ENV 100 Unit 3 Exam

) The greenhouse effect involves warming of Earth's surface and the ________. ) troposphere B) mesosphere C) stratosphere D) thermosphere E) ionosphere

A

U.S. hydropower dam construction was greatest during the ________. A) industrial revolution B) 1930s to 1960s C) 1970s to 2000 D) late 1800s E) early 21st century

B) 1930s to 1960s

The primary causes of acid deposition are ________. A) tropospheric ozone B) sulfur and nitrogen oxides C) soil dust and sand D) radon gas and fuel wood smoke E) carbon monoxide and formaldehyde

B) sulfur and nitrogen oxides

Near the equator, the patterns of convection currents are called ________. A) Coriolis cells B) Hadley cells C) high-pressure cells D) El Niño events E) the tropospher

B) Hadley Cells

________% of U.S. citizens live in coastal counties, thus vulnerable to rises in sea level. A) 95 B) 83 C) 53 D) 20 E) 10

C

country graph The country with the greatest differential between domestic production and total consumption is ________. A) Japan B) Germany C) the United States D) Iran E) Saudi Arabia

C

Match the following. A) Hadley cells B) thermocline C) troposphere D) hurricane E) stratosphere F) thermal inversion G) thermosphere H) tornado 1) Convective cells near the equator 2) The bottom layer of Earth's atmosphere, in which we live 3) The highest level of our atmosphere, with comparatively few molecules per unit area 4) convective cyclonic storm arising when masses of cold and hot air collide 5) Reversal of normal vertical temperature distribution in the lower layers of the atmosphere

1) A 2) C 3) G 4) H 5) F

Match the following. A) argon B) sulfate aerosol C) carbon dioxide D) water vapor E) nitrous oxide F) hydrogen G) methane H) ozone I) carbon monoxide J) ammonia K) biodiesel 1) Predominant greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels 2) Produced by microbes decomposing matter in landfills and as a metabolic byproduct of livestock. 3) By-product of feedlots, chemical manufacturing, and fertilizer use 4) Most abundant greenhouse gas 5) Compound that contributes to short-term atmospheric cooling 6) Stratospheric greenhouse gas that absorbs the sun's incoming short‑wave radiation

1) C 2) G 3) E 4) D 5) B 6) H

Match the following. A) ecological mining B) solution mining C) strip mining D) mountaintop removal mining E) open pit mining F) prospecting G) reclamation H) placer mining I) subsurface mining 1) Mineral extraction by removing 100 vertical meters from hill and mountain tops 2) Excavating a giant hole in the landscape to remove widely spread mineral deposits 3) Sifting through sand and silt in riverbeds for minerals using a sluice with running water 4) Tunneling deep underground to extract minerals 5) Surface layers are removed to expose and extract horizontal mineral deposits 6) Restoration of mined areas to pre-mining conditions

1) D 2) E 3) H 4) I 5) C 6) G

Carbon-based fuels from lithospheric reservoirs ________. A) have been slowly sequestered over many millions of years B) are readily lost from Earth's surface in the absence of humans C) are formed from the deposition, partial decay, and compression of inorganic matter D) cannot be lost to the atmosphere by human processes once stabilized on Earth's surface E) will be lost before the end of the decade

A

Coal continues to be the main fuel used to generate electricity in the United States. This is partially because ________. A) the country has such large reserves of coal B) the quality of coal in the United States is very consistent from deposit to deposit C) coal causes almost no air pollution when burned D) coal deposits in the United States lie very close to the surface and are easily extracted E) compared to natural gas and oil, coal contains very few impurities, such as sulfur

A

Energy can be conserved by ________. A) cogeneration in power plants, fuel efficient transportation, reengineered appliances B) cogeneration in automobiles, especially in SUVs C) replacing compact florescent with tungsten bulbs D) replacing mass transit with more and larger roads for cars and trucks E) repealing the Law of Entropy

A

Growing rice results in the release of ________ into the atmosphere. A) methane B) sulfur oxides C) ozone D) carbon dioxide E) sulfate aerosols

A

Hydrogen fuel cells, biodiesel, and long-term electric batteries are potential solutions to ________. A) reducing carbon emissions from cars and trucks B) carbon sequestration C) cap-and-trade emission control D) replacing coal as a major fuel for generating electricity E) cutting back the carbon emissions from hydroelectric plants

A

Keeling's reports from Mauna Loa demonstrated ________. A) an increase in tropospheric CO2 from the 1950s to present B) that sediments deposited on the seafloor can yield clues about past climates C) that as distances from cities decreased, CO2 concentrations increased D) that CO2 levels have been stable over the last 40 years E) the presence of El Niño

A

Many developed nations have their economies closely tied to imported fossil fuels. One important consideration is that ________. A) the economy can be disrupted by the decisions made in fuel exporting nations B) the economy will only improve if the price of fossil fuels increases C) as supplies decrease, fossil fuels decline in price D) if energy conservation is put into place, the cost of fossil fuels will decrease E) if energy conservation is put into place, the cost of fossil fuels will increase

A

Organizations like OPEC have formed ________. A) in order to take maximum advantage of developed nations dependence on imported oil B) to develop technologies to conserve non-renewable energy resources C) to protect their national members' petroleum reserves for their own use D) as a military alliance to protect developed nations' energy reserves E) to ensure that developing nations get their fair share of fossil fuels

A

Solar radiation makes several other energy sources possible, including ________. A) wind energy B) tidal energy C) geothermal energy D) hydrothermal energy E) nuclear energy

A

The most recent analyses of polar ice cores have given us the ability to profile global climate change back as far as ________ years. A) 800,000 B) 100,000 C) 1000 D) 50,000 E) 300,000,000

A

Tuvalu and the Maldives are in the international spotlight because they ________. A) may be the first nations to be completely flooded by rising sea levels B) are accepting climate change refugees from other nations C) have exceeded the emissions reductions set by the Kyoto Protocol D) are the largest emissions producers in their respective areas E) opposed China's proposals for global carbon neutrality at the Copenhagen Conference in 2009

A

U.S. oil production ________. A) falls far short of U.S. oil consumption B) is sufficient to meet national needs thanks to major conservation efforts C) will peak out in 2100, requiring for the first time imports to meet growing demand D) is now high enough for us to export nearly 50% E) has to fit the quotas imposed by OPEC

A

When uranium-235 atoms undergo fission, ________ is/are produced A) smaller atoms (fission fragments), free neutrons and energy B) larger atoms such as plutonium C) large amounts of energy as all mass has been converted and lost D) moderators and water E) large amounts of CO2

A

Which of the following energy sources is considered nonrenewable? A) fossil fuel energy B) sunlight (solar) energy C) geothermal energy D) tidal energy E) wind energy

A

As of 2011, the nation leading in generating wind-power is ________. A) China B) the U.S. C) Canada D) India E) Germany

A) China

Which country leads the world in percentage of electricity derived from hydropower? A) Norway B) Sweden C) Canada D) United States E) Russia

A) Norway

Recent evidence suggests that controlling emissions of this gas would reduce both ozone depletion and global warming ________. A) carbon dioxide B) methane C) carbon monoxide D) nitrous oxide E) ammonia

A) carbon dioxide

Bacteria and fungal spores can be included as ________. A) components of "sick-building syndrome" B) VOCs and POPs C) sources of radon in the home D) problems in degrading the ozone layer E) the cause of high pesticide use in the home

A) components of "sick-building syndrome"

The reason that temperature increases with altitude through most of the stratosphere is ________. A) heat is released by absorption of UV radiation by oxygen and ozone B) sunlight is more intense in the stratosphere C) jet stream winds produce frictional heat D) water vapor levels are high and store heat E) greenhouse gases warm the air

A) heat is released by absorption of UV radiation by oxygen and ozone

Air pollution in Tehran ________. A) is caused primarily by vehicles unequipped with pollution control technology B) has been reduced by 90% thanks to strict air pollution laws C) is far less serious than in Los Angeles D) is caused mainly by very high levels of CFCs and acid deposition E) comes primarily from burning fuel wood

