NRES 102 FINAL EXAM!

NONCONSUMPIVE water uses

-water may be CONTAMINATED, BUT is still available to humans -in homes, industries, and electric power production -humans use 27% of all accessible freshwater runoff

there have been significant developments toward

RENEWABLES and now 38 US states have a renewable potential standard and you can see immense potential of renewable sources

ethanol

-production costs make it MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OIL -Gasohol: 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline -ethanol releases 12-18% LESS GREENHOUSE GASES

US crop yields

US corn, wheat, soybean yields have all INCREASED!!

uranium exists in 2 forms (isotopes-which have different numbers of NEUTRONS but same # of protons and electrons)

Uranium-238 and Uranium-235

global warming potential (GWP)

a measure of how much infrared energy a gas will absorb or retain in the atmosphere -CO2 has a GWP of 1; greater than 1 or smaller than 1

most critical need for sustainable energy future:

a new way to FUEL VEHICLES!

since early 1970s, few new plants have been built

as of 2015, there are 99 plants that now operate in US

food security

assured access for EVERY PERSON to enough nutritious food for an active and healthy life -USDA food guide can help ppl evaluate their food intake: fruits, grains, vegetables, protein, dairy -ppl that LACK ACCESS to healthy, nutritious food and regions where p/o lack access to food: FOOD DESERTS (Africa)

Overnourishment

even in developing countries (amount of nutrients is more than necessary)

chemical, physical, and biological PROCESSES

give soil the ability to SUPPORT PLANT GROWTH

secondary pest outbreak

insects that were originally of NO CONCERN CREATE NEW PROBLEMS

Natural gas resulted from the

molecular breakdown of HYDROCARBON and it is mainly METHANE (one carbon and 4 hydrogen atoms)

reprocessing

most 235U and 239Pu from uranium fission is recovered and recycled for nuclear fuel!!! -can be used to make bombs, so US forbids it

bioaccumulation

over time, small amounts of chemicals built up to TOXIC LEVELS in organisms (many organic materials are soluble and STORED IN LIPIDS--fats)

compaction

packing of the soil due to excessive food or vehicular traffic -reduces soil air/infiltration and increases runoff

weathering

physical and chemical breakdown of parent material into smaller fragments like... -SAND (largest) -SILT (next largest) -CLAY (smallest) -their sizes vary on the mm scale

OIL derives from

phytoplankton and algae that mixed w/sand and mud in ancient seabeds and is now found in underground reservoirs, spaces within sedimentary rock, near surface in tar/oil sands

land subsidence

settling of the land; causes cracked building foundations, roadways, sewage pipes, and flooded coastal areas

gray water

slightly dirtied water from sinks, showers, tubs, and laundry tubs -consumers can buy low "water footprint" goods

the cryosphere

snow, glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice -reflect sunlight, contributing to planetary albedo -VOLCANOES can lead to planetary COOLING

erosion, salinization, water logging, acid rain KILL SOIL BIOTA

soil organisms contribute to plant growth directly and indirectly

water-holding capacity

soil's ability to HOLD WATER after it infiltrates -poor holding capacity: water flows BELOW root level

Soil fertility

soil's ability to SUPPORT PLANT GROWTH! -the presence of nutrients and all other needs -the TILTH of the soil: it's ability to support plant growth

soil

solid material that has both geological and biological origin -soil is fundamental to TERRESTRIAL ecosystems

Loam

solids are that are IDEAL FOR FARMING b/c they hold perfect amount of NUTRIENTS and WATER -include 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay

Lloyd Nichols

started Nichols Farm and Orchard- started by selling some of his produce at a farmers market! -Illinois farmers grow only 6% of the state's produce -more regional food production could create 5,400 jobs and generate $6.5 billion a year -demand for LOCAL FOOD has grown 260% over 10 years -Wal-Mart, Meijer and other major retailers are COMMITTING to sell locally grown food -3/4 Americans care that their food is grown LOCALLY -Metropolitan Chicago's Go To 2040 Plan calls for us to strengthen our region's food systems

pastoralists

subsistence farmers who constantly move their livestock -livestock enhance people's diets and quality of life -pastoralists need access to land!

irrigation

supplying water to croplands ARTIFICIALLY -dramatically INCREASES PRODUCTION but leads to degradation; irrigation is huge and rising worldwide

products of both fusion and fission have LESS MASS

than the starting material!-this lost mass is converted to ENERGY

Soil STRUCTURE

the ARRANGEMENT of soil particles whereas soil texture=size of soil particles

pesticides are categorized by...

the insects they KILL :( -insecticides (insects), rodenticides (rats, mice), fungicides (fungi), herbicides (plants)

Undernourishment

the lack of energy (Calories)

Malnutrition

the lack of essential nutrients (amino acids, vitamins, minerals)

biomagnification

the multiplying effect of bioaccumulation in organisms up the food chain -top-level organisms have HIGH LEVELS OF CONTAMINANTS

next layer up in the atmosphere is the STRATOSPHERE

this layer--temperature INCREASES WITH ALTITUDE -stratosphere extends up to 40 miles ABOVE EARTH'S SURFACE -OZONE in this layer absorbs the sun's high energy radiation contributing to the rising temperature and protects life on earth -compared to troposphere, there is little mixing and no precipitation in stratosphere--keeps contaminants that reach this layer in suspension for a long time

electricity enables

modern technological society

soil is home to

25% of all species, including detritus feeders and decomposers

soil constituents

-1/2 of the soil is SOLID MATTER (45% is mineral), the other half is pore space that is filled w/air or water; organic matter: 5% on which detritus feeds on -air: 20-30% -water:20-30% -mineral:45% -organic matter: 5%

cattle raised on large ranches

-AUSTRALIA: world's largest ranches -19% of the Amazon River Basin has been converted to cattle pasture -most land is held by few ranchers with huge spreads -cattle production is export drive, bringing in 5 billion a year for Brazil

aquatic photosynthesizers

-BENTHIC PLANTS: aquatic plants that grow rooted to the bottom of a body of water -benthic plants get their nutrients from the body and DO NOT respond to increased concentration of nutrients in the water body -nutrients enrichment of waters stimulates PHYTOPLANKTON growth, which are photosynthetic algae, protests, bacteria and they grow as single cells or in groups- they live suspended in water or floating on surface- they get their nutrients from the water so they are stimulated when we increased nutrients in water ecosystem

Cape Town, South Africa

-Cape Town has experienced lower-than-aerage rainfall for last 3 years-water mismanagement may contribute to the crisis, but then DROUGHT is the dominant factor -climate change intensifies droughts--average rainfall in Capetown has dipped to less than 15 in per year -transforming Cape Town swimming pool into a water storage tank for his home -Day Zero: the day when reservoirs will run SO LOW that the city will turn off municipal taps to tis 3.74 million residents -use nets to gather droplets of fog in nearby mountains -climate change is making severity of droughts worse! -reservoirs will take 2 years to fill back up

Oil and the Environment

-FRAKING causes air and water pollution -oil spills contaminate SOIL and WATER RESOURCES -Fraking uses large amounts of water-makes water less accessible ex) Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound Alaska ex) Deep Water Horizon drilling rig explosion and oil spill in gulf of Mexico in 2010

