environmental science final exam (all tests/quizzes)
passed in 1976 to regulate solid and hazardous waste disposal
RCRA
coal is formed when
Swamplands are buried by sediment. Then the added weight creates heat and pressure, which converts the plants to coal.
organic chemicals that vaporize readily
VOCs
what pollution is most likely to reach unhealthy levels inside an office building
VOCs found in the building's foam insulation
where would you expect to have a climate with mild temperatures and frequent rain?
a coastal region at about 30 degrees latitude
acid precipitation can lead to
a decrease in a community's standard of living, an increase in respiratory ailments, and a destruction of historic monuments
an example of something biodegradable is
a leaf in a compost pile
during the process of nuclear fission,
a neutron splits a uranium-235 atom, forming new elements and releasing several neutrons, plus energy.
naturally occurring pollutants can become hazardous to health when they are
above normal levels
The lower the pH number is, the more ____________________ a substance is; the higher the pH number is, the more _____________ a substance is.
acidic, basic
normal precipitation is slightly __________ because atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves in the precipitation and forms ________ ________.
acidic, carbonic acid
which air pollutants can aggravate bronchial asthma in humans and cause fish to suffocate
acids formed from nitrogen compounds
a heat exchanger is used in
active solar heating
the technology that uses solar collectors to gather energy from the sun is known as
active solar heating
uses the sun's energy to heat a liquid, which then heats a building
active solar heating
what is a true statement about recycling
after they are collected, recyclable materials are cleaned and processed
may be harmful even though it's biodegradable
agricultural waste
which of the following is true? - world air quality is better today than it was in 1200 CE - sea-coal is a clean burning coal used in medieval england - air pollution began with the industrial revolution - air pollution has been recognized as a problem for two thousand years
air pollution has been recognized as a problem for two thousand years
much of the oil and natural gas in the us is located in
alaska, texas, california, and the gulf of mexico
In clear-cutting, ___ trees are removed from an area
all
what is not a method of reducing hazardous waste
allowing fungi to break down petroleum sludge
energy from sources that are still in development is ______________ energy
alternative
tidal power, hydrogen fuel cells, and ocean thermal energy conversion are sources of ______________ energy
alternative
what toxic substances leaches out of soil and into water when conditions are acidic?
aluminum
As a result of the destruction of stratospheric ozone, scientists believe that ____________________, including frogs, toads, and salamanders, will be especially vulnerable to increased UV radiation.
amphibians
a hybrid car uses
an efficient gasoline engine and an electric motor
acid precipitation can not lead to
an increase of aquatic biodiversity
which of the following does not reduce CO2 in the atmosphere - animal respiration - tropical rain forests - oceans - phytoplankton
animal respiration
Each year, most of the cases of organophosphate poisoning occur in people who are
applying the chemical to crops
renewable energy is energy from sources that
are constantly being formed
a common characteristic of all hazardous-waste land-disposal facilities is that they
are long-term storage sites
can lead to difficulty breathing and heart failure
asbestos
sometimes used to clean up heavy metal waste
bacteria
gastrointestinal infections are caused by
bacteria in food
which pollutant is caused by poor sanitation and can lead to gastrointestinal infections
bacteria in food
paper, wood, or fibers
biodegradable
what is in example of how biomass fuel is currently being used
biogas digesters ferment manure and produce methane, dung-fired power stations produce electricity, ethanol from fermenting corn is added to gasoline
using gasohol or ethanol from corn in vehicles is an example of using __________ fuel
biomass
habitat loss, soil erosion, and air pollution are disadvantages of which renewable energy resource
biomass fuel
in a ________________ ___________ humans and wildlife live side by side
biosphere reserve
the ozone layer protects living organisms on earth by
blocking solar UV radiation
Hybrid cars convert some of the energy of ____________________ into electricity.
