Bio 180 final test
c
According to environmental scientists, all of the following would strengthen U.S. air pollution control law, except: a. greater emphasis on prevent air pollution b. sharply reduce emissions from older coal-burning power plants c. relax controls on petroleum refineries d. improve fuel efficiency standards on motor vehicles e. stricter air pollution regulations on airports and ocean going ships
d
All of the following are advantages of deep well injection of hazardous waste except: a. compared to other methods it is not very expensive b. it is applicable to most types of hazardous wastes c. it is safe as long as site is properly chosen d. they injected wastes can never escape from the site e. injected wastes can be pumped out problems if develop later
coal disadvantages (3)
-severe land disturbance/water pollution -fine particle/toxic mercury -emits large amounts CO2 when burned
potential environmental impacts uranium mining (4)
-tailings -surface/ground water -communities and local landowners -windblown dusts
In the United Stated, about __ of all drinking water is pumped from aquifers
1/4`
Since 1987, the EPA has focused on particulate matter less than ____ microns.
10
The mining law that governs the exploration and mining of hardrock minerals on U.S. public lands was passed into law in what year?
1872
Approximately ____% Earth's water is fresh rather than salt water.
3
Approximately __ % of Earth's water is freshwater rather than saltwater 97% 10% 1% 3% less than 1%
3%
B, endocrine system
57. The system responsible for growth, reproductive development, and much of our behavior is the A. circulatory system B. endocrine system C. immune system D. excretory system E. digestive system
B, adrenalin
58. All of the following are synthetic chemicals that can act as hormone mimics or hormone blockers except A. dioxins B. adrenalin C. PCBs D. some pesticides E. DDT
d, vitamin e
59. The endocrine system is least likely to be disrupted by the intake of A. lead B. PCBs C. dioxins D. Vitamin E E. DDT
Between 1982 and 2007, U.S. mining companies received more than $ __________ in government subsidies.
6 billion
B, endocrine system
60. The intake of synthetic mimics can severely disrupt the A. digestive system B. endocrine system C. circulatory system D. respiratory system E. immune system
World Resources Institute estimates that___ of water people use throughout the world is wasted through evaporation, leaks, and other losses
65-70%
B, 2%
69. Of the 85,000 registered synthetic chemicals in commercial use, only ______ have been adequately tested to determine whether they are carcinogens, teratogens, or mutagens. A. 1% B. 2% C. 3% D. 4% E. 5%
Pure water has a pH of
7.0
D, The European Union
70. In which particular region of the world are scientists and health officials especially pushing for much greater emphasis on pollution prevention? A. The United States B. Russia C. China D. The European Union E. Australia
E, I, II, and III
71. Which of the following are your body's mechanisms for reducing the harmful effects of some chemicals? I. Break down, dilution, or excretion II. Enzymes repair DNA damage III. Fast cell reproduction to replace damaged cells A. I only B. II only C. II and III only E. I, II, and III
C, multiple chemical sensitivity
72. Some individuals can be responsive and highly susceptible to a number of different toxins. This is referred to as A. an acute effect B. a chronic effect C. multiple chemical sensitivity D. an antagonistic reaction E. a synergistic reaction
E, all of these answers
73. Evaluating the potential harm to humans of a particular chemical requires determining A. the sources and amounts of exposure B. the amounts absorbed and distributed throughout the body C. the amount excreted D. whether a child or an adult is exposed. E. all of these answers
A, a chronic exposure
74. A person receiving background radiation from a low-level radioactive dump site for a llifetime has experienced A. a chronic exposure B. a subchronic exposure C. an acute exposure D. a subacute exposure E. a superacute exposure
The United States, Germany, and Russia, with only 8% of the world's population, consume about _____ of the world's most widely used metals.
75%
C, an acute exposure
75. A person flying over the Chernobyl site two days after the explosion most probbly experienced ____ to radioactive substances. A. a chronic exposure B. a subchronic exposure C. an acute exposure D. a subacute exposure E. a superacute exposure
California's basic water problem stems from the fact that ___% of the population lives south of the Sacramento, but ____% of the rain falls north of it
75;50
C, an acute effect
76. A person experiencing dizziness after using a strong household cleaner is showing A. chronic effect B. a subchronic effect C. an acute effect D. a subacute effect E. a superacute exposue
A, a chronic effect
77. A person experiencing liver damage after a lifetime of alcohol abuse is showing A. a chronic effect B. a subchronic effect C. an acute effect D. a subacute effect E. a superacute exposure
C, an acute effect
78. A person with kidney damage after an acute exposure to a toxic chemical is showing A. a chronic effect B. a subchronic effect C. an acute effect D. a subacute effect E. a superacute exposure
E, all of these answers
79. Dose and response may be affected by the chemical's A. solubility characteristics B. biomagnification C. antagonistic and synergistic interactions with other chemicals D. persistence E. all of these answers
Depletion time is the time it takes to use up approximately _____% of the mineral reserves at a given rate of use.
80
D, some chemicals, whether synthetic or natural, are safe and others are deadly
80. Which statement is true? A. all chemicals are unsafe B. natural chemicals are safe, and synthetic chemicals are deadly. C. synthetic chemicals are deadly, and natural chemicals are safe. D. some chemicals, whether synthetic or natural, are safe and others are deadly. E. all chemicals are safe except those that cause cancer.
C, risk analysis
81. Which of the following includes the other four? A. risk assessment B. risk management C. risk analysis D. risk communication E. none of these answers
C, acid runoff to surface waters
82. High-risk ecological problems include all of the following except A. global climate change B. stratospheric ozone depletion C. acid runoff to surface water D. wildlife habitat alteration and destruction E. species extinction and loss of biodiversity.
Recycling aluminum beverage cans and scrap aluminum produces _____ percent less pollution than mining and processing aluminum ore.
95
Recycling aluminum beverage cans and scrap aluminum produces ____ percent less air pollution than mining and processing aluminum ore.
95%
Methane Hydrate
A changing Gulf Stream off the East Coast has destabilized frozen methane deposits trapped under nearly 4,000 square miles of seafloor, scientists recently reported. Since methane is even more potent than carbon dioxide as a global warming gas any large-scale release could have significant climate impacts.
Pesticide
A chemical intended to kill organisms that damage crops.
Rodenticide
A chemical or agent used to destroy rats or other rodent pests, or to prevent them from damaging food, crops, etc.
c
All of the following statements are true of landfills except: a. they release large amounts of greenhouse gases for a long time b. they have the potential to contaminate groundwater c. landfill leachate has less biodegradable materials than sewage d. The wastes buried in landfills degrade very slowly e. noise, dust, traffic, and vermin can be problems at landfill sites
What is nanotechnology and how can it be used?
AKA tiny tech; uses science and engineering to manipulate and create materials out of atoms and molecules at the ultra-small scale of less than 100 nanometers. It can be used in products for the home, skincare products, food containers, supercomputers, health improvements, remove industrial pollutants in contaminated air, water, and soil, purify water, turn garbage into breakfast, and so much more.
Why is so much energy (84%) wasted in the United States and what are some of the things that we waste energy on?
About 41% is unavoidably lost because of the degradation of energy quality imposed by the second law of thermodynamics. The other 43% is wasted unnecessarily, mostly due to the inefficiency of incandescent light bulbs, furnaces, industrial motors, most motor vehicles, coal and nuclear power plants, and numerous other energy-consuming devices. Also, many people live in leaky, poorly insulated, and badly designed buildings that require excessive heating in the winter and cooling in the summer. Also, the incandescent light bulb (wastes 90-95%), the internal combustion engine (wastes 80%), nuclear power plant (wastes 92%), coal-fired power plant (wastes 75-80%).
sanitary landfills
Areas where solid wastes are spread out in thin layers, compacted, and covered daily with a fresh layer of clay or plastic foam are called _____ _____.
Which of the following stated started in 1977 taking its full share of water from the Colorado River, resulting in much higher water prices downstream California?
Arizona
P.E.T.M
Around 55.0 million years ago, the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (P.E.T.M.) was associated with rapid global warming, profound changes in ecosystems, and major perturbations in the carbon cycle. This warming represents the only abrupt climate change that bears any similarity to what is happening today on our planet.
e
Artificial lakes created when humans dam up rivers, are called: a. aquifers b. aqueducts c. recharge areas d. estuaries e. reservoirs
c
As urbanization increases and natural soil surfaces are covered, the groundwater supply is reduced to... a. increased evaporation and transpiration b. decreased surface runoff c. loss of recharge area d. confinement of aquifers e.capping of artisan wells
The EPA's four most dangerous indoor air pollutants are
Asbestos, Radon-222, Cigarette smoke, and Formaldehyde.
zone of saturation
At a certain depth, the area where the spaces in soil and rock are completely filled with water is called the _____.
Why is coal considered the dirtiest of all fossil fuels?
Before it's even burned, the processes of making it available severely degrade land and pollute water and air. When coal is burned without expensive pollution control devices, it severely pollutes the air. Coal releases SO2 into the air and burning it releases large amounts of soot and can enter our lungs. It emits CO2 and trace amounts of radioactive materials and toxins (i.e. mercury).
Sediment pollution solutions
Better management of farms and forests; avoid large-scale disturbance of vegetation.
Agricultural activities
By far the leading cause of water pollution.
Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane
DDT; synthesized in 1874, dusted on crops
__________ is used in Particle Board, Paneling, Plywood, Foam Insulation
Formaldehyde
d
Fossil fuels and minerals are found in the... a. unisphere b. atmosphere c. hydrosphere d. geosphere e. biosphere
Sediment pollution
From clear-cutting, mining, and poor cultivation practices. Dramatically impairs aquatic ecosystems.
Toxic chemicals
From industry and mining, Effects include poisoning plants and animals, and affecting human health.
_____ is greatest polluting motor vehicle fuel
Gas
Least important
Gas 47%, Climate 31%
e
Generally, food chains are short consisting of three or four trophic levels. Which of the following is the best explanation of why food chains are so short? a. Most ecosystems do not have a large number of species in order to make longer food chains. b. The fluids inside of organisms cannot be efficiently transferred from one organism to the next. c. Because of the first law of thermodynamics which says energy cannot be created or destroyed but only change form d. Most animals are not efficient predators. e. Large amounts of energy are lost as you move from one trophic level to the next.
Which of the following is not a member of the group of nations that supply most of the nonrenewable mineral resources used by modern societies?
Germany
Climate change
Global warming affects precipitation which cause areas to get more rain and others less. Flooding flush more chemicals and trash into waterways, and droughts reduces rivers that dilute wastes.
c
Gray-air smog comes from suspended particles of... a. carbon dioxide b. ammonium salts c. soot d. carbonic acid e. ozone
Parking lots
Grease, toxic metals, and sediments that collector on impervious surfaces are a major source of nonpoint pollution.
e
Ground-level ozone in most major united states cities results primarily from... a. Burning coal b. Burning fuel for cooking c. producing electric power d. industrial emissions e. Motor vehicle exhaust
Which of the following is false?
Groundwater is stationary and does not move
Is Groundwater a Sustainable Resource?
Groundwater used to supply cities and grow food is being pumped from aquifers in some areas faster than it is renewed by precipitation.
c
Groups of different species living together in a particular place with a potential for interacting with one another is called a(n)... a. organism b. population c. community d. ecosystem e. biosphere
primary pollutants
Harmful chemicals emitted directly into the air from natural processes and human activities are called _____ _____.
Who is Amory Lovins and what important contributions has he made to environmental science?
He was an energy analyst who constructed a large, solar-heated, solar-powered, super insulated, and partially earth-sheltered home and office in Snowmass, Colorado, and an area with extremely cold winters. He has dedicated his life to show how such a shift toward a more energy-efficient world could be made. He's now helping lead the world into an energy future that's based on cutting energy waste to the home and getting at least half our energy from a variety of low-or no-carbon renewable-energy resources.
e
High quality energy is constantly... a. being made b. being recycled c. being destroyed d. becoming matter e. becoming low-quality energy
probability
How is risk expressed?
1.1billion people
How many people are without safe drinking water.
2.4 Billion people
How many people have no sewer or sanitary facilities? (mainly in Africa and Asia)
e
How many people in the United States die each year from air pollution related reasons? a. 25,00 to 30,000 b. 50,000 to 66,000 c. 75,000 to 110,000 d. 100,000 to 175,000 e. 125,000 to 350,000
d
Human inputs of outdoor air pollutants occur mostly... a. in rural areas b. in the mountains c. along the oceans d. in urban areas e. in the deserts
Which of the following is associated more with surface mining than subsurface mining?
It disturbs more land.
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbon molecules to which chlorine atoms are attached
Do you recommend any of the other mining methods described, such as in-place mining, biomining, ocean mining, or more? Why or why not do you think these methods should be explored?
I think in-place mining and biomining should be tested more thoroughly because they are naturally occurring bacteria used to remove desired metals from ores through wells bored into the deposits. It leaves the surrounding environment undisturbed and reduces the air pollution associated with the smelting of metal ores and reduces water pollution from releases of hazardous chemicals. Even though it's a slow process, I think it's totally worth it to explore.
Which of the following statements about desalination is true? desalination is the best approach to solving irrigation problems the common methods of desalination are osmosis and evaporation Desalination is expensive the greatest amount of desalination occurs in the US desalination is the best method of acquiring clear water for drinking
Desalination is expensive
e
Ecologists would make use of which of the following in their study of nature? a. field research b. geographic information system software c. controlled experiments d. remote sensing devices e. all of these
d
Ecology is the study of... a. human impact on the environment b. The abiotic elements of the environment c. The biotic elements of the environment d. how organisms interact with each other in the nonliving environment e. how evolution formed populations
c
Economic benefits of building large dams include which of the following? I. Storage of water used for agriculture and domestic use II. controlling floods upstream III. production a renewable energy a. I only b. II only c. I and III only d. II and III only e. I, II and III
If consumers paid the full market cost of mineral extraction and processing, all of the following would occur, except
Economies would collapse.
Pathogens
Enters water supply via inadequately treated human and animal waste.
age of person exposed, how well the body's detoxification system works, level of harm caused by the chemical, persistence, biological magnificaiton
Factors that determine the effects of a particular chemical.
Fecal coliform bacteria
Indicate fecal contamination of water.
Botanicals
Ingredients derived from plants.
b
Integrated waste management employs all of the following except... a. using refillable soft-drink bottles b. using disposable diapers instead of cloth diapers c. using reusable canvas bags instead of plastic or paper bags d. using tires for the construction of artificial reefs e. redesigning automobiles to replace steel parts with aluminum and plastic parts
integrated waste management
Integrated waste management focuses on... a. only waste production b. only waste recycling c. disposal without environmental harm d. disposal prevention e. a variety of priorities to reduce, reuse and recycle
Which of the following is NOT a problem of desalinization? It has a high cost It reduces soil salinization on irrigated lands It requires a large input of energy to accomplish It results in a large amount of concentrated brine that must be disposed of It reduces important ions in the water that are essential to plant growth
It reduces soil salinization on irrigated lands
The use of Grancrete to build houses has all of the following advantages, except
It requires more wood for construction.
Describe the U.S. General Mining Law of 1872. What problems existed with the law and what is being done to improve regulations?
It was designed to encourage mineral exploration and the mining of hard rock minerals-such as gold, solver, copper, and uranium-on public lands and to help develop the western territories. Under this law, a person or corporation can file a mining claim or assume legal ownership of parcels of land on essentially all U.S. public land except national parks and wilderness. Mining companies remove at least $4 billion worth of hard rock minerals per year from US lands and degrade the lands and leave behind a toxic mess. In 1992, the law was modified to require mining companies to post bonds to cover 100% of the estimated cleanup costs in case they go bankrupt but this would cost too much money for taxpayers. EPA and the government are working together to create to new rules guaranteeing that miners will pay all cleanup costs.
Describe two of the methods that governments can do to change the use of energy resources.
Keep prices of selected energy resources artificially low to encourage use of those resources. Providing research and development subsidies, tax breaks, and loan guarantees to encourage the development of those resources, and by enacting regulations that favor them. Keep prices of selected energy resources artificially high to discourage their use. Eliminating existing tax breaks and other subsidies that favor use of the targeted resource, and by enacting restrictive regulations or taxes on its use.
oligotrophic
Lake type used to describe bodies of water characterized by low amounts of nutrients in proportion to their total volume of water
e
Landfilling of solid waste has many advantages except: a. almost anything can be landfilled b. costs less than other options c. landfill site can be converted to other limited uses d. suitable landfill sites are abundant in the USA e. sanitary landfills are lined will never leak
Can Surface Water Resources Be Expanded?
