to pose especially great threats to human health (carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, tropospheric ozone, particulate matter and lead)
secondary pollutants
pollutants that are formed by the combination of primary pollutants in the atmosphere.
Primary Pollutants
pollutants that are released directly into the lower atmosphere.
moving sources
pollution sources that are mobile, such as cars
nonpoint source pollution
pollution that comes from many sources rather than from a single, specific site
non-point source pollution
pollution that does not have a specific point of release, open,loop recycling,when materials are reused to form new products.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
potentially toxic gases emitted by certain organic solids and liquids organic compounds that can evaporate readily from solid or liquid form - flame retardants, furniture, carpet, new car, paints, vinyl flooring, carpets, electronics, etc.
wind power
power obtained by harnessing the energy of the wind.
Surface Runoff
precipitation that does not return to the atmosphere by evaporation or infiltrate into the ground
Reducing Flood Damage
preserve forests on watersheds, preserve and restore wetlands in floodplains, tax all developments on floodplains, use floodplains primarily for recharging aquifers, sustainable agriculture and forestry, and recreation; strengthen and deepen streams, build levees or floodwalls along streams, build dams
Groundwater Depletion Control
raise price of water to discourage waste, tax water pumped from wells near surface water, set and enforce minimum stream flow levels
Reducing Water Waste
redesign manufacturing processes, repair leaking underground pipes, landscape yards with plants that require little water, use drip irrigation, fix water leaks, use water meters, raise water prices, use waterless composting toilets, require water conservation in water-short cities, use water saving appliances, collect and reuse household water for irrigations and non edible plants, purify and reuse water for domestic use, don't waste energy
Centrifugal collector
removal of particulates from smokestacks through the use of forced, spinning air
sludge
removed biosolids from sewage treatment may be used as fertilizer or added to landfill
Desalination
removing dissolved salts from ocean water or from brackish water in aquifers or lakes for domestic use; Israel uses prominently; two major problems: very costly and takes a lot of energy
biomass energy
renewable energy derived from burning organic materials such as wood and alcohol
Renewable Aquifers
replenished naturally by precipitation that percolates down through the soul and rock (natural recharge); some others are recharged by lateral recharge from nearby streams; refill slowly
Type I, II, III Curves
reproductive strategies of different species. Type I fosters their young, Type II does sorta kinda, and type III straight up ditches their kids
Using Aquifers More Sustainably
requires controlling the rate of water removal, identifying and protecting water recharge zones from development, wasting less water, and slowing population growth
water diversion projects
requires diverting water to areas that are deficient by pumping through a system of aqueducts
tar sands/oil sands
sand or clay formations that contain a heavy-density crude oil (crude bitumen); extracted by surface mining
secondary sewage treatment
second step of sewage treatment; bacteria breakdown organic waste, aeration accelerates the process.
Cloud Seeding and Towing Icebergs or Gigantic Water Bags
seeding clouds with tiny particles of chemicals to increase rainfall or towing icebergs or huge bags filled with freshwater to dry coastal areas is unlikely to provide significant amounts of freshwater; problems: few clouds to seed, no compelling evidence that it works, large amounts of chemicals into soil and water systems, legal disputes over cloud water
Ogallala
shallow water table aquifer surrounded by sand, silt, clay and gravel located beneath the Great Plains in the United States; most important in the US
industrial smog (gray)
smog resulting from emissions from industry and other sources of gases produced by the burning of fossil fuels.
infrared radiation
solar energy radiated to the earth and felt as heat
Dam Removal
some dams are being removed for ecological reasons and because they have outlived their usefulness; cost for taxpayers is high, can expose downstream to toxic sediments
Groundwater
some precipitation infiltrates the ground and is stored in spaces in soil and rock; water in these spaces is one of most important sources of fresh water; moves from high to low elevation
tertiary sewage treatment
specialized chemical and physical (UV light, chlorine, and lagooning) processes that reduce the amount of specific pollutants left in wastewater after primary and secondary treatments;
Cherynobyl
terrible nuclear accident in 1986, this explosion made people aware of SU relaxed safety policies throughout businesses
Freshwater Resources in the United States
the US has plenty of freshwater but supplies vary depending on climate; in East water is used for energy, cooling, and manufacturing
Energy
the capacity to do work
Biomagnification
the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of its ingesting other plants or animals in which the toxins are more widely disbursed.