A) is caused primarily by vehicles unequipped with pollution control technology

Both pyrolysis and gasification are ways of producing ________ from ________. A) methane and diesel fuels; biomass B) coal; biomass C) biodiesel; limestone D) hydroelectric fuel; coal E) pesticides and fertilizers; biomass

A) methane and diesel fuels; biomass

Air near Earth's surface tends to be ________. A) warmer and wetter; then it rises, expanding and cooling B) warmer and drier; then it rises, condensing and gathering moisture C) cooler and wetter; then it rises, is warmed by the sun, and sinks again D) cooler and drier; it rises when it is displaced by sinking warm air E) warmer; it rises as it is displaced by Coriolis forces

A) warmer and wetter; then it rises, expanding and cooling

Water soluble sulfur and nitrogen oxides produced by burning fossil fuels can be removed from an industrial source by ________. A) wet scrubbers B) planting large groves of trees nearby C) filtration D) removing the sulfur and nitrogen before combustion of fuels E) catalytic converters

A) wet scrubbers

Earthquakes are likely to occur ________. A) where the mantle and the crust make contact B) along tectonic plate boundaries where there is movement C) as a result of volcanic activity D) at the boundaries of igneous and sedimentary rock E) in areas far from tectonic plate boundaries

B) along tectonic plate boundaries where there is movement

The U.S. consumes more ________ energy than any other renewable energy source. A) geothermal B) biomass C) hydropower D) wind E) solar

B) biomass

Smelting of iron ore involves ________. A) crushing and heating the ore at its melting point B) heating beyond iron's melting point and combining the material with carbon C) washing the ore with acid to extract iron D) dissolving the ore in hot water to separate iron and aluminum E) oxidizing iron to ferric oxide and then adding silicon and boron

B) heating beyond iron's melting point and combining the material with carbon

The form of energy delivered to an electrical generating turbine in a geothermal facility is in the form of ________. A) radioactive isotopes B) hot water or steam C) molten magma D) warm soils and crushed rock E) heated hydrogen gas

B) hot water or steam

The region of the planet that will see the smallest rises in temperature is ________. A) islands B) oceans C) Asia/Australia D) the Antarctic E) the Arctic

B) oceans

More and more wind farms are being located ________ because winds are stronger there. A) in densely populated urban areas B) offshore C) in deserts D) in the arctic E) in mature forests

B) offshore

Scientists currently assessing the environmental impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico report that ________. A) the damage was limited to wildlife kills immediately after the spill B) the entire Gulf food web will eventually collapse C) it may take years or decades before the full impacts are known D) Gulf productivity has already returned to normal and no further effects will be felt E) the coastal marshes of Louisiana suffered no measurable damage

C

Secondary extraction of petroleum ________. A) occurs immediately after primary extraction B) is less expensive than primary extraction C) uses solvents, water, or steam D) allows the oil to be extracted to the last drop E) causes less environmental damage than tertiary extraction

C

The 2009 Copenhagen Conference ________. A) produced a multi-national treaty to limit carbon emissions B) created an international fund to promote climate research C) failed to produce a treaty because the US failed to support it and China refused international monitoring for promised steep cuts D) was unable to pass any resolution because 20 developed nations refused to accept the scientific premises of global climate change E) failed to provide any help to developing nations for mitigation and adaptation efforts

C

The Free-Air-CO2-Enrichment (FACE) project ________. A) has been funded by the U.S. Dept. of Energy for the next 50 years B) studies the long-term effects of rising CO2 levels on plants C) found that elevated ozone levels helps plants grow faster as CO2 levels increase D) has shown that insect and microbial attacks on plants decrease with elevated CO2 levels E) shows that plants will be able to remove all of the excess CO2 entering the atmosphere

C

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ________. A) constructed the Kyoto Protocol B) performed the research included in the climate change findings C) is an international panel that reports on how climate change influences biomes and economies D) fines companies that pollute E) could not achieve its objectives because of lack of popular support

C

Which of the following are market mechanisms for addressing climate change? A) international treaties from global conferences B) carbon taxes and fee-and-dividend benefits C) cap-and-trade and carbon offsets D) mitigation and adaptation E) carbon neutrality and carbon aggression policies

C

A large area of the United States will see temperature rises of ________ °C. A) 6.5-7.5 B) 5.5-6.5 C) 4.5-5.5 D) 3.5-4.5 E) 1.5-2.5

C) 4.5-5.5

Carbon monoxide ________. A) causes ozone depletion B) is a major component of the atmosphere C) blocks oxygen transport in human blood D) is produced by plants during photosynthesis E) is consumed by plants for photosynthesis

C) blocks oxygen transport in human blood

Which one of the following is not yet regulated by the EPA? A) sulfur and nitrogen oxides B) lead C) carbon dioxide D) ozone E) carbon monoxide

C) carbon dioxide

The effect of rising rates of consumption of minerals will ________. A) have no effect on price B) force prices lower as nations compete for limited resources C) make prices higher as nations complete for limited resources D) increase the lifetime of economically recoverable mineral deposits E) have the smallest effect on the price of lead, zinc and copper, but largest for titanium

C) make prices higher as nations complete for limited resources

A naturally occurring solid chemical element with a distinct composition and a crystalline structure is a(n) ________. A) rock B) sediment C) mineral D) organic nutrient E) horizon

C) mineral

Natural sources of air pollution come from ________. A) internal combustion engines B) coal-fired electrical plants C) soil dust, wildfires and volcanic dust D) evaporation of solvents E) birds

C) soil dust, wildfires and volcanic dust

The first stage in generating power from a hydrogen fuel cell is to ________. A) reduce water to hydrogen and oxygen gases B) convert water into a hydrocarbon C) split hydrogen atoms into hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons D) react water with CO2 E) split methane (CH4) into hydrogen atoms and carbon

C) split hydrogen atoms into hydrogen ions (H+) and electrons

A great deal of indoor air pollution comes from ________. A) outdoor pollution B) carbon monoxide C) cooking with natural gas stoves D) carpets, furniture, and laser printers E) washing dishes

D) carpets, furniture, and laser printers

Plate tectonic movement results from ________. A) unstable surface rock formations B) molten materials from the core escaping to the surface C) high surface winds and erosion D) convective movements of rock in the underlying mantle E) mass wasting

D) convective movements of rock in the underlying mantle

The newest bonanza for recycling scarce and toxic metals is to recover them from ________. A) car batteries B) construction dump sites C) landfills from the 1960s D) e-wastes E) compact discs, LPs and 8-track tapes

D) e-wastes

As in the mining of coltan in Congo, coal mining in Appalachia has produced issues of ________. A) job losses, air pollution B) economic prosperity for local residents, but high prices for everyone else C) industrial smog D) environmental damage and social and economic justice E) black market activity for stolen and poached minerals

D) environmental damage and social and economic justice

You have been hired by a rapidly growing small city to improve the air quality, which has deteriorated in the past 10 years. Your first suggestion is to ________. A) investigate the large city downwind whose factories produce large amounts of pollution B) decrease the amount of CFCs used locally C) move or close the cattle feed lots near the river D) improve transportation options, including carpool lanes, buses, and light rail E) remove the hydroelectric dam on the river

D) improve transportation options, including carpool lanes, buses, and light rail

Which of the following is a consequence of acidic deposition? A) It increases the likelihood of low-lying ground fogs. B) It results in offshore eutrophication, damaging coral reefs. C) It creates rainwater that can damage skin cells or cause cancers. D) leaching out important minerals from soils and loss of biodiversity E) It is increasing the rate of global warming.

