Geography 107 Exam 2 HW Questions

The bioenergy garden at Georgia Southern University is used to show plants that can be used __________.

as biofuels that will not add any extra carbon dioxide into the atmosphere

According to some recent military studies, future wars will most likely be triggered by what environmental issue?

It has been speculated that many international armed conflicts in the future will be triggered by water and food scarcity.

Why isn't solar panel installation as profitable in the UK as in other countries?

Utility companies pay a low price to buy electricity.

What is ozone?

a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms

What is another name for the ozone layer?

ozonosphere

How much of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation reaches Earth's surface?

little of the ultraviolet radiation

If a home uses a large supply of solar panels to generate electricity, but has no battery system, surplus electricity that is produced is usually ______.

released into the power grid for others to use, generating a credit to the homeowner

What type of power is associated with photovoltaics?

solar

How much of the Sun's incoming radiation is scattered or reflected back to space before any heating effect is felt on Earth?

31%

How much of the Sun's incoming radiation is absorbed by Earth's surface?

45%

What is the Green Belt Movement?

A grassroots organization that promotes environmental conservation.

Which city has the title "Solar Capital of Europe"?

Freiburg

How will wildernesses around the world change with global warming?

Global warming will lead to changes in the global distribution of rainfall.

How did the University of Florida help address the problem of global warming?

The athletic program reduced local energy consumption and planted trees.

On a day with half cloud cover, what happens to the visible light headed toward Earth?

The clouds reflect some of it back to space, and some still reaches the surface.

What would happen to the oxygen atoms in ozone if the ozone layer were completely destroyed by ultraviolet radiation?

The oxygen atoms would be bound together in pairs.

How does planting trees offset carbon generated by the University of Florida athletic program?

The planted trees will sequester carbon dioxide from the air as they grow.

LEED standards in the construction of new buildings establishes criteria that __________.

conserve energy and water and improve indoor air quality

The water reuse system on the campus of Georgia Southern University __________.

conserves water by using treated city wastewater instead of city tap water for irrigation

The Neutral Gator program used methods that _____.

decreased production of carbon dioxide and then reduced the amount of carbon dioxide already in the atmosphere

One common way to increase the sustainability of a food system is to buy and consume __________.

foods that are grown locally

Fans attending University of Florida athletic events are responsible for providing carbon offsets for _____.

fossil fuels used to get fans to and from the stadium

The greenhouse effect raises Earth's surface temp. became the infrared light is radiated by Earth's surface _________.

is temporarily absorbed by the greenhouse gases and then reemitted in random directions

The University of Florida's athletic program became carbon neutral because it _____.

promoted programs that reduced fossil fuel use and sequestered carbon

Only some shortwave radiation from the Sun reaches Earth's surface. What is the leading cause of this radiation loss?

reflection by clouds

What is a challenge to using solar-generated electricity in places not connected to a power grid?

the lack of efficient and inexpensive battery technology

What environmental problem is being addressed by the use of bio swales, large vegetated ditches or depressions, on the campus of Georgia Southern University?

the pollution of streams by oily runoff water from parking lots

Why has Mauritius seen an increase in demand for electricity?

an increase in tourism

What source of energy would be the best for the country of Mauritius?

bagasse

How is energy transferred from Earth's surface to Earth's atmosphere?

-through latent heat in water vapor -through convection -through conduction -through the greenhouse effect

On average, how long does it take people in Germany to get their money back after they install solar panels?

12 years

What percentage of Germany's electricity comes from renewable sources?

12%

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temp. if the amount of incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun decreased and was less than the longwave radiation lost to space?

Atmospheric temp. would decrease.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of shortwave radiation reflected at Earth's surface increased significantly?

Atmospheric temp. would decrease.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temp. if the amount of outgoing longwave radiation decreased so that it was less than incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun?

Atmospheric temp. would increase.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of shortwave radiation reflected by clouds decreased significantly?

Atmospheric temp. would increase.

What would happen to Earth's atmospheric temperature if the amount of incoming shortwave radiation from the Sun was the same as the longwave radiation lost to space?

Atmospheric temp. would remain the same.

What is one action humans can take to reduce global warming?

It is believed that humans can reduce global warming by switching from a fossil fuel based economy to one based on cleaner, renewable energy sources.

What happens to the energy that the ground absorbs in the form of visible sunlight?

It is returned upward in the form of infrared light.

On a cloudless day, what happens to most of the visible light headed toward Earth?

It reaches Earth's surface, where some is reflected and some is absorbed.

What best describes the energy conversion sequence in the solar panel?

Photons carrying energy from the sun chemically react with silicon crystals to generate a flow of electrons.

What is the primary obstacle to the promotion of renewable energy resources?

Political will

What is an indication that a home is using solar power to generate electricity and is NOT using batteries?

There are solar panels on the roof and power lines going to the home.

Why did German utility companies oppose the passage of the Renewable Energy Act of 1999?

They thought the laws were anticompetitive.

What was one effect of Germany's Renewable Energy Act of 1999?

Thousands of new jobs were created in the renewable energy sector.

How is ozone formed in the stratosphere?

Ultraviolet radiation breaks apart molecules made up of paired oxygen atoms. Individual oxygen atoms bond with paired oxygen molecules to form ozone.

How do CFCs cause ozone depletion?

Ultraviolet radiation breaks down CFCs, molecules containing chlorine. Chlorine then breaks one oxygen atom away from ozone, leaving behind a paired oxygen molecule.