Surface Water
the freshwater that flows across the earth's land surface and into rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs
Hydrologic Cycle
the hydrologic cycle begins with the evaporation of water from the surface of the ocean; as moist air is lifted, it cools and water vapor condenses to form clouds; moisture is transported around the globe until it returns to the surface as precipitation.
Sprinkler Irrigation
the method of aerial application of water through pipes fitted with sprinkling units
energy conservation
the practice of finding ways to use less energy or to use energy more efficiently
Transpiration
the process by which moisture is carried through plants from roots to small pores on the underside of leaves, where it changes to vapor and is released to the atmosphere; transpiration is essentially evaporation of water from plant leaves
cloud seeding
the process of introducing various combinations of silica and salts into a cloud in order to cause rain to fall
Power
the rate at which work is done
Desalination
the removal of salt (through reverse osmosis or flash boiling)from seawater to make it usable for drinking and farming Concerns include loss of ocean life, excess energy use, and salt/brine byproduct
Natural Recharge
the replenishment of groundwater storage from naturally-occurring surface water supplies such as precipitation and stream flows
sludge
the solids that remain after the secondary treatment of sewage.
half-life
the time taken for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall to half its original value.
Water Table
the top of the zone of saturation
kWh (kilowatt hour) (1,000 Watts/hour)
the unit used to measure the amount of electrical energy used in an hour. Also the unit that power companies track to charge for the electricity used.
zone of saturation
zone where all open spaces in sediment and rock are completely filled with water
Intraspecific competition
Competition between members of the same species
Detritivores
Consume dead organic material
Primary consumer
Consumes producers/herbivores
acid precipitation
Conversion of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides to acids that return to Earth as rain, snow, or fog
Zonation of earth from core.
Core - mantle - asthenosphere - lithosphere - soil
Developed Countries
Countries with high levels of industrialization and income
Developing Countries
Countries with relatively low levels of industrialization and income
horizontal airflow
Creates surface winds
Conservation of Matter
Matter cannot be created or destroyed
Carrying Capacity (k)
Maximum number of individuals that cane be supported.
Sewage pretreatment
Mechanical sewage treatment in which large solids are filtered out by screen
Cadmium
Metal found in batteries - neurotoxin - can leak from batteries in landfills
Rare earth metals
Metals that are critical for high tech gadgets. They are hard to extract and process.
Subsurface Mining
Mining done below the surface. Can be extremely dangerous.
Survivorship Curve 3
Mortality peaks early in life.
Survivorship Curve 1
Mortality peaks later in life.
Convection currents
Movement creating by a heating, rising, cooling, sinking cycle in the asthenosphere and the atmosphere
Green Revolution
Movement that promoted the use of monoculture/monocrops that rely on the use of pesticides, fertilizers, and larger amounts of water than native species in order to produce higher yields in many parts of the world.
greenhouse effect
Natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases
Artesian wells
Natural springs that arise from aquifers
10% Rule
Only 10% of energy is available to each successive trophic level.
10% rule
Only 10% of energy is available to the next trophic level
Decomposer
Organism that breaks down dead organic matter and returns the nutrients to the soil
Omnivore
Organism that consumes both plants and animals (primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers)
Carnivore
Organism that consumes only animals (secondary, tertiary, and quaternary consumers)
Omnivore
Organism that eats both plants and animals
Detritivore
Organism that eats dead organisms
Producer
Organism that forms the base of all food chains
Consumer
Organism that needs to eat another organism for energy
Carnivore
Organism that only eats meat
Herbivore
Organism that only eats plants
Autotroph
Organism that synthesizes their own food using light or chemical energy
Wetlands
"Swampy" areas that filter water, buffer storms, and provide critical habitat for plants and animals.
nitrogen oxides
(NOx) Major source is auto exhaust. Primary and secondary effects include acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog and ozone. Reduced using catalytic converters.
sulfur oxides
(SOx) Primary source is coal burning. Primary and secondary effects include acid deposition, respiratory irritation, plant damage. Reduction methods include: scrubbers, burn low sulfur fuel.