D) leaching out important minerals from soils and loss of biodiversity

If a mineral is opaque, lustrous, malleable and can conduct heat and electricity, it is a(n) ________. A) element B) gemstone C) radioactive element D) metal E) crystal

D) metal

The Montreal Protocol ________. A) addressed transnational movement of acid-forming pollutants B) developed the framework for reduction of carbon dioxide in the US and Canada C) developed the international treaty for eliminating radon emissions from nuclear power plants D) resulted in significant reduction in the production of CFCs by signatory nations E) is an exampled of a failed attempt to reduce international air pollution

D) resulted in significant reduction in the production of CFCs by signatory nations

Examples of valuable nonmetallic minerals extracted by mining are ________. A) gold, platinum, copper B) nitrogen, hydrogen, neon C) lead, cadmium, mercury D) sand, gravel, phosphate E) radon, radium, sodium

D) sand, gravel, phosphate

The earth's mantle ________. A) is formed by plate boundaries B) is the outermost part of the earth's crust C) is located in Pangaea D) surrounds the core as a thick, elastic rock formation E) is composed of molten metals

D) surrounds the core as a thick, elastic rock formation

The U.S. generates more electricity from ________ than from any other renewable energy source. A) geothermal B) biomass C) solar D) hydroelectric E) wind

D)hydroelectric

) Natural gas is ________. A) trapped over some cities for commercial use B) only produced by bacteria during decomposition C) more damaging to the environment than coal when extracted D) still much more expensive than other fossil fuels E) often associated with coal and petroleum deposits

E

Crude oil is ________. A) composed of less than ten different hydrocarbon molecules B) usable in its raw form C) formed less than 100 yards below the surface; in deeper places with more pressure, coal is formed D) formed in a wide range of temperature and pressure circumstances E) fractionated to separate the chemicals used for gasoline, lubricants, plastics and other products

E

Energy conservation in the United States ________. A) can be accomplished only through changes in environmental laws B) is unlikely to ever occur C) can be accomplished by changes in tax laws D) will be a reality only if there is another major war E) can be improved as individuals make conscious choices to reduce personal consumption

E

Hydroelectric power generation ________. A) produces high quantities of greenhouse gases B) has no undesirable environmental effects C) produces pollutants that contribute significantly to acid precipitation D) uses fuel cells to generate electricity E) is an alternative to fossil fuels that produces fewer greenhouse gases

E

Nuclear energy in power plants is created via ________. A) fusion of electrons B) ionic transformation of atoms C) extraction of energy from the nucleus of cells D) bombarding radioactive elements with electrons E) fissioning uranium atoms by bombarding them with neutrons

E

Of the following greenhouse gases, ________ concentrations have increased the most since 1750. A) water vapor B) carbon dioxide C) nitrous oxide D) ozone E) methane

E

Over ________% of the fuel you pump into your automobile does something other than move your vehicle down the road. A) 65 B) 55 C) 45 D) 25 E) 85

E

The Kyoto Protocol ________. A) increased federal funding for controlling greenhouse gas emissions from U.S. power plants B) required equal concessions from all countries involved in greenhouse gas emission C) required increases in nuclear power generation D) would have resulted in overall increases in greenhouse emissions E) was intended to reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases to levels lower than those of 1990

E

The energy bill passed by the U.S. Congress in 2007 ________. A) primarily focused on major new policies for conservation and for development of renewable energy sources B) primarily focused on taxing polluters and those who profit from the fossil fuel industry C) will, according to analysts, allow us to import only 25% of our oil instead of 60% D) mandates the rapid development of all remaining fossil fuel resources as quickly as possible E) raised the CAFE standard to 35mpg for vehicles by the year 2020

E

When assessing energy resources, it is helpful to use a measure called EROI, which is ________. A) energy returned minus energy invested B) energy returned plus energy invested C) amount of energy invested minus heat released into the environment D) money invested in extraction and processing minus money in sales E) energy returned divided by energy invested

E

based on country graph The country with the largest amount of domestic oil available for sale on the international market is ________. A) Japan B) Germany C) the United States D) Iran E) Saudi Arabia

E

Today, ________ has the worst acid deposition problem, primarily because of ________. A) the US / soil dust aerosols B) European Union nations / tropospheric ozone C) Tehran / burning fuel wood D) Sweden / methane emissions from cattle and natural gas heating E) China / coal-fired electrical and industrial plants

E) China/coal-fired electrical and industrial plants

Sedimentary rock is formed ________. A) from the melting of metamorphic rock B) the heating of igneous rock by the heat of the core C) the cooling of igneous rock D) vaporization of organic material by magma E) as sedimented materials are pressed together and infiltrated by minerals

E) as sedimented materials are pressed together and infiltrated by minerals

An environment that has little or no oxygen

G anaerobic

A renewable energy resource

I aerobic

Why is indoor pollution still such a large problem? What are the most dangerous indoor pollutants in developing and developed nations?

Indoor air pollution was not recognized as a problem until fairly recently. The 1970 U.S. Clean Air Act did not even mention indoor air pollution; rather, indoor spaces were assumed to be safe havens from outdoor pollution. Even smoke from indoor fires was viewed merely as a nuisance, in the absence of data showing it to cause health problems. Some of the biggest problems come from dust, dander, and mites, as well as toxins given off by furniture and rugs. The two most dangerous indoor pollutants in developed nations are cigarette smoke and radon, but VOCs and microorganisms also play significant roles. In developing nations, the biggest problems are soot and carbon monoxide resulting from burning fuelwood. The UN's WHO estimates that 5% of all deaths in developing nations are attributed to these factors.

Energy from fissioned processed uranium

J nuclear

Organic material being slowly broken down anaerobically, but remains wet and near the surface

L crude oil

Discuss the objective, and the success, of the 1987 Montreal Protocol. To what factors do scientists attribute its success?

The objective of the Montreal Protocol was to reduce the use of CFCs, which were contributing to the growth of the ozone hole, and which, subsequently, would increase the probability of humans developing skin cancer. The world community came together in 1987 to craft the Montreal Protocol, which has now been signed by 196 nations. At this convention, nations agreed to cut CFC production in half. Today, the production and use of ozone-depleting compounds has fallen at an accelerating pace since the late 1980s, and scientists can discern the beginnings of long-term recovery of the ozone layer. For these reasons, the Montreal Protocol and its follow-up amendments are widely considered to be the biggest success story thus far in addressing a global environmental problem. Environmental scientists have attributed this success primarily to scientific research that proceeded rapidly and used the latest technologies, government and industry working together to develop technological fixes and replacement chemicals. Finally, the process successfully followed an adaptive management approach, which allowed for changing strategies midstream in response to new scientific data, technological advances, or economic figures.

) Oil shale and oil sands ________. A) can be pumped from underground reservoirs like conventional crude oil B) are only a tiny fraction of the U.S. and Canadian potential oil reserves C) contain solid organic kerogens than can be mined and processed into petroleum D) have been too expensive to extract and use as energy resources E) deposits are concentrated in the Middle East.

C

) Recent research indicates that the variation in solar output ________. A) is the major factor driving temperature change B) is greater than all the anthropogenic factors affecting climate change C) is more than 20 watts/m2 D) is less than any of the anthropogenic factors affecting climate change E) will increase by a hundredfold over then next century

D

A gaseous by‑product of anaerobic microbial decomposition

H nat. gas

Define atmospheric deposition in general and explain the causes and effects of acidic deposition.

Atmospheric deposition refers to the wet or dry deposition of a wide variety of pollutants, including mercury, nitrates, organochlorines, and many others. Acidic deposition refers to the deposition of acidic or acid-forming pollutants. This can take place either by precipitation (primarily acid rain, but also including acid snow, sleet, and hail), by fog, by gases, or by the deposition of dry particles. Acidic deposition originates primarily with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, pollutants produced largely through fossil fuel combustion by automobiles, electric utilities, and industrial facilities. Once emitted into the troposphere, these pollutants can react with water, oxygen, and oxidants to produce compounds of low pH. Droplets of these acids may travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers. Acidic deposition can have wide-ranging, cumulative detrimental effects on ecosystems and on our built environment. It leaches basic minerals such as calcium and magnesium from the soil, changing soil chemistry and harming plants and soil organisms. Streams, rivers, and lakes may become significantly acidified from runoff. Some forests in eastern North America have experienced widespread tree dieback from these conditions. Acidic precipitation also may damage stone buildings, eat away at cars, and erase the writing from tombstones.