Large dam-and-reservoir systems have greatly expanded water supplies in some areas, but have also disrupted ecosystems and displaced people.
a
Leachate from municipal waste landfills are often pretreated before it can be allowed at sewage treatment plants because: I. The nutrient content is too high II. contains heavy metals which are toxic to bacteria III. it may contain toxic organics a. I only b. II only c. III only d. I and III only e. I, II, and III
3
Let's visit the terrestrial chamber in your ecocolumn. If the grass is able to capture light and create a biomass that contains 300 kg calories, and then is eaten by your grasshopper which, in turn, is eaten by your spider, how many calories out of the original 300 will be available to the spider?
b
Life on Earth depends on interaction of gravity, the cycling of matter, and... a. cycling of energy b. one-way flow of high-quality energy c. one-way flow of matter d. The distraction of energy e. The consumption of matter
troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere
List the correct sequence of layers of the atmosphere from innermost to outermost.
Safe Drinking Water Act
Main federal law that ensures the quality of American's drinking water-monitors municipalities' drinking water for 200+ contaminants.
Uranium used to make super-hard steel for armor piercing shells?
Nonrenewable, metal resource
Petroleum used to make plastic for credit cards?
Nonrenewable, nonmetallic resource
Uranium used to generate nuclear power?
Nonrenewable/energy
b
Of the following cities, which regularly experiences the worst levels of photochemical smog that is enhanced by thermal inversions? a. New York City, New York b. Los Angeles, California c. Portland, Oregon d. Atlanta, Georgia e. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
a
One of the following statements is not true of phytoremediation: a. is a very expensive process b. it can be affected at shallow depth only c. requires less energy than most other methods d. it is relatively easy to establish e. it is not applicable to all hazardous wastes
e
One of the main disadvantages of recycling is: a. recycled products of low-quality b. recycling center significantly increase air pollution because they are unsightly and smell c. Products the recycling tend to be more expensive d. recycling is not a complete system because some things cannot be recycled e. The process has a negative net energy value
e
Organisms that complete the final breakdown and recycling of organic materials from the remains of all organisms are the... a. detritivores b. omnivores c. carnivores d. herbivores e. decomposers
d
Organisms that feed only on plants are called... a. detritivores b. omnivores c. carnivores d. herbivores e. decomposers
_________ ______ is characteristic of urban areas with many vehicles and a climate that is warm, dry and sunny
Photochemical smog
__________ ____ is formed when primary pollutants interact with sunlight.
Photochemical smog
c
Photochemical smog is characteristic of urban areas with many vehicles and a climate that is... a. cool, wet, and cloudy b. cool, dry, and sunny c. warm, dry, and sunny d. warm, wet, and cloudy e. warm, wet, and sunny
a
Photochemical smog is formed when primary pollutants interact with... a. sunlight b. water vapor c. sulfur dioxide d. oxygen e. carbon
c
Phytoremediation refers to the use of a. Photoelectric cells to destroy hazardous wastes b. enzymes and bacteria to destroy hazardous wastes c. plants to absorb contaminants from the soil or water d. high energy sources like lasers to destroy hazardous wastes e. none of the above
Nutrient Pollution Solutions
Planting vegetation to increase nutrient uptake.
Which of the following is NOT true of the disaster that befell the Aral Sea? It was caused by a water diversion project Populations of local animal species have remained stable Shrinkage of the Aral Sea has altered local climate Surface level of the sea has dropped by 22 meters Salt and sand from the dry sea bottom has spread as far as 300 km (187 mi).
Populations of local animal species have remained stable
aquifers
Porous water-saturated layers of underground rock and sand are known as _____.
What are some positive and negative aspects of using solar thermal systems?
Positive: net energy is moderated (active solar heating) to high (passive heating), very low emissions of CO2 and other air pollutants, very low land disturbance, moderate cost (passive). Negative: needs access to sun 60% of time during daylight, sun can be blocked by trees and other structures, high installation and maintenance costs for active systems, needs backup system for cloudy days, only works in new homes in areas with adequate sunlight.
Biological indicators
Presence of fecal coliform bacteria and other disease-causing organisms.
Nutrient pollution
Primarily Nitrate and phosphate pollution from fertilizers, farms, sewage, lawns, and gold courses.
d
Primary pollutants from burning coal include all of the following except... a. carbon monoxide b. sulfur dioxide c. soot d. ozone e. carbon dioxide
separating
Primary sewage treatment is mostly a physical process of _____ solids and liquids.
The __________ __________, which measures the magnitude of an earthquake, has units that are each 10 times stronger than the one below it.
Richter scale
Nonpoint Pollution
Runoff of chemicals and sediments from cropland, livestock feedlots, clear-cut forests, urban streets, parking lots, lawns, and gold courses.
The federal law that set maximum containment levels for water pollutants that cause adverse health effects in humans is the National Environmental Policy Act Safe Drinking Water Act Endangered Species Act Marine Mammal Protection Act Clean Water Act
Safe Drinking Water Act
Agricultural activities
Sediment eroded from agricultural lands is the largest source, but also included fertilizers and pesticides, bacteria from livestock and food process, and excess salt from soils of irrigated cropland.
c
Sediment pollution is made up of all of the following except: a. sand b. silt c. plastic d. soil e. clay
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
Seeks to protect human health from the 12 most toxic chemicals (includes 8 chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides/DDT can be used for malaria control)
____ ______ syndrome can be linked to headaches, coughing and sneezing, chronic fatigue, burning eyes.
Sick Building
d
Which of the following is not a reason we should care about the disappearance of the tropical rain forests? a. their loss will reduce Earth's biodiversity b. their loss will accelerate atmospheric warming c. their loss will change regional weather patterns d. their loss will mean more places to build cities e. their loss may push us beyond an ecological tipping point
Resistance Management
Strategies for managing genetic resistance in order to maximize the period in which a pesticide is useful. understanding you should change flea treatments each trts b/c it will get immune to it.
Surface Reflectivity (albedo)
Surface color Texture Angle of incidence
b
Which of the following is not a type of consumer? a. decomposer b. producer c. omnivore d. carnivore e. detritivore
d
The atmospheric layer containing 75% of the mass of earth's air is the... a. thermosphere b. mesosphere c. stratosphere d. troposphere e. tropopause
c
The biggest air pollution threat to poor people is... a. badly maintained automobiles b. pollutants from industry c. indoor air pollution d. smoke from burning forests e. dust blown into the air
e
The biodegradable wastes in the landfill can be expected to degrade and about: a. five years b. 10 years c. 20 years d. 40 years e. 50 years or more
c
The concept of integrated waste management means: a. an organized system to manage the solid waste produced b. a system for combining the solid, liquid and gaseous wastes into a single stream for more efficient management c. using both waste reduction and waste management approaches to deal with the solid waste problem d. a system for introducing management principles into the solid waste industry
c
The dirty dozen is a list of... a. 12 most polluting landfills in the USA b. The sites of the 12 most polluting oil spills in the world c. 12 most polluting organic chemicals that tend to bioaccumulate d. The 12 most contaminated contaminated Superfund sites e. The 12 most polluting heavy metals found in groundwater
b
Which of the following is not an abiotic component of an ecosystem? a. nutrients b. microbes c. water d. Solar energy e. Air
e
Which of the following is not an advantage of solid waste incineration? a. reduces the volume of wastes b. produces useful energy c. produces no water pollution d. emissions of air pollutants can be minimized e. can be located in an urban or residential area
b
The primary long for dealing with hazardous waste issues in the USA is: a. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act b. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act c. The Superfund Act
aeration
The process by which air is circulated through, mixed with or dissolved in a liquid or substance
transpiration
The process by which plants lose water out of their leaves is called _____.
transpiration
The process in the hydrologic cycle in which water vapor is released from leaves into the atmosphere is called _____.
Why does the United States have the lowest gas efficiency (miles per gallon) than most other areas around the world?
There was no increase in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) standards until 2008 and because mileage standards for popular trucks and SUVs are not as high as those for cars. Other countries have much higher standards and efficiency.
Using page 429 "choosing energy paths"... how do you predict changes in energy supply and dependence will likely change over the next fifty years?
There'll likely be a gradual shift from large, centralized macro power systems to smaller, decentralized micro power systems such as wind turbines and household solar panels. There'll also be a combination of greatly improved energy efficiency and the temporary use of natural gas will be the best way to make the transition to a diverse mix of locally available renewable energy resources. Because of their still abundant supplies and artificially low prices, fossil fuels will continue to be used in large quantities.
Can Water Transfers Be Used to Expand Water Supplies?
Transferring water from one place to another has greatly increased water supplies in some areas but has also disrupted ecosystems.
Water born illness solution
Treat sewage, disinfect drinking water, public education to encourage personal hygiene, government enforcement of regulations.
Nutrient Pollution Solutions
Treat wastewater
The atmosphere is dived into these spherical layers based on temperature changes from variations in absorption of solar energy.
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, and Thermosphere.
false
True or False: Air pollutants only come from human-made sources.
false
True or False: Carbon dioxide makes up 21% of the air we breathe.
false
True or False: Chemicals in the atmosphere combine with one another and with natural components of air to form new, harmful chemicals called primary pollutants.
true
True or False: Over the past 30 years, the quality of outdoor air in most developed countries has greatly improved.
true
True or False: Photochemical smog is a mixture of primary and secondary pollutants formed under the influence of UV radiation from the sun.
true
True or False: Pollution such as the Asian Brown Cloud can be cleared up fairly quickly when standards are set for coal-burning industries.
false
True or False: Secondary pollutants can be classified by the source of pollution, such as stationary sources or mobile sources.
true
True or False: The biggest pollution threat to poor people is indoor air pollution caused by burning of wood, charcoal, coal or dung in open fires in their houses.
true
True or False: The chance of getting lung cancer from radon gas is much higher if you are a smoker or a former smoker.
true
True or False: The troposphere contains approximately 75-80% of the earth's air mass.
true
True or False: There is considerable scientific evidence that human activities have resulted in increasing levels of CO2 and the warming of the earth's climate.
false
True or False: A "trophic level" refers to the ability of an organism to survive outside the optimum range in a range of tolerance.
true
True or False: A larger number of humans could be supported on the earth if more of them consumed grains, vegetables and fruit rather than eating meat.
true
True or False: All life is based on the power of the sun.
true
True or False: Although the world's tropical rain forests are only about 2% of the earth's land surface, they contain at least 50% of the world's land plant and animal species.
true
True or False: An ecosystem is defined as a community of different populations of species interacting with one another and their nonliving environment.
false
True or False: Autotroph is another word for a consumer in a trophic system.
true
True or False: Because carbon makes up such a small amount of the earth's atmosphere, even a small change, caused by nature or by humans, affects the earth's climate.
true
True or False: Each trophic level in a food chain or web contains a certain amount of organic matter, called biomass.
true
True or False: Ecologists make use of remote sensing devices and geographic information system software in their study of nature.
false
True or False: Greenhouse gases, including methane, CO2, and water vapor, make up 30% of the earth's troposphere.
false
True or False: Gross primary productivity is the biomass produced by photosynthesis minus the rate at which biomass is used for aerobic respiration.
true
True or False: In hundreds of years we have released large quantities of fossil fuels that took millions of years to form.
true
True or False: Most producers capture sunlight to produce energy rich carbohydrates through photosynthesis.
true
True or False: Nutrient cycles connect past, present, and future forms of life.
false
True or False: Only about 14% of the tropical rain forests have been destroyed or disturbed at this point.
false
True or False: Organisms that complete he final breakdown and recycling of organic materials from he remains of all organisms are called decomposers.
true
True or False: Photosynthesis is the opposite of respiration.
false
True or False: The "greenhouse effect" is a strictly artificial (human-made) phenomenon.
false
True or False: The extreme desert ecosystem produces the highest net primary productivity per year.
true
True or False: The hydrologic cycle is a way nature renews water quality.
true
True or False: The larger the number of trophic levels in a food chain or web, the greater the accumulated loss of energy.
true
True or False: The reason we observe a "pyramid" of energy flow instead of an energy flow "cube" is because the low ecological efficiency of a biological systems limits the number of organisms in the higher trophic levels.
false
True or False: Transfer of energy through food chains or webs is very efficient making, a lot of energy available to organisms.
true
True or False: While the troposphere is 11 miles thick above sea level at the tropics, it is only four miles thick above the North and South poles.
Physical indicators
Turbidity, color, and temperature.
There is a potential for conflict over water resources among all of the following except
Turkey and Egypt
What is the creation of new pests?
Turning minor pest organisms into major pests
Liquid biofuels such as biodiesel and ethanol are produced from what products? Give examples from different countries.
U.S. (ethanol from corn), Brazil (ethanol from vegetable oils), European Union (biodiesel form vegetable oils), China (ethanol from non grain plant sources to avoid diverting grains from its food supply).
Who has the world's largest coal ?
US
Septic Systems
Underground tanks separate solids from wastewater.
Which of the following is not a member of OPEC?
United States
Which five countries are the largest suppliers of nonrenewable mineral resources? Which resources does each of the five countries use and/or supply?
United States (imports all of its supplies of 20 key nonrenewable resources and more than 90% of its supplies of 4 other key minerals, has little or no reserves of manganese, cobalt, chromium and platinum and has 4% of the tungsten reserves), Canada (has 12% of world's tungsten reserves), Russia (coal), South Africa (largest producer of chromium and platinum), and Australia (coal). US, Russia, and Germany with only 8% of world's population consume 75% world's most widely used resources.
Is Desalination a Useful Way to Expand Water Supplies?
We can convert salty ocean water to freshwater, but the cost is high, and the resulting salty brine must be disposed of without harming aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems.
How Can We Reduce the Threat of Flooding?
We can lessen the threat of flooding by protecting more wetlands and natural vegetation in watersheds, and by not building in areas subject to frequent flooding.
How Can We Use Freshwater More Sustainably?
We can use freshwater more sustainably by cutting water waste, raising water prices, slowing population growth, and protecting aquifers, forests, and other ecosystems that store and release freshwater.
infiltration
What is the downward movement of water through the soil called?
poverty
What is the greatest risk in terms of the number of premature deaths per year and reduced life span?
2.5
What percent of the total water on Earth is considered to be fresh water?
.024
What percentage of the world's water supply is liquid freshwater that is available to living organisms?
Inverse
What type of relationship do Biological Oxygen Demand and Dissolved Oxygen have?