Sulfer Dioxide (SO2)
-Foul-smelling colorless gas. - from coal burning for electricity and industry -contributes to acid precipitation
Troposphere
0-17 km above Earth's surface, site of weather, organisms, contains most atmospheric water vapor. (temperature decreases with increasing altitude, pressure decreases)
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act
1) 1910, National 2) First pesticide control law, aimed at protected consumers from ineffective products/deception/ created procedures for registering pesticides 3) EPA
Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act
1) 1934, National 2) (Duck Stamp Act)- requires each waterfowl hunter 16 years or older to possesses a valid Federal hunting stamp 3) USFWS
Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Acts
1) 1938, National 2) FFDC main law, Gives authority to FDA to oversee the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics 3) FDA/EPA
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
1) 1938, National 2) Gives authority to FDA to oversee the safety of food, drugs, and cosmetics 3) FDA/EPA
Federal Water Pollution Control Act
1) 1948, National 2) allowed the Public Health Service, to prepare programs for eliminating or reducing the pollution of interstate waters and tributaries and improving the sanitary conditions of surface and underground waters. 3) EPA
Wilderness Act
1) 1964, National 2) Created legal definition of wilderness in US, protected 9.1 million acres 3) EPA
Solid Waste Disposal Act
1) 1965, National 2) Amendment to the Clean Air Act, first fed law that required environmentally sound methods for disposal of household, municipal, commercial, and industrial waste 3) EPA
National Wildlife Refuge System Act
1) 1966, Nataional 2) Provides guidelines for administration and management of ares considered "wildlife refuges" 3) FWS
National Environmental Policy Act
1) 1969, Nataional 2) Requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values into decision making by considering environmental impact of actions 3) EPA
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
1) 1969, National 2) Establishes a National Wild and Scenic Rivers System and prescribed the methods and standards in which rivers may be admitted 3) FWS
Occupational Safety and Health Act
1) 1970, National 2) Ensure safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women 3) U.S Department of Labor
Marine Mammal Protection Act
1) 1972, amended 1994, National 2) prohibits the "taking" of marine mammals in U.S water to prevent the species to fall beneath optimum population level 3)NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Safe Drinking Water Act
1) 1974, National 2) Protect public health by regulating the nation's public drinking water supply, allows EPA to set national health-based standards for drinking water 3) EPA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
1) 1976, National 2) Gave EPA authority to control hazardous waste from the "cradle to grave", set framework for the management of non-hazardous solid wastes 3) EPA
Toxic Substances Control Act
1) 1976, National 2) Granted EPA authority to create regulatory framework to collect data on chemicals in order to evaluate, mitigate, and control risks 3) EPA
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act
1) 1977, National 2) Regulates the environmental effects of coal mining through two programs, one for regulating active coal mines and a second for abandoned mines 3) Office of Surface Mining, EPA
Soil and Water Conservation Act
1) 1977, National 2) provides United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) broad strategic assessment and planning authority for conversation of soil and water 3) USDA
National Energy Act
1) 1978, National 2) Reduce oil import needs by 1985 and increase the use of fuels other than oil and gas 3) EPA
Law of the Sea Convention
1) 1982, International 2) Comprehensive regime of law and order in world's oceans pertaining to use of oceans and resources- sovereignty of territorial sea, landlocked countries rights to sea/ limits to territorial sea 3) International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Nuclear Waste Policy Act
1) 1982, National 2) Supports the use of deep geologic repositories for safe storage/disposal of radioactive waste, creates procedures for the previous 3) Department of Energy (DOE), EPA
Emergency Planning & Community Right-To-Know Act
1) 1986, National 2) Allow state and local planning for chemical emergencies, provide for notification of emergency releases of chemicals, and address communities right-to-know about toxic and hazardous chemicals 3) EPA
Montreal Protocol
1) 1987, International 2) Treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that damage the ozone 3) UNEP (United Nationals Environment Programme) , ENDO(United Nationals Development Programme)
Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act
1) 1987, National 2) Amended Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, implemented Annex V of International Convention to the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 3) NOAA, U.S. Coast Guard
CAFO
Confined Animal Feeding Operation
National Park Act
1) National, 1916 2) Established the National Park Service (NPS) 3) Department of the Interior
Clean Water Act
1)1972, National 2) Basis for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulates disposal of pollutants/ give authority to EPA to set limits on an industry-wide basis regarding protection of water 3) EPA
Consumer Product Safety Act
1)1972, National 2) Established the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Gives CPSC the power to develop safety standards and create recalls/ban a product. 3)FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
1)1973, International 2)International agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade is specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival. 3)CITES, (Each individual gov adopts legislation) (CITES does not take place of national laws)
Endangered Species Act
1)1973, National 2) Provide conservation for species that are endangered or threatened, a "species" is considered endangered if- it is in danger of extinction throughout a significant portion of its range or threatened- if it is likely to become an endangered species in the future 3) USFWS( U.S Fish and Wildlife Service)/ NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service)
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act
1)1980, National 2) declares that fish and wildlife are of ecological, educational, esthetic, cultural, recreational, economic, and scientific value 3)USFWS
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation Liability Act
1)1980, National 2)(Known as Superfund) Allows EPA to respond to releases of hazardous substances that endanger health/environment. Also enables EPA to force parties to clean up material/reimburse the Superfund. 3)EPA
K selective strategies
A species with a low intrinsic growth rate that causes the population to increase slowly until it reaches carrying capacity (TYPE I)
Climax community
A stable ecosystem full of diverse flora and fauna.
Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974
1. Regulates drinking water supply and sources (rivers, reservoirs, groundwater) 2. Set standards for contaminants - water is tested and treated before it reaches the tap
Stratosphere
12 to 50 km, Ozone held here, absorbs UV radiation
Subsidence
A surface collapse that can result from over pumping aquifers.
Replacement level fertility (RLF)
2.1
Emerging Water Shortages
41% of world's population lives in river basins that do not have enough freshwater; falling water tables, bodies of water running dry
Ocean Gyres
5 regions in the oceans where currents converge taking ocean debris with them. The North Pacific Gyre is the most studied garbage patch.
Wasting Less Water for Irrigation and Crop Yields
60% of world's irrigation water is wasted; improved techniques can decrease it to 5-20%; flood irrigation is terrible; better methods are center pivot, low pressure sprinkler, drip irrigation, microirrigation systems (perforated tubes at or below ground level), gravity flow are less effective, can also use soil moisture detectors
doubling time for a population equation
70/growth rate
Aquifer
A body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows the flow of groundwater.
photochemical smog
A brownish haze that is a mixture of ozone and other chemicals, formed when pollutants react with each other in the presence of sunlight
photochemical smog (brown)
A brownish haze that is a mixture of ozone and other chemicals, formed when pollutants react with each other in the presence of sunlight
power grid
A system that links electricity produced in power stations to deliver it to where it is needed.
La Nina
A climate event in the eastern Pacific Ocean in which surface waters are colder than normal.
Closed community
A community that does not allow for further colonization, all the available niches being occupied.
Bioswale
A constructed rainwater control feature containing an engineered basin, soil, stone, and vegetation designed to reduce rainwater runoff and increase groundwater recharge.
Subsidence
A depression of the land surface as a result of groundwater being pumped. Cracks and fissures can appear in the land. Subsidence is virtually an irreversible process.
electrostatic precipitator
A device used for removing particulates from smokestack emissions. The charged particles are attracted to an oppositely charged metal plate, where they are precipitated out of the air.
Biodiesel
A diesel-equivalent, processed fuel derived from biological sources (such as vegetable oils), that can be used in unmodified diesel-engine vehicles.
water treatment plant
A facility that treats water to remove contaminants so that it can be safely used.
Density Independent Factor
A factor that has the same effect on a individual's probability of survival and reproduction at any populations size
Density Dependent Factor
A factor that influences an individuals probability of survival and reproduction in a manner that depends on the size of the population (i.e. predation, disease, food supply)
Coal
A fossil fuel that forms underground from partially decomposed plant material
methane/natural gas/CH4
A gas produced by bacteria from hydrogen and carbon dioxide
Species
A group of organisms that are reproductively isolated and produce fertile offspring.
Metapopulations
A group of spatially distinct populations that are connected by occasional movements of individuals between the populations
Lead (Pb) pollution
A harmful neurotoxin found in old paints and pipes and released when coal is burned.
temperature inversion (thermal inversion)
A layer of dense, cool air can be trapped beneath a layer of less dense, warm air in an urban basin or valley.
Generator
A machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy
Watt
A measure of power equal to one joule of work per second.