) The oil spill resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster ________. A) is considered a minor incident compared to other oil spills B) is the worst oil spill in US history, causing damage to marine and coastal ecosystems C) resulted in a permanent ban on all offshore drilling in US coastal waters D) eclipsed all non-point oil spills by 500% E) was quickly cleaned up preventing loss of wildlife and damage to fisheries

B

Deposits of natural gas are most numerous in ________. A) the Middle East B) Russia C) South America D) Panama E) Spain and Portugal

B

Earth's climate ________. A) has been stable over the history of the planet B) is changing as a result of natural and human processes C) will stabilize over the next century, according to the predictions of most scientists D) has changed only once due to the evolution of green photosynthesizing plants E) history is undeterminable because there is no method of studying climatic history of the planet

B

In legislation, the precautionary principle applied to climate change, states that ________. A) caution should be used in handling hazardous wastes B) lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used to postpone measures to prevent major environmental degradation C) alterations to legislation must be done in a way that maximizes environmental protection at the urging of scientists without recourse from the voting public D) all alternative sources of energy should be evaluated by the scientific community before marketing E) permit trading should be undertaken with caution

B

In the wake of the U.S. failure to ratify the Kyoto Protocol ________. A) many nations have severed diplomatic relations with the U.S. B) cities and states are setting their own programs for reducing greenhouse gas emissions C) the U.S. has shown that it is a leader in carbon emission reduction without having signed the Protocol D) dozens of other nations pulled out of the Protocol E) oil exporting nations have refused to sell to the U.S.

B

Milankovitch cycles ________. A) refer to shifts in the temperature of surface water in the middle latitudes of the Pacific Ocean B) are changes in Earth's rotation and orbit around the sun that may trigger climate variation C) describe the timing of the northern lights in the thermosphere D) describe the transpiration, evaporation, and precipitation of Earth's water E) describe upwelling and downwelling in the ocean

B

Natural gas ________. A) primary component is octane B) produces less greenhouse gases per energy unit than coal or oil C) discovered by Bunsen in 1885 D) will be depleted by 2030 at current usage rates E) is transported primarily by truck and rail

B

Nuclear power plants ________. A) were first developed commercially in the early 1990s B) experienced the most growth during the 1970s and 1980s C) are illegal in France and Lithuania D) supply most of U.S. electricity E) produce more greenhouse gas emissions than burning fossil fuels

B

The atmosphere around Earth can cause global warming because ________. A) warm air cannot escape, as in a greenhouse B) molecules in the atmosphere are warmed by radiation from Earth and retain that heat C) fossil fuels release heat D) plants absorb CO2 E) plants release CO2

B

The average miles per gallon rating of U.S. vehicles has ________. A) doubled in the past two decades B) made no improvement the past two decades C) now matched the 45 mpg rating mandated by the European union D) been raised to 40 mpg because of the 2010 energy bill passed by Congress E) doubled since the 2008 election

B

The world's most abundant fossil fuel is ________. A) biodiesel B) coal C) oil D) natural gas E) methane

B

Which of the following characterizes U.S. nuclear power plants? A) largely unregulated B) highly subsidized C) widely trusted and accepted by the public D) account for nearly half of domestic energy production E) inexpensive to operate

B

Organic matter under high compression that forms solid carbon structures

B coal

Of the available policy options regarding eventual conversion to renewable energy sources, environmentalists would probably prefer that ________. A) we pass laws immediately banning the use of fossil fuels B) we pass laws immediately banning the exploration and development of further fossil fuel resources C) we encourage, with subsidies, tax rebates, and grants, the rapid development and widespread use of renewable alternative energy resources D) we prepare for a gradual changeover by slowly increasing funding and putting alternative energy resources into place over the next 100 years E) we plan for the switch to renewable energy sources, but not implement any plans until all fossil fuels have been depleted

C

One of the problems with finding new fossil fuel deposits in developing countries is that ________. A) it is very expensive to transport the deposit elsewhere B) those countries tend to keep the resource for themselves, not sharing with other countries C) international companies move in to harvest the new deposit, and very little money or resource remains in the country D) their governments seldom allow extraction of the deposit without meeting expensive environmental regulations E) their governments seldom allow extraction of the deposit without imposing huge taxes to fund new social benefits for the country

C

) The Kyoto Protocol is to carbon dioxide as the Montreal Protocol is to ________. A) nitrous oxide B) ozone C) methane D) chlorofluorocarbons E) carbon monoxide

D

) ________ is NOT a part of the technology of "clean coal." A) Removing sulfur oxides from the emissions B) Capturing and sequestering carbon emissions C) Converting coal to syngas (natural gas) D) Removing carbon content from coal before combustion E) Injecting captured carbon dioxide into rock formations deep underground

D

Based on country graph Iran, us, germany etc Of the five countries shown, which ones have essentially no domestic oil production? A) Japan and the United States B) Iran and Saudi Arabia C) the United States and Germany D) Japan and Germany E) Germany and the United States

D

Carbon dioxide is ________. A) the most potent (per molecule of gas) of the greenhouse gases B) the most abundant greenhouse gas C) more potent (per molecule of gas) than methane D) the main anthropogenic greenhouse gas produced in the United States E) the only greenhouse gas presently increasing in the atmosphere

D

Carbon sequestration ________. A) has been used by US electrical plants since 1955, converting carbon dioxide to limestone B) involves capturing carbon emissions and then releasing them into the stratosphere C) has proved to be more dangerous to the environment than releasing carbon emissions D) is an unproven technology only begun in 2008. E) permanently removes captured carbon from the environment

D

Effects attributed to Chernobyl ________. A) were contained within the Ukraine B) have not been extensively documented C) serious respiratory illnesses but no fatalities D) increased incidence of thyroid cancers E) increased incidence of emphysema

D

For the United States, the primary fuel that we use for our energy is ________. A) wood B) natural gas C) coal D) oil E) nuclear

D

Recent evidence from polar ice core analysis shows that, until now, carbon dioxide levels have never exceeded ________ ppm in the last several hundred thousand years. A) 500 B) 1000 C) 25 D) 300 E) 200

D

The US Senate has so far opposed emissions reductions on the grounds that ________. A) no other nations have pledged reductions B) the US does not emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases C) President Obama rejected the scientific basis of global climate change D) it might hurt the economy E) the US already has reduced its emissions by 68% as agreed in the Copenhagen treaty.

D

The largest source of anthropogenic greenhouse gases in the United States is ________, followed by ________. A) agriculture; transportation B) electricity generation; agriculture C) electricity generation; industry D) electricity generation; transportation E) agriculture; electricity generation

D

The use of public transportation is ________. A) higher in the United States compared to Europe B) increasing rapidly in the face of concerns over climate change C) subsidized by the U.S. government D) one of the best options for decreasing the use of fossil fuels for transportation E) more expensive than driving a car

D

When we burn fossil fuels, ________. A) we liberate carbon back into the carbon cycle, increasing the amount available for plant growth B) the resulting carbonic acid leads to acid rain C) the greatest environmental impact is the impact on the ozone layer D) the greatest environmental impact is increased greenhouse gases E) the greatest environmental impact is the local damage from extraction

D

The most obvious cause of industrial smog is ________. A) burning trash B) fires for heating food C) indoor air pollution D) burning fossil fuels E) generation of nuclear power

D) burning fossil fuels

How do hurricanes and tornadoes form?