braking
what contributes most to acid precipitation
burning fossil fuels
Inside the combustion chamber of a coal-fired power plant,
burning fossil fuels release energy in the form of heat
what accurately describes the use of fossil fuels for energy
burning fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
a true statement about carbon monoxide is that it
can lower the level of oxygen carried in the blood
what country consumes the most energy per person
canada
one of the most important ecosystem services provided by forests is removing _________ __________ from the atmosphere
carbon dioxide
what pollutants are added to air by burning fuels for vehicles
carbon monoxide and many kinds of particulates
the development of an ozone hole over the poles is a result of human activities and begins when molecular _____________ from CFCs is released into the atmosphere and collects on polar stratospheric clouds
chlorine
Ozone holes appear in polar regions during springtime when ozone-depleting
chlorine atoms are released from polar stratospheric clouds
two diseases that can be caused directly by pollution are
cholera and river blindness
geothermal heat pumps can heat homes by
circulating fluid underground to absorb heat from earth
the ____________ of air in the atmosphere usually keeps air pollution from reaching dangerous levels
circulation
The statement "Cool summers, cold winters with lots of snow - about 75 cm of precipitation each year" describes ________________.
climate
what is an environmental change that scientists believe may increase the areas where malaria occurs
climate change
black lung disease is caused by
coal dust
the production of two useful forms of energy from the same fuel source is called
cogeneration
La Nina is the ___ phase of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation cycle.
cold
an important property of air circulation is
cold air is denser than warm air
what correctly describes the disposal of waste by composting
composting could reduce the amount of waste that restaurants, food-processing plants, and animal feedlots send to landfills
an example of source reduction is
composting, recycling, and using canvas shopping bags
carpooling and taking public transportation are ways people can _________ energy
conserve
which of the following environmental changes is most likely to lead to the spread of parasites such as hookworm?
contaminated soil
electric generators work by
converting mechanical energy into electrical energy
what is not a main use of fuel
cooking
factors influencing what fuel source a nation uses
cost and efficiency
the process of composting
could effectively handle a variety of wastes
what most effectively allows forests to recover from tree harvesting
cutting only medium-sized or mature trees
what is an environmental change that may result in more pathogens making a cross-species transfer to humans
destroying habitats
what is true of land-use plans
developers must prepare detailed reports assessing the environmental impact of their projects, projects in environmentally sensitive areas may be hotly debated, the public often has input in land-use plans
one disadvantage of wind energy is that
difficulty of transporting the energy from its source to where it is needed
light pollution can be decreased by
directing lighting downward
construction method to prevent oil spills
double-hulling
during a __ ______ period, winds push warm water eastward in the pacific ocean
el nino
converts mechanical energy into electrical energy
electric generator
two thirds of the sulfur dioxide that pollutes our air is produced by
electric power plants
the energy in fossil fuels is often converted into
electrical energy
wind turbines convert the movement of the wind into ___________________
electrical energy
a photovoltaic cell converts the sun's energy into
electricity
works by giving dust particles an electrical charge
electrostatic precipitation
what can be done to sustain the productivity of rangeland
eliminate invasive plants, limit herd size, and leave the land unused for a time
what are long-term effects of air pollution
emphysema, lung cancer, heart disease
a fuel's stability is dependent on
energy content, cost, and availability
a fuels suitability is dependent on what factors
energy content, cost, availability
a good way to increase the __________ ____________ of a home is to increase the amount of insulation
energy efficiency
the percentage of energy put into a system that does useful work is
energy efficiency
study of the spread of disease
epidemiology
one serious consequence of climate change, a rise in sea levels, could result in _____________ of beaches
erosion
deforestation is an especially serious problem in tropical rainforests because
farmers must repeatedly clear additional forest area to obtain land that can support crops
urban sprawl involves people moving from cities to land that was previously used for
food production and open space
in developing countries, you are most likely to find biomass used
for heating and cooking
selective cutting minimizes the impact on
forest ecosystems
energy source derived from dead organisms
fossil fuel
solar energy, or energy from the sun, is contained in
fossil fuels
most air pollution is caused by
fuel burning
combines hydrogen and oxygen to produce electrical energy
fuel cell
electricity is produced chemically when hydrogen and oxygen are combined in a
fuel cell
the automobile's contribution to air pollution includes
fumes that escape when the gas tank is filled and nitrogen oxides emitted in exhaust
A land-use planner might use a tool known as ____ to determine where to locate a new mall
geographic information system
a predicted increase in Earth's average temperature caused by human activities and the subsequent release of gases such as carbon dioxide is known as
global warming
the difference between global warming and climate change is that
global warming is a consequence of climate change
what is an example of land used as a protected area to preserve the scenery and ecosystems
grand canyon national park
contains sugar that is consumed by bacteria
green plastic
moderation of temperature, infiltration of rain water runoff, and aesthetic value can be provided to urban areas by
green space
water vapor and carbon dioxide reradiate infrared radiation in the atmosphere back to the surface of earth so they are called
greenhouse gases
secondary pollutant example
ground level ozone
What pathogens have made a cross-species transfer to humans
hantavirus, influenza virus, west nile virus
how do people use the land
harvest wood, grow crops, preserve native species
what is not a long-term effect of air pollution
headaches
Cities generate and trap ____________________, causing increased temperatures.