Atmosphere
A mixture of gases that surrounds a planet or moon.
oligotrophic lake
A nutrient-poor, clear, deep lake with minimum phytoplankton.
coral bleaching
A phenomenon in which algae inside corals die, causing the corals to turn white. - increasing water temperature and acidification
Divergent Boundary
A place where two tectonic plates are moving apart from one another. Hot magma moves up to fill the space and create new land.
Keystone Species
A plant or animal that plays a unique and crucial role in the way an ecosystem functions.
Photodegradation
A property of plastic in which it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces when exposed to light
Biome
A region defined by specific flora and fauna that have adapted to the climate, precipitation, altitude, humidity, and geologic features.
Commensalism
A relationship in which one species benefits and the other is unaffected.
Ammensalism
A relationship in which one species is harmed and the other is unaffected.
Parasitism
A relationship in which one species takes nutrients from another (host) without killing it right away.
septic system
A relatively small and simple sewage treatment system, made up of a septic tank and a leach field, often used for homes in rural areas
Work
A result of a force moving an object a certain distance.
climate change (global warming)
A rise in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans. It is caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, resulting from human activities such as deforestation and burning of fossil fuels.
Generalist
A species that can adapt to a variety of ecosystems
Specialist
A species that has a vary limited distribution due to its niche
R selective strategies
A species with a high intrinsic growth rate that causes the population to overshoot and quickly die off (TYPE III)
Growth Rate
BIDE (birth+immigration) - (death+emigration) = +/- growth rate
Denitrifying bacteria
Bacteria that returns nitrogen to the atmosphere as a gas.
prevailing winds
Belts of air that distribute heat and moisture unevenly
BOD
Biological Oxygen Demand
Crude Birth Rate
Births/1,000 people
Mountain top removal
Blasting the top off a mountain to remove the coal beneath the earth
Decomoser
Breaks down dead organic material into nutrient components (FBI)
Incineration
Burning of trash - mass burn or refuse derived - may be used as a source of energy
growth rate equation
CBR-CDR/10
Interspecific competition
Competition between members of different species
California Experience
California's Water Project uses mazes, dams, pumps, and aqueducts to transport water between areas; subsidized water contracts
Toxic metals
Can be toxic in extremely small quantities (lead, cadmium, mercury, etc.) have a wide range of effects on the body
Photosynthesis Reactants
Carbon dioxide, water, and light energy
Sea Level Rise
Causes erosion of shorelines and rainforests, flooding of wetlands that house freshwater ecosystems. Side effect of global climate changes due melting sea ice and thermo expansion of water.
Edge effect
Changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of the ecosystem.
Antagonism
Chemical reactions that cancel or reduce the effect of one another
Synergism
Chemical reactions that intensify the effects of one another
fossil fuels
Coal, oil, natural gas, and other fuels that are ancient remains of plants and animals. Contain long chains of hydrocarbons.
Sulfur
Essential element found in many amino acids (disulfide bridges)
Phosphorous
Essential element of nucleic acids and cell membranes
Nitrogen
Essential element that is found in DNA, RNA, and amino acids.
Nutrient pollution
Excessive amounts of nitrogen and phosphorous from fertilizers, animal waste, and cleaners that run off from land into aquatic environments.
Theory of Island Biogeography
Explains that both habitat size and distance determine species richness
Tolerance limits
Factors that influence an organism's ability to survive and reproduce.
Density Independent Limiting Factors
Factors that limit the growth of a population no matter the size of the population. (HIPPOC and natural disasters)
Density Dependent Limiting Factors
Factors that limit the growth of a population that are influenced by the number of individuals. (predation, disease, parasitism, predation, competition, and physiological stress)
Industrial (stage 3)
Falling birth rates and low death rates
Pioneer Species
First species to appear in a new or disturbed area (ecological succession)
PBDEs (polybrominated diphenyl ethers)
Flame-retardant in consumer products - possible NEUROTOXIN, CARCINOGEN
Ways to irrigate crops (most wasteful to least wasteful)
Flood, furrow, sprinkler, drip
Keystone Pipeline
For transporting oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico;
Acid Rain
Formed when sulfur dioxide, from burning fossil fuels and smelting, combines with water in the atmosphere.
greenhouse gases
Gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, CFC's, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect.