Many changes in weather occur when air masses with different physical properties meet. If air behind a cold air mass rises over a warm air mass, sometimes the warm air rises quickly, setting a powerful convective current in motion. If high-altitude winds are blowing faster and in a different directions from lower winds, a rising column of air, a tornado funnel, may begin to rotate. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes the winds to turn counterclockwise. In the case of hurricanes, winds move rapidly into an area of low pressure where warm moisture-laden air over oceans is rising. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes the winds to rotate counterclockwise. As more and more water is drawn into the rotation, heat from evaporating water adds force to the circulation. In North America, the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts with their warm surface waters are susceptible to hurricanes.

Using the examples of Tehran and Los Angeles, discuss the special problems that vehicles create for urban outdoor air pollution.

Tehran and Los Angeles are sister cities that have one important thing in common, photochemical smog. Photochemical smog is a mixture of primary (nitrogen oxides and VOCs) and secondary pollutants (trophospheric ozone and more than 100 different toxic derivatives from their interaction in the presence of solar UV light). Both cities have geographic conditions that promote the formation of thermal inversions which can trap the smog near the ground for long periods of time and produce dangerously high concentrations of pollutants. The result is an assault of human respiratory systems that in both cities causes thousands to die premature deaths. Los Angeles has greatly improved the levels of smog by developing mass transit and by requiring strict pollution control technologies on vehicles. Expensive gasoline has made fuel-efficient vehicles popular. In Tehran, with very cheap gasoline available to all, millions of inefficient, gas-guzzling vehicles, most without any pollution control devices, produce smog that was typical of the Los Angeles area 30 years ago. Tehran's mass transit is poorly developed, forcing citizens with modest incomes to rely on motorcycles, cars and taxis. Both cities struggle with the same problems with continuing pressure from the public to improve air quality.

In developed countries, the two most deadly sources of indoor pollution are ________. A) pesticides and cleaning agents B) synthetic furniture materials and radiation from electronic equipment C) radiation from electronic equipment and pesticides D) radon and cigarette smoke E) pesticides and cigarette smoke

D) radon and cigarette smoke

Ethanol produced from biomass starts with ________ produced by ________. A) methane; sewage sludge B) hydrogen gas; wind turbines C) ammonia; anaerobic bacteria D) starch; corn and sugar cane E) CO2; burning fossil fuels

D) starch; corn and sugar cane

All the following are true of using solar photocells, EXCEPT ________. A) great for decentralized power production, away from power plants and grids B) very low carbon footprint C) with continued production, manufacturing costs are dropping D) strong encouraged in the U.S. by tax incentives and large development investment E) many new "green collar" jobs being created

D) strong encouraged in the U.S. by tax incentives and large development investment

Whether using a food crop as a source of biofuels is environmentally sustainable would have to consider all of the following, EXCEPT ________. A) the impact on food supplies and prices B) the amount of fertilizers used and their impact on aquatic ecosystems C) the amount of pesticides used and their impact on biodiversity and groundwater D) the corporate profits that would be made E) the amount of water and land necessary for the crops

D) the corporate profits that would be made

The Pacific "ring of fire" is a volcanic area where ________. A) there is a great deal of mass wasting B) sedimentary rock is being formed from igneous rock C) pyroclastic flow has caused landslides D) there are many earthquakes and active plate boundaries E) there is severe coastal erosion

D) there are many earthquakes and active plate boundaries

Tsunamis are caused by ________. A) abnormally high and sustained winds B) abrupt changes in temperature of seawater C) global climate change D) boiling water entering the oceans from undersea faults E) displacement of sea water by volcanoes, earthquakes or landslides

E) displacement of sea water by volcanoes, earthquakes or landslides

The run-of-river approach to hydropower describes ________. A) impounding water in reservoirs behind concrete dams B) the purchase of state-run dams by major corporations C) dams that are reliable but unsustainable D) the most expensive type of dams to build and maintain E) diversion of a portion of a river's flow through pipes

E) diversion of a portion of a river's flow through pipes

The U.S. General Mining Act of 1872, although encouraging of the domestic mining industry, also ________. A) opens mining rights to foreign nations which stake claims on U.S. land B) makes mining unprofitable except for the largest corporations C) has pollution and remediation clauses that are too strict D) has allowed mining in urban centers with with dense commercial development E) gives away resources located on public land almost for free and is subject to fraudulent claims

E) gives away resources located on public land almost for free and is subject to fraudulent claims

Ground-source heat pumps ________. A) are an increasing source of small-scale electricity generation B) have been known to cause minor earthquakes C) produce pollution of ground water D) require nearby volcanic activity to be effective E) heat and cool houses and buildings more efficiently than conventional methods

E) heat and cool houses and buildings more efficiently than conventional methods

E-85 ________. A) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict greenhouse gas emissions B) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to determine vehicle fuel efficiency standards C) was an international summit of 85 nations that met to restrict CFC use D) is an isotope of uranium used to generate electricity E) is an ethanol—gasoline mixture used in flexible-fuel vehicles

E) is an ethanol-gasoline mixture used in flexible-fuel vehicles

The Coriolis effect ________. A) keeps Earth from spinning too fast B) is caused by the moon C) results in ice and dark at the poles in winter D) keeps the wind circulating at constant speed around the planet E) is caused by earth's rotational forces

E) is caused by earth's rotational forces

A new process for removing heavy metals and acid sulfate pollution from mine leachate water is ________. A) filtration and sedimentation B) treatment with chlorine or ozone C) deep-well injection D) surface impoundments E) sulfate-reducing bacteria

E) sulfate-reducing bacteria

When magma or lava cools, the result is ________. A) igneous rock B) subduction C) metamorphic rock D) weathering and deposition E) the formation of minerals

E) the formation of minerals

Why is it urgent that we develop alternatives to fossil fuels?

Harvesting and transporting fossil fuels disturbs and pollutes critical wildlife habitat. Burning fossil fuels creates air pollution and greenhouse gases that drive global climate change. In addition to these adverse environmental impacts, there is concern that easily extractable supplies of oil and natural gas may not last more than 50 years. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable and are unequally distributed among nations, some having huge supplies while others have little or none. Falling supplies coupled with increased world demand for energy is outpacing our ability to meet our energy needs and contributes to international conflict. We must develop new energy sources, or our economies may become disrupted. Development of alternatives to fossil fuels now will help diversify the mix of available energy commodities and lessen price volatility and dependence on foreign energy imports. New energy sources can create new employment opportunities and sources of income and property taxes for local communities, often in rural areas passed over by other types of economic development.

Discuss briefly the significance of hydrogen as an alternative energy resource.

Hydrogen is the most abundant element on earth, an excellent fuel and could be stored and transported like natural gas to provide energy in large amounts wherever needed. If hydrogen is produced by the electrolysis of water, the only products are hydrogen and oxygen gases, and when hydrogen is burned, the only direct emission is water. Hydrogen fuel cells have been in production for years and are being used to power buses in several nations and soon may be adapted to power cars. Hydrogen fuel cells are very efficient, 35-70% depending on the design of the fuel cell. To convert to a hydrogen energy economy would necessitate major infrastructure development to transport and store the volumes of hydrogen gas required to power an industrial nation such as the U.S., Japan or Germany. Also, the effects of large-scale leaks of hydrogen into the atmosphere may have an accelerating effect on ozone depletion and needs further study. However, hydrogen is in practically inexhaustible supply and is a major candidate to replace fossil fuels.

Briefly discuss the pros and cons of hydropower.

Hydropower is renewable and clean; it produces enormous amounts of energy with little air pollution. The EROI of hydroelectric plants are on the order of 10:1, among the highest of any energy process. Fossil fuels are used in the construction and maintenance of dams, however, and recent evidence suggests that reservoirs release some methane, a greenhouse gas. Damming rivers destroys habitat because it floods areas above dam sites and reduces water flow below dam sites. Also, any extensive hydroelectric project will cause the displacement of human settlements. Dams disrupt flooding cycles of rivers, affect the dynamics of estuaries and prevent floodplains from receiving nutrient‑laden sediments. Dams also cause thermal pollution that kills native fish. They block the passage of fish and other aquatic organisms within the ecosystem, fragmenting rivers and reducing biodiversity. These concerns require that extensive environmental impact studies be made prior to undertaking a hydropower project.

Briefly discuss environmental impacts and economics of wind energy.

Like solar energy, wind power is a rapidly expanding alternative energy source, and like solar energy the costs are dropping rapidly as more and more nations build wind turbines and plan large-scale wind-farms. Although the U.S. is a leader in wind energy production, the progress of wind energy has been spotty because Congress as not provided the long-term development and tax incentives that other nations have already enacted. Still, the production of energy in favorable locations is competitive with the costs of using fossil fuels. The environmental impacts, like solar energy, involve no direct emissions or mining and extraction damage to landscape and biodiversity and a very low carbon footprint in the overall process of construction and maintenance of wind turbines. The EROI is estimated to be very high for wind, over 20. One of the frequent objections to large wind farms is that they become a dominating feature of the landscape, and aesthetic objections are common. Another complaint is that wind farms may be a significant source of bird and bat mortality. However, recent studies have concluded that the bird mortality from wind turbine blades is minute when compared with that from pesticides, traffic and domestic cats. Still, efforts should be made to site wind farms off the major bird migration routes. Perhaps the most significant point to be made is that current U.S. wind generators prevent the equivalent of 6.5 million car's carbon pollution from entering the atmosphere.

Discuss the conventional alternatives to fossil fuels. Why are we not using more renewables?

Many renewable energy sources depend on technologies that are not yet fully developed and are more costly than fossil fuel use in the short term. Wind power, hydroelectric power, and energy from biomass are three conventional alternative energy sources that are currently the most developed and widely used. These alternatives currently play substantial roles in the energy and electricity budgets of many nations. They exert considerably less environmental impact than fossils fuels, and wind, an example of the "new renewable" alternatives, exert still smaller environmental impacts. Finally, in some nations, particularly the US, corporate interests with heavy investments in fossil fuels have used political pressure and media campaigns to delay the development of renewable energies.

Discuss the elements of sustainable minerals management.

Minerals are non-renewable resources and therefore need to be mined and utilized efficiently. Otherwise, some, like indium, copper, gold and tantalum which are scarce will rapidly reach the depletion point, past which their extraction and processing will be prohibitively expensive. A cornerstone of sustainable minerals use is recycling. In natural sustainable systems virtually all materials are recycled. The greater the volume of recycled mineral and more efficient the recycling process, the longer the lifetime and the longer in which to discover more available, cheaper and hopefully renewable replacements for scarce elements. Practical goals are those already attained for gold, where more metal is recycled than consumed, and lead, where 80% of U.S. lead consumed comes from recycled post-consumer items. Finally, new deposits need to be sought, and more efficient extraction technologies developed.

Briefly discuss the new process of using sulfate-reducing bacteria to remediate water pollution from mining operations.

Mining always has two impacts: the depletion of non-renewable resources and negative environmental effects. In Research conducted by EPA and University of Cincinnati scientists at a copper mine in Montana, acid drainage containing high levels of sulfates and soluble metal ions, most of them toxic to wildlife was exposed to anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria under controlled conditions. The marvelous results were that the bacteria converted the soluble metal sulfates to insoluble metal sulfides, which precipitated from the treated water and were removed. The process is able to remove most of the toxic ions, including acid, at rates of more than 90% and the metal sulfides were between 75-98% pure, making it practical to recover and recycle valuable metals with high rates of efficiency. This may be the beginning of a new era of reducing the environmental impact of mining as well as for recovering large amounts of metals that would otherwise have be wasted.

Briefly discuss environmental impacts and economics of solar energy.

Solar energy is one of the fastest growing and diverse sources of alternative energy. Photovoltaic cells are rapidly increasing in production and deployment while at the same time the production costs are falling. Germany is leading the way with its "100,000 Rooftops" solar panels program that has already exceeded its goal. Some solar projects use mirrors to concentrate solar power for large-scale electricity production. Two such large arrays are in the planning stage, one in the U.S. Mojave desert and another in the Sahara Desert being constructed by Germany. One of the low-key but highly effective solar source is "passive solar systems". Passive solar takes advantage of the heat-retaining qualities of building materials to either gain, radiate or reflect heat. Using these physical properties as design components, buildings can be heated or cooled and provided with a source of solar-heated water. Although the U.S. is a leader in the production of solar photocells, only a tiny fraction of the research and development budget goes to solar and other renewable energies. The economic and policy leadership belongs mainly to European Union nations, especially Germany. The environmental impacts are clearly less severe than using fossil fuels or nuclear power. No emissions are directly produced by solar technology. The carbon footprint for solar technology is very low in comparison; it is not zero because some fossil fuels must still be used in the manufacture and installation of solar systems. Because the collection areas needed for home and especially for large solar collection systems are very large, large amounts of space are required, but when weighed against the damage from greenhouse gases, acid precipitation and landscape alteration from mining and drilling activities that are associated with fossil fuels, the impacts are much, much less. Finally, the long-term economic prospects are very bright. The costs of manufacturing solar technology is rapidly dropping with continuing research and development, and soon solar systems will be as affordable as fossil fuels.

Briefly discuss the relationship between plate tectonics, volcanic activity, earthquakes and tsunamis.

The earth's rust and mantle are not completely solid and stationary. Heat from the core melts the overlying mantle rocks to produce magma or lava. Like all fluids the mantle moves is slow convective currents as hot rock rises, cools and sinks back toward the core to be heated again. The semi-fluid upper mantle moves against the outer crust producing movements called plate tectonics. Where plates collide and one dives under another (subduction), diverge and spread apart (rift valleys) or slide past one another, the movements can cause shock waves that we feel as earthquakes. Or, crust movements in faults may expose the underlying liquid mantle which erupts upwards causing a volcano. When earthquakes and volcanic activity occur under the ocean, there may a sudden displacement of enormous amounts of sea water. The force of the displacement may travel hundreds or thousands of kilometers until it reaches a shoreline and produces a tsunami. It was an underwater earthquake that caused the devastating tsunami that struck northern Japan in April, 2011.

Discuss briefly the economic and social justice issues that can arise from some mining operations.

We live in a global and interdependent economic system. Materials for manufacturing can easily be drawn from several continents before the item in question, for example cellular telephones, come off the conveyor belt. With costs of extraction, processing, transportation, refining, marketing and finally assembly of product, international corporations are constantly looking for ways to keep costs low and make their product competitive. That said, often the nations or domestic regions that actually extract minerals are not given the humane and environmental consideration they deserve. Furthermore, when minerals are extracted from areas which are in the process of civil war or have weak central governments, workers may be mercilessly exploited and the in-region profits co-opted by militias, government officials or war lords. The result of these mining operations can be the direct financing of war, slavery, ethnic strife and the economic disenfranchisement of the field workers, most of whom are desperately poor. This has been the case of petroleum extraction in Nigeria, coltan mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo and diamond mining in Sierra Leone. Even in the U.S., the plight of people living in the Applachians under control of large coal mining corporations have suffered elements of this misery from the results of mountaintop removal mining techniques. Hope may dawn on this grim scene as public awareness and outrage at these events is prompting action by several developed nations as well as the U.N.