heat
hydrogen gas can be produced by using ________ to split molecules of water
heat
passive solar heating uses energy from the sun to ______ a home directly
heat
noise pollution can cause
high blood pressure, hearing loss, and loss of sleep
organism in which a pathogen lives all or part of its life
host
The most energy-efficient vehicles available today are
hybrid cars
a tidal power plant works much like a ________________ power plant
hydroelectric
Flooding of habitats, disruption of ecosystems downstream, and reduced productivity of farmland are disadvantages of
hydroelectric energy
what element might be the fuel of the future
hydrogen
what is true about hydrogen gas as a fuel source
hydrogen gas can be burned as a fuel or used to produce electricity chemically
a geothermal power plant can be used to generate electricity
in areas where reservoirs of water are heated inside earth
much of the pollution in the environment is a result of
inadequate waste disposal
one way radon and asbestos are similar is that they
increase the risk of cancer
A continuous record from Mauna Loa, Hawaii, reveals that annual average atmospheric CO2 concentrations have ____________________ since 1958.
increased
one benefit of preserving farmland is
increased crop production
from 1970 to the present, the percentage of waste that is recycled has
increased from 6.6 percent to 30 percent
which of the following would not be a consequence of a rise in global temperature - rising sea level - increased polar ice melts - increased frequency of major storms - increased frequency of major droughts
increased polar ice melts
most of the energy consumed in the united states is used for
industrial purposes
Fire stations, roads, and bridges are examples of ____________________
infrastructure
hydrogen gas could be used as a fuel source in the future because it
is abundant, can be burned as fuel, and is used in fuel cells
oil production is still increasing, but it
is increasing much more slowly than in did in the 1960s
a material is biodegradable is
it can be broken down by biological processes
ultraviolet radiation is particularly dangerous because
it can damage genetic material in cells
what is not a requirement of a landfill built today
it must be a specified distance from a city or other populated area
many people move to cities in search of
jobs
the ________ _________ is an international agreement that seeks to limit CO2 emissions from developed countries
kyoto protocol
must be lined and must have a way to collect leachate
landfill
what are problems associated with landfills
leachate and methane production
brain damage and learning problems are caused by
lead
leads to energy waste
light pollution
a fuel's stability is not dependent on
magnetism
what is the most helpful thing that a consumer can do to make sure that more materials are recycled
make an effort to buy products made from recycled materials whenever possible
what produces the most solid waste
manufacturing
includes scrap metal, plastics, paper, sludge, and ash
manufacturing waste
what statement is true about pollutants from waste disposal
many communities release raw sewage into a river or the ocean after a heavy rain
Land that is poorly suited for building is considered ____________________ land.
marginal
buses and trains are examples of
mass transit systems
what is not a problem associated with modern landfills
materials buried in landfills decompose in three years
the methane found in landfills is a gas that
may be captured and used to produce energy
environmental damage to wilderness areas
may worsen as the U.S. population grows
in selective cutting, __________ __________ _____ __________ trees are removed from an area
medium sized and mature
when bacteria decompose organic waste, one by-product is _________________ which can be burned to generate heat and electricity
methane gas
Almost half of the acid precipitation that falls in southeastern Canada results from pollution produced in _________________________.
