AICE Environmental Management
ecological succession
(ecology) the gradual and orderly process of change in an ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of one community by another until a stable climax is established
niche
(ecology) the status of an organism within its environment and community (affecting its survival as a species)
Fault
(geology) a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
methods of altering wetlands
physical alterations (filling, draining, dredging, flooding), chemical (intro. toxins, change levels of nutrients), biological (grazing/ interrupting natural populations)
Physicists
physical properties and processes that take place between the radiant energy and atmospheric gases
What are Abiotic Factors?
physical, or nonliving, factors that shape ecosystems
herbivore
plant-eating animal
contour planting
plowing and planting crops in rows across the slope of the land, opposite to the direction of water flow, to reduce soil erosion and water runoff
effects of urban development on ecosystems
pollution, introduction of non-native species, overharvesting of fisheries, destruction of wetlands, erosion of soil, deforestation, urban sprawl, more generalist species
how does vegetation help with urban environmental problems?
provide erosion control, runoff control, slope and dune stabilization, atmospheric purification, cover for wildlife, reduce non point source pollution
benefits of wetlands
provide food and protective habitats for many aquatic animals, protect coastlines from erosion, and reduce damage from hurricanes
P Waves
push/pull waves; 1st, fastest, & go through solids & liquids
Nuclear waste
radioactive waste material produced by nuclear power plants
second growth forest
reached forest stage in secondary succession, mostly pines, recovering forest, lacking diversity in types & ages of trees, no hardwoods
Environmental risk
risk to human health risk to ecological resources
Ecology
scientific study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environment
mineral
solid homogeneous inorganic substances occurring in nature having a definite chemical composition
Nam the tectonic process
subduction zone when the lighter plate is forced under the heavier plate
when magma rises
sulfur level is gas is high
Nitrogen Fixers
symbiotic bacteria (Rhizobium) found in soil and on the root systems of legumes that converts Nitrogen gas into usable forms
commensalism
symbiotic relationship in which one member of the association benefits and the other is neither helped nor harmed
Divergent boundary
the boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other
ecology
the branch of biology concerned with the relations between organisms and their environment
ecological succession
the gradual and orderly process of change in an ecosystem brought about by the progressive replacement of one community by another until a stable climax is established
inner core
the innermost layer of the earth
green revolution
the introduction of pesticides and high-yield grains and better management during the 1960s and 1970s which greatly increased agricultural productivity
MESOSPHERE
the layer of the atmosphere between the stratosphere and the thermosphere and in which temperature decreases as altitude increases
Mantle
the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
mantle
the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
Nitrification
the oxidation of ammonium compounds in dead organic material into nitrates and nitrites by soil bacteria (making nitrogen available to plants)
Epicenter
the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
epicenter
the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
Erosion
the process by which wind, water, ice, or gravity transports soil and sediment from one location to another
communication
the process, whereby participants create and share information to reach a mutual understanding.
Gross Primary Productivity
the rate at which producers in an ecosystem capture energy
What is the Biosphere?
the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth (or other planet) where living organisms exist
biosphere
the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth (or other planet) where living organisms exist
Parasitism
the relation between two different kinds of organisms in which one receives benefits from the other by causing damage to it (usually not fatal damage)
Commensalism
the relation between two different kinds of organisms when one receives benefits from the other without damaging it
Mutualism
the relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent
Symbiosis
the relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent
desalination
the removal of salt (especially from sea water)
Lithosphere
the solid part of the earth consisting of the crust and outer mantle
lithosphere
the solid part of the earth consisting of the crust and outer mantle
before eruption
the sulfur level drops dramatically
Atmosphere:
the thin membrane of air surrounding the planet.
biomass
the total mass of living matter in a given unit area
Habitat
the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives or occurs
Tectonic Process
the way in which plates interact with eachother resulting in the formation of mountains volcanoes and drifts
Climate
the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time
Plate tectonic
theory that Earth's crust and upper mantle are broken into tectonic plates that float and move around on top of a plasticlike layer of the mantle
Reasons to Communicate
to give or receive information to influence behavior to affect attitudes
watertable
top of unconfined aquifer, rises & falls according to infiltration
tilt meters
trak slope and rate of swelling in earth
features of eruption
tremors and seismic activiy, then the emission of smoke ash and gases then piroclastic flow of magma then the explosive eruption
layers of the atmosphere
troposphere stratosphere mesosphere thermosphere exosphere
(a) Fig. 3.1 shows groundwater withdrawals in cubic metres per person per year. With references to Fig. 3.1, briefly describe and explain the regional variation in the quantities of water withdrawn from groundwater.
- There are large withdrawals in North America and the Middle East; in arid, drought affected regions, where the supply from the surface water is limited and where demand outstrips the supply of water from surface water. - The regions north of the tropic of cancer (above 30) has a greater groundwater withdrawal than annual recharge because that is where the greatest amount of population is on the earth. - Water withdrawn from groundwater is greater than the annual recharge in these areas and also in some of the mid-range areas. - In Southeast Asia as a result of high population density or in North America where water demand from both agricultural and industrial sectors is high and there are increasing demands upon groundwater. - Pollution of surface water sources also increases the demand upon groundwater. - Low withdrawals are found in South America, Canada and North Europe, in areas of plentiful supply of surface water or areas of low population density.
(a) With reference to Fig. 4.1, describe and explain the effect of the pumping well on the groundwater and water table.
- There are no confined or unconfined aquifers, which is why water is being pumped from the water table. - The well goes down deeper than the water table and is extracting too much water. - Arrows show all of the ground water going to the wellhead instead of the stream. - Water pumped from the groundwater system causes the water table line to lower and alters the direction of groundwater movement. -Some water that flowed to the stream no longer does so and some water may be drawn in from the stream into the groundwater system, thereby reducing the amount of streamflow. - Water-level declines may affect the environment for plants and animals. - Plants that grew because of the close proximity of the water table to the land surface may not survive as the depth to water increases. - The environment for fish and other aquatic species also may be altered as the stream level drops.
benefits of wetlands
-flood damage reduction -shoreline erosion control -water quality improvement -groundwater recharge -healthy fisheries -Ecological benefit to wildlife & biological diversity -Recreation, aesthetics, education, & research
environmental benefits of ecosystems
-purification of air & water -recycling & movement of nutrients -mitigation of droughts & floods -formation & preservation of soils -waste removal and detox of crops & natural vegetation -seed dispersal -natural pest control
Fading Role of the Feds (article) -- 4 key points -- difficulties with transferring regulatory power from EPA to states.
1. Lack of continuity ("revolving door" of employees) 2. Lack of funding 3. Race to the bottom (cutting corners) 4. Different economic interests
5 parts of a strategic communication plan
1. Management situation 2. Audience (laypeople, journalists, scientists, court, etc) 3. Message (short "soundbite") 4. Medium (internet, tv, newpaper, radio, etc) 5. Feedback (be open to responses)
Why does the Group of Ten oppose QRM?
1. Marginalizes citizens 2. Permits harm to persons and/or ecosystems when the risks are presumed small or the costs too high to address.
6 criteria pollutants for the CAA?
1. PM 2.5um 2. SO2 3. CO 4. NOx 5. Ozone 6. Lead
According to the articles about the Boeing company, what steps did Boeing take to reduce costs and environmental impact?
1. Pre-saturated wipes 2. Right-sizing/spiking 55 gallon drums. 3. No-purchase list 4. Water-based solvent (instead of chemical-based solvents). 5. Internal audits and inventories.
Two difficