Environmental Science (BIO107)- Exam 2

Name and describe one terrestrial or ocean effect of climate change (anything EXCEPT ocean acidification).

One ocean effect is warmer temperatures. The ocean absorbs most of the heat from climate change. Water is also better than air at holding heat

Which part of the atmosphere is known as "Earth's sunscreen"? a. Ozone layer b. Greenhouse layer c. Troposphere d. Carbon dioxide

Ozone layer

Describe what is a criteria pollutant is and name one of them in the U.S.?

There are six criteria pollutants that tribute the most to air quality degradation. One of them is SO2.

Describe one of the negative social or ecological effects of population growth in a developing country.

There is a lot of urban migration without urban planning.

What are the effects of ocean acidification?

1. Harder to build a shell 2. Slows animal development 3. Makes fish stupider

Negative effects of permafrost melting

1. Melting permafrost releases: - Methane - Carbon dioxide - Diseases and bacteria 2. Creates unstable land and sinkholes as ice turns to water and flows away

Which pH would be considered acidic? a. 2.1 b. 7.5 c. 11.8

2.1

What's the term for the measure of how reflective a surface is?

Albedo

What is the word that means "human caused"?

Anthropogenic

What continent has the largest human population? a. Asia b. Africa c. North America d. Europe

Asia

Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel? a. Petroleum b. Natural gas c. Biodiesel d. Coal

Biodiesel

Why do we talk about CO2 more than we talk about all the other greenhouse gases.

CO2 is the most abundant and it's the easiest greenhouse gas to limit.

What important greenhouse gas does the Keeling Curve show has increased steadily since at least 1958? a. Nitrous oxide b. Carbon dioxide c. Methane d. Fluorinated gases

Carbon dioxide

Which greenhouse gas is most potent? a. Nitrous oxide b. Carbon dioxide c. Methane d. Fluorinated gases

Fluorinated gases

Which of the following is NOT a proxy for past climates? a. Tree rings b. Ice cores c. Plate tectonics d. Ocean sediments

Plate tectonics

Define saltwater intrusion and how it could affect land or infrastructure around the Chesapeake Bay.

Saltwater intrusion is when saltwater pushes into freshwater from sea level risings. Negative effect on infrastructure: - Water treatment - Power plants - Sewage facilities

Define permafrost

Soil that is permanently frozen

Describe the greenhouse effect on Earth

Solar radiation enters the atmosphere, traps greenhouse gas, making the Earth warmer.

How does a power plant work?

Some sort of fuel that boils water and then that steam spins a turbine which rotate a magnet inside a coil of wires.

Which of these is NOT a method used for mining coal? a. Stump mining b. Strip mining c. Mountaintop removal d. Subsurface mining

Stump mining

Describe the process of ocean acidification.

The ocean absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere. CO2 mixes with water to create carbonic acid which breaks down easily releasing H+.

Which sector of the U.S. economy uses the most oil? a. Transportation b. Industry c. Electrical generation d. Residential

Transportation

Which layer of the atmosphere is closest to the Earth? a. Troposphere b. Lithosphere c. Stratosphere d. Thermosphere

Troposphere

True or False? Climate change will cause both warmer and colder temperatures.

True

Name and describe one natural cause of climate change

Volcanic eruptions. The eruptions add ash and So2 to the atmosphere, creating haze. Haze absorbs solar radiation.

Which of the following is NOT an anthropogenic source of greenhouse gases? a. Cement curing b. Burning fossil fuels c. Cattle feedlots d. Weathering of rocks

Weathering of rocks

What is atmospheric convection cell?

When air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure

Name and describe one non-fossil fuel source of energy (alternative energy) include some benefits and drawbacks of the source.

Wind energy, wind blows, causing the turbines to spin. Benefits: - land is still useable - cheap and easy to build - renewable - no emissions Drawbacks: - eyesore - bird strikes

Which of the following is NOT a driver of deep water circulation in the ocean? a. Temperature b. Salinity c. pH

pH