midwestern and eastern united states
the ____________ ____________ is an international agreement that limits CFC production
montreal protocol
Latitude strongly influences climate because _____ solar energy falls on areas that are closer to the equator than to the poles.
more
As the amount of ozone in the stratosphere decreases,
more ultraviolet light is able to reach earth's surface
hydroelectric energy is electricity generated from
moving water
Compared to washing clothes in warm water, washing clothes in cold water uses
much less energy
nuclear fusion
must take place at extremely high temperatures
dust storms, volcanoes, and wildfires are all
natural causes of pollution
product of nuclear fission
new nuclei and neutrons
what is not a primary air pollutant
nitric acid
when fossil fuels are burned, they release oxides of ___________ and _______
nitrogen, sulfur
what is an advantage of nuclear energy
no air pollution
can lead to stress and high blood pressure
noise pollution
energy within the nucleus of an atom
nuclear energy
what is the main reason why fewer nuclear power plants are being built today compared to 40 years ago
nuclear power plants have become too expensive to generate electricity at a reasonable cost
site of controlled fission reaction
nuclear reactor
the thinning of the ozone layer
occurs over both polar regions, is related to seasonal changes, will take many years to reverse
an alternative energy technology that uses the temperature difference between layers of water to generate electricity is
ocean thermal energy conversion
uses low pressure and warm water to boil cold water
ocean thermal energy conversion
How do oceans affect climate conditions on land
oceans are the source of most precipitation, coastal areas have more moderate climate, they redistribute warm and cold masses of water
Making products from recycled materials
often saves energy and other resources during the manufacturing process
place where petroleum is converted into gasoline
oil refinery
which type of building would most likely have poor indoor air quality?
one that is tightly sealed and air-conditioned
Strong circulating winds over Antarctica, known as the _________________________, play a role in the formation of the polar stratospheric clouds.
polar vortex
The National Farmland Protection Program was designed to
protect farmland from being developed
why is it important to preserve farmland
provides food, moderates the temperature, and provides oxygen
the designation of wilderness areas
provides for protected habitats
in the united states, all citizens share ownership of
public lands
a geothermal power plant gets energy by
pumping heated water or steam from geothermal reservoirs
a _______ _____________ is often found on the inland side of a mountain range
rain shadow
Eliminating invasive plants and replacing them with native plants is one aspect of
range improvement
Land that is used to graze livestock is known as ____________________.
rangeland
what is not an environmental effect of deforestation
re-establishment of trees
the 1991 canada-us air quality agreement is meant to
reduce the acidic emission flowing across the canada-us border
what is not an environmental benefit of open spacee
reducing traffic flow
the opposite of deforestation is
reforestation
energy from sources that are constantly being formed is ______________ energy
renewable
Wind, moving water, sunlight, and heat from Earth's interior are sources of
renewable energy
What is reforestation?
replanting trees in an area
a true statement about the greenhouse gases is that they
reradiate infrared radiation back to earth
people's actions cause some disease-causing bacteria to become
resistant to antibiotics
If polar ice masses melt as a result of climate change, sea levels will _________.
rise
The average global temperature has _____ during the 20th century.
risen some years and fallen others, but increased overall
An estimate of the probability of a negative effect caused by a substance is a(n)
risk assessment
estimate of the harm that might be caused by a pathogen
risk assessment
the energy needs for the united states in the 1990s
rose slightly
what is not considered hazardous waste
rotting meat and other food waste
As opposed to urban land, ____________________ land contains relatively few people.
rural
before 1850, most people lived in ________ areas
rural
Regardless of where people live, they are dependent on resources produced in
rural areas
works by dissolving pollutants in water
scrubber
which is often used to remove poisonous gases from industrial emissions before they are released into the atmosphere?