Match the following. A) Carbon B) Hydroelectric and geothermal C) cellulosic ethanol D) Three Gorges E) OTEC F) silicon G) Methane biogas H) Black Canyon I) methanol and dioxin J) tidal generators K) Methanol L) ethanol and biodiesel M) solar photocells and wind N) biodiesel 1) Ocean-derived energy resource in wide commercial use 2) Rapidly growing and increasingly cheaper renewable energy resources 3) Biofuel that does not necessitate growing of food crops to produce 4) Primary material used in making solar photocells 5) Made from recycled cooking oil, animal fat and other sources 6) The world's largest hydroelectric dam 7) Liquid biofuels in heaviest production

1) J 2) M 3) C 4) F 5) N 6) D 7) I

Biofuels ________. A) can be created by microbial action or burned directly as wood or dung B) requires fossil fuel input to produce C) produces no greenhouse gases when burned D) could not supply an alternative fuel to gasoline E) is a form of fossil fuel

A) can be created by microbial action or burned directly as wood or dung

The rotational energy of the blades of a wind turbine ________. A) drives a generator inside the nacelle compartment to produce electricity B) is used to generate hydrogen from water C) will not occur unless electricity is provided to generate the motion D) is so expensive to produce that no commercial development has been possible E) generates as much greenhouse gases as burning natural gas

A) drives a generator inside the nacelle compartment to produce electricity

Tantalum from African coltan is used primarily for the manufacture of ________. A) electronics: cell phones, computers, digital cameras B) high quality steel C) plastics D) aerospace engines and aircraft hulls E) pesticides, fertilizers and biodiesel fuel

A) electronics: cell phones, computer, digital cameras

The focus of the 2001 enquiry of the U.N. General Assembly into coltan mining in Congo was ________. A) environmental and social justice for the Congolese B) stopping the mining and sale of coltan to western nations C) controlling the high price of the ore charged by the Congolese government D) allowing more western nations to benefit from the importation of coltan E) diverting 30% of the profits from coltan into U.N. agencies like USESCO and FAO

A) environmental and social justice for the Congolese

Which of the following are documented negative impacts of dams? A) flooding, habitat destruction, alteration of river sediment deposition B) alteration of river salinity C) acid deposition D) increased atmospheric carbon dioxide and CFCs E) increased carbon monoxide emissions, decreased rainfall

A) flooding, habitat destruction, alteration of river sediment deposition

Which of the following represents proper ranking of the world's total primary energy supply from the greatest to least used? A) fossil fuels, biomass, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables B) fossil fuels, biomass, hydroelectric, nuclear, new renewables C) fossil fuels, biomass, hydroelectric, new renewables, nuclear D) fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass, new renewables E) biomass, fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables

A) fossil fuels, biomass, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables

The Coriolis effect contributes to ________. A) global wind patterns B) global warming C) increased acidic deposition D) a reduction in eutrophication E) an increase in eutrophication

A) global wind patterns

At least for the stratosphere, ________. A) increases of temperature and ozone levels are strongly correlated B) temperature and ozone concentration are inversely correlated C) temperature continues to decrease with altitude as in the troposphere D) the average temperature is much lower than for the troposphere E) ozone appears to be evenly distributed at all altitudes

A) increases of temperature and ozone levels are strongly correlated

Sustainable minerals use and longer projected lifetimes for scarce minerals can be achieved with all of the following, except ________. A) increasing demand and lowering prices for products using these minerals B) finding more available substitutes for scarce minerals C) recycling D) exploring for new reserves E) researching more efficient and environmentally friendly techniques of extraction

A) increasing demand and lowering prices for products using these minerals

One of the problems that occurs as a consequence of CFC pollution is ________. A) increasing skin cancer in humans B) respiratory irritation and lung cancer C) damage to human red blood cells D) movement of toxins into lakes and rivers, which poisons fish E) eutrophication

A) increasing skin cancer in humans

Photochemical smog differs from industrial smog in that it ________. A) is formed only in the presence of sunlight B) has large quantities of soot C) is primarily composed of carbon monoxide D) consists of primary pollutants E) is an unhealthy mixture of pollutants

A) is formed only in the presence of sunlight

The U.S. Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 requires ________. A) mining companies to post bonds to cover restoration of mined areas before permits are granted B) 20% of sales revenues to be donated to national park maintenance C) restoration of the identical ecosystem and biodiversity present before mining began D) no remediation of water pollution, except in the case of uranium mining E) all mined minerals to be processed and sold only within the U.S.

A) mining companies to post bonds to cover restoration of mined areas before permits are granted

Another conclusion drawn from the bar graph is that ________. A) our collective use of mineral resources is presently unsustainable B) we are using minerals sustainably at present C) after 400 years all the minerals shown will have entirely disappeared from earth D) neither recycling, reducing consumption nor finding alternative materials will keep prices from rising E) known global reserves are increasing to keep pace with consumption

A) our collective use of mineral resources is presently unsustainable

Which of the following is true of corn-produced ethanol? A) results in higher food prices for corn and corn products B) yields more then 10x the energy required to produce it C) does not produce greenhouse gases when burned D) cannot be mixed with other fuels E) does not require inputs of fossil fuel energy

A) results in higher food prices for corn and corn products

The only energy source(s) from ocean water so far put into commercial production are ________. A) tidal electrical generators B) tidal and ocean wave generators C) OTEC and ocean wave generators D) OTEC E) tidal and OTEC generators

A) tidal electric generators

Bagasse and sugar cane-based ethanol are major items in the energy resources of ________. A) China B) Brazil C) the Maldives D) Tuvalu E) Mexico

B) Brazil

Many types of mining, such as for coal and copper, produce a specific type of water pollution called ________. A) eutrophication B) acid drainage C) chlorinated pesticides D) radon gas E) suspended limestone particles

B) acid drainage

Subsurface mining is used extensively in the extraction of ________. A) coltan B) coal, phosphate, diamonds, gold C) oil sands D) limestone, natural gas, peat E) organic soils for landscaping

B) coal, phosphate, diamonds, gold

Biofuels and nuclear power may prove useful as ________. A) pollution-free sustainable energies B) energies to bridge the time between fossil fuel depletion and new renewables C) replacement fuels for motor vehicles D) stages in the development of fusion generators E) inexpensive technologies for developing nations

B) energies to bridge the time between fossil fuel depletion and new renewables

The effects of increased recycling will, other factors equal ________. A) increase the amount of economically recoverable minerals B) increase the lifetime of economically recoverable minerals C) cause an sharp rise in price of minerals D) shift extraction and mining methods to technically recoverable minerals E) result in discoveries of new mineral deposits

B) increase the lifetime of economically recoverable minerals

Radon ________. A) is formed by the breakdown of the ozone layer B) may cause lung cancer when inhaled C) binds with hemoglobin, preventing binding with oxygen D) contributes to the breakdown of the ozone layer E) in the atmosphere limits the availability of sunlight for plants

B) may cause lung cancer when inhaled

The largest portion of atmospheric gases is ________. A) oxygen B) nitrogen C) sulfur D) ozone E) argon

B) nitrogen

Harnessing energy by designing buildings to maximize or minimize the absorption of incident solar radiation are ________. A) active solar energy collection B) passive solar energy collection C) Concentrated solar power (CSP) devices D) photovoltaic cell collectors E) hydrogen fuel-cell collectors

B) passive solar energy collection

Ultimately, all biofuels are ________, because they are the result of ________. A) geological; sedimentation B) solar; photosynthesis C) inefficient; decomposition by microorganisms D) synthetic; chemical manipulation of hydrocarbons E) polymers; biological metabolic processes

B) solar; photosynthesis

In the troposphere ________. A) ozone levels decrease with altitude B) temperature decreases nearly linearly with altitude C) ozone levels increase with altitude D) temperatures never dip below freezing E) warmest temperatures reflect an absence of ozone

B) temperature decreases nearly linearly with altitude

The lithosphere consists of ________. A) the upper mantle and core B) the uppermost mantle and the continental and oceanic crust C) the upper part of the asthenosphere D) soils and vegetation E) magma and molten metal

B) the uppermost mantle and the continental and oceanic crust

New renewables include ________. A) biodiesel B) wind power C) ethanol D) sustainably harvested fuelwood E) "biogas" methane

B) wind power

Discuss the major environmental impacts of mining operations.

