Environmental Science (BIO107)- Exam 2
Name and describe one terrestrial or ocean effect of climate change (anything EXCEPT ocean acidification).
One ocean effect is warmer temperatures. The ocean absorbs most of the heat from climate change. Water is also better than air at holding heat
Which part of the atmosphere is known as "Earth's sunscreen"? a. Ozone layer b. Greenhouse layer c. Troposphere d. Carbon dioxide
Ozone layer
Describe what is a criteria pollutant is and name one of them in the U.S.?
There are six criteria pollutants that tribute the most to air quality degradation. One of them is SO2.
Describe one of the negative social or ecological effects of population growth in a developing country.
There is a lot of urban migration without urban planning.
What are the effects of ocean acidification?
1. Harder to build a shell 2. Slows animal development 3. Makes fish stupider
Negative effects of permafrost melting
1. Melting permafrost releases: - Methane - Carbon dioxide - Diseases and bacteria 2. Creates unstable land and sinkholes as ice turns to water and flows away
Which pH would be considered acidic? a. 2.1 b. 7.5 c. 11.8
2.1
What's the term for the measure of how reflective a surface is?
Albedo
What is the word that means "human caused"?
Anthropogenic
What continent has the largest human population? a. Asia b. Africa c. North America d. Europe
Asia
Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel? a. Petroleum b. Natural gas c. Biodiesel d. Coal
Biodiesel
Why do we talk about CO2 more than we talk about all the other greenhouse gases.
CO2 is the most abundant and it's the easiest greenhouse gas to limit.
What important greenhouse gas does the Keeling Curve show has increased steadily since at least 1958? a. Nitrous oxide b. Carbon dioxide c. Methane d. Fluorinated gases
Carbon dioxide
Which greenhouse gas is most potent? a. Nitrous oxide b. Carbon dioxide c. Methane d. Fluorinated gases
Fluorinated gases
Which of the following is NOT a proxy for past climates? a. Tree rings b. Ice cores c. Plate tectonics d. Ocean sediments
Plate tectonics
Define saltwater intrusion and how it could affect land or infrastructure around the Chesapeake Bay.
Saltwater intrusion is when saltwater pushes into freshwater from sea level risings. Negative effect on infrastructure: - Water treatment - Power plants - Sewage facilities
Define permafrost
Soil that is permanently frozen
Describe the greenhouse effect on Earth
Solar radiation enters the atmosphere, traps greenhouse gas, making the Earth warmer.
How does a power plant work?
Some sort of fuel that boils water and then that steam spins a turbine which rotate a magnet inside a coil of wires.
Which of these is NOT a method used for mining coal? a. Stump mining b. Strip mining c. Mountaintop removal d. Subsurface mining
Stump mining
Describe the process of ocean acidification.
The ocean absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere. CO2 mixes with water to create carbonic acid which breaks down easily releasing H+.
Which sector of the U.S. economy uses the most oil? a. Transportation b. Industry c. Electrical generation d. Residential
Transportation
Which layer of the atmosphere is closest to the Earth? a. Troposphere b. Lithosphere c. Stratosphere d. Thermosphere
Troposphere
True or False? Climate change will cause both warmer and colder temperatures.
True
Name and describe one natural cause of climate change
Volcanic eruptions. The eruptions add ash and So2 to the atmosphere, creating haze. Haze absorbs solar radiation.
Which of the following is NOT an anthropogenic source of greenhouse gases? a. Cement curing b. Burning fossil fuels c. Cattle feedlots d. Weathering of rocks
Weathering of rocks
What is atmospheric convection cell?
When air moves from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure
Name and describe one non-fossil fuel source of energy (alternative energy) include some benefits and drawbacks of the source.
Wind energy, wind blows, causing the turbines to spin. Benefits: - land is still useable - cheap and easy to build - renewable - no emissions Drawbacks: - eyesore - bird strikes
Which of the following is NOT a driver of deep water circulation in the ocean? a. Temperature b. Salinity c. pH
pH