Natural Gas

-Gas burns CLEARER than coal or oil; releasing 1/2 as much CO2 and fewer pollutants!! -US proven reserves: 12 years -until recently, natural gas was mined from fields associated w/oil and coal and production via vertical drilling was declining BUT THEN this all changed bc of new technology

one megawatt hour is enough electricity to power about

800 homes in this region

Global Precipitation

-Hadley Sails: responsible for climatic conditions throughout the tropics/sub-tropics; due to the curvature of the earth; first, while incoming sunlight of EQUATOR arrives PERPENDICULAR to the surface and passes through minimal surface of atmosphere; light at the POLES arise at an angle and pass through GREATER THICKNESS of atmosphere -the light of the poles is spread out over a larger surface area so that the density of arriving photons is GREATER at EQUATOR -air becomes LESS DENSE AS IT WARMS- warm air rises to surface of earth around equator; as air rises, it cools due to earth's decreasing density -b/c cool air holds LESS WATER VAPOR than warm air, as then air cools, it condenses into water droplets forming rain -pattern of condensation and rainfall create a band of WET CLIMATE along the equator-as more warm air rises to the surface, air at top of atmosphere is pushed poleward-as it is MOVES POLEWARD, IT IS COOLER- as air sinks towards earth, it becomes warmer!! -increase in temperature takes place at latitude 30 degrees north or south-warm sinking air creates hot dry deserts -WHEN AIR SINKS, IT BECOMES WARM -WHEN AIR RISES, IT BECOMES COOL

diversion of water and estuaries

-SMALL-SCALE diversions include DITCHES and CANALS to IRRIGATE FIELDS -LARGE-SCALE diversions move WATER LONG DISTANCES- can bring pollution/affect original rivers and lakes -Estuaries: productive ECOSYSTEMS in bays and rivers, where fresh water mixes with seawater -in San Fran bay, over 60% of freshwater has been diverted for irrigation/municipal use :( this led to overabundance in salt and caused killing of fish populations

The Green Revolution

-The Green Revolution: technologies that resulted in remarkable increases in crop production -in 1943, Normal Borlaug and others BRED DWARF HYBRID WHEAT with a large head and thick stalk- causes Mexico to triple wheat production -many other countries increased crop yields -GRAIN PRODUCED exceeded population growth -green rev: resulted in remarkable increase in FOOD PRODUCTION due to the breeding effort that developed high-yielding grain varieties especially WHEAT

making nuclear fuel

-US uranium deposits are in WYOMING and New Mexico! -the ore is MILLED: crushed, treated chemically and turned into YELLOWCAKE (80% UO2)

North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO):

-affect wind and storms across the Atlantic

types of coal

-anthracite -bituminous----most common in US -Subbituminous -Lignite -based on carbon contents

livestock and antibiotic use

-antibiotics are heavily used in animal husbandry to treat illnesses, encourage growth, and increase efficient use of feed -unfortunately, this excessive use of antibiotics causes RESISTANCE IN BACTERIA -cephalosporins are used in livestock and children with pneumonia, strep throat, etc.

soil degradation

-as a consequence of EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS and SOIL MISMANAGEMENT associated w/human activities, the Western US experienced WORST DUST STORM in history! -on Black Sunday, April 14, 1935, the worst dust storm of the American Dust Bowl hit--led to creation of Natural Resources and Conservation Service -Dust storm in Arizona in 2016

why should we switch to renewable energy?

-burning fossil fuels has increased CO2 in the air by 40% to 400 parts per million resulting in INCREASED GLOBAL TEMPERATURES and SEA LEVELS

Carbon Dioxide

-burning fossil fuels increases CO2 levels -half of CO2 comes from INDUSTRIALIZED NATIONS -CO2 accounts for 20% of greenhouse warming -over past 50 years, release of carbon has TRIPLED

Coal

-coal is the world's most abundant fossil fuel -China is the world's leading coal producer -45% of US electricity comes from coal-fired power plants -mining coal is HAZARDOUS fatalities CWP-black lung disease-fatalities and hospitalizations are rising

drawbacks of wind energy

-intermittent winds require BACKUP or BATTERIES -wind farms can be visually unappealing/noisy -turbines can kill birds/bats -offshore wind farms use dependable, strong winds

comparing coal vs. Nuclear power: POLLUTION

-coal-fired plant emits 7 million tons of CO2 and 300,000 tons SO2 while a nuclear plant emits no carbon dioxide -coal plant: 100 times more radioactivity released than a nuclear plant -nuclear power is much CLEANER BUT the generated radioactive waste requires storage and proper disposal

Nitrous Oxide

-comes from agriculture, oceans, biomass burning, fossil fuel burning, and the industry; has a GWP potential 125 to 300 times that of CO2

electric generators

-converts MECHANICAL ENERGY into ELECTRICAL ENERGY -most electricity is produced by driving generators w/STEAM, GAS, and WATER TURBINES

dry land ecosystems

-cover 41% of Earth -10-20% of drylands currently suffer from degradation and home to 2.3 billion ppl in world's poorest regions -desertification: land degradation in these VULNERABLE AREAS due to droughts, erosion

eutrophication

-dead aquatic plants settle out -decomposers (bacteria) CONSUME OXYGEN-oxygen depletion leads to hypoxia, suffocation of organisms, and creation of DEAD ZONES -eutrophication makes water unappealing for swimming, drinking, boating, fishing -2014 Dead Zone in Gulf of Mexico--each year, oxygen disappears over thousands of square miles in Gulf of Mexico-size of Connecticut -water w/oxygen content greater than 6 ppm- GOOD -water w/oxygen content less than 2 ppm-BAD will only support detritus feeders/decomposers

modern industrialized agriculture

-early 1800s-most people in US lived and worked on SMALL FARMS -mid 1800s-INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION changed agriculture--this revolution increased farming efficiency!; now, 2 million US farms feed the nation! -industrial revolution-number of farms REDUCED from 6.8 million to 2.1 million and farm size increased drastically!

The Hydrological Cycle

-earth's water cycles through the hydrological cycle: in the water cycle, EVAPORATION and TRANSPIRATION raise water INTO the atmosphere and CONDENSATION/PRECIPITATION return that water to the land and oceans modern references of the water cycle distinguish GREEN and BLUE waters -green water is represented by green arrows: WATER IN VAPOR FORM -blue water is water in LIQUID FORM

What is IPM?