U.S. Noise Control Act
Gave the EPA power to set emission standards for major sources of noise, including transportation, machinery, and construction
GMO
Genetically Modified Organisms - crops whose DNA has been altered to withstand various biotic and abiotic factors
Photosynthesis Products
Glucose and oxygen
Age Structure Diagram
Graph that shows the number of males and females alive at various age groups in a population.
Keelings Curve
Graphical depiction of carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere.
ozone loss
Greatest in the spring as the chlorine breaks down ozone into O2
Population
Group of organisms of same species that live in the same area at the same time and reproduce fertile offspring.
Exponential Growth
Growth at a constant rate of increase per unit of time. Represented with a "J Shaped" curve
Rate of natural increase
Growth rate that only include births and deaths.
Threats to biodiversity
Habitat destruction, invasive species, pollution, people population, over consumption, climate change.
Immigration
Individuals entering a population
Emigration
Individuals exiting a population
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Major tanker accident in Alaska in 1989, that resulted in a major oil spill in Prince William Sound.
Aquaculture /Fish farming
Marine CAFOS
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster
Nuclear power plant in japan, largest disaster since Chernobyl. Series of equipment failures, nuclear meltdown(core was damaged due to overheating) follow by Tohoku earthquake. A few died.
Child Mortality Rate
Number of deaths of children under the age of five per 1000 births
Infant Mortality Rate
Number of deaths of children under the age of one per 1000 births
Secondary Succession
Occurs in areas that have been disturbed but have not lost their soil
Primary Succession
Occurs on surfaces that are initially devoid of soil. Starts with moss and lichens on the exposed rock and it it progresses to shrubs and plants and eventually restores ecosystem.
Subduction Zone
Oceanic plate is pushed under a continental plate
Ozone hole
Thinning of stratospheric ozone
Colorado River Basin
This river has so many dams and withdrawals that it does not reach the sea; 14 major dams and reservoirs; supplies water mainly to California but is also used for Nevada and other states around; 30 million people use for recreation; four major problems: includes driest land in US, only modest flow of water, more allocated water than it can supply, water withdrawn mainly for agriculture and urban use (80% for agriculture), evaporation, leakage, siltation (Lake Mead and Lake Powell)
excess nutrients
Too much nutrition that leads to the presence of a dead zone
Fat soluble toxins
Toxins that dissolve in fat and tend to accumulate in the body's tissues. Often organic
Water soluble toxins
Toxins that dissolve in water and may be excreted from the body. Often inorganic.
Ozone
Traps the high-energy radiation of the sun, O3
Zones of the atmosphere from the earth up
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
Layers of the atmosphere in order
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere
Competitive exclusion principle
two species competing for the same limited resource cannot coexist. This explains why resource partitioning takes place so that both can survive
Joules
unit for work
What Can We Do?
use water saving appliances, shower instead of taking baths, stop water leaks, turn off sink faucets when not directly using, flush toilets only when necessary, wash only full loads of laundry, used recycled water for lawns and gardens and car washing, wash a car from bucket and use hose for rinsing, use water efficient plants, water gardens in evenings or early mornings, sweep or blow off driveway instead of hosing them down, use drip irrigation and mulch for gardens and flowerbeds
Withdrawing Groundwater Advantages
useful for drinking and irrigation, available year round and everywhere, renewable, no evaporation losses, cheaper to extract than most surface waters
coal ash
waste from coal mining and burning that contains mercury, arsenic and lead
Groundwater Depletion Prevention
waste less water, subsidize water conservation, ban new wells and aquifers near surface water, retire groundwater withdrawal rights in critical areas, do not grow water intensive crops
indirect water use/ hidden water
water consumed in the preparation, production, or delivery of goods and services
flood irrigation
water is distributed over the soil surface by gravity; the most inefficient form of irrigation and most inefficient; loses 40% of water
visible light waves
waves we can see; colors of the rainbow; all colors have different wavelengths, travel at same speed-combine to make white light
Benefits of Reducing Water Waste
we waste 2/3 of the water we use through evaporation, leaks, and other losses; we can cut it to 15%; we charge too little for water; water is heavily subsidized; establishing lifeline rates (minimum) would be effective; lack of government subsidies for improving efficiencies of water use
ocean acidification
when CO2 dissolves in seawater, it reacts with water to form carbonic acid, which lowers ocean pH