Because mineral resources are solids which are part of the Earth's crust, extracting them can involve serious ecological disruptions, landscape alteration and sometimes large-scale pollution of water and air. Mountaintop removal is a technique of coal extraction in which more than 100 vertical meters of a mountaintop are blasted and removed to expose deposits. This causes debris to rain down the hillsides, clogging and polluting stream sources and thus water supplies, destroying wildlife habitats of and causing the loss of biodiversity. In the case of mining in Appalachia, physical destruction of homes buildings also occurs. Smelting of iron and other ores may produce large of amounts of sulfur oxides which cause acid precipitation and ecosystem destruction. In mining operations that require extraction and washing techniques using water, streams and ground water are likely to be contaminated by sulfates (acidification) and soluble toxic metal ions such as selenium, aluminum, manganese, cadmium and nickel. In addition, other chemicals used in the extraction process may be present in mine tailings and cause further water pollution. The operations of strip mining and open-pit mining remove extensive areas of native vegetation, damage fertile soils and increase rates of erosion. They also can cause acid-drainage, when sulfide ores are exposed to and oxidized by atmospheric oxygen. The sulfates thus formed are mixed with rainwater and cause the same sorts of damage to soils and plants found in acid deposition from coal-fired industries and electrical generating plants.

Is the use of biofuels for power generation economically feasible and sustainable? Why or why not?

Biofuels include wood from trees, charcoal from burned wood, combustible animal waste (used directly for biopower), and products such as ethanol, methanol and biodiesel, which are derived from processing once‑living matter. Captured landfill methane can be used as fuel as well, which consequently reduces methane gas emissions. Using biomass can be energy and cost efficient and is an inexpensive fuel for combustion in power plants. Although combustion of biomass releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, emissions are lower than through burning fossil fuels. There is no net addition of carbon to the atmosphere (carbon neutrality) because biomass is the product of recent photosynthesis-the carbon output of its combustion is balanced by the carbon input of the photosynthesis that created it. Where waste costs money to dispose of, using waste for fuel can save money. Liquid fuels made from biomass are competitive in price with petroleum gasoline. Gas—ethanol mixtures and biodiesel successfully fuel vehicles, stoves, and heaters, and these biofuels burn cleaner than conventional gasoline and petrodiesel. The technology used to process biomass is important, however, because processing biomass into biofuels can be energy‑intensive. Growing crops exclusively for energy is not sustainable if monocultures are grown on land that could otherwise be preserved and if farmers apply petroleum products, such as pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, to their crops to increase yields. In addition, these agrochemicals cause damage to biodiversity, promote eutrophication and contaminate water supplies. Overharvesting wood and crops is also unsustainable because it can lead to deforestation, soil erosion, and desertification, which damages landscapes, eliminates biodiversity, and impoverishes human societies dependent on an area's resources. Careful long-term planning and analysis is necessary to decide what level of crop-produced biofuels can be sustainable in a given area.

The relationship between recycling, economics, and energy consumption is demonstrated in the case of aluminum, where ________. A) It costs more than ten times as much to produce items from recycled aluminum than from virgin ore B) the U.S. failure to recycle aluminum has caused energy to be lost in mining new ore C) 95% of the energy expended to mine and produce items from virgin ore is saved by recycling D) all of the metal recycling industries inn the U.S. went bankrupt by 2009 E) new cheap mining technologies and huge newly discovered aluminum deposits have made recycling unprofitable

C) 95% of the energy expended to mine and produce items from virgin ore is saved by recycling

Heavy landscape damage and water pollution have occurred in ________ as a result of ________. A) Canada; subsurface mining for oil sands B) Florida; open pit mining of limestone C) Appalachia; mountaintop removal mining for coal D) San Francisco; placer mining for gold E) Mississippi; strip mining for uranium

C) Appalachia; mountaintop removal mining for coal

When hydrogen is burned as a fuel, the primary waste product produced is ________. A) carbon monoxide B) CO2 C) H2O D) hydrocarbons and CO2 E) CO2 and H2O

C) H20

Worldwide, the most widely used renewable energy resource is ________. A) solar B) hydroelectric C) biomass D) wind E) nuclear

C) biomass

Biodiesel ________. A) is widely used in the United States B) is produced from sugarcane C) can be used in vehicles with diesel engines without engine modification D) is twice as expensive as petrodiesel E) produces more pollution than petrodiesel

C) can be used in vehicles with diesel engines without engine modification

Lead enters the atmosphere as a particulate pollutant. This is a problem because it ________. A) is a precious metal, and it is being lost to the atmosphere B) will cause the ozone hole to increase C) causes central nervous system damage in humans D) can become attached to radon E) provides excess nutrients to waterways, resulting in eutrophication

C) causes central nervous system damage in humans

Which of the following represents proper ranking of the world's total electricity generation from the greatest to least used? A) fossil fuels, biomass, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables B) fossil fuels, biomass, hydroelectric, nuclear, new renewables C) fossil fuels, hydroelectric, nuclear, biomass, new renewables D) fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass, new renewables E) biomass, fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables

C) fossil fuels, hydroelectric, nuclear, biomass, new renewables

Volcanoes are formed ________. A) when the earth's core erupts onto the surface B) where the earth's crust is especially thick C) in subduction zones or in rift valleys D) after earthquakes have damaged the earth's crust E) as a result of water seeping into the core from the surface

C) in subduction zones or in rift valleys

Tropospheric ozone ________. A) protects Earth from most of the harmful UV radiation B) binds with hemoglobin, preventing binding with oxygen in red blood cells C) is produced through the interaction of heat and UV light, with nitrogen oxides and carbon-containing compounds D) is a primary pollutant E) is caused by poor farming techniques

C) is produced through the interaction of heat and UV light, with nitrogen oxides and carbon-containing compounds

The dwindling supplies of rare strategic metals such as indium, tantalum, and platinum may be extended if we rigorously ________. A) scour the earth for new deposits B) relax environmental requirements for mining C) recycle existing supplies D) reduce demands for social and economic justice E) increase demand for the products in which they are used

C) recycle existing supplies

Photovoltaic cells ________. A) require an outside source of electricity to generate electricity on their own B) have small rotational generators built into every cell C) rely on the electrical current produced when silicon is struck by sunlight D) are increasingly costly produce which precludes major commercial application E) are the major form of renewable energy produced in the U.S.

C) rely on the electrical current produced when silicon is struck by sunlight

Minerals are components of ________. A) the troposphere B) sedimentary rocks C) the lithosphere D) soil horizons E) organic components of the Earth's crust

C) the lithosphere

Weather patterns are largely determined in the ________. A) stratosphere B) mesosphere C) troposphere D) lithosphere E) biosphere

C) troposphere

The huge dust storms that took place in the US mid-west in the 1930s ________. A) were triggered by tornados, worsened by global climate change B) were the result of polar cells C) were the result of poor farming and grazing techniques D) were the result of glacier melt E) were the result of ozone depletion

C) were the result of poor farming and grazing techniques

Most coltan ore is mined in ________, but purified and marketed in ________. A) the U.S.; Europe B) Canada ; the U.S. C) South America ; South Africa D) Congo ; developed nations in North America and Europe E) South Africa ; Congo

D) Congo; developed nations in North America and Europe

________ strongly influences the amount of energy generated from hydropower. A) The temperature of reservoir water B) Latitude C) The phase of the moon D) The volume of water released and the height of the fall E) the temperature of water in the boiler and turbine

D) The volume of water released and the height of the fall

Globally, more than 80% of all primary energy for today's economies comes from ________. A) nuclear power B) hydropower installations C) biofuels D) fossil fuels E) solar, wind and ocean tides and waves

D) fossil fuels

Which of the following represents proper ranking of the U.S. total primary energy supply from the greatest to least used? A) fossil fuels, biomass, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables B) fossil fuels, biomass, hydroelectric, nuclear, new renewables C) fossil fuels, biomass, hydroelectric, new renewables, nuclear D) fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass, new renewables E) biomass, fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, new renewables

D) fossil fuels, nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass, new renewables