-ecological control protects PEOPLE and PLANTS -INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM): combines chemical and ecological control to control pests -uses all suitable methods to bring about long-term management of pests -has minimal environmental impact -used in developing countries

alternative pest control methods

-ecological control: manipulates natural factors w/o damaging the environment or human health -4 categories of ecological pest control are: cultural control, natural enemies, genetic control, natural chemical control

benefits of hydropower

-eliminates cost/environmental impacts of fossil fuels and nuclear power -dams provide flood control/irrigation water -reservoirs provide recreational/tourist opportunities -pumped-storage power dams pump water to a HIGHER RESERVOIR

Mississippi River Watershed

-embodies 40% of the land area in the US- rivers drain into Mississippi River which drains into Gulf of Mexico along w/fertilizers and animal wastes -in 1974-scientists found that the WATER and SEDIMENTS in the Gulf NO LONGER CONTAINED OXYGEN- this is known as "hypoxia" and is detrimental to aquatic organisms

Organic Foods Protection Act (1990)

-established the National Organic Standards Board under the USDA

benefit of Green Revolution

-expanded food production around the world (in Asia, Latin America, Africa, Middle East) WITHOUT THE OPENING OF NEW LAND -high-yielding varieties

second-generation biofuel

-made from cellulosic feedstocks -MISCANTHUS: a giant perennial grass that grows 4 meters tall and is ideal as a second-generation cellulosic biofuel -technology is 2nd generation biofuels uses enzymes to break CELLULOSE

video: the water cycle

-freshwater is actually MILLIONS OF YEARS OLD- it's the same water flowing in a continuous loop; water evaporates into the atmosphere and then condenses into clouds -the WATER CYCLE: a series of FLOWS of water between various water stores or storages -70% of all water on earth is in the OCEANS -water is rooted in the soil and BENEATH THE SOIL and in underground aquifers like the Ogallala-High Plains Aquifer which runs underneath 8 states from South Dakota to Texas -all water storage is TEMPORARY -precipitation: process of water falling onto the surface of the earth -rain/snow that falls directly on rivers/streams becomes part of STREAM FLOW -rain that falls ONTO LAND or snow/ice that on mountain tops that falls off is SURFACE RUNOFF -groundwater DISCHARGE: water discharging toward lake/river/sea: the DEEPER THE FLOW, the SLOWER THE FLOW -how does water get back into atmosphere?-it EVAPORATES- it turns from a liquid into a gas/vapor by the HEAT OF THE SUN -transpiration: plant roots drop groundwater and plants pull that plant water up into their stems/leaves and then release it back out through EVAPOTRANSPIRATION: evaporation from soil services + transpiration from plants

standards for certifying organic foods PROHIBITS:

-genetically engineered or irradiated food -fertilizing with sludge -conventional pesticides, antibiotics, growth hormones, chemical fertilizers -if food is at least 95% organic, they can use the seal-but cannot claim it to be 100% organic

The Clean Water Act of 1972

-gives the EPA jurisdiction over all POINT SOURCES OF POLLUTION

Bees exposed to pesticides

-had low growth rates, ate less, had trouble finding their way back to the hive -they produced fewer queens and danced less :(

Methane

-heats 25 times more EFFECTIVELY than CO2 -produced by the microbial fermentation in wetlands or water log fields and ruminants -methane sources: livestock production, from MANURE, water log fields like rice patties, landfills, coal mines, and natural gas -GWP for methane: 25

the green revolution IS NOT A CURE-ALL

-high-yielding crops are HARD TO GROW -green revolution has promoted use of MONOCULTURES-vast areas planted in 1 crop (insects/diseases spread rapidly)

sources of radiation

-humans get radiation exposure from MANY SOURCES -the US average person's exposure=3.6 mSv/yr -exposure from normal operation of a nuclear power plant is less than 1% of natural background radiation -main concern is not from normal operations, BUT FROM WASTES and the POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT

Haiti Farmers' Situation Reflects Food Aid Dilemma

-if he can't sell his rice, he won't have money to buy seeds for next season, which will affect other farmers as well :( -so much free rice is being given out that no one buy from merchants/farmers anymore -if donors continue to send food/water from abroad, it will compete w/national production of Haiti -donors have agreed to scale back but experts say that donors can help the national production IF THEY BUY FOOD LOCALLY rather than importing it -US--largest provider of food aid-US food aid consists of American grain -food aid was first and foremost a way to get rid of those surpluses of food the US had -creating jobs so that Haitian ppl can buy their own food

Problems of Access in the Developing World

-in 2004, FAO approved use of biotechnology BUT IT ALSO CAUTIONED that biotechnology this far HAS NOT contributed to alleviate world hunger -GM crops are patented by large for-profit corporations in the developed world and that forced farmers to buy seeds every year which affected their overall economy -GM crops have NOT delivered what was promised -protests about genetically modified crops are strongest in EUROPE -US is far less concerned; 70% of processed food contains GM substances

Surface (strip) mining

-in surface mining, more coal can be extracted and dynamite is used in the process to remove mountaintops like those in the Appalachians -this process has slowed down significantly as a result of lawsuits over the impact of mine waste

Human Impacts on the Hydrologic Cycle

-many environmental problems stem from DIRECT or INDIRECT impacts on the water cycle -4 categories of impact on hydrologic cycle: 1) Changes to Earth's surface 2) Withdrawals (diversion) for human use 3) Changes to Earth's climate 4) Atmospheric Pollution

organically grown food

-many farmers are turning away from pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, hormones -organic farms vary in size from small to large and their use of technology and farming methods varies in a similar way -ORGANIC FARMS are tied to LOCAL ECONOMIES -organic foods in the US $33 billion/year -there is a symbol on foods saying it was produced on a certified organic farm

Groundwater

-more than 75% of the aquifers have recharge rates OF CENTURIES and b/c of that, this groundwater is considered a NONRENEWABLE RESOURCE!!! -sustainability depends on balancing withdrawal rates w/recharge rates

municipal water use and treatment

-municipal water: water that is treated for safe drinking use -larger municipalities rely mostly on SURFACE WATER! -water used in homes, schools, industries is first piped to a TREATMENT PLANT, then it is treated, used, and returned to its source -in contrast, smaller public water drinking systems depend on GROUNDWATER, which is purified by percolation *water is often taken from a river of reservoir, piped to the treatment plant, used, and then returned to the source *at the treatment plant, water is treated to kill pathogens and remove undesirable material

nanoparticles (tiny particles) are a NEW THREAT

-nanoparticles can kill beneficial bacteria and prevent plants from taking up nitrogen -they are widely used

Morrow Plots @ UIUC

-near undergrad library -established in 1876 and is the oldest long-term research plots in the US and 2nd oldest in the world -established to study different FERTILITY/crop rotation treatments! -difference in intensity of green in moron plots=different FERTILITY level of those plots

the future of nuclear energy

-nuclear power is EXPENSIVE, faces OPPOSITION, and depends on GOVT. SUBSIDIES -Many nations are going ahead w/more plants -the Fukushima disaster will SLOW, not stop, nuclear energy -nuclear power will double by 2030

a mix of renewable sources provided 10% of US energy use in 2015

-obama administration-goal: increase use of renewables

oceans

-oceans have HIGH HEAT CAPACITY-they can absorb energy when water is heated!

renewable energy at U of I

-on-campus SOLAR PRODUCTION- solar farm!- Goal of increasing on-campus solar generation -Allerton Park in Monticello, IL- has geothermal, solar, wood-fried stove that heats some of the buildings -we also have an innovative BIOMASS BOILER at the energy farm -as far as SOLAR goes, we have SOLAR DECATHALON HOUSES-the "re-home" and "gable home" at the energy farm-part of a competition -U of I has ROOFTOP INSTALLATIONS- BIF--first rooftop solar on the campus facilities; our most recent rooftop solar is Wausaga Hall

concerns about fracking

-over 1 million gallons of HYDRAULIC FLUIDS are pumped into just 1 well at a single stage -chemicals can be added to hydraulic fluids -fracking causes AIR and WATER pollution -fracking causes increased earthquakes