Cultural eutrophication
When Eutrophication accelerates due to human activities.
recharge area
When an area of land allows water to percolate down through it and into an aquifer, it is called a(n) _____.
biomimicry
When scientists study a termite mound to learn how to cool buildings naturally, they are using the science called _____.
methane
When sludge is digested using bacteria, what important gas is produced that can be used to produce electricity?
a
Which of the following is not one of the benefits of damming a river? a. blocking the migration pattern of indigenous fish b. producing large amounts of carbon free, renewable electricity c. preventing the downstream flooding of farms and cities d. creating a reservoir which provides boating and swimming recreation e. providing a dependable water supply for farmers and city dwellers
a
Which of the following is not one of the major processes of the water cycle? a. lunar tides b. evaporation c. transpiration d. precipitation e. all of these are major processes
b
Which of the following methods of agricultural irrigation results in the loss of the least amount of water by evaporation? a. conventional center-pivot irrigation b. drip irrigation c. laser level irrigation d. flood irrigation e. gravity flow irrigation
d
Which of the following terrestrial ecosystems or life zones produces the highest net primary productivity per year? a. temperate forest b. savanna c. tundra d. swamps and marshes e. extreme desert
d
Which of the following would not be an effective preventive measure for acid deposition? a. reduce coal use b. burn low sulfur fuel c. switch to natural gas or renewable energy resources d. adding lime to neutralize the acids e. remove SO2 and NOx from motor vehicle exhausts
c
Which of the following would not be considered a detritivore or decomposer in your eco-column decomposition chamber? a. earthworm b. pill bug (roly-poly) c. spider d. bacteria e. fungus
d
Which of these is generally not one of the benefits of recycling? a. reduces the emission of greenhouse gases b. reduces water and air pollution c. helps protect biodiversity d. it is the cheapest way to dispose of solid wastes e. most people feel good about recycling
d
Which one of these statements is not true of municipal waste incineration? I. produce small amounts of chlorinated organics like PCBs and dioxin II. heavy metals are the main toxic components of the ash III. The energy produced can offset the full cost of the process a. I only b. II only c. III only d. I & II only e. II & III only
d
Which one of these will not qualify as hazardous waste when discarded? a. house paint b. pain relievers like Tylenol c. brake fluid d. sewage sludge e. Duracell batteries used in toys
waste management
Which term describes a way to deal with the creation of solid wastes by reducing the environmental impact without trying to reduce the amount of waste produced? a. waste reduction b. waste recycling c. secondary pollution prevention d. integrated waste management e. waste management
dose-response curve
a method used be scientist to estimate the toxicity of a chemical by determining the effects of various doses on test organisms and then by plotting the results
Overpopulation and poverty force people to live on floodplains and deplete mangrove forests. Chances of flooding increase and death toll rises. This case best exemplifies
a negative feedback loop
chronic effect
a permanent or long-lasting consequence of exposure to a single dose or to repeated lower doses of a harmful substance
Broad-Spectrum Pesticide
a pesticide that kills a variety of organisms, not just the targeted organisms
The relationship between water demand and policies that subsidize water-thirsty crops exemplifies
a positive feedback loop
The Colorado River provides all of the following except
a sustainable water supply for an ever-increasing popualtion
The COlorade River provides all of the follwoing except irrigation for all of the vegetables grown in California's Imperial Central Valley 12 million kilowatts of electricity annually a sustainable water supply for an ever-increasing population none of these answers whitewater reafting and other recreational opportunities
a sustainable water supply for an ever-increasing population
What is an example of using pheromones and hormones to control pests?
a synthetic version of the insect hormone ecdysome, which causes molting was the first hormone approved for use. it triggers abnormal molting in insect larvae of moths and butterflies
threshold dose-response model
a threshold dosage must be reached before any detectable harmful effects occur
Water Quality Benchmark
a threshold value against which measured concentrations can be compared to help assess the potential effects of pesticides on water quality in a hydrologic system
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
a variety of pest control methods that include repairs, traps, bait, poison, etc. to eliminate pests
Which of the following is by far the leading cause of water pollution? sewage treatment plants ocean-going ships agricultural activities mining factories
agricultural activities
In California, the greatest user of water is
agriculture
e
all of the following are common disadvantages of solid waste incineration except: a. start up costs are relatively high b. incinerator ash is hazardous waste c. operators of incineration facilities have built-in incentives to encourage increased waste production d. incineration is noisy and often unsightly e. incineration is less expensive than other methods
Approaches in increasing the water supply can be outstripped by
all of these answers
Canada's James Bay Project to generate electricity involves
all of these answers
Humans increase the likelihood of flooding by
all of these answers
Humans increase the likelihood of flooding by all of these answers urbanization removing water-absorbing vegetations draining wetlands building on floodplains
all of these answers
Most irrigation systems lose about half of their water to
all of these answers
Overuse of groundwater can lead to
all of these answers
People have often settled on floodplains because
all of these answers
Sources of groundwater contamination include all of these answers none of these answers abandoned hazardous waste dumps deep wells used to dispose of liquid waste hazards industrial and livestock waste storage lagoons
all of these answers
Sustainable use of water
all of these answers
Sustainable use of water involves
all of these answers
The hydrologic will naturally purify and recycle fresh water as long as humans don't
all of these answers
The monsoon season can
all of these answers
Wasting water through irrigation could be reduced by
all of these answers
Wasting water through irrigation could be reduced by using organic farming techniques using computer controlled systems that monitor soil moisture none of these answers all of these answers treating urban wastewater and using it for irrigation
all of these answers
Water can be scarce because of
all of these answers
Water would be used more efficiently if
all of these answers
Quarantine
alternative to pesticides. Restriction of the importation of exotic plant and animal material that might harbor pests
Metallic mineral resource
aluminum and gold
Food Quality Protection Act
amended both the FDCA and FIFRA and revised the Delaney Clause by establishing identical pesticide residue limits - those that pose a negligible risk - for both raw and processed foods
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA)
amended over years to require testing and registration of the active ingredients of pesticides
dose
amount of substance a person has injested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin.
acute effect
an immediate or rapid harmful reaction to an exposure -- ranging from dizziness and nausea to death
biomagnification
an increase in concentration in organisms at successively higher trophic levels
bioaccumulation
an increase in the concentration of a chemical in specific organs or tissues over time
transmissable disease
an infectious disease that can be transmitted from one person to another
emergent disease
an infectious disease that first occurred and increased in the past 20 years and could increase in the near future. These account for at least 12% of all human pathogens. Ex: Zika Virus.
non-threshold dose-response model
any dosage of a chemical causes harm that increases witih the dosage
Genetic Resistance
any inherited characteristic that decreases the effect of a pesticide on a pest
water pollution
any physical or chemical change in surface water or groundwater that can harm living organisms or make water unfit for certain uses
Porous water-saturates layers of underground rock are known as
aquifers
Porous, water saturated layers of underground rock are known as watersheds runoff areas recharge areas water tables aquifers
aquifers
How do pesticides disrupt the balance of an ecosystem?
beneficial insects are killed as effectively as pest insects. kills other animals too. pesticides also kill natural enemies directly because predators consume a lot of the pesticide while consuming the pest. then the pest population rebounds and get big because no natural predators left. p.467
dominant renewable source
biomass
An important goal for a sustainable society is to make manufacturing processes cleaner and more sustainable by having them mimic how nature deals with waste. This is called
biomimicry
Nonpoint sources
broad, and diffuse areas, rather than points, from which pollutants enter bodies of surface water or air
Ecoindustrial parks are now being built or planned, some of them on abandoned industrial sites called __________.
brownfields
Bt
bacteria that produces proteins which are toxic to insects.
Soft Energy Paths
based on improving energy efficiency and increasing the use of various renewable energy resources
Hard Energy Paths
based on increasing use of nonrenewable coal, oil, natural gas, and nuclear energy
Why are monocultures susceptible to pest problems?
because only 1 variety of crop is grown there. it reduces the danger and accidents that might befall a pest as it searches fro food
Large dams and reservoirs
can be used to provide electric power
Active Solar Heating System
captures energy from sun by pumping a heat-absorbing fluid (such as water or antifreeze solution) through special collectors, usually mounted on a roof or on special racks to face the sun. Some of the collected heat can be used directly. The rest can be stored in a large insulated container and released as needed
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are all _____ based
carbon
most abundant element on planet?
carbon
Primary pollutants released into the atmosphere from burning coal include -
carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, soot, and carbon dioxide.
mutagens
cause random mutations in DNA
Which of the following is NOT a means of purifying water for drinking? exposing water in clear plastic bottle to intense sunlight nanofilters carbon nanotubes protecting watersheds from pollution centrifugation
centrifugation
hormonally active agents (HAAs)
certain chemicals that can mimic hormones
These lead particles are found or derived from
burning coal, leaded gasoline, smelting lead ores
Climate Forcing
change the balance maintained by the Earth between the amount of energy received from the sun, and the amount of energy radiated back into space. Variances in climate forcing are determined by physical influences on the atmosphere such as orbital and axial changes as well as the amount of greenhouse gas in our atmosphere. Climate Forcings are the initial drivers of a climate shift.
phase three of epidemiological transition
characterized by a leveling off of death rate with most death occurring from nontransmissable diseases associated with aging
phase one of epidemiological transition
characterized by extremely high death rates with peaks due to epidemics, famines, and wars
phase two of epidemiological transition
characterized by less frequent epidemic peaks and a dropping death rate due to medical advances
carcinogen
chemical or radiation that can cause cancer. Xrays, BHA, titanium dioxide, talc (found in makeup)
teratogen
chemical or virus that causes birth defects. The nausea medication given to pregnant women in like the '70s or something, caused birth defects ( like born without arms). also, fetal alcohol syndrome.
mutagens
chemical/form of radiation that causes mutations (changes) in DNA. UV Radiation
teratogens
chemicals that cause harm or birth defects to a fetus or embryo
phthalates
chemicals used in a variety of products such as PVC, teething rings, and blood storing bags that cause birth defects, liver cancer, kidney and liver damage, premature breast development, immune suppression, and abnormal sexual development.
epidemiological transition
chronic diseases overtake childhood infectious
Major water problems of the western United States include
chronic drought and insufficent runoff
The main goals of a dam and reservoir include all of the following EXCEPT ... generating electricity controlling floods supplying water for cities and agriculture providing recreational activities cleaning the water
cleaning the water
The global increase in water withdrawal since 1950 is due to all but which of the following?
climatic variation
2010/2011 largest sources of energy to produce electricity in US?
coal
Which of the following is not a type of metallic mineral?
coal
Synfuels
coal that's been converted into liquid fuels such as methanol and synthetic gasoline that's less air polluting when burned
A good indicator of water quality is the number of ___ present. coliform bacteria fish turtles protozoa ducks
coliform bacteria
Subsidence
collapse of land above some underground mines. Can damage houses, crack sewer lines, break gas mains, and disrupt groundwater systems.
CHP
combined heat and power system, where two useful forms of energy (such as steam and electricity) are produced from the same fuel source. Energy efficiency is 75-90% and emits 1/3 as much CO2 per unit of energy produced, as do conventional boilers.
50% energy
commercial and industrial
epidemiological studies
compares the health of people exposed to a particular chemical with the health of a similar group of people not exposed to agent
Mineral Resource
concentration of naturally occurring material from the earth's crust that we can extract and process into raw materials and useful products at an affordable cost
All of the following are available to improve water efficiency except
condensing water vapor from indoor air
High-Grade ore
contains a large concentration of the desired mineral
Low-Grade ore
contains a smaller concentration of the desired mineral
phase four of epidemiological transition
continues with a level death rate and shows an increasing average life span due to medical advances
Which of the following would most likely be used to mine coal on hilly terrain?
contour mining
Refining
conventional crude oil is transported to a refinery where it's heated to separate it into components with different boiling points in a complex process. This decreases the net energy yield of oil
By 2013 at least 36 US states are likely to face water shortages for all of the following reasons EXCEPT ... population growth drought cooling temperatures waste of water urban sprawl
cooling temperatures
Which of the following is not one of the important, but scarce, mineral resources?
copper
Petroleum
crude oil (oil as it comes out of the ground), is a black, gooey liquid consisting of hundreds of different combustible hydrocarbons along with small amounts of sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen impurities. Makes up 30% of the world's estimated supply of oil.
The process of human activities near urban or agricultural areas that inputs excess plant nutrients into bodies of water is known as synthetic primary productivity thermal pollution artificial fertilization lake stratification cultural eutrophication
cultural eutrophication
The common mining process used in the United States and Australia uses a very toxic chemical called __________.
cyanide
A common form of extracting gold from rock used in Australia and North America is
cyanide heap leaching
A common form of extracting gold from rock used in the Gold industry is
cyanide heap leaching
The main human activity that increases flooding is irrigation urbanization directing stream flow building dams destroying vegetation
destroying vegetation
genetic makeup
determines an individuals sensitivity to a particular toxin
Where is pesticide use increasing most rapidly?
developing countries that do not have regulations on pesticides
Point sources
discharge pollutants at specific locations through drainpipes, ditches or sewer lines into bodies of surface water
nontransmissible disease
disease not caused by living organisms and does not spread from person to person. Ex: diabetes, most cancers, malnutrition.
transmissible disease
disease that is caused by living organisms (bacteria, viruses, parasitic worms) can spread from one person to another by air, water, food, or bodily fluids (insects or other organisms.)
hormone blockers
disrupt the endocrine system by preventing natural hormones from attaching to their receptors
Shale Oil
distillated oil extracted from crushed oil shales (oily rocks), after they are heated in a large container
Desalination may be accomplished by
distillation
Which of the following is associated more with surface mining than subsurface mining?
disturbs more land
Water scarcity during a period when precipitation is lower than normal and evaporation is higher than normal is called
drought
Withdrawing too much water from an aquifer can cause all of the following EXCEPT ... land subsidence freshwater contamination with saltwater having to dig deeper and deeper irrigation wells sinkholes droughts
droughts
Suspended particles include
dust and soot, pesticides, sulfuric acid, PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls)
First-Generation Pesticides
earlier pesticides, both inorganic compounds and botanicals
A mineral becomes __________ __________ when it costs more than it is worth to find, extract, transport, and process it.
economically depleted
combination: work, heat, radiation
energy
Hybrid Car
energy-efficient, gasoline-electric car. Has a small gas-powered engine and a battery-powered electric motor used to provide the energy needed for acceleration and hill-climbing
Which of the following is not an advantage of using conventional crude oil as an energy source?
environmental costs included in market price
The location on the earth's surface above where an earthquake begins is called its
epicenter
The natural nutrient enrichment of a shallow lake, estuary or slow-moving stream is called eutrophication red tide upwelling oligotrophy overturn
eutrophication
a
example of a product that is part of secondary or open-loop recycling a. plastic bottle b. aluminum can c. food waste d. batteries e. yard waste
b
example of a waste product that can go through closed loop recycling a. plastic bottle b. aluminum can c. food waste d. batteries e. yard waste
d
example of hazardous household waste a. plastic bottle b. aluminum can c. food waste d. batteries e. yard waste
Coal is the world's least abundant fossil fuel
false
External geological processes tend to build up the earth's surface, including mountains and volcanoes.
false
In the U.S., coal-burning power plants produce less than 25% of the US electricity?
false
Mining companies have not been successful in pressuring the U.S. Congress to continue the current mining law, or in keeping the royalties at the current levels.
false
Mining operations produce one-third of all solid waste in the United States.
false
Most earthquakes occur near the center of a tectonic plate.
false
Soil that forms from the weathering of volcanic lava is not very fertile.
false
The higher the grade of ore, the higher the environmental impact.
false
The highest peaks and deepest valleys are on the continents.
false
The slowest of the earth's cyclic processes is the carbon cycle.
false
majority of uranium in US consumer today is mined in US?
false
The advantages of using microorganisms for mining include all of the following, except
faster removal of the mineral
Ecologically, the best way to approach flooding is
floodplain management
The place where an earthquake begins is called its
focus
Food Irradiation
food that is harvested and then exposed to ionizing radiation, wich kills many microorganisms.
Which of the following does mining not cause?
forest fires
stored energy from the sun/organic carbon based fuels with hydrogen
fossil fuels
Currently in the United States, groundwater is being withdrawn at __ times its replacement rate less than four times equal to ten times one half
four times
Currently, groundwater in the United States is being withdrawn____its replacement rate
four times
The portion of ore that does not contain the desired mineral is called
gangue
Lead has been eliminated from
gasoline
The tectonic plates are made of a combination of the crust and the outermost part of the mantle. This combination is called the
geosphere
Salad-Vac
giant vacuum cleaner that goes over crops and sucks up insects sucks insects through whirling fan blades, killing them instantly dead insects sprayed out the back of the salad-vac to fertilize soil
Stratospheric ozone is _____ ozone.
good
Whichof the following would LEAST likely reduce the nutrient loading into the Chesapeake Bay estuary? replanting riparian zones and sea grass beds government subsidies for cotton crops reintroducing native oyster beds improving manure containment lagoons in feedlots upgrading current sewage treatment plants
government subsidies for cotton crops
Most water resources are owned by ... governments states individuals cooperatives large multi-national corporations
governments
The environmental impact of mining depends on the percentage of metal content, or __________.
grade
Exposure to indoor Formaldehyde can cause
headaches, chronic breathing problems, dizziness and sore throats.
Geothermal Energy
heat stored in soil, underground rocks, and fluids in the earth's mantle.
Smelting
heating ores to release metals
The advantages of using oil shale and tar sand include all of the following, except
high net energy yield
Which of the following is not true of nuclear powered electricity generation?
high net energy yield
instant gratification
high pleasure that comes with potential harm later on
how would pie chart be different electricity compared to energy USE?
higher % coal
Many indoor pollutants can be found in our
homes
Cogeneration
how industries save energy and money using a CHP system
Floods and droughts are
human-activated problems
Many of the millions of miners that have moved into tropical forests and other tropical regions looking for gold use the very destructive technique known as
hydraulic mining
Proven reserves
identified deposits from which conventional crude oil can be extracted profitably at current prices with current technology
Reserves
identified resources from which we can extract the mineral profitably at current prices
risk analysis
identifying and evaluating hazards and their associated risks ranking them and making decisions about reducing or eliminating risks.
Using malaria as your example, explain the benefit of disease control.
if mosquitos are eliminated and pesticides are used then mosquitos disappear and people dont die from malaria anymore
How do pesticides increase crop production?
if theres less bugs eating your plants you are able to produce a lot more
Although often covered by other kinds of rock, which type of rock forms most of the earth's crust?
igneous
Granite is what type of rock?
igneous
Solar Cookers
in some sunny rural areas, people use these inexpensive items to focus and concentrate sunlight for cooking food and sterilizing water.