scrubbers
the environmentally preferred method of harvesting trees in
selective cutting
storage sites for nuclear wastes
should be located only in areas that are extremely geologically stable
can lead to allergic reactions to fungi and mold
sick building syndrome
the negative consequences of harvesting trees using the clear-cutting method are _____ __________ and wildlife habitat destruction
soil erosion
when the acidity of soil increases,
some nutrients are dissolved and washed away
what correctly describes biodegradable plastics
some plastics are designed to deteriorate when exposed to sunlight, plastic that contains sugars can be broken down by soil bacteria, degradable plastics usually break down into smaller pieces of plastic
primary pollutant example
soot from smoke
used to run a turbine at a power plant
steam
Some hazardous waste is disposed of by deep-well injection. This procedure
stores wastes in layers of dry rock below the water table
toxicology is the study of the harmful effects of
substances on organisms
wind, plant growth, and the water cycle are powered by
sunlight
involves settling of wastes while surface water evaporates
surface impoundment
a nuclear reactor is
surrounded by a thick pressure vessel that is filled with a cooling fluid
what would happen if earth was not titled relative to the place of its orbit
temperate regions wold no longer have seasonal changes in climate
Elevation is a factor in climate because under most conditions
temperature falls as elevation increases
seasonal changes in daylight hours and climatic conditions are caused by
the 23.5 degree tilt of Earth's axis
under the superfund act,
the EPA may sue companies that dump hazardous waste illegally.
acid precipitation can be traced back to
the burning of fossil fuels
what are the effects of a mountain range on the climate of a region
the coastal side of the range usually has high levels of rain, a desert is often found on the inland side of the range, average temperatures are lower at high elevations than at the base of the mountains
oil and natural gas result from
the decay of tiny marine organisms that accumulated on the ocean floor millions of years ago
how is electrical energy generated in a coal-fired power plant
the heat generated from burning coal turns water into steam, which turns a turbine, thus running the electric generator
an important environmental benefit of open spaces in cities includes
the improvement in air quality resulting from filtering of pollutants by plants
climate in a region is
the long-term, prevailing atmospheric conditions
most of the pollution that causes acid precipitation to fall in southeastern Canada is released from
the midwestern and eastern united states
what does not help predict future oil production
the number of oil refineries operating in the past
After an outbreak of an illness, scientists use epidemiology to try to find
the origin of the disease, how to prevent the disease from spreading, and how the disease spreads
what is true of national parks and preserves
the provide recreation to people
Which regulation requires producers of hazardous wastes to document how their wastes are handled?
the resource conservation and recovery act
new nuclei and neutrons result from
the splitting of an atom's nucleus
chlorofluorocarbon molecules are environmentally significant because
their chlorine atoms can destroy many stratospheric ozone molecules
Given that most people live in urban areas, why should rural areas be preserved?
they provide ecological services
Deforestation is particularly harmful in tropical rain forests because the soil is ____________________
thin
in a nuclear power plant,
three pipe circuits pump water through the reactor, turbine, and cooling tower
which of the following activities is the largest producer of primary air pollutants in the united states
transportation
what are main uses of fuel
transportation, manufacturing, and heating and cooling buildings
Radon is one of the elements produced by the decay of ____________________, a radioactive element that occurs naturally in Earth's crust.
uranium
where do most americans live
urban areas
Traffic jams, substandard housing, and polluted air and water can be caused by rapid growth in cities, a phenomenon known as
urban crisis
the movement of people from rural areas cities is called
urbanization
a lifestyle change that can help conserve energy is
using less of any resource
what would increase energy efficiency in the us
using public transportation and developing ore efficient engines for vehicles
what is an example of cogeneration
using the waste heat from a furnace to power a steam turbine
transmitter of a disease to people
vector
air pollution is a major health problem caused by the burning of fuels in
vehicles, power plants and factories, home furnaces
which of the following is an advantage of using fossil fuels for energy
versatility in their uses
large quantities of gaseous sulfur dioxide can reach the upper atmosphere following a
volcanic eruption
a true statement about the physical properties of air is that
warm air can hold more water vapor than an equal amount of cold air
temperature inversions work to trap pollution when
warm air keeps cooler air at the surface from moving upward
what is an observation that helps to explain circulation patterns in the atmosphere?