Dams and the Environment

-over 48,000 large dams around the world; provide 19% of total ELECTRICITY -dams have DISPLACED 40-80 billion ppl preventing access to goods/services of now-flooded ecosystems; habitats are LOST as river downstream is deprived of water-affects fish populations and their dynamics -construction of dams=decaying plant material in the flooded areas change the weather chemistry and facilitate the RELEASE of pollutants like mercury from the soil

water pollutants

-pathogens -chemical pollutants-can be organic or inorganic -sediments -organic waste

the economic threshold

-pest control is NOT about eradication; the population just needs to be kept BELOW THE ECONOMIC THRESHOLD (the point where the economic losses of pest damage outweighed the cost of applying a pesticide)

the cost of controlling pests

-pesticides and herbicides are COSTLY -the US uses 1.1 billion POUNDS of HERBICIDES (to kill plants) and other pesticides (to kill animals) a year -In 2007, 39 billion spent on pesticides worldwide -agricultural technology (mono crops, genetically identical crops) have boosted yields! (20-50% of crops are still lost to pests a year -pesticide uses have INCREASED DRASTICALLY

Problems with GM crops: Environmental Concerns

-pests become resistant to the toxin in pest-resistant transgenic crops; thus the crop loses its advantage; pests can become resistant to GM plants -SECONDARY PESTS: minor pests that become MAJOR when competitor pests have been removed -plants cane become "super weeds" if they develop herbicide resistance -pollen for herbicide resistance can spread to other plants- these plants can become "super weeds" -beneficial insects are killed when wind-carried pollen from Bt corn: affects NONTARGETS (like monarch butterfly) -recent data shows that GM crops have NOT reduced use of herbicides -GM crops increase MONOCULTURES and DECREASE DIVERSITY!, causing the loss of local varieties -GM animals can be more aggressive and outcompete native species

biological effects of nuclear power

-radioactive emissions can PENETRATE BIOLOGICAL TISSUE -high doses of nuclear power: radiation can PREVENT CELL DIVISION -low doses of nuclear power: can damage DNA- cells can form malignant tumors/leukemia -damaged eggs/sperm can cause birth defects -weakened immune system, mental retardation

disadvantages of hydropower

-reservoirs drown farmland, wildlife habitats, towns -reservoirs DISPLACE rural populations -dams impede or prevent migration of fish -reservoirs increase the rate of evaporation

water in the DEVELOPING world

-rural areas in poor nations get water where they can -women have to walk long distances to get water -water in developing nations if often POLLUTED w/wastes like animal waste/human sewage

Water pollution-sediments

-sediments also degrade water quality-rivers always carry sediments BUT HUMAN IMPACT has exposed soil to greater rates of soil erosion and more sediments -having clear water systems is important to support the life cycle of many aquatic organisms and complex food webs that perform photosynthesis

subsistence farming can succeed

-slash-and-burn agriculture can be sustainable if it is done well! (it involves shifting cultivation in tropical forests where cultivators create highly diverse ecosystems)

factors influencing soil formation

-soil is formed from the PARENT MATERIAL over LONG PERIODS OF TIME through the interaction of 5 soil formation factors: 1) parent material 2) climate 3) biota 4) topography 5) time -soil starts forming when BEDROCK is exposed to WEATHERING (physical and chemical breakdown of parent material into smaller fragments)

Soil Classification

-soils are classified by: SOIL ORDER (mOst inclusive group) -there are 12 soil orders -4 major SOIL ORDERS most important for agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry: mollisols, alfisols, oxisols, aridisols -HYDRIC SOILS imp for WETLANDS

solar production of ELECTRICITY

-solar energy can produce electrical power, providing an alternative to coal and nuclear power -the PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM is the fastest growing energy technology- photovoltaic cells- as sunlight shines on the wafer, it puts out an AMOUNT OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT roughly equivalent to that emitted by a flashlight battery; PV cells collect light and convert it to electrical energy in one step -U of I has one of the largest university Photovoltaic systems in the country-uses solar energy!

future of solar energy

-solar energy is growing so rapidly it's hard to keep up with -but solar energy does have disadvantages: -technologies are more EXPENSIVE -a backup energy source, storage battery, or thermal storage for nighttime power is NEEDED -many areas are not sunny in winter

what does sustainable agriculture look like?

-some LARGE FARMS that use FEWER CHEMICALS AND FOSSIL FUELS, and less-wasteful irrigation -various forms of ORGANIC FARMING -wildly creative approaches (polyculture) that are very different from industrial agriculture

the Keystone XL Pipeline

-still CONTROVERSIAL -proposed to transport crude oil from CANADA and North Dakota to Patoka, IL -proponents of XL cite: construction jobs, increased property taxes, energy security -objections to Keystone XL pipeline include: leaks, crossing sensitive lands and recharge zones for Ogallala aquifer -Canada will not guarantee oil sales to US -would impact social-cultural aspects of Native-Americans living in the path of the pipeline

difficulties w/subsistence farming

-subsistence farmers live close to the edge limited by: farm size, availability of crops, animals, tools, rainfall, pests -they are poor and cannot survive crop failures -they lack access to markets/insurance/credit -SUBSISTENCE farming common in: Asia, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa -***subsistence agriculture often has LOWER YIELDS- huge yield gap between countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the world

wind power

-supplies 2.6% of the global electricity -WIND FARM: multiple wind turbines in the same place -wind capacity has increased 20%/yr to 318 GW -China is the world's leader in wind energy production -the amount of wind that can be tapped is IMMENSE -wind resources in the US are BEST in the WEST but also note potential in Iowa and Illinois Iowa=#1 state for wind energy production

Mahomet Aquifer

-supplies about 850,000 ppl w/fresh water -8% of the water is used for livestock and irrigated agriculture -another 45% is CONSUMED BY THE PUBLIC, including us in Champaign-Urbana community

Food Aid

-supplying food aid to alleviate chronic hunger is NOT GOOD -free or very cheap foreign food hurts LOCAL FARMERS -they stop producing food and become poor -the entire LOCAL ECONOMY DETERIORATES -the World Food Programme targets most food aid to EMERGENCIES -some aid goes to development projects

concentrated solar power systems

-the CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER SYSTEM uses CONCENTRATORS, or reflectors, to focus the sunlight onto a receive- this system works well in sunny areas

pressurized nuclear power plant

-the DOUBLE-LOOP DESIGN ISOLATES the pressurized water from the steam-generating loop that drives the turbogenerator

Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974

-the EPA set standards to protect drinking water (set minimum standards for quality of drinking water)

a nuclear reactor

-the nuclear reactor's CORE holds the FUEL and RODS, which are surrounded by the moderator fluid, near-pure water -control rods: those control rods are NEUTRAL in absorbing materials that are inserted between fuel rods and control chain run in the reactor core

top-most layer: Mesophere and Thermosphere

-these are layers of DECLINING OZONE levels and they are only small amounts of oxygen and nitrogen present

U of I Student Sustainable Farm

-they've been producing mostly for the dining halls that are made outlet for the produce they produce -they are growing over 50 crops but for dining, they tend to grow a smaller number of crops but at larger volumes -people are becoming more and more in tune w/what local food means and how produce is being grown here-HIGHER NUTRITIONAL VALUE and being FRESHER and taste better

by contrast, EUTROPHIC are waters that are RICH IN ORGANIC AND INORGANIC MATERIALS

-this nitrification is an increase in nutrient levels and biological productivity -when accelerated by human intervention, it is known as CULTURAL EUTROPHICATION!