Stream Channelization
increases the rate of water discharge
It is important economically and environmentally sound to focus water resource management on
increasing the efficiency of the way we use water
The most environmentally and economically sound way to focus on water resource management is developing desalination plants increasing the efficiency of water usage increasing the supply of water controlling the mining of groundwater cloud seeding for rain and towing icebergs to arid regions
increasing the efficiency of water usage
There is increasing evidence that humans are _____ ozone in the troposphere and _______ ozone in the stratosphere.
increasing, decreasing
risk communication
informing decision makers and the public about risks
When thinking about the atmosphere you need to correctly sequence the layers from
innermost to outermost.
Nitrates and phosphates are examples of oxygen-demanding wastes inorganic plant nutrients sediments disease causing agents organic plant nutrients
inorganic plant nutrients
Pest
insect or organisms that kill crops
Nonmetallic mineral resources include all of the following except
iron
The largest use of water in the western United States is
irrigation
Throughout the world, the majority of water is used for ... animals and humans irrigation industrial uses transportation cooling towers of power plants
irrigation
Throughout the world, the most water is used for
irrigation
Methane
is a greenhouse gas that stays in the atmosphere for approximately 9-15 years. Methane is over 20 times more effective in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 100-year period. Human-influenced sources include landfills, natural gas and oil, agricultural activities, coal mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial process.
Aerosol
is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas. Examples are clouds, and air pollution such as smog and smoke. One source of aerosols is the burning of fossil fuels. Natural aerosols include sulfur dioxides from volcanoes & desert dust.
The Ogallala Aquifer has a fast recharge rate is a fairly small aquifer will be completely depleted by 2050 if current withdrawal rates continue is located in the Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan region is being used eight times faster than it is being recharged
is being used eight times faster than it is being recharged
The Ogallala Aquifer
is being used eight times faster than its being recharged
Which choice completes the sentence incorrectly? Cloud seeding
is most useful in dry areas
Riparian rights
is the only method that can be used to apportion water rights
secondary sewage treatment
it biological process in which aerobic bacteria remove as much is 90% of dissolved and biodegradable, oxygen demanding organic wastes
Which of the following statements about desalination is true
it is expensive
Why is IPM considered a systems approach?
it requires a thorough knowledge of the system-- life cycles, feeding habits, travel, nesting habits.
Nonselective Herbicides
kill all vegetation
Grass Herbicides
kill grass
Selective Herbicides
kill only certain types of plants
Herbicide
kill or inhibit the growth of unwanted vegetation
watershed
land area that delivers water, sediment, and dissolved substances via small streams to a major stream or river
Sterile Male Technique
large numbers of males are sterilized in a laboratory, usually with radiation or chemicals. males are sterilized. reproductive control strategy of pests.
Magma that manages to reach the surface of the earth is called __________.
lava
Toxic ____ particles in the atmosphere create serious health issues.
lead
agricultural activities
leading cause of water pollution
Which of the following is true of natural gas?
less CO2 than other fossil fuels
LNG
liquefied natural gas, natural gas can be converted into this at a high pressure and at the very low temperature of -260F
LPG
liquefied petroleum gas, when a natural gas field is tapped, propane and butane gases are liquefied under high pressure and removed as LPG
Which of the following is not a property of water?
liquid water changes temperature very quickly
Which of the following is a non-point source of water pollution? active and inactive coal mines sewage treatment plant logged forest factories electric power plant
logged forest
The disadvantages of oil shale and tar sand as an energy sources include all of the following, except
low potential supplies
Experts rate groundwater pollution as a medium risk ecological and human health problem low-risk ecological problem but high-risk human health problem high risk ecological problem but a low-risk human health problem high risk ecological and human health problem high-risk ecological and medium-risk human health problem
low-risk ecological problem but high-risk human health problem
Ozone in the ______ atmosphere it gets nasty, harming human health, vegetation and materials.
lower
Open Pit
machines dig very large holes and remove metal ores (such as iron, copper, and gold ores), as well as sand, gravel, and stone (such as limestone and marble)
When oceanic plates move apart, molten rock, called __________, flows up through the cracks formed by the movement.
magma
The severity of an earthquake is a measure of its seismic waves, and is called
magnitude
The middle, partially melted zone of the interior of the earth is called the
mantle
Energy Efficiency
measure of how much work we can get from each unit of energy we use. Each unit of energy saved eliminates the need to produce that energy, and it saves us money.
toxicity
measure of the harmfulness of a substance may determine the amount a human can take before it's lethal.
Examples of VOC's include
methane, chlorofluorocarbons, benzine, propane, Ethylene glycol Formaldehyde
Pathogens
microorganisms that cause a plant disease
A __________ is an element or inorganic compound that occurs naturally in the earth's crust as a solid with a regular internal crystalline structure.
mineral
Smart Grid
modernized electrical grid that uses analogue or digital information and communications technology to gather and act on information, such as information about the behaviors of suppliers and consumers, in an automated fashion to improve the efficiency, reliability, economics, and sustainability of the production and distribution of electricity.
When two continental plates collide they form __________ __________.
mountain ranges
neurotoxins
natural and synthetic chemicals in the environment that can harm the human nervous system
eutrophication
natural enrichment (mostly nitrates and phosphates) of a shallow lake, estuary, or slow-moving stream from natural erosion and runoff from surrounding land
The total amount of high-quality energy available after the energy needed to make it available is subtracted, is called
net energy
Total amount of useful energy available from a resource minus the energy needed to make the energy available to consumers
net energy
Useful energy/energy needed
net energy ratio
Which of the following is not a part of the life cycle of a metal?
new product
Photochemical (summer smog) forms when pollutants such as ________ and _________ react together in the presence of sunlight.
nitrogen oxides, organic compounds
Minerals and rocks take a long time to form and are called
nonrenewable
World energy %
nonrenewable 85%/renewable 15%
US energy %
nonrenewable 93%/renewable 7%
Water from a deep aquifer used in the manufacturing of a car is a
nonrenewable/nonmetal
The global increase in water withdrawal since 1950 is due to all but which of the following? agriculture climate change better efficiency of water use increased population industrialization
not climate change better efficiency of water use?
Nuclear Fusion
nuclear change at the atomic level in which the nuclei of two isotopes of a light element such as hydrogen are forced together at extremely high temperatures until they fuse to form a heavier nucleus, releasing energy in the process. Could provide a limited source of energy when controlled.
What part makes up 71% of the crust?
oceanic
The outermost and thinnest zone of the earth that is found under the oceans is called the __________ __________.
oceanic crust
Which part of the earth's crust makes up 71% of the crust?
oceanic crust
Which of the following is a point source of water pollution? parking lots urban land off-shore oil wells livestock feedlots cropland
off-shore oil wells
Tar Sands
oil sand, mixture of clay, sand, water, and a combustible organic materials called bitumen- a thick, sticky, tarlike heavy oil with a high sulfur content
Strip cutting
one segment of the crop is harvested at a time
A body of water can be depleted of its oxygen by... inorganic wastes organic wastes sediments and suspended matter organic compounds such as oil, plastics, solvents and detergents viruses and parasitic worms
organic wastes
pathogen
organism that produces/ spread disease (bacteria, viruses, parasites)
Unproven Reserves
other deposits of potentially recoverable oil. Consists of probable (50% chance recovery) and possible (10-40% chance recovery) reserves
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
The troposphere differs from the stratosphere in that it has 1,000 times less _____ by volume.
ozone
Narrow-Spectrum Pesticide
pesticide that kills only the intended organism and does not harm other species.
2010/2011 largest sources of energy in US was?
petroleum
Chemical indicators
ph nutrient concentration, taste, odor, hardness, and dissolved oxygen
Biomass
plant materials (such as wood and agricultural waste) and animal wastes that we can burn directly as a solid fuel or convert into gaseous or liquid biofuels.
Intercrop
plant mixtures of plants (alternating rows)
dose response curve
plot of data showing effects of various doses of a toxic agent on a group of test organisms. Threshold - is the dose at which a reaction begins. LD50 - is the dose that a chemical becomes lethal.
toxic chemical
poison, carcinogen, hazardous chemical, mutagen, teratogen. A chemical that can cause death or permanent harm.
aquifer
porous, water saturated layers of sand, gravel, or bedrock that can yield a significant amount of water
The relationship between water demand and policies that subsidize water-thirsty crops exemplilfies a negative feedback loop lag-time delay competitive relationship synergistic interaction positive feedback loop
positive feedback loop
Repurcussions related to the diminishing of the Aral Sea include all of the following except potential for economic growth in manufacturing human health issues from toxic lake bed sediments carried by winds change in microclimate of the area lack of drinking water for native populations loss of livelihood for fishermen
potential for economic growth in manufacturing
One of the most important and effective ways to reduce flooding is to .... build dams straighten and deepen streams preserve and restore wetlands encourage people to build on floodplains build floodwalls
preserve and restore wetlands
Which of the following would NOT reduce cultural eutrophication? instituting land-use control to prevent nutrient runoff removing shoreline vegetation dredging lake bottoms pumping oxygen into lakes preventing drainage or outflow from the affected lake
preventing drainage or outflow from the affected lake
In the West, most water use is based on
prior appropriation
risk
probability that something considerable will result from deliberate or accidental exposure to a hazard.
risk assessment
process of estimating how much harm a hazard can cause humans/the environment.
Coal Gasification
process that removes sulfur and most other impurities
Cellulosic Ethanol
produced from inedible cellulose that makes up most of the biomass of plants
Petrochemicals
products of crude oil distillation, used as raw materials in industrial organic chemicals, cleaning fluids, pesticides, plastics, synthetic fibers, plaints, medicines, and many other products
carcinogens
promote growth of malignant tumors (cancer-causing)
Which of the following uses the smallest amount of water? industry public drinking water transportation energy production irrigation
public drinking water
ionizing radiation
radiation from nuclear sources in the form of x-rays and UV radiation from the sun or sun lamps
comparative risk analysis
ranking risks
Which of the following conditions in the Himalayan watershed contributes to flooding in Bangladesh?
rapid population growth
Food,Drug, and Cosmetics Act (FDCA)
recognized the need to regulate pesticides in food but did not provide means for regulation
- removing sulfur from coal before it is burned - reducing energy use - switching to natural gas - improving energy efficiency
reducing acid rain or acid deposition
- modifying building codes to prevent radon infiltration - requiring exhaust hoods or vent pipes for stoves refrigerators, or other appliances that burn natural gas or other fossil fuels. - setting emission standards for building materials - use office machines in well ventilated areas.
reduction of indoor air pollution
minamata disease
refers to the neurological effects from mercury poisoning
Weather
refers, generally, to day-to-day temperature and precipitation activity.
The main purpose of sewage treatment is to... remove biodegradable materials from the water, and kill pathogenic bacteria kill pathogenic bacteria kill pathogenic bacteria and remove plant nutrients kill pathogenic bacteria and remove odors none of the above
remove biodegradable materials from the water, and kill pathogenic bacteria?
us energy 2030?
renewable energy
) Water from a flowing stream used to produce hydroelectricity is a
renewable/energy
Water from a shallow water table well used to make paint is a
renewable/nonmetal
Pesticide Chemicals Amendment
required establishment of acceptable and unacceptable levels of pesticides in food
Identified resources from which the mineral can be extracted profitably at current prices are called __________.
reserves
20% energy
residential
persistence
resistance to breakdown
One method of desalinization uses high pressure to force saltwater through a membrane filter. This method is called ..... distillation passive transport diffusion reverse osmosis active transport
reverse osmosis
Some countries are increasing their use of a desalination process that uses high pressure to force saltwater through a membrane filter with pores small enough to remove salt. This process is known as distillation reverse osmosis salinization waterlogging drip filtration
reverse osmosis
In the East, most water use is based on
riparian rights
Ore
rock that contains a large enough concentration of a particular mineral-often a metal- to make it profitable for mining and processing
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a large group of carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate at
room temperature
The majority of the oil pollution in the ocean comes from tanker accidents runoff from the land environmental terrorism "blowout" ruptures of oil rigs normal operation of offshore oil wells
runoff from the land
Which of the following countries has the largest proven reserves of natural gas?
russia
infectious disease
same as transmissible disease, spread from person to person. Caused by a living organism.
Non Metallic mineral resource
sand and limestone
To determine the presence and concentration of water pollutants, scientists are least likely to use... genetically engineered bacteria and yeasts chemical analysis of sediment analysis of indicator species satellite photographs chemical analysis of water samples
satellite photographs
Egypt's Aswan High Dam
saved rice and cotton crops during two droughts in the 1970s
Sandstone and shale are types of __________ rock.
sedimentary
Vibrations caused when energy accumulated over time is released, are called-
seismic waves
When energy that has accumulated over time along a fault is released, the result is vibrations called __________ __________.
seismic waves
Surface Mining
shallow mineral deposits are removed by this method, in which materials lying over a deposit are removed to expose the resource for processing. Generally begin with removal of all vegetation, including forests, from a site
Most of the world's rivers are
shared by two countries
All of the following would improve the Aral Sea ecological/economic situation except
shifting displaced fishermen to logging
The term subsidence refers to
sinking of ground water has been withdrawn
The term subsidence refers to intrusion of saltwater into a freshwater aquifer accumulation of silt and sediments behind a dam loss of water due to evaporation failure of the groundwater supply sinking of ground where water has been withdrawn
sinking of ground where water has been withdrawn
Ozone in the troposphere contributes to the formation of
smog
Photovoltaic Cells
solar cells, way to convert energy directly into electrical energy
tertiary or advanced sewage treatment
specialized chemical and physical processes that reduce the amount of specific pollutants left in wastewater after primary and secondary treatments
Waste soil and rock removed during surface mining is called
spoil
Delaney Clause
stated that no substance capable of causing cancer in lab animals or in humans would be permitted in processed food
Reproductive Control
strategy that suppresses a pest by sterilizing some of its members
Entomology
study of insects
When an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate the continental plate usually slides up and over the denser oceanic plate, pushing it down into the mantle, a process called
subduction
Which of the following is not a type of metallic element?
sulfur
germanys first defeat in war by the brits was mainly because
superior 100 octane fuel used in british planes
Which of the following is not a problem with burning coal?
supplies of coal are very limited
Farmers can reduce agricultural runoff by all of the following except switching from row crops to animal feedlots using no fertilizers on steeply sloped land keeping cropland covered with vegetation year-round planting buffer zones between cultivated lands and water using slow-release fertilizers
switching from row crops to animal feedlots
Large sections of the earth's crust, called __________, move slowly on the mantle below them.
tectonic plates
A __________ _____ is the result of a lid of warmer air sitting on top of a lid of cooler stagnant air.
temperature inversion
median lethal dose (LD₅₀)
the amount of chemical received in one dose that kills exactly 50% of the test subjects in a test population
dose
the amount of harmful chemicals that a person has ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin
optimum bias
the belief that risks that apply to other people do not apply to them
possibility
the capability of an event to occur
Climate
the composite or generally prevailing weather conditions of a region, as humidity, temperature, air pressure, precipitation, sunshine, cloudiness, and winds, throughout the year, averaged over a series of years.
biological magnification
the concentrations of some potential toxins in the environment increase as they pass through the successive trophic levels of food chains and webs
response
the damage to health resulting from exposure to a chemical
threshold level of toxicity
the dose below with no toxic effects are observed and/or above which the toxic effects are apparent
median lethal dose (LD50)
the dose that can kill 50% of the animals in a test population within an 18-day period
The volume of the world's fourth largest freshwater lake has been decreased by almost 75% to provide water for agriculture. The lake is located in
the former Soviet Union
How does a "refuge" of untreated plants help prevent genetic resistance?
the insect pest can avoid being exposed to the insecticide. the insects that live and grow in the refuge remain susceptible to the insecticide. p.466
probability
the likelihood of an event to occur
cigarettes
the only consumed product that does not list ingredients
risk
the possibility of suffering harm from a hazard that can cause injury, disease, economic loss, or environmental damage
Most water-transfer projects illustrate
the principle that you cant do just one thing
system's overall reliability
the probability that a person or device will complete a task without failing
The change of rocks from one type to another type is known as
the rock cycle
risk assessment
the scientific process of using statistical methods to estimate how much a particular hazard can cause to human health or to the environment
toxicology
the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on health.
toxicology
the study of the harmful effects of chemicals on humans and other organisms, or the study of poisons
The Ogallala aquifer is.... the third-largest aquifer in the world, and is considered non-renewable located in China undergoing severe salinization extremely small and has concerns about endangered species increasing by about 2 feet per year
the third-largest aquifer in the world, and is considered non-renewable
cigarette smoking
the world's most preventable major cause of suffering and premature death
Why are endocrine-disrupting pesticides of particular concern?
they interfere or mimic other hormones in humans/animals. p.470
Broad-Leaf Herbicides
they kill broad-leaf plants but not grasses.