warm air rises and cools as it rises
rain frequently results whenever
warm, moist air rises
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is considered an emerging virus because it
was previously unknown
most infection diseases are transmitted through
water
how do oceans not affect climate conditions on land
water cools earth because it reflects the most sunlight
the environment is an important factor in the spread of cholera and dysentery because
water provides a habitat in which the pathogens breed
which of the following gases is most responsible for the greenhouse effect? -nitrous oxide -methane -oxygen -water vapor
water vapor
the statement, "it's hot and sunny today, the temperature is 88 degrees Fahrenheit at 11 am" describes
weather
heat islands affect local
weather patterns
Areas that are protected from development and environmental damage are known as ____________________ areas.
wilderness
the most protected public lands are ____________ areas
wilderness
what type of area is protected from exploitation
wilderness
the fastest growing source of energy in the world is
wind power
During summer in the Southern Hemisphere, the Northern Hemisphere experiences
winter
what are major sources of biomass fuel in developing countries
wood, dung
in 1870, the first national park established to protect and preserve the land for future generations was
yellowstone
Populations of tiny, shrimp-like animals known as _________________________ may be reduced by climate change.
zooplankton
how long will it take for CFCs released from Earth's surface today to reach the stratosphere
10 to 20 years
Each U.S. resident uses the ecosystem services provided by roughly
12 hectares of land
the us census bureau defines an urban area as an area that contains more than
2,500 people
according to the united states environmental protection agency, what percentage of the approved or proposed superfund sites have been cleaned up
341 out of 1,620
what percentage of the energy needed to make aluminum cans from ore is needed to make recycled aluminum cans from used aluminum cans
5 percent
what best describes measurements of CO2 levels in the atmosphere since 1958?
CO2 levels are higher in winter and lower in summer, but the winter "highs" have increased each year and the summer "lows" have not fallen as far
damage to _____ in cells of living organisms is caused by exposure to UV radiation
DNA
The Clean Air Act, passed in 1970 and strengthened in 1990, gives the ___________________________________ the authority to regulate vehicle emissions in the United States.
EPA
what statement about global warming is not accurate? - carbon dioxide levels have risen over the last 30 years -only fossil fuels, not living plants, release carbon dioxide when burned - global temperature and carbon dioxide concentration are related - by itself, reforestation is not sufficient to slow global warming
only fossil fuels, not living plants, release carbon dioxide when burned
the main problem with so-called biodegradable plastic is that
only its organic portion actually decomposes
most damage to rangeland comes from
overgrazing
what has not resulted from urban sprawl
overgrazing
Stratospheric _________ is destroyed by chlorine atoms released from CFCs.
ozone
What pollutant forms when automobile emissions react with oxygen gas and ultraviolet rays?
ozone
involved in the formation of smog
ozone
aquatic animals are adapted to live in an environment within a particular ___ range
pH
what pH measurement of rainwater would indicate acid precipitation
pH 4.1
Which items make up the largest percentage of waste produced by households and businesses?
paper products
activities such as construction and agriculture are primary sources of
particulate matter
what pollutant is found in vehicle exhaust, burning waste, fires, and tobacco smoke
particulate matter
In an electrostatic precipitator, gas containing _________________________ is blown through a chamber containing an electric current.
particulates
asthma, bronchitis, and cancer are caused by
particulates
uses the sun's energy to heat a building directly
passive solar heating
organism that causes disease
pathogen
Though CFC production has been cut back, the threat to stratospheric ozone continues because CFCs ____________________ in the atmosphere for decades.
persist
though CFC production has been curtailed, the threat to upper atmospheric ozone continues because CFCs
persist and continue to break down ozone for decades
nerve damage, birth defects, and cancer are caused by
pesticides
uses the sun's energy and a semiconductor to produce a very small amount of electrical energy
photovoltaic cell
solar cells are also called
photovoltaic cells
As a result of the destruction of stratospheric ozone, single-celled organisms called _________________________, that live near the ocean's surface, can be killed by increased UV radiation.
phytoplankton