Underground Mining

-underground mines cause land subsidence and fires -Centralia, PN fire started 40 years ago-could burn another 100 years -worldwide fires release as much CO2 as all cars and truck in the US!

bottled water

-uses a lot of ENERGY for production of plastic bottles and for transportation -bottled water may be a good option for EMERGENCIES but not a good source for drinking water, especially where Mahomet Aquifer is

SOLAR ENERGY: renewable!

-using solar energy DOES NOT CHANGE the biosphere's energy balance -solar energy is ABUNDANT but diffuse (scattered) and varies w/season, latitude, atmospheric conditions -COLLECTION, CONVERSION, STORAGE of solar energy are hard to do and must be cost effective -nuclear FUSION in the SUN emits a spectrum of radiant energy that reaches Earth

Are We at a Tipping Point w/Weed Control?

-w/o working herbicides, food could get a lot more EXPENSIVE!!! -weeds are developing resistance to available herbicides: PROBLEM -common water hemp weed is resistant to 5/6 modes of action -there are NO NEW herbicide MOAs coming out-they haven't for 30 years -herbicide prices have actually DECREASED over the past 30-40 years!! -random, genetic mutations allowed some weeds to withstand herbicides -what would it take to bring us back from the brink of weed domination? the MIDDLE WAY-bridges the gap between the traditional corn-soy rotation w/its heavy herbicide inputs and a diversified organic system

global air circulation

-where air is RISING, there is precipitation but where air is FALLING, there is LITTLE PRECIPITATION and that contributes to the formation of DESERT

different philosophies of PEST CONTROL

1) Chemical Treatment (of pests) -eradicates or decreases PEST NUMBERS -gives only SHORT-TERM PROTECTION -has highly damaging side effects to other organisms 2) Ecological Pest Control -long-lasting protection -based on knowledge of pest's life cycle and ecological relationships -may be organisms or chemicals -ecological pest control emphasizes the protection of ppl and domestic plants/animals from pests W/O the eradication of the pest[

Objectives for Biotechnology for Developing Nations

1) Incorporate disease and pest resistance into plants -virus-resistant cassavas, sweet potatoes, melons 2) Increase plant tolerance to drought/salt 3) Improve nutritional value of crops 4) Produce pharmaceutical products in crops

Water pollution-chemical pollutants

1) Inorganic Chemicals -HEAVY METALS (lead, mercury, arsenic, nickel) -ACIDS from Ines, acid precipitation, road salts 2) Organic Chemicals -petroleum, pesticides -industrial chemicals -many chemicals are toxic at VERY LOW LEVELS!! BIOMAGNIFICATION: chemicals become concentrated when going UP THE FOOD CHAIN

how to prevent soil erosion

1) Maintaining a PERMANENT VEGETATIVE COVER prevents erosion 2) Contour Farming: the plowing and cultivation at LIGHT ANGLE to the CONTOUR OF SLOPES -this slows the downhill flow of water! 3) No-till Farming -allows for CONTINUOUS CROPPING while minimizing soil erosion -used routinely by farmers in the US

components of the agricultural revolution

1) Mechanization -available for seeding, irrigating, weeding, harvesting so farmers today can cultivate much more land that in the past! 2) Use of fertilizers and pesticides -key to agricultural revolution; convenient to use and readily available 3) Irrigation -still expanding but at a slower pace; accounts for 70% of all water consumption

PROBLEMS with GM CROPS: Safety

1) Safety -GM crops have proteins from other species- this could trigger an allergic reaction in ppl -antibiotic-resistant genes are put into organisms -could cause antibiotics to become ineffective -new combinations of genes could have unexpected health effects on consumers -BUT World Health Organization states GM food are not likely to present risks for human health :)

the 4 approaches of IPM (integrative pest management)

1) Set action thresholds **2) Monitor and identify pests -experts determine if pests exceed the economic threshold -extension services, farm cooperatives, consultants used in this phase: FIELD SCOUTS: trained to identify and monitor pests 3) Prevent pests -use cultural and biological controls -crop rotation, predators, fertilizing, "trap crops" 4) control pests -select pesticides that do the LEAST damage to natural enemies of the pest

major oil producers in this country:

1) Texas 2) North Dakota 3) California 4) Alaska 5) Oklahoma

future problems US will face to distribute water:

1) it will be EXPENSIVE and IMPOSSIBLE to get more water through traditional reservoirs/wells 2) the US water-delivery infrastructure is AGING and it will be extremely expensive to replace it -another option to reduce our water consumption: LANDSCAPING!

soil's functions:

1) supporting crop growth 2) filtering water 3) helping Earth's nutrient cycles and exchange of gases

nuclear power accidents

3 main accidents 1) Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant in Pennsylvania 2) Chernobyl (in Ukraine, part of Soviet Union)--suffered horrible nuclear energy disaster when a reactor melted down 3) Fakushima Daiichi accident

Earth's Solar-Energy Balance

30% of the Sun's incoming radiation is reflected BACK to space-the rest is absorbed by oceans, land, atmosphere

pesticide problems

ACUTE HEALTH EFFECTS -pesticides cause nausea, abdominal pain, shock, respiratory failure, allergic reactions, seizures, pneumonia, coma CHRONIC HEALTH EFFECTS -consumers and farmers are exposed to low levels of pesticides and pesticide residues -many pesticides effect REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES and some researchers have suggested that very low levels of a number of pesticides mimic or disrupt ESTROGENIC HORMONES -pesticides may cause cancer, dermatitis, birth defects, infertility, and other chronic diseases :( -DDT caused breakage in eggs of birds at top of food chain: adverse environmental effects as broad spectrum pesticides affect populations of NATURAL PREDATORS and PARASITES

negative forcing factors

ALBEDO: the reflectivity of Earth's surface to sunlight -low-lying clouds can impart a NEGATIVE FORCING FACTOR (cooling) -high, wispy clouds have a POSITIVE FORCING EFEFCT

CFCs and other halocarbons are ALL

ANTHROPOGENIC! -made by humans for REFRIGERATION and AC's; also used as solvents and fire retardants -they are able to absorb up to 10,000 times more infrared energy than CO2 so that is their global warming potential -warm the troposphere and destroy stratospheric ozone -levels have DECLINE 90% since 1990

COAL, OIL, NATURAL GAS comes from

BIOMASS that was produced many millions of years ago; so deposits are FINITE

we need a...