Depletion Time
time it takes to use up a certain proportion- usually 80%- of the reserves of a mineral at a given rate
Examples of substances that have suspended particulate matter SPM <10 or PM-10 include
tobacco smoke, insecticide dust, oil smoke.
water-soluble toxins
toxin that move throughout the environment and get into water supplies and the aqueous solutions that surround the cells in our body
oil- or fat - soluble toxins
toxins that can penetrate the membranes of surrounding cells, because the membranes allow similar oil-soluble chemicals to pass through them allowing them to accumulate in the body and tissues
Tectonic plates move in opposite but parallel directions along a fault at a(n)
transform fault
Tectonic plates can move in opposite but parallel directions along a fracture or fault at a boundary called a
transform fault boundary
30% energy
transportation
Which of the following offers the greatest conservation of water?
trickle of water
Cleaning up surface mining sites worldwide would cost __________ of dollars.
trillion
Most of the earth's weather occurs in the
troposphere.
The atmospheric layer containing 75% of the mass of the earth's air is the
troposphere.
AL is not one of the important scarce elements
true
Almost one-fourth of the world's crude oil is controlled by states that sponsor or condone terrorism
true
An active volcano forms where magma reaches the earth's surface through a vent or a fissure.
true
At least 1,200 miles of Appalachia's rivers and streams have been buried by mining activities in the region.
true
Cutting energy waste is the fastest, cheapest, and most environmentally beneficial source of energy
true
Enough rock to equal the weight of 50 automobiles has to be removed to extract a palm-sized amount of gold.
true
Greater than 80% OF commercial energy used in the U.S. is wasted
true
If all nations extract metal resources at the same rate as developed nations do today, there likely will not be enough metal to meet the demand, even with extensive recycling
true
If all nations extract metal resources at the same rate as developed nations do today, there may not be enough metal to meet the demand, even with extensive recycling.
true
If geologists identify 10,000 possible deposits of a given resource, only one will become a producing mine or well.
true
Instead of asking how we can increase the supplies of nonrenewable minerals, we should be asking how can we decrease our use and waste of such resources?
true
Internal geological processes tend to build up the earth's surface, including mountains and volcanoes
true
Minerals are considered nonrenewable resources because they take so long to form
true
Minerals are considered nonrenewable resources because they take so long to form.
true
Net energy is the amount of useful energy available from a source minus the energy necessary to get it to the consumer
true
Nuclear power as currently generated in the US has a low net energy yield
true
Plastics could be used to replace many metals, but the plastics are made from oil.
true
Reserves of minerals increase when new, profitable sources are identified, and when technologies make it profitable to extract deposits formerly considered too expensive to remove
true
Rocks can be converted from one type to another.
true
Styrofoam blocks are now being used for bridge construction.
true
The 13 countries that make up OPEC have about two-thirds of the world's proven crude oil reserves
true
The Great Lakes formed as continental glaciers that retreated at the end of the last ice age.
true
The U.S. imports more than 50% of the oil it consumes?
true
The United States uses more than 20% of all the oil produced in the world?
true
The continents, riding on tectonic plates, have crashed together and separated several times during the earth's history.-
true
The continents, riding on tectonic plates, have moved thousands of kilometers, breaking apart and recombining over the earth's history.
true
The long-term global outlook for conventional natural gas supplies is better than that for crude oil
true
The most commonly used nonmetallic minerals are sand and gravel.
true
The most serious nuclear accident occurred in 1986 in Pennsylvania, United States
true
Tidal waves in the open ocean can travel as fast as jet airplanes.
true
To keep using conventional oil at the estimated increasing rate of consumption, we must discover proven reserves of oil equivalent to the current Saudi Arabia supply every 5 years
true
convergent boundary has a lot of influence on resource location/formation?
true
divergent boundary has a lot influence on resource location/formation?
true
humans get about same exposure to radiation from natural sources as manmade sources?
true
regualtions still need to be developed by VA depat mines (DMME) and VA depart health for company to proceed mining uranium in VA
true
transform plate boundary has VERY LITTLE influence on resource location/formation?
true
Large waves generated in the ocean by an earthquake, landslide, or volcanic activity are called
tsunamis
Which water quality test will best determine the disruption of photosynthesis caused by cloudy water conditions from sedimentation? temperature turbidity salinity pH dissolved oxygen
turbidity
Response
type and magnitude of negative effects on an organism in response to a dose.
The world's single largest cause of illness is ... poor health typhoid mosquitos unsafe water malaria
unsafe water
Ozone in the _____ atmosphere it shields away the harmful effects of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
upper
Radioactive radon is a product of ______ decay.
uranium
Some critics of nuclear power say new nuclear power plants should meet all of the following criteria, except
uranium must be available from friendly governments
Net Energy
usable amount of high-quality energy available from a given quantity of an energy resource. Total amount of useful energy available from an energy resource minus the energy needed to make it available to consumers. Calculated by estimating the total amount of energy available from the resource over its projected lifetime and then subtracting the estimated amount of energy used, automatically wasted because of the second law of thermodynamics, and unnecessarily wasted in finding, extracting, processing, and transporting the useful energy to consumers
Some analysts think we should be asking how we can decrease our __________ and __________ of nonrenewable resources rather than how can we get more.
use; waste
Strip Mining
useful and economical for extracting mineral deposits that lie in large horizontal beds close to the earth's surface
Feed-in Tariff
users installing solar panels get a guaranteed payment for 20 years for each kilowatt of excess energy that they feed into the grid
Solar Thermal System
uses different methods to collect and concentrate water solar energy in order to boil water and produce steam for generating electricity. Used mostly in desert areas with ample sunlight.
risk management
uses risk assessment to decide whether/ how to reduce a particular risk to a certain level and at what cost.
All of the following are cleanup methods of cntrolling cultural eutrophication except none of these answers using advanced waste treatment pumping air through reservoirs to avoid oxygen depletion harvesting excess weeds treating plant growth with herbicides
using advanced waste treatment
All of the following are ways the United States unnecessarily wastes energy, except
using geothermal energy
influent
waste water coming into the treatment plant
effluent
wastewater that has been treated and cleaned and is leaving the treatment plant
Which of the following statements about the Aral Sea is false?
water has been diverted from the Aral Sea and the two rivers that replenish its water primarily for use in manufacturing
Water is wasted because
water prices are artificially low
Water scarcity due to increasing numbers of people relying on fixed levels of runoff is called
water stress
groundwater
water that sinks into the soil and fills the cracks and spaces in underground soil and rock layers
which renewable?
water, wind, solar
The physical, chemical, and biological activities, part of the external geologic processes driven by energy from the sun, is called?-
weathering
Explain the effects of pesticides in terms of bioaccumulation.
when a persistent pesticide is ingested, it is stored usually in fatty tissues. Over time, the organism may accumulate high concentrations of the pesticide, aka bioaccumulation
c
which of the following components of a waste water treatment plant is designed to facilitate the decomposition of organic material by aerobic microorganisms? a. bar screen b. grit settling tank c. activated sludge tank d. chlorination tank e. ultraviolet-light array
e
which of the following is an effective alternative to chlorine for disinfecting waste water at a municipal treatment plant? a. freon b. alcohol c. phosphate d. mercury e. ozone
b
which of the following is not a method to reduce the output of solid waste? a. increase the efficiency of manufacturing processes b. design products that have built-in obsolescence c. eliminate or reduce packaging d. Institute a pay-as-you-throw collection system e. move from a materials flow to service flow economy
China's Three Gorges Dam .... will increase usable habitat for endangered pandas will be the world's largest hydroelectric power plant will have a very long productive life will displace only a few people will not destroy many towns or villages
will be the world's largest hydroelectric power plant
Of all the following organisms, the ones least likely to be affected by ocean debris are sea turtles whales zooplankton aquatic birds seals
zooplankton
agriculture
Most of the world's fresh water is used for _____.
Septic systems
Most popular method of wastewater disposal in rural areas.
how many think good idea to current VA moratorium stopping uranium mining in VA?
agree
Current Energy Imbalance
"Earth's energy imbalance is the difference between the amount of solar energy absorbed by Earth and the amount of energy the planet radiates to space as heat. If the imbalance is positive, more energy coming in than going out, we can expect Earth to become warmer in the future — but cooler if the imbalance is negative. Earth's energy imbalance is thus the single most crucial measure of the status of Earth's climate and it defines expectations for future climate change."
In 2004, the very large mining company Phelps Dodge bought public land in Colorado worth $155 million and paid how much for it?
$875
phase five of epidemiological transition
(proposed) shows an increase in death rate due to the reemergence of new infectious diseases due to urbanization and the overuse of antibiotics and pesticides
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
- A group of persistent, toxic chemicals that bioaccumulate in organisms and can travel thousands of kilometers through air and water to contaminate sites far removed from the source
Organophosphates
- Are "nerve poisons" or "nerve agents" that are the most toxic of known chemical agents - High powered OPP
Particulates can be removed from stack exhaust gases by (know the structure and basic understanding of these techniques) Output approaches
- bag house filters - wet scrubbers - cyclone separators - electrostatic precipitators
The major classes of outdoor pollutants found in the troposphere include
- carbon dioxides, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and photochemical oxidants.
Typically acid rain is a regional problem and is linked to
- contamination of fish with highly toxic methylmercury - excessive soil nitrogen levels - reduced nutrient uptake by tree roots - weakening trees so they can be more susceptible to other types of damage
Good ozone
- screens out ultraviolet radiation - allowed the evolution of life on land - prevents ozone from forming in the troposphere - helps protect humans from sunburns and cataracts
Humans are naturally protected from air pollution by
- sneezing and coughing - mucus and small particle capturing hair-like structures called cilia -nasal hairs filtering out large particles
natural gas advantages (3)
-ample supplies -high net energy yield -emits less CO2 then other fossil fuels
coal advantanges (3)
-ample supply -high net energy yield -low cost, but doesnt include environment cost
petroleum advantages (4)
-ample supply -high net energy yield -low land disruption -efficient distribution system
nuclear energy advantages (3)
-low environmental impact -low CO2 emissions -low risk accidents
natural gas disadvantages (3)
-low net energy of LNG -releases CO2 when burned -difficult/costly transport
nuclear energy disadvantages (4)
-very low net energy yield -high costs -radioactive wastes -promotes spread nuclear weapons
petroleum disadvantages (4)
-water pollution -environment cost doesnt include market price -release CO2 -vulnerable international supply interuptions
where do fossil fuels come from?
-wetlands -mining -drilling -burning
EPA studies conclude that - levels of 22 common pollutants are generally two to five times higher inside US homes and commercial buildings than outdoors. - In some cases these common pollutants can be 100 times higher inside US homes and commercial buildings than outdoors. - Pollution inside cars in traffic-clogged urban areas can be up to 18 times higher than outside. - The health risks from exposure to chemical pollutants are magnified because people in developed countries spend 70 -90 % of their time indoors or inside vehicles.
...
If the earth were an apple, then the lower layer of the atmosphere would be the thickness of the skin.
...
In 1948, Donara, PA - first documented air pollution disaster in the US.
...
Odor does not indicate the level of risk from inhalation of this group of chemicals.
...
The most harmful forms of SPM are fine particles PM-10 and ultra-fine particles PM -2.5.
...
While most people can smell high levels of some VOCs, other VOCs have no odor.
...
About ___% of the world's water supply exists as uncontaminated fresh water on or close to the surface and is readily available for human use.
.014
Clean Water Act
1) Illegal to discharge pollution without a permit. 2) Standards for industrial wastewater. 3) Funded sewage treatment plants.
Explain at least three economic reasons that drive the price / value of resources.
1) In a competitive market system, a plentiful mineral resource is cheap when its supply exceeds demand. 2) When a resource becomes scarce, its price rises. 3) Governments use subsidies, taxes, regulations, and import tariffs to control the supply, demand, and prices of key minerals to such an extent that a truly competitive market doesn't exist.
Groundwater Pollution Sources
1) Some toxins occurs naturally. 2) Pollutions from human causes.
Groundwater
1) This water becomes increasingly contaminated but is hidden from view. 2) Difficult to monitor. 3) Retains contaminants for decades and longer.
top five gold producing countries of the world?
1) US 2) Canada 3) russia 4) south africa 5) austrailia
least abundant lithosphere? (5)
1) copper 2) gold 3) silver 4) uranium 5) carbon (least)
what do we get our resources from?
1) elements 2) minerals 3) rocks
energy effect on resources (3)
1) materials concentrated 2) resources form 3) if understand energy can find resources
top 4 US
1) petroleum 2) natural gas 3)coal 4)nuclear
which following are considered non-renewable resources? (4)
1) petrolium 2) natural gas 3) nuclear 4) coal
most abundant lithosphere? (4)
1) silicon 2) al 3) iron 4) oxygen (most)
VA top 3
1)coal 2)nuclear 3)natural gas
top 4 world
1)petroleum 2)coal 3)natural gas 4)biomass
Toxic Chemical solutions
1. Legislating and enforcing more stringent regulations of industry 2. Modify industrial processes. 3. Modify our purchasing decisions.
What are three problems associated with pesticide use?
1. evolution of genetic resistance 2. imbalances in ecosystem 3. creation of new pests
In the United States, the mining industry releases almost __________ of all toxic emissions.
1/2
Outgoing Energy
30% of the incident solar energy is reflected into space, consisting of: 6% reflected from the atmosphere 20% reflected from clouds 4% reflected from the ground (including land, water and ice) 70% is absorbed by the Earth and reradiated as infrared: 23% is transferred back into the atmosphere as latent heat by water evaporation 7% is transferred back into the atmosphere by heated rising air 15% is transferred into the atmosphere by radiation 6% is radiated directly into space 19% is absorbed by the atmosphere (16% by the air, 3% by cloudse
It will cost the U.S. taxpayer approximately __________ dollars to clean up the 500,000 mining sites that have been abandoned.
32-72 billion
In 1975, which company began a Pollution Prevention Pays program?
3M
Typical rain has a pH of
4.6
Bottled water in the US costs 240 to 100,000 times more than tap water, yet ____ % of bottled water is contaminated by fungi and bacteria. 30 40 10 20 70
40
Air pollutants account for about ___% of the nitrogen in Chesapeake Bay <1% 40% 90% 10% 75%
40%
C, hair loss
40. The effects of neurotoxins can result in all of the following except A. behavioral changes B. learning disabilities C. hair loss D. attention deficit disorder E. death
D, all of these answers
41. Examples of neurotoxins include A. PCBs B. methyl mercury C. arsenic D. all of these answers E. none of these answers
B, hormonally active agents
42. DDT, PCBs, atrazine, bisphenol-A, and phthalates are all examples of A. insecticides B. hormonally active agents C. estrogens D. androgens E. plastic additives
B, Lake Apopka
43. In a study began in 1985, it has been found that male alligators are becoming feminized in which body of water? A. Lake Tahoe B. Lake Apopka C. Lake Victoria D. Lake Okeechobee E. Lake Washington
D, cause mutations
44. Mutagens A. are fatal to humans in low doses B. cause birth defects C. are harmful because they are flammable, explosive, irritating to skin or lungs, or cause allergic reactions D. cause mutations E. always cause cancer
C, DNA
45 Mutagens directly change molecules of A. protein B. carbohydrate C. DNA D. fat E. RNA
B, cholera
46. All of the following are expressions of harmful inheritable mutations in humans except A. hemophilia B. cholera C. sickle-cell anemia D. manic depression E. thalasseamia
B, cause birth defects
47. Teratogens A. are fatal to humans in low doses B. cause birth defects C. are harmful because they are irritating to skin or lungs D. cause mutations E. cause allergic reactions
E, all of these answers
48. Birth defects can be caused by A. radiation B. viruses C. chemicals D. a and c only E. all of these answers
C, iodized sodium chloride
49. Of the following chemicals, the lest likely to cause birth defects is A. PCBs B. thalidomide C. iodized sodium chloride D. steroid hormones E. heavy metals
According to the EPA, one in ____ Americans drinks water supplied by a water treatment plant that has violated one or more safety standards during part of the year. 2 10 4 5 3
5
According to the WHO, one in every _____ persons live in urban areas with air that is unhealthy to breath.
5
The United States subsidizes mining companies through depletion allowances that amount to _____ % of their gross income from mining and processing.
5-22
It is now necessary for the United States to import _____ of the 24 most important nonrenewable mineral resources.
50%
C, cancer
50. Carcinogens cause A. genetic defects B. birth defects C. cancer D. chronic health effects E. allergic reactions
E, all of these answers
51. Carcinogens may be A. viruses B. radiation C. chemicals D. a and c only E. all of these answers
C, immune system
52. The system responsible for defense against disease and harmful substances is the A. circulatory system B. endocrine system C. immune system D. excretory system E. skeletal system
B, antibodies and cellular defenses
53. Two lines of defense in the human body's immune system are A. antibodies and neurohumors B. antibodies and cellular defenses C. hormones and antibodies D. hormones and cellular defenses E. antibodies and antibiotics.
D, all of these answers
54. The immune system can be made vulnerable to allergens, bacteria, and viruses through the action of A. some synthetic chemicals B. ionizing radiation C. viruses like HIV D. all of these answers E. none of these answers
D, the uterus
55. All of the following are part of the nervous system except A. peripheral nerves B. the brain C. the spinal chord D. the uterus E. spinal nerves
B, endocrine system
56. Specialized cells, tissues, and organs which secrete hormones are part of the A. digestive system B. endocrine system C. excretory system D. circulatory system E. immune system
Use of Large Dams Provides Benefits and Creates Problems
A dam is a structure built across a river to control its flow. Usually, dammed water creates an artificial lake, or reservoir, behind the dam (Figure 13-2). The main goals of a dam-and-reservoir system are to capture and store the surface runoff from a river's watershed, and release it as needed to control floods; to generate electricity (hydropower); and to supply freshwater for irrigation and for towns and cities. Reservoirs also provide recreational activities such as swimming, fishing, and boating. Large dams and reservoirs provide benefits but have drawbacks (Figure 13-17).
Greenhouse Gas:
A gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. water vapor (H2O) carbon dioxide (CO2) methane (CH4) nitrous oxide (N2O) ozone (O3)
primary sewage treatment
A physical process that uses screens and a grit tank to remove large floating objects and to allow solids such a sand and rock to settle out
Natural Selection
A process in which individuals that have certain inherited traits tend to survive and reproduce at higher rates than other individuals because of those traits.
Which of the following is NOT a nonpoint source pollutant? Sediment loading from erosion Animal waste from feedlots Runoff of pesticides from cropland A sewage treatment plant effluent pipe Fertilizer runoff from urban lawns
A sewage treatment plant effluent pipe
tributary
A stream feeding into another stream is called a _____.
septic tank
A tank that separates solid waste from liquids and that has bacteria that breakdown the solid waste
We Are Using Increasing Amounts of the World's Reliable Runoff
According to hydrologists (scientists who study water and its movements above, on, and below the earth's surface), two-thirds of the annual surface runoff of freshwater into rivers and streams is lost in seasonal floods and is not available for human use. The remaining one-third is reliable surface runoff, which we can generally count on as a source of freshwater from year to year. During the last century, the human population tripled, global water withdrawals increased sevenfold, and per capita withdrawals quadrupled. As a result, we now withdraw about 34% of the world's reliable runoff. This is a global average. In the arid American Southwest, up to 70% of the reliable runoff is withdrawn for human purposes, mostly for irrigation (Core Case Study and Case Study that follows). Some water experts project that because of a combination of population growth, rising rates of water use per person, longer dry periods, and failure to reduce unnecessary water losses, we may be withdrawing up to 90% of the reliable freshwater runoff by 2025.
Reducing Freshwater Losses Can Provide Many Benefits
According to water resource expert Mohamed El-Ashry of the World Resources Institute, about 66% of the freshwater used in the world and about 50% of the freshwater used in the United States is lost through evaporation, leaks, and inefficient use. El-Ashry estimates that it is economically and technically feasible to reduce such losses to 15%, thereby meeting most of the world's freshwater needs for the foreseeable future.
____ _______ is a big problem in the eastern part of the US
Acid deposition
5.6
Acid rain, snow, fog, and cloud vapor typically have a pH of ...
Describe two advantages and two disadvantages for using conventional oil.
Advantages: high net energy yield but decreasing and low land disruption (waterways) Disadvantages: water pollution from oil spills and leaks and releases CO2 and other air pollutants when burned (will warm atmosphere and contribute to climate change)
What are advantages and disadvantages of having wind farms on land and on water? In addition, do you think bird deaths (on page 418) are a major cause of concern?
Advantages: moderate to high net energy yield, widely available, low electricity cost, little or no direct emissions of CO2 and other air pollutants, easy to build and expand. Disadvantages: needs backup or storage system when winds die down, visual pollution for some people, low-level noise bothers some people, can kill birds if not properly designed and located. I don't think bird deaths are a major cause of concern because those that killed birds were built with outdated designs and in migration corridors. Scientists have studied these corridors and redesigned turbines so as not to kill birds,
b
Aerobic respiration requires... a. glucose and carbon dioxide b. glucose and oxygen c. oxygen and water d. Carbon dioxide and water e. Carbon dioxide and oxygen
In a septic tank system, which of the following is NOT true? solids are decomposed by bacteria After leaving the absorption field, watewater is cleaned and can be used again for human consumption bacteria-treated waste is discharged into an absorption field grease and oil rise to the top in the settling tank wastewater is pumped into a settling tank
After leaving the absorption field, watewater is cleaned and can be used again for human consumption
d
All of the following statements are true of solid wastes, EXCEPT: a. No matter what we do, solid wastes will always be produced. b. The USA produces more solid wastes per capita than any other country in the world. c. Landfilling is the most common solid waste disposal option in the USA. d.In order to significantly reduce solid waste generation, Americans will have to accept lower a standard of living. e. Incineration is more expensive than landfilling.
d
All physical forms of water (solid, liquid, and gas) make up the... a. atmosphere b. lithosphere c. biosphere d. hydrosphere e. troposphere
recycled, less
An advantage of recycling aluminum rather than disposing of it in landfills is that aluminum can be produced by _____ metal using much _____ energy than is required for its production from iron ore.
Fungicide
An agent that kills fungi
b
An autotroph is the same as a... a. decomposer b. producer c. herbivore d. carnivore e. scavenger
environmental justice
An ideal whereby every person is entitled to protection from environmental hazards regardless of race, gender, age, national origin, income, social class or any political factor is _____ _____.
Genetically Modified (GM)
An organism whose genetic material has been altered through some genetic engineering technology or technique.
Water pollution
Any chemical, biological, or physical change in water quality that harms living organisms and makes water unsuitable for desired uses.
Synthetic Botanicals
Any of a group of human-made insecticides that are produced by chemically modifying the structure of natural botanicals
99
Approximately how much of the air we breather is composed of nitrogen and oxygen?
Groundwater Is Being Withdrawn Faster Than It Is Replenished in Some Areas
Aquifers provide drinking water for nearly half of the world's people. Most aquifers are renewable resources unless the groundwater they contain becomes contaminated or is removed faster than it is replenished. In the United States, aquifers supply almost all of the drinking water in rural areas, one-fifth of that in urban areas, and 37% of the country's irrigation water. Relying more on groundwater has advantages and disadvantages (Figure 13-11).
How are depletion times for resources calculated and why do experts get such different values from each other?
Calculates through analysis of amount of reserves and steps that can be taken to preserve them. Shortest depletion-time estimate assumes no recycling or reuse and no increase in reserves. A longer depletion-time estimate assumes that recycling will stretch existing reserves and that better mining technology, higher prices, or new discoveries will increase reserves. Longest estimate makes same assumptions, but also includes reuse and reduced consumption to further expand reserves. Experts get different values because they're using different assumptions about supplies and rates of use.
What are some long-term effects of pesticides on human health?
Cancer- lymphoma Breast cancer Sterility Miscarriage Birth defects Decreases body's ability to fight infection Potential connection to Parkinson's disease
c
Carbon is a major component of... a. water b. the oceans c. organic compounds d. the atmosphere e. hydrologic cycle
What are some short-term effects of pesticides on human health?
Caused by handling food with pesticide residue Mild: nausea, vomiting, headaches Severe: damage to nervous system, death
Pathogens
Causes more human health problems than any other type of water pollution.
Pheromones
Chemical signals released by an animal that communicate information and affect the behavior of other animals of the same species.
The largest estuary in the United States is Gulf of Mexico Chesapeake Bay San Francisco Bay, CA Lake Ponchartrain, LA Mobile Bay, AL
Chesapeake Bay
Ohio Cuyahoga River
Classic water pollution story. This river was so polluted with flammable chemicals that it caught fire several times in the 1950s and 60s as it flowed through the city of Cleveland.
b
Close loop recycling refers to the type of recycling in which... a. all the activities are carried out at the same site b. waste can be recycled over and over into similar products c. recycling were the energy generated is used to operate the facilities
Climate Feedback Loops
Clouds (could be positive or negative depending on type/altitude) Negative Feedback Loops (counter or reduce greenhouse effect) Chemical Weathering... removes CO2 from atmosphere Ocean Absorption... CO2 sink (limited, acidification, varies w/ warming) Primary Productivity... more CO2 = greater plant photosynthesis Positive Feedback Loops (exacerbate or increase greenhouse effect) Methane Release... from melting permafrost & ocean hydrates Forest Fires... spurred by warming/drying add more CO2 Ice Albedo... reduced ice cover increases surface albedo (absorption) Human Input... higher temps = more AC = more fossil fuel use
food webs
Complex networks of interconnected food chains are called _____ _____.
Persistent
Continuing to exist over a long period of time
Pesticide Treadmill
Cost of applying pesticide increases Must apply MORE or STRONGER pesticides Effectiveness continues to decrease. positive feedback
Which of the following is true concerning the possible mining of the ocean floor?
Countries cannot come to an agreement about who owns the minerals.
air pollution
Critics of incineration of municipal solid waste suggest that it may NOT be the best solution for the future because incineration contributes to ______.
What are two important benefits of pesticide use?
Crop Protection Disease control
We Can Use Less Water to Remove Wastes
Currently, we use large amounts of freshwater clean enough to drink to flush away industrial, animal, and household wastes. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), if current growth trends in population and water use continue, within 40 years, we will need the world's entire reliable flow of river water just to dilute and transport the wastes we produce each year.
We can convert salty ocean water to freshwater, but the cost is high, and the resulting salty brine must be disposed of without harming aquatic or terrestrial ecosystems.
Desalination is the process of removing dissolved salts from ocean water or from brackish (slightly salty) water in aquifers or lakes. It is another way to increase supplies of freshwater (Concept 13-5). The two most widely used methods for desalinating water are distillation and reverse osmosis. Distillation involves heating saltwater until it evaporates (leaving behind salts in solid form) and condenses as freshwater. Reverse osmosis (or microfiltration) uses high pressure to force saltwater through a membrane filter with pores small enough to remove the salt and other impurities.
Point source
Discharge pollutants at specific locations through drain pipes, ditches, or sewer lines into standing bodies of water.
Which of the following is NOT one of the solutions for water waste? Irrigate at night Line the canals that bring water to irrigation ditches Irrigate with treated urban waste water Avoid growing water-thirsty crops in dry areas Discourage organic farming
Discourage organic farming
Which of the following is true concerning the possible mining of the ocean floor?
Disturbance of the sea floor may release dangerous chemicals
What are some of the environmental impacts that result from mining? Explain.
Disturbed land, mine waste dumping, oil spills, and heat from the exploration and extraction in mining. Solid wastes, radioactive material, air, water, and soil pollution from processing (transportation, purification, manufacturing). Thermal water pollution, pollution of air, water, and soil, solid and radioactive wastes from use (transportation or transmission to individual user, eventual use, and discarding). Surface mining scars and disrupts land surface and destroys or degrades biodiversity when ricers are polluted with mining wastes and forests are cleared. Mining produces large amounts of wastes, which cause air, and water pollution and huge amounts of water used to process ore often contain pollutants such as sulfuric acid and arsenic and this runoff contaminates freshwater supplies and fish used for food. Also, toxic chemicals are released into the atmosphere.
US safe drinking water act of 1974
EPA set standards for drinking water quality and oversees the states, localities, and water suppliers to implement those standards
biomass
Each trophic level in a food chain or food web contains a certain amount of organic matter, called _____.
Read the three case studies on pages 421-424 (biodiesel, ethanol, algae/bacteria). Which method do you believe is the most practical and successful for getting energy from natural sources? Explain specific reasons why your selection has advantages over the other two methods using examples from the studies.
I think using algae/bacteria would be best because it hardly impacts the environment; it could be done anywhere, and doesn't release emissions in the process. Other methods don't yield as much energy, they're costly to do, and they emit pollutants like NOx and smog (biodiesel) and CO2 (ethanol).
Water could be used more efficiently if I. the price of use reflected its true cost II. laws governing access to and use of water resources were reformed III. water authorities were based on watershed boundaries II only III only I, II and III I and II only I and III only
I, II and III
d
If earth had no atmosphere, the main surface temperature would approximately be -15°C. With our present atmosphere earths mean surface temperature is approximately +15°C. Which of the following is the best explanation for this difference? a. reflection of incident solar radiation by clouds b. scattering of visible radiation by aerosols c. absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer d. absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases e. the breakdown of oxygen molecules in the thermosphere
c
If wastewater treatment plant effluent that contains nitrates and phosphates is allowed to flow into a body of water, which of the following may result? a. chlorination b. decomposition c. eutrophication d. oxygenation e. methylation
Municipal sewer systems
In populated areas, sewer systems carry wastewater.
b
In sewage water, ammonia comes from... a. feces b. urine c. fertilizer run off d. industrial chemical spills e. food products
Water Transfers Can Be Inefficient and Environmentally Harmful
In some heavily populated dry areas of the world, governments have tried to solve water shortage problems by transferring water to the dry areas from water-rich areas. For example, northern China contains rapidly growing cities, including Beijing with 17.3 million people. These urban populations have helped to deplete underlying aquifers. According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, two-thirds of China's 669 major cities have water shortages, more than 40% of its rivers are severely polluted, and about 300 million rural residents—a number almost equal to the size of the U.S. population—do not have access to safe drinking water. To help with this serious problem and to boost food production, the Chinese government is implementing its South-North Water Diversion Project to transfer 23 trillion liters (6 trillion gallons of water) per year from the Yangtze River in southern China to the thirsty north.
What are some of the environmental impacts that can result from coal ash? Explain.
In the US about 57% of ash is either buried (sometimes in mines where it can contaminate groundwater) or made into a wet slurry that's stored in holding ponds that can also leach into groundwater or break through their earthen dams and severely pollute nearby rivers, groundwater, and towns. A spill can also harm wildlife, ecosystems, and disrupt lives and biodiversity.
e
In the USA the largest fraction of the solid wastes is produced by... a. individuals b. the government c. industries and businesses d. farmers e. mining
e
In the United Sates, how many people get cancer from breathing diesel fumes from buses and trucks? a. 10,000 b. 50,000 c. 75,000 d. 100,000 e. 125,000
landfilling
In the United States, most municipal solid waste is disposed of by _____.
Poor Farmers Conserve Water Using Low-Tech Methods
Many of the world's poor farmers use small-scale, low-cost traditional irrigation technologies that are far more sustainable than most large-scale irrigation systems. For example, millions of farmers in Bangladesh and other countries where water tables are high use human-powered treadle pumps to bring groundwater up to the earth's surface and into irrigation ditches (Figure 13-24). These wooden devices are inexpensive (about $25) and easy to build from local materials. One such pump developed by the nonprofit International Development Enterprises (IDE) uses 60-70% less water than a conventional gravity-flow system to irrigate the same amount of cropland.
We Can Reduce Flood Risks
Many scientists argue that we could improve flood control by relying less on engineered devices such as dams and levees and more on nature's systems such as wetlands and forests in watersheds. One engineering approach is the channelizing of streams, which does reduce upstream flooding. However, it also eliminates the aquatic habitats that lie along a meandering stream by taking the water from those systems and sending it in a faster flow straight down a channel. It also reduces groundwater recharge and often leads to downstream flooding. Similarly, levees or floodwalls along the banks of a river contain and speed up stream flow and can lead to flooding downstream. They also do not protect against unusually high and powerful floodwaters such as those that occurred in 1993 when two-thirds of the levees along the Mississippi River were damaged or destroyed. Similar flooding occurred along the Mississippi in 2011.
Which of the following has no legal rights to the Colorado River
Mexico
We Can Each Help Out in Using Water More Sustainably
More sustainable water use would include a variety of strategies (Figures 13-16, 13-25, and 13-27) aimed not only at conserving water and using it efficiently, but also at protecting water supplies and the ecosystems that sustain them (Concept 13-6). Such strategies would have to be applied at local and regional levels, as well as national and international levels.
a
Most of the earth's climate occurs in the a. troposphere b. thermosphere c. mesosphere d. stratosphere e. tropopause
e
Most of the earth's fresh water is not available for use by humans because of what reason? a. It is polluted with mercury b. It is too far underground c. It is too salty d. It has traces of radioactivity e. It is frozen
d
Most of the ozone layer is found in which of the following? a. thermosphere b. mesosphere c. thermopause d. stratosphere e. troposphere
The worst volcanic disaster in U.S. history occurred when which mountain erupted?
Mount St. Helens
A type of wastewater treatement that includes some form of physical cleaning is I. primary treatment II. secondary treatment III. tertiary treatment
NOT I and III NOT I, I, II
The largest source of oil pollution found in oceans is from offshore drilling rigs in the Gulf of Mexico the Alaskan pipeline pipeline leaks near coastal areas oil tanker accidents transporting fuel between port cities urban and industrial runoff from the land
NOT oil tanker accidents transporting fuel between port cities urban and industrial runoff from the land?
They hydrologic cycle will naturally purify and recycle fresh water as long as humans don't all of these answers none of these answers overload it with slowly degradable and nondegradable wastes pollute water faster than it is replenished withdraw water from groundwater supples faster than it is replenished
NOT pollute water faster than it is replenished all of these answers?
Dams destroy agricultural land and scenic areas facilitate the migration of fish are relatively inexpensive to build provide downstream areas with nutrients prevent flooding
NOT prevent flooding destroy agricultural land and scenic areas?
In cultural eutrophication, most fish die from consumption of dissolved oxygen by bacteria that decompose algae reduced photosynthesis resulting in low oxygen levels toxic substances in the water acid deposition loss of space
NOT reduced photosynthesis resulting in low oxygen levels consumption of dissolved oxygen by bacteria that decompose algae?
One very important advantage that anaerobic wastewater treatment has over aerobic systems is they produce less sludge they are faster the provide natural disinfection they are less expensive they use fewer by-products
NOT the provide natural disinfection
- Particles that are heavier than air settle out of the atmosphere - rain and snow wash pollutants out of the atmosphere - winds sweep pollutants away - chemical reactions convert pollutants into benign( less health risk) chemicals.
Natural factors that reduce outdoor air pollution
A gas called ozone is formed:
Nitrogen Dioxide + Sunlight + Hydrocarbons = Ozone
Industrial facilities
Non point pollution that emits a variety of harmful inorganic and chemicals.
Mining
Non point pollution. When this is done on the surface, it disturbs the lad, creating major erosion of sediments and runoff of toxic chemicals.
What is OPEC and what power does it hold politically and economically?
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries have about 60% of the world's proven crude oil reserves and thus are likely to control most of the world's oil supplies for many decades. Members are Algeria, Angola, Ecuador, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. The OPEC produced about 39% of the world's oil in 2009.
Based on projections of how long the oil supply will last, do you believe any of the four options on page 375 need to be explored?
Out of the options: look for more oil, use less oil, waste less oil, or use other energy resources, the latter three are the most probable. Looking for more oil will deplete the land even more. However, using and wasting less oil will be good for the environment and for the amount of oil we have. Using other resources would be good if they were sustainable, safe, and had a high yield (not nuclear power).
d
Over half of the total mass of pollutants entering streams and lakes comes from... a. Point source pollution from sewage treatment plants b. Point source pollution from industrial plants c. Nonpoint source pollution from roadside run off and construction d. Nonpoint source pollution from agriculture e. Point source pollution from power plants
Overpumping of Aquifers Can Have Harmful Effects
Overpumping of aquifers can contribute to limits on food production, rising food prices, and widening gaps between the rich and poor in some areas. As water tables drop, farmers must drill deeper wells, buy larger pumps, and use more electricity to run those pumps. Poor farmers cannot afford to do this and end up losing their land and working for richer farmers, or migrating to cities that are already crowded with poor people struggling to survive. Withdrawing large amounts of groundwater sometimes causes the sand and rock that is held in place by water pressure in aquifers to collapse. This can cause the land above the aquifer to subside or sink, a phenomenon known as land subsidence. Extreme, sudden subsidence is sometimes referred to as a sinkhole. Once an aquifer becomes compressed by subsidence, recharge is impossible. In addition, land subsidence can damage roadways, water and sewer lines, and building foundations. Since 1925, overpumping of an aquifer to irrigate crops in California's San Joaquin Valley has caused half of the valley's land to subside by more than 0.3 meter (1 foot) and, in one area, by more than 8.5 meters (28 feet) (Figure 13-15).
d
Overuse of groundwater in coastal areas would most likely result in which of the following? a. rise in water table b. increase in streamflow c. bacterial contamination of surface water d. saltwater intrusion
______ has an impact on everybody in the population, especially the young, elderly and people with respiratory or cardiovascular problems.
Ozone
c
Ozone gas in the lower part of the stratosphere filters out how much of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation? a. 33% b. 20% c. 95% d. 67% e. 10%
Newer Pollution
Parking lots, use of plastics, and climate change form global warming
Are pesticides found in Antarctica
Pesticides move from the biosphere to the lithosphere to the hydrosphere to the atmosphere
Pesticide Mobility
Pesticides move from the biosphere to the lithosphere to the hydrosphere to the atmosphere
Nutrient Pollution Solutions
Phosphate free detergents.
We Can Cut Freshwater Losses in Industries and Homes
Producers of chemicals, paper, oil, coal, primary metals, and processed foods consume almost 90% of the freshwater used by industries in the United States. Some of these industries recapture, purify, and recycle water to reduce their water use and water treatment costs. For example, more than 95% of the freshwater used to make steel can be recycled. Even so, most industrial processes could be redesigned to use much less freshwater. GREEN CAREER: water conservation specialist Flushing toilets with freshwater (most of it clean enough to drink) is the single largest use of domestic freshwater in the United States and accounts for about one-fourth of home water use. Since 1992, U.S. government standards have required that new toilets use no more than 6.1 liters (1.6 gallons) of freshwater per flush. Even at this rate, just two flushes of such a toilet require more than the daily amount of freshwater available for all uses to many of the world's poor living in arid regions (see chapter-opening photo).
What are at least two of the five solutions for building new nuclear power plants in the future? P. 393
Reactors must be built so that a runaway chain reaction is impossible Its entire fuel cycle must generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other energy alternatives
Nuclear power is the slowest growing form of energy and it was projected to make up the largest supply. What factors account for why nuclear power has been slow to grow?
Reactors wear out and retired faster than new ones are built, has a low net energy yield, funded greatly by taxpayers and subsidies, and there's no political or scientific consensus on how to safely store the resulting highly radioactive wastes for thousands of years. There are also concerns about the safety of nuclear reactors from radiation, melting, explosion, etc.
Nutrient Pollution Solutions
Reduce fertilizer application.
a
Regulations that deal directly with the disposal of hazardous materials in the United States include which of the following? a. RCRA b. Clean Water Act c. Clean Air Act d. The Montreal Protocol e. NAFTA
desalination
Removing salt from seawater is a process called _____.
In your opinion which area is the most important
Renewable 38%, Medical 31%
Wind used to heat a house?
Renewable, energy resource
Wood used to build a house?
Renewable, nonmetallic resource
What are two ways in which industries can reduce their energy use?
Replace energy-wasting electric motors, which use ¼ of the electricity produced in the US and 65% of the electricity used in US industry. Most are inefficient and reducing them would save energy and reduce environmental impact of electric motor use. Recycling materials such as steel and other metals is another way to save energy and money. For example, producing steel from recycled scrap iron uses 75% less energy than producing steel from virgin iron ore and emits 40% less CO2. Switching ¾ of the world's steel production to such furnaces would cut energy use in the global steel industry by 40% and sharply reduce its CO2 emissions.
c
Respiratory illnesses in developing countries are most likely to be caused by... a. formaldehyde b. cigarette smoke c. particulate matter d. asbestos e. chloroform
What are current limitations that prevent renewable energy sources from making up more of the world's energy supply?
Since 1950, government tax breaks, subsidies, and funding for research and development for renewable energy resources have been much lower than those for fossil fuels and nuclear power. Although subsidies and tax breaks for fossil fuels have essentially been guaranteed for many decades, those for renewable energy have to be renewed by Congress every few years and this makes it risky for companies to invest in renewable energy. Prices we pay for nonrenewable fossil fuels and nuclear power don't include the harmful environmental and human health costs of producing and using them.
We Can Improve Efficiency in Irrigation
Since 1980, the amount of food that can be grown per drop of water has roughly doubled. And since the 1970s, the amount of water used per person in the United States has dropped by about 33%, after rising for decades. Most of these water savings have come from improvements to irrigation efficiency in the United States and other more-developed countries.
What happened at Chernobyl? What lasting impacts has it had on human health and the environment?
Site of the most serious nuclear power plant accident. On April 26, 1986, two simultaneous explosions in one of the four operating reactors in this nuclear power plants in Ukraine blew the roof off the building. The reactor burned for 10 days and a radioactive cloud spread over the whole world. By 2005, 56 people died prematurely from exposure to radiation released by the accident. The number of premature deaths ranges from 9,000 to 212,000. In parts of the Ukraine, some people can't drink the water or eat locally produced food. There are higher rates of thyroid cancer, leukemia, and immune system abnormalities in children exposed to the fallout.
Incoming Energy
Solar radiation (99.97%) This is equal to average solar radiation striking 1/4 the area of the entire surface of the Earth.) Note that the solar constant varies (by approximately 0.1% over a solar cycle) Geothermal energy (0.025%) This is produced by stored heat and heat produced by radioactive decay leaking out of the Earth's interior Tidal energy (0.002%) This is produced by the interaction of the Earth's mass with the gravitational fields of other bodies such as the Moon and Sun Waste heat from fossil fuel consumption (about 0.007%) - the total energy used by commercial energy sources from 1880 to 2000 (including fossil fuels /nuclear)
Some Areas Get Too Much Water from Flooding
Some areas have too little freshwater, but others sometimes have too much because of natural flooding by streams, caused mostly by heavy rain or rapidly melting snow. A flood happens when freshwater in a stream overflows its normal channel and spills into the adjacent area, called the floodplain. People settle on floodplains to take advantage of their many assets, including fertile soil on flat land suitable for crops, ample freshwater for irrigation, and availability of nearby rivers for transportation and recreation. In efforts to reduce the threat of flooding on floodplains, rivers have been narrowed and straightened (or channelized), surrounded by protective dikes and levees (long mounds of earth along their banks), and dammed to create reservoirs that store and release water as needed (Figure 13-2). However, in the long run, such measures can lead to greatly increased flood damage when heavy snowmelt or prolonged rains overwhelm them.
Groundwater and Surface Water Are Critical Resources
Some precipitation infiltrates the ground and percolates downward through spaces in soil, gravel, and rock until an impenetrable layer of rock or clay stops it. The freshwater in these spaces is called groundwater—a key component of the earth's natural capital. The spaces in soil and rock close to the earth's surface hold little moisture. However, below a certain depth, in the zone of saturation, these spaces are completely filled with freshwater. The top of this groundwater zone is the water table. It falls in dry weather, or when we remove groundwater faster than nature can replenish it, and it rises in wet weather. Deeper down are geological layers called aquifers, underground caverns and porous layers of sand, gravel, or rock through which groundwater flows. Mostly because of gravity, groundwater normally moves from points of high elevation and pressure to points of lower elevation and pressure. Some caverns have rivers of groundwater flowing through them. However, the porous layers of sand, gravel, or rock in most aquifers are like large, elongated sponges through which groundwater seeps—typically moving only a meter or so (about 3 feet) per year and rarely more than 0.3 meter (1 foot) per day. Watertight layers of rock or clay below such aquifers keep the freshwater from escaping deeper into the earth.
chemosynthesis
Specialized bacteria can produce their own food from inorganic compounds in the environment without the use of sunlight. This process is called...
Describe two other serious problems that nuclear power plants pose.
Storage of wastes and radioactive fuel rods presents risks because theses areas are vulnerable to terrorists and sabotage because the storage areas aren't as well guarded. There is also the question of how to dispose of the wastes because now we can really only store it, which isn't safe or long lasting.
Describe the difference between surface and subsurface mining techniques. Which do you think has less of an impact to the surrounding ecosystems?
Surface mining extracts mineral deposits that lie in large horizontal beds close to the earth's surface. Subsurface mining removes deep deposits of minerals in which underground mineral resources are removed through tunnels and shafts. This method is used to remove coal and metal ores that are too deep to be extracted by surface mining. Subsurface mining has less of an impact on surrounding ecosystems because it disturbs less than 1/10 as much land as surface mining disturbs, and it usually produces less waste material.
Second-Generation Pesticides
Synthetic poisons we use today like DDT.
reuse
Taking a refillable coffee cup to the office and using it instead of throwaway cups is an example of
How is tar sand and shale oil used to extract oil? Where is the largest supply of each found in the world?
Tar sand is used to extract oil by strip mining. The ecosystem (forests, wetlands, etc.) covering the ground is stropped away to expose the tar sand deposits. Then five story high electric power shovels dig up the tar sand and load it into trucks, which transport it to an upgrading plant. There the sand is mixed with hot water and steam to extract the bitumen and converted into a heavy crude oil for refining. The largest supply is found in Saudi Arabia with 20% of the world's oil reserves. Shale oil takes a lot of energy to extract and has a low net energy yield. It also takes a lot of water to produce shale oil (5 barrels water/1 barrel shale oil). Has a higher environmental impact and releases more CO2. About 72% of the world's reserves are buried deep in rock formations located primarily in government-owned lands in Wyoming, Colorado, and Utah (Green River formation and Bakken oil formation).
system reliability (%)
Technological reliability x Human reliability
________ ______ exacerbate or enhance pollution problems.
Temperature inversions
e
The Asian Brown Cloud is approximately the size of a. Tibet b. Shanghai c. India d. China and India e. continental U.S.
Biological Oxygen Demand
The amount of oxygen used for biological decomposition.
Most of the Earth's Freshwater Is Not Available to Us
The earth is often called the blue planet because of its abundance of water in all forms: liquid, solid (ice), and gas (water vapor). However, only a tiny fraction—about 0.024% of the planet's enormous water supply—is readily available to us as liquid freshwater, stored in accessible underground deposits and in lakes, rivers, and streams. The rest is in the salty oceans (about 96.5% of the earth's volume of liquid water), in frozen polar ice caps and glaciers (1.7%), and in underground aquifers (1.7%) (see Figure 25, Supplement 6). Fortunately, the world's freshwater supply is continually recycled, purified, and distributed in the earth's hydrologic cycle (see Figure 3-15). This irreplaceable water recycling and purification system works well, unless we alter it, overload it with pollutants, or withdraw freshwater from underground and surface water supplies faster than it can be replenished.
e
The first (highest) priority of integrated waste management includes all of the following except... a. use products that are less harmful to humans and the environment b. reduce packaging of products to a minimum c. manufacture mostly reusable and recyclable products d. change industrial processes to reduce and eliminate harmful chemicals e. compost biodegradable wastes
surface water
The freshwater from precipitation and melted snow that flows across the earth's land surface and into lakes, streams, wetlands, rivers, estuaries, and ultimately into the oceans, is called _____.
aquifer
The geological layer consisting of underground caverns and porous layers of sand, gravel, or bedrock that trap groundwater is called a(n) _____.
Global Energy Balance
The global energy balance is the balance between incoming energy from the Sun and outgoing heat from the Earth. The global energy balance regulates the state of the Earth's climate, and modifications to it as a result of natural and man-made climate forcings and resultant feedback loops, cause the global climate to change.
polar ice caps and glaciers
The greatest amount of freshwater is found in...
water
The hydrologic cycle is the movement of _____.
watershed
The land from which surface water drains into a particular lake, river or other body of water is called a(n) _____.
c
The largest fraction of wastes buried in American landfills is made up of: a. plastics b. food waste c. paper d. yard waste e. metals
unknown
The largest generation of hazardous waste in the USA is a. Chemical companies b. The oil petroleum companies c. The military d. agribusinesses in the lawn care companies e. coal mining companies
a
The last stage and priority of the concept of integrated waste management are all of the following except... a. reuse and recycle waste products b. use landfills for waste disposal c. waste incineration d. use dilution and dispersal as a disposal option e. use chemical treatment to reduce the toxicity of wastes
b
The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in a sample of river water suggests which of the following? a. The pH of the river is very high b. The water is contaminated with animal waste c. The river is devoid of plant life d. dissolved oxygen level of the river is high e. Fish caught from the river will be free of parasites
Describe why an energy source might have a high net energy yield or a low net energy yield. What actions are put in to place in order to account for low net energy yields?