BLUE REVOLUTION: a radical change in the way we use water!; there are 5 options that exist TO MEET FUTURE WATER NEEDS: 1) capturing runoff -water captured in barrels or cisterns by individuals or towns; water captured in DAMS is most widely used method 2) Tapping More Groundwater and Desalination -groundwater depletion: GREATEST THREAT TO IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE! -oceans are inexhaustible source of water! Desalination: DESALTING the seawater for domestic use-especially valuable in Middle East -desalination on a larger scale: distillation-involves evaporation and condensation of water vapor; desalination is expensive -desalination costs 2-4 times what most US ppl pay-but is much cheaper than bottled water 3) Using Less Water -people I DEVELOPING NATIONS only use 1 gallon/person/day for all their needs!; by contrast, a person in the US uses 100 gallons per day; by adding in indirect uses like irrigation, water consumption increases to 1,100 gallons/person/day -each person can OPTIMIZE WATER USAGE: by calculating a PERSONAL WATER FOOTPRINT, one an evaluate the areas that may significantly reduce water consumption -meat production: very water-intensive: BUY LOCAL PRODUCE is a great alternative - agriculture is the LARGEST USER OF FRESHWATER surge flow method uses computers to control release of water drip irrigation method uses pipes w/holes to drip water at the base of each plant

when there is a DEFICIENCY in available power, you observe a reduction in voltage and that is called a...

BROWNOUT

in US, MAIN SOURCES OF ELECTRICITY are:

COAL, NATURAL GAS, NUCLEAR POWER

example of bioaccumulation and biomagnification was the

DDT- DDT was pretty effective at killing insect pests BUT IT ACCUMULATED in organisms in the first trophic level and it worked its way up the food pyramid to the top predators reaching concentrations that were detrimental to non-target organisms so now DDT IS BANNED IN THE US AND OTHER DEVELOPED NATIONS

pathogens

DISEASE-CARRYING BACTERIA, VIRUSES, PARASITES found in human and animal excrement -in many places, the same waterway is used for drinking, washing, and disposal of sewage -good health is a result of PREVENTION OF DISEASE through PUBLIC-HEALTH MEASURES -many pos ppl are chronically infected w/diseases

electricity is an

ENERGY CARRIER

1/3 of the US corn is dedicated to

ETHANOL PRODUCTION

modern agriculture's

EXTERNALITIES make it unsustainable -it damages the ecosystems we depend on

nuclear plants use

FISSON (splitting) of uranium-235

nuclear reactions

FORM NEW ELEMENTS!

global primary energy supply

FOSSIL FUELS PROVIDE MOST OF THE WORLD'S ENERGY! (87% of energy comes from fossil fuels) -OIL is now largest energy source-33% and NATURAL GAS (23.7%) and COAL (30.1%)

partly decomposed matter at bottom of O-horizon:

HUMUS: has extraordinary capacity of holding water and nutrients! -transformation of DETRITUS into HUMUS

crude oil can be extracted from

OFFSHORE LOCATIONS

up to 1970, the US was

OIL INDEPENDENT!

the warmth of the atmosphere depends on internal and external factors

INTERNAL FACTORS: oceans, gases in the atmosphere, snow cover, sea ice EXTERNAL FACTORS: solar radiation, Earth's rotation, slow changes in Earth's orbit

in 2015, we celebrated the

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SOILS

Climate

LONG-TERM regional weather patterns -involving DECADES or LONGER -controlled by sun's radiation, Earth's tilt, atmosphere's chemistry, movement/mixing of oceans

the Hubbert peak

M. King Hubbert predicted that oil production would PEAK between 1965 and 1970 -1/2 of available oil would have been WITHDRAWN, leading to decline in production -but w/new discovery and new uses of technology and FRACKING--used to extract oil--it is thought that we may have a 2nd peak- may have been even greater than the one in the 1970s

Illinois has...

MOLLISOLS and ALFISOLS -mollisols: deep soils formed under PRAIRIE VEGETATION; they have high organic content and are BEST for agriculture -mollisols have HIGHER PRODUCTIVITY! -alfisols: formed under forest vegetation

Drip irrigation

MOST EFFICIENT IN TERMS OF WATER USAGE! -tubes take water DIRECTLY to the plants or the plant root zone******

rivers/lakes that have clear water and LOW biological productivity are said to be...

OLIGOTROPHIC, or with little nutrition

the USDA certifies

ORGANIC FOOD!

Water pollution- Nutrients

Nutrients: essential elements needed by PLANTS -PHOSPHORUS and NITROGEN are 2 most important nutrients for aquatic plant growth! -point sources of pollution: SEWAGE OUTFALLS -non-point sources of pollution: from agriculture: fertilizers, manure, irrigation water, crop residues, acid rain, lawns/gardens, golf courses

Water pollution- organic wastes

Organic matter, from HUMAN and ANIMAL WASTES, leaves, trash, can create serious problems in water -organic wastes is rich in nutrients like NITROGEN and PHOSPHORUS- they REDUCE OXYGEN and that is detrimental to organisms

solar collections can be

PASSIVE or ACTIVE heat absorption systems

utility company supply provides power through the

POWER GRID- a network that transfers energy from SUPPLIERS to CONSUMERS that demand electricity (trassmission lines tied in utility POOLS)

active solar systems

PUMPING a heat-absorbing medium through a heat-collector structure -active solar systems require MECHANICAL POWER -the use a heat-absorbing medium, like water, to pass through a heat-collector structure -sunlight is converted to HEAT that warms air/water -in NONFREEZING climates, a simple-water convection system WORKS but in freezing climates, an antifreeze fluid and auxiliary heat sources are used

-microorganisms and detritus

REGULATE SOIL HEALTH!

energy sources can be divided into:

RENEWABLE (can be easily replenished) -solar energy -geothermal energy -wind energy -biomass -hydropower NONRENEWABLE (cannot be easily replenished) -crude oil -natural gas -coal -nuclear

salinization

SALTS accumulate in and on the soil to the point where plants can't grow :( -salinization is a form of desertification -salinization can reduce crop yields up to 60%!!!! -salinization has made millions of acres of irrigated land WORTHLESS b/c of accumulation of salts as water evaporates

soil erosion occurs when...

SOIL and HUMUS particles are PICKED UP AND CARRIED AWAY by water and wind -causes of erosion mediated by human activity: over cultivation, overgrazing, nutrient mining, deforestation, and certification among o

pesticides may produce

SYNERGISTIC EFFECTS: multiple factors work together to create an unexpected outcome ex) what is causing the DECLINE OF BEES? -colony collapse disorder is NOT caused by 1 thing: could be mixture of pests, pathogens, parasites, viruses, poor nutrition, stress

biogas

anaerobic digestion of SEWAGE SLUDGE to produce methane and nutrient-rich fertilizer

in the US, greatest potential for capturing solar energy sources is in the

WEST or SOUTHWEST

convection cells produce weather and global

WINDS; driven by SOLAR ENERGY, convection cells produce weather and global WINDS

fission

a large atom of 1 element is split into 2 atoms of different elements

Soil Profiles

a VERTICAL SLICE through soil from the surface and going downwards to where the soil meets the underlying rock or material -in the soil profile, we distinguish SOIL HORIZONS- these are very distinctive HORIZONTAL LAYERS -starting from top and going downward: O horizon: humus A horizon: Topsoil E horizon: zone of leaching B horizon: subsoil C horizon: weathered parent material

Topsoil

a clumpy, loose, humus-rich soil that is BEST for infiltration, aeration, and workability -loss of topsoil reduces crop yield by 85-90%

shale

a fine grained sedimentary rock formed w/compaction of silt and clay particles and easily broken into parallel layers -gas trapped in shale can now be accessed!!

sinkholes

a kind of land subsidence :results when an underground cavern is drained of its supporting groundwater and suddenly collapses

Hunger

a person does not have enough food for energy and nutritional needs to lead a normal life -the root cause of hungry and malnourished ppl is POVERTY- most alarming region is AFRICA -Africa experiences FAMINES: severe shortages of food and they are accompanied by significant increases in deaths :( -immediate causes of FAMINES: droughts and conflict

famine

a severe shortage of food -immediate causes: drought and conflict

BLACKOUT

a total loss of power -blackout events generally occur during times of PEAK DEMAND

Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO)

a warm-cool cycle over Pacific

INFRARED RADIATION from the Earth is

absorbed by the atmosphere, causing WARMING, this is called the greenhouse effect-this energy from the Earth interacts w/molecules of gases in atmosphere and eventually is re-radiated back into space

water is the most

abundant greenhouse gas! -water VAPOR causes most of the greenhouse effect (50%) and clouds (25%) -water vapor is controlled by the temperature!! -water's global warming potential is LESS THAN 1

cultural eutrophication

accelerated, human-caused

coal derives from

ancient swamps/bogs

fveterinary pests

affect DOMESTIC ANIMALS -fleas, ticks, mites, screwworm flies

medical pests

affect HUMANS -they may carry diseases (mosquitoes)

soil aeration

allows DIFFUSION of oxygen INTO and carbon dioxide OUT of the soil

organisms feed on DETRITUS and

burrow through soil, forming a LOOSE, HUMUS-RICH TOPSOIL

Energy

capacity to do WORK -most energy comes from the SUN -plants make their OWN CHEMICAL ENERGY while humans and other animals get it from OUR FOOD!!

three mile island nuclear accident in Pennsylvania

caused by particle meltdown as a result of a series of HUMAN and EQUIPMENT failures and a flawed design

greenhouse effect

caused by the ENERGY WARMING Earth's surface and lower atmosphere -the greenhouse effect is actually a NATURAL PROCESS that maintains life on Earth BUT if there is too strong of an effect, then that can destabilize the environment

pesticide problems

chemical pesticides lose their effectiveness- more and more quantities must be used

DESERTIFICATION

comes from DEGRADATION -desertification: land degradation due to droughts, overgrazing, erosion, deforestation, overcultivation -desertification is PERMANENT -10-20% of drylands suffer from degradation- inhabited by some of world's POOREST PEOPLE

b/c farmers use fertilizers, pesticides, and even equipment for the production of BIOMASS and equipment is also needed in installation of ethanol plants;

corn-based ethanol may be more damaging to environment b/c carbon emissions make ethanol a net loser for climate, the use of corn for fuel

common genetically modified crops include:

cotton, soybean, corn crops in the developed AND developing world

The Millennium Development Goal of...

cutting in HALF the number of ppl without sanitation NEEDS MORE EFFORT- has been reached by 77 countries but 2 million ppl die annually by water-borne diseases

weather

day-to-day variations in temperature, air pressure, wind, humidity, precipitation -VARIABLE, SHORT-TERM, LOCAL

fission or fusion of 1 kg of material releases

devastating explosive energy of a NUCLEAR BOMB

second-generation pesticides

developed through synthetic organic chemistry -DDT is an example -DDT was extremely successful-it was extremely toxic to insects and did not seem to have an effect on humans or mammals initially -DDT had a broad spectrum

point-source pollution

easy to identify, monitor, and regulate -factories, sewage systems, power plants, mines -discharge pollution from a SPECIFIC LOCATION-easier to identify, monitor, and regulate

biomass energy

energy derived from present-day PHOTOSYNTHESIS -is ahead of hydropower in US renewable energy -produced by BURNING WOOD or MUNICIPAL WASTE, generating methane, or producing alcohol

conflict puts people at risk of

famine

Agricultural pests

feed on CROPS, PLANTS, ANIMALS -insects, fungi, viruses, worms, snails, rodents, birds -WEEDS: compete w/crops, forests, grasses -exs) soybean rust, cotton boll weevil, male medfly, giant hogweed

first-generation pesticides

first substances to control pests -toxic heavy metals: lead, arsenic, mercury, cyanide -build up in soils, inhibit plant growth, poison organisms, lose effectiveness, pests gain resistance

fracking

fractures shale to release TRAPPED GAS -involves vertically drilling into the shale and then turning the drill horizontally; after drilling, hydraulic fluids are pumped into the pipes to fracture the shale and release the natural gas -gas production rose 20% and costs have declined

saltwater intrusion

freshwater is maintained in an aquifer by the pressure of the freshwater inland-BUT when excessive water removal reduces the pressure, saltwater is allowed to flow into aquifers

radioactive decay

happens when UNSTABLE ISOTOPES become STABLE and NONRADIOACTIVE -harmless

soil microbes

help plants GERMINATE, OBTAIN NUTRIENTS

Hydropower

hydroelectric DAMS use water under HIGH PRESSURE to DRIVE TURBOGENERATORS -in the US, it generates 6.6% of electrical power -worldwide, DAMS generate 18% of electricity- it is the most COMMON FORM OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

chernobyl accident

in 1986, WORST NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DISASTER- in Ukraine--while conducting a test of standby diesel generators, engineers disabled the power plant's safety systems, withdrew the control rods, shut off the flow of steam to the generators and decreased the flow of coolant water in the reactor; lacking COOLANT, reactor began to heat up

2nd law of thermodynamics

in every energy transformation, usable energy is LOST AS HEAT (which escapes to space)

genetic engineering

inserts DESIRED TRAITS into PLANTS and ANIMALS -produces "transgenic" (genetically modified) varieties -genes can now be exchanged inserted from 1 organism to another (bacteria to plants) -examples of genetically altered crops: pest-resistant cotton and corn that have genes from a bacteria Bacillus Turengensis known as BT; there is also a herbicide resistant corn/soybean

Fukushima daiichi

intense earthquake caused it accompanied by a strong tsunami

solar energy

is a RENEWABLE source and does not contribute to pollution!! or emit greenhouse gas emissions -indirectly, solar energy production may impact environment by toxic materials that are used to built Photovoltaic cells -large solar plants change the landscape, retire land that could have been used for other productive purposes, and may impact habitat area for species

Subsistence farmers

live on SMALL PLOTS OF LAND -can be sustainable if family gets enough nutrition and manure is used as fertilizer -BEST SUITED FOR LOW POPULATION DENSITIES but...occurs in regions w/fastest population growth -subsistence farming is LABOR INTENSIVE

concentrated livestock production

livestock are housed in TIGHT QUARTERS and fed grains to FATTEN THEM--leading to HIGH AMOUNTS OF WASTE -36% of cropland goes to feed animals -livestock production is one of most important activities that humans do b/c humans enjoy eating meat/dairy products -confined animal feeding operations HURT the environment and people- over 50% of US livestock is raised in this manner -crowded animals allow DISEASES TO SPREAD RAPIDLY; even to humans as in vase of avian flu and salmonella

secondary energy sources

made from primary energy sources ELECTRICITY they are ENERGY HOLDING SYSTEMS

biodiesel

made largely from SOYBEAN OIL

resurgence

occurs after a pest has ALMOST been eliminated- the population RECOVERS and even EXPLODES

the atmosphere has 4 distinct ZONES

of contrasting temperatures

SOIL EROSION

one of the WORST FORMS of SOIL DEGRADATION

in contrast to fossil fuels, NUCLEAR POWER

only produces electricity, while fossil fuels also provides transportation and heating fuel

biofuels

organic matter (plant and animal waste) -ethanol and biodiesel -produce one 2.5% of global transportation fuels -produced by fermentation of starches or sugars

pest

organisms that interfere w/human activities -insects, weeds, molds, pathogens, wild animals -but this is a human-centered definition

natural eutrophication

over hundreds or thousands of years, ponds and lakes are gradually enriched w/nutrients

nonpoint-source pollution

poorly defined and scattered -agricultural runoff, storm-water runoff, atmospheric deposition -these sources are scattered and have no specific location where they discharge into a particular water body

the root cause of HUNGER is

poverty

central and Southern Illinois

powered by Ameren Illinois and this utility company generates 50% of its electricity from COAL SOURCES and less than 10% is generated w/renewable resources

water is unevenly distributed b/c of

precipitation patterns over the planet -degree of water usage depends on level of regional development and most increases in withdrawal are due to AGRICULTURE; irrigation uses about 80% of freshwater in US

urban agriculture

production of food in community gardens, roof tops, backyards, vacant lots -in global NORTH, urban agriculture is a movement for sustainable community and access to local foods -in the global SOUTH, urban agriculture helps increase food security -***CUBA is only nation w/state-supported urban agriculture

mass number

protons + neutrons

AGRICULTURE

releases MORE GREENHOUSE GASES than transportation -deforestation and other land-use changes in the tropics release 25% of CO2 emissions -livestock release 14% of total global emissions of greenhouse gases -fertilizer uses NITROUS OXIDE greenhouse gas

the atmosphere

retains solar heat, protects us from deadly radiation, distributes water -CLEAN DRY AIR consists mostly of OXYGEN and NITROGEN

El Nino

reverses TRADE WINDS over EQUATORIAL Pacific Ocean

enrichment

separates 235U from 238U to produce 3-5% 235U

troposphere

the LOWEST layer; the air is this layer is in CONSTANT MOVEMENT w/distributing heat and moisture -absorbs the heat energy from the surface so WARM AIR circulates in vertical and horizontal convection currents -the troposphere contains almost ALL THE WATER VAPOR and CLOUDS in the atmosphere -troposphere moderates flow of Energy to Earth -troposphere gets COLDER w/ALTITUDE -depth of this layer: 5-10 miles

soil degradation

the REDUCTION in the capacity of soil to support plants and perform ecosystem functions -removal of soil cover leads to soil degradation -soil degradation affects about 200 million hectares-about 38% of the world's cropland

crude oil reserves

the TOTAL AMOUNT OF OIL REMAINING! -this could be undiscovered or proved reserves UNDISCOVERED RESERVES -discovering these resources leads to a process of EXPLORATION that is informed by geologists making educated guesses on where and how much oil or natural gas there is; then exploratory drilling is required to determine if those resources actually exist and drilling shows the EXTENT and DEPTH of the oil field PROVED RESERVES--production and recovery -an accurate estimate of how much oil can be economically obtained from a field that is estimated in BARRELS (1 barrel=42 gallons of oil) -the estimates are expressed in PROBABILITIES ex) P50-there is a 50% probability that an oil field contains a given number of barrels of oil -PRODUCTION refers to the withdrawal of oil or gas from the field -crude oil needs to be refined: this process heats the crude oil so it vaporizes it-crude oil has different hydrocarbon chains of different lengths so they vaporize and condense at different temperatures and are separated into groups of different fractions from LIGHTEST to HEAVIEST

electrical power

the amount of WORK done by an electric current over a given period of time

CONSUMPTIVE water uses

the apple water DOES NOT RETURN TO THE WATER RESOURCE -it percolates into the ground or evapotranspirates

thermohaline circulation

the effects of temperature and salinity on the density of seawater -thermohaline circulation drives large-scale ocean currents -it drives large scale ocean currents

radiative forcing

the influence any factor has on the ENERGY BALANCE of the atmosphere-ocean-land system

soil TEXTURE

the relative SIZE of SOIL PARTICLES -soil particles range in size from very small (clay) to larger (sand) particles -particle size contributes to soil classification- soil classification is based on the relative proportions of SAND, SILT, and CLAY using the SOIL TEXTURE TRIANGLE -soil texture is an INHERENT characteristic of a soil b/c humans CANNOT CHANGE IT!

half-life

the time for HALF of the amount of a RADIOACTIVE ISOTOPE to DECAY

Megawatt

the unit of power that measures the GENERATING CAPACITY OF A POWER PLANT

water table

the upper surface of GROUNDWATER -FALLING WATER TABLE means that withdrawal rates exceed recharge rates, leading to falling water tables drying up wetlands, springs and seeps, streams, rivers

objective of nuclear power

to control the nuclear reaction, so energy is released gradually as heat -this heat is used to boil water to produce STEAM -the steam turns a conventional turbogenerator. that produces electricity

Promise of Biotechnology

to deliver varieties that PRODUCE INCREASED YIELDS and INCOME and REDUCED USE OF PESTICIDES -developing nations can produce more food

32% of fossil fuel production is used

to generate electricity in the US

water pollution

treat water before release: best for POINT SOURCE reduce/remove the source: best for NONPOINT SOURCES

fusion

two small atoms join to form a larger atom of a different element

Pesticide Treadmill

use of pesticides increases resistance and secondary-pest outbreaks -new and larger amounts of pesticide are used -resistance and secondary-pest outbreaks occur -ex) Colorado Potato Beetle-developed resistance to 52 compounds including cyanide over a 50 yr period

poor countries in the world like BANGLADESH

use very small amounts of energy! -US pathways of energy:QUADS -poor countries: PJ

primary energy sources

used in the form FOUND IN NATURE!! (Sun, geothermal, coal, wood, nuclear)

passive heat absorption

using absorptive structures with NO MOVING PARTS to gather/hold heat -homemade solar collectors move heated air into the room by PASSIVE CONVECTION -large, sun-facing windows let sunlight enter during winter, while insulating drapes hold in the heat. Overhangs and deciduous plants PREVENT excessive summer heating -need to have windows FACING THE SUN! -in developing world and in the past, ppl build adobe walls that collected heat during the day and moderated the temperatures in the evening

xeriscaping

using plants that DON'T NEED additional watering

greenhouse gases are positive forcing factors b/c they CAUSE

warming -water vapor is the most ABUNDANT greenhouse gas, then CO2 is the most abundant and long-term lasting human caused greenhouse gas -positive forcing factors: water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, halocarbons are GREENHOUSE GASES in the troposphere, greenhouse gases absorb some of the INFRARED RADIATION

over 160 years ago, WOOD

was the MAIN energy source in this country! and its use was reduced by using coal, petroleum, natural gas -use of renewable sources is now INCREASING and renewables reduce the use of fossil fuel energy

flood irrigation

water flows INTO CANALS IN FIELDS aka irrigation by GRAVITY; when water flows into CANALS- extremely wasteful

Center-pivot irrigation

water is pumped from a WELL into a giant pivoting sprinkler

coal combustion

world's largest source of CARBON DIOXIDE

Ok...next unit

you got this maddie