The location and ease of access of an energy source helps determine the net energy yield. For example, most conventional oil has a high net energy ration because for many years, much of it has come form large concentrated deposits if light crude oil found not too deep underground or under the ocean floor in fairly shallow water. As these sources become depleted, oil producers have to use more energy and money to develop more dispersed and often smaller deposits that are found deeper underground or under the sea bottom. As this occurs, the net energy ratio of conventional oil declines. The actions put into place are that many governments subsidize the source that has a low net energy yield to make it available because it can't compete in the open market unless US gov't (taxpayers) provides it with large tax breaks/subsidies
Freshwater Shortages Will Grow
The main factors that cause water scarcity in any particular area are a dry climate, drought, too many people using a freshwater supply more quickly than it can be replenished, and inefficient use of freshwater. Figure 13-9 shows the current degree of scarcity stress—a measure based on a comparison of the amount of freshwater available with the amount used by humans—faced by each of the world's major river systems. Like the Colorado River (Core Case Study), major rivers including the Nile, Jordan, Yangtze, and Ganges are stressed so highly that their flows regularly dwindle to almost nothing in some locations.
Eutrophication
The natural nutrient enrichment of a shallow lake, estuary, or slow-moving stream, mostly from runoff of plan nutrients from surrounding land.
e
The parts of the earth's air, water, and soil where life is found is called the... a. organism b. population c. Community d. ecosystem e. biosphere
Physical treatment
The physical removal of contaminants in settling tanks.
Crop Rotation
The practice of rotating use of different fields from crop to crop each year, to avoid exhausting the soil.
Mining
The third biggest source of water pollution.
e
The typical percentage of high quality energy loss in transfers from one trophic level to the next is about... a. 1% b. 5% c. 35% d. 60% e. 90%
a
The very necessary process of breaking down the dead bodies of organisms is a function of... a. detritivores b. omnivores c. carnivores d. herbivores e. producers
Which of the following statements about fresh water in the United States is false?
The western United States has worked out amiable water use among farmers and urban dwellers
What are the three main challenges to using hydrogen as a fuel source?
There's hardly any hydrogen gas (H2) in the earth's atmosphere, so it must be produced from environmental hydrogen, which is chemically locked up in water and in organic compounds. It tales energy and money to produce H2 and it would take more energy to make than we'd get (negative net energy yield). Fuel cells are the best way to use H2 to produce electricity, but current versions of fuel cells are expensive. Whether or not a hydrogen-based energy system produces less outdoor air pollution and CO2 than a fossil fuel system depends on the H2 is produced.
Plastics
These are everywhere in aquatic environments, and cause damage to animals in their whole form or to smaller organisms when the plastics have started to break down into small particles.
Industrial facilities
These are the second major source of water pollution
Developed countries
These countries have laws that help control point source pollution and discharge of toxic chemicals.
Carbamates
They are broad-spectrum insecticides and are not as toxic as organophosphates to humans though they do show broad, non-target toxicity. Sevin dust is an example.
What is the Goldman Environmental Prize, and what did Maria Gunnoe do to earn one?
This award is considered the "Nobel Prize for the Environment" and it recognizes grassroots environmental leaders from around the world and their extraordinary leaders from around the world and their extraordinary efforts to protect the natural world and human rights. A coal mine began to work on a mountaintop removal on a ridge above her house in 2000 and it flooded her property 7 times, covered her yard with toxic sludge, contaminated her well and groundwater, and forced her family to use bottled water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. The coal company took no responsibility so she turned into a fearless community organizer and advocate for environmental justice in the Appalachian coalfields. She speaks all over the nation and is recognized as an inspiring leader in her fight against some of the world's wealthiest and most powerful coal companies.
Nonpoint source
This type of pollution are broad, diffuse areas, rather than points, from which pollutants enter bodies of water.
secondary recycling
This type of recycling is when materials are converted into different products.
Describe three ways that either new or existing buildings can save energy and money by incorporating different practices into their design.
Use green architecture- use natural lighting, passive solar heating, solar cells, solar hot water heaters, recycled wastewater, and energy-efficient appliances and lighting. Insulate buildings and plug leaks to save money and energy and use less heating/cooling. Use energy-efficient windows- cuts expensive heat losses, lessens cooling costs, and reduces heating system CO2 emissions.
Biological Control
Use of naturally occurring disease organisms, parasites or predators to control pests (ex: Bt)
When a resource has been economically depleted, we can do all of the following, except
Use other supplies.
Hydropower has the potential to provide much more of the world's energy. If hydropower systems continue to be developed, what environmental impacts could result?
Uses kinetic energy of flowing and falling water to produce electricity. Existing reservoirs will fill with silt and become useless faster than new systems are built. Also, there's growing concern over emissions of methane, potent greenhouse gas, from the decomposition of submerged vegetation in hydropower plant reservoirs, especially in warm climates. The world's largest dams together are already the single largest human-caused source of methane. Large land disturbance, and disrupts (aquatic) ecosystems.
percolation
Vertical and lateral movement of water through spaces between soil and rock layers is called _____.
Thermal pollution
Warmer water holds lest water. Industrial cooling heats water and removing streamside cover also raises water temp.
industrial waste
Waste from factories, mines and farms is classified as _____ _____.
municipal solid waste
Waste that includes paper, food wastes, cans, bottles, yard waste, glass, wood, and similar items is called _____ _____ _____.
hazardous waste
Waste that must be stored safely for many thousands of years is classified as _____ _____.
Which statement about the Aral Sea is false? Water has been diverted from the Aral Sea and its two tributaries primarily for manufacturing the surface area of the Aral Sea has decreased by more than 50% All native fish species have disappeared from the Aral Sea The volume of the Aral Sea has dropped by over 75% The salinity level of the Aral Sea has increased threefold
Water has been diverted from the Aral Sea and its two tributaries primarily for manufacturing
Secondary treatment
Water is stirred and aerated so aerobic bacteria degrade organic pollutants. A biological process.
Point source
Water pollution coming from a single source.
Nonpoint source
Water pollution coming from dispersed sources.
Point source
Water pollution that is located at specific places, they are fairly easy to identify, monitor, and regulate.
Wastewater
Water that has been used by people in some way; includes sewage, showers, sinks, manufacturing, storm water runoff.
Will We Have Enough Usable Water?
We are using available freshwater unsustainably by wasting it, polluting it, and underpricing this irreplaceable natural resource. Freshwater supplies are not evenly distributed, and one of every six people on the planet does not have adequate access to clean water.
Freshwater Is an Irreplaceable Resource That We Are Managing Poorly
We live on a planet that is unique to our solar system because of a precious layer of water—most of it saltwater—covering about 71% of its surface (see Figure 8-2, and Figure 25, Supplement 6). Look in the mirror. What you see is about 60% water, most of it inside your cells. Water is an amazing and irreplaceable chemical with unique properties that help to keep us and other species alive (see Science Focus 3.2). You could survive for several weeks without food, but for only a few days without freshwater, or water that contains very low levels of dissolved salts.
flammable or explosive, irritating or damaging to the skin or lungs, interfering with oxygen uptake, inducing allergic reactions
What are some characteristics of hazardous chemicals?
tuberculosis, HIV, ebola, influenza, dysemitry
What are some exampleps of transmissable diseases?
diabetes, bronchitis, malnutrition
What are some examples of nontransmissable diseases?
urea, cyanide, formaldehyde, methanol, ammonia, acetone
What are some of the ingredients that cigarettes may include?
earthquakes, volcanoes, ionizing radiation
What are some types of physical hazards?
cultural (poor diet, drugs, driving, assault), chemical (harmful chemicals in the air, water, soil, and food), physical (fire, weather, radiation), biological (pathogens, allergens, and animals)
What are the major types of hazards?
There Are Several Ways to Increase Freshwater Supplies
What can we do to deal with the projected shortages of freshwater in many parts of the world? An important part of any strategy will be getting accurate information about where the water shortages are and where they are getting worse. Scientists have found a number of ways to obtain this information, including using satellites (Science Focus 13.1).
a
What do all the volatile compounds have in common? a. All are carbon based. b. All are produced from manmade sources. c. All are emitted form processing and/or burning fossil fuels. d. All are colorless, odorless reactive gases. e. All are naturally occurring colorless and odorless gases found in rocks and vegetation.
b
Which biogeochemical cycle does not have a gaseous state? a. nitrogen cycle b. phosphorus cycle c. sulfur cycle d. carbon cycle e. water cycle
d
Which if the following is the usual cause of cultural eutrophication on the surface waters of both developed and developing countries? a. lack of proper filtration devices for power plant effluents b. introduction of cyanobacteria to streams and rivers c. run off of metal ions into bodies of water d. run off of a nitrate compounds in bodies of water e. run off of herbicides into bodies of water
c
Which if the following would not be considered a detritivore or decomposer in your ecocolumn decomposition chamber? a. earthworm b. pillbug (rolly poly) c. spider d. bacteria e. fungus
e
Which of the following best illustrates point source pollution? a. toxic sediments in the delta of a major river b. increase in nitrogen dioxide in a traffic clogged city c. dust blowing off unpaved roads d. smoke emitted from forest fires e. smokestack emissions from a large smelting company
c
Which of the following components of a wastewater treatment plant is designed to facilitate the decomposition of organic material by aerobic microorganisms? a. bar screen b. grit settling tank c. activated sludge tank d. chlorination tank e. ultraviolet light array
d
Which of the following is NOT a reason we should care about the disappearance of the tropical rain forests? a. their loss will reduce earth's biodiversity b. their loss will accelerate atmospheric warming c. their loss will change regional weather patterns d. their loss will mean more places to build cities e. their loss may push us beyond an ecological tipping point
d
Which of the following is NOT one of the major air pollutants? a. suspended particulate matter b. sulfur dioxide c. nitrogen oxides d. formaldehyde e. ozone
e
Which of the following is a common characteristic of lakes undergoing cultural eutrophication? a. decreased rates of sediment accumulation b. decreased amounts of green and blue-green algae c. increased levels of oxygen throughout the water column d. increased water clarity in the upper layer of the lake e. increased levels of plant nutrients
a
Which of the following is a non-point source of water pollution? a. A forest which has been logged in several different spots b. A sewage treatment plant pumping effluent into a nearby river c. An industrial factory dumping mercury waste into a nearby lake d. An electrical generating plant heated water into the ocean e. A single large mine allowing acids to drain into a nearby estuary
e
Which of the following is an effective alternative to chlorine for disinfecting wastewater in a municipal treatment plant? a. freon b. alcohol c. phosphate d. ammonia e. ozone
a
Which of the following is most likely to increase both the nutrient levels and the bacterial content of lake water? a. runoff from a nearby hog farm b. thermal pollution from a nearby power plant c. increase aeration of the lake water d. percolation of the water through soil to groundwater e. acidification of the lake by acid deposition
e
Which of the following is not a characteristic of hazardous waste? a. flammable b. corrosive c. explosive d. chemically active e. irritant
a
Which of the following is not a major component of the earth's life support system? a. unisphere b. atmosphere c. hydrosphere d. geosphere e. biosphere
d
Which of the following is not a method used to dispose of or reduce hazardous waste? a. plasma arc b. deep well injection c. surface impoundments d. substituting hazardous materials for non-hazardous materials e. Chemical neutralization
toxicity
a measure of how harmful a substance is -- its ability to cause injury, illness, or death to a living organism
a
Which the following is the best explanation for the fact that agricultural production on floodplains is often relatively high? a. on floodplains soils tend to be nutrient rich and fertile. b. on floodplains high water tables make irrigation unnecessary. c. periodic flooding leaches toxic pollutants out of floodplain soils. d. periodic flooding prevents pH of floodplain soils from becoming too high. e. Floodplains are usually sparsely settled and thus more acreage is available for agriculture.
children breath more air, drink more water, and eat more food; exposed to toxins in dust and soil when they put their fingers, toys, or other object in their mouths, children usually have less well-developed immune systems and body detoxification processes
Why are children more susceptible to toxic substances than adults/
a
Why aren't desalination and reverse osmosis used more widely to produce fresh water from the ocean? a. because they are expensive and require a lot of energy b. The water produced has a nasty, brackish taste c. The technology is unreliable and unproven d. Most countries on earth do you not have easy access to ocean water e. water companies feel that more fresh far is available in the open market the price for fall and many water companies will go bankrupt
d
Why is air bubbled through the aeration tanks during the secondary step of sewage treatment? a. oxygen in the air converts to ozone and kills pathogenic organisms b. air is used to help speed up the sedimentation process c. air is used to help lower the turbidity levels in the water d. oxygen in the air helps to encourage the rapid growth of bacteria which remove dissolved solids e. Air in the water helps to reduce the temperature in the water which, in turn, decreases biological activity
Deep Aquifers Might Be Tapped
With global shortages of freshwater looming, scientists are evaluating deep aquifers as future sources of freshwater. Preliminary results suggest that some of these aquifers hold enough freshwater to support billions of people for centuries. In addition, the quality of freshwater in these aquifers may be much higher than the quality of the freshwater in most rivers and lakes. There are four major concerns about tapping these ancient deposits of freshwater. First, they are nonrenewable and cannot be replenished on a human time scale. Second, little is known about the geological and ecological impacts of pumping large amounts of freshwater from deep aquifers. Third, some deep aquifers flow beneath more than one country and there are no international treaties that govern rights to them. Without such treaties, wars could break out over this resource. Fourth, the costs of tapping deep aquifers are unknown and could be high.
e
You would probably not water which of the following with reclaimed water? a. golf course b. freeway landscaping c. Grass at a local park d. A crop of carrots at a nearby farm e. a natural aquifer recharge area
d
_____ how's the highest recycling rate in the United States. a. aluminum cans b. plastic PET bottles c. newspapers d. lead acid batteries e. corrugated boxes
disability-adjusted life years
a measure designed to assess the amount of ill health, including premature death and disability due to specific diseases and injuries
toxic chemical
a chemical that can cause temporary or permanent harm or death
poison
a chemical that has an LD₅₀ of 50 mg or less per kilogram of body weight
Insecticide
a chemical used to kill insects
endocrine system
a complex network of glands that release tiny amounts of hormones into the bloodstreams of humans and other vertebrate animals
multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS)
a condition where one is sensitive to a number of toxins
nontransmissable disease
a disease caused by something other than a living organism and does not spread from one person to another
infectious disease
a disease caused when a pathogen such as a bacterium, virus, or parasite invades the body and multiplies in its cells and tissues
cancer
a disease in which malignant cells multiply uncontrollably and create tumors that can damage the body and often lead to premature death
pandemic
a global outbreak of an infectious disease
thyroid disrupters
a group of HAAs which cause growth, weight, brain, and behavioral disorders
epidemic
a large-scale outbreak of infectious disease in an area or country
pathogen
a living organism that can cause disease in another organism
Passive Solar Heating System
absorbs and stores heat from the sun directly within a well-insulated structures. Converts it into low-temperature heat for space heating or for heating water for domestic use
In most developed countries, large fish kills and contamination of drinking water may be caused by all of the following except deliberate release of toxic industrial chemicals malfunctioning sewage treatment plants pesticides and plant nutrients from agricultural sources accidental release of predatory exotic species accidental release of toxic industrial chemicals
accidental release of predatory exotic species
Which of the following types of sewage treatment are properly matched? primary---biolgoical process secondary---chemical process secondary---mechanical process advanced---physical and chemical processes primary---chemical process
advanced---physical and chemical processes
Which of the following would be used in a seconedary sewage treatment process? bar-screen removal of solid waste aerobic bacteria used to biodegrade organic wastes specialized filters to remove nitrates or phosphates grit tank to remove large floating objects use of chlorine or ozone to disinfect water
aerobic bacteria used to biodegrade organic wastes
A mineral resource is a concentration of naturally occurring material from the earth's crust that can be extracted and processed into useful products at an __________ __________.
affordable cost
Peak Production
after years of pumping, usually a decade or so, the pressure in a well drops and its rate of conventional crude oil production starts to decline
an important realistic goal of VA/US is energy dependence?
agree
how many think VA should allow possibility of Uranium mining?
agree
The main human activity that increases flooding is
destroying vegetation
risk management
deciding whether or how to reduce or eliminate a particular risk to a certain level and at what cost
Which of the following is not a reason nuclear power has declined in the United States?-
declining amount of available uranium
Which of the following is not one of the external geologic processes driven by energy from the sun?
decomposition
sludge
deposit solids at settle out from wastewater during the treatment process
Water scarcity from drying up all of the soil because of deforestation or overgrazing is called
desiccation
activated sludge tank
designed to facilitate the decomposition of organic material by aerobic micro organisms. After several hours, the particles and micro organisms are allowed to settle out and methane gas is collected.
Dams
destroy agricultural land and scenic areas
China's Three Gorges project will
destroy two cities each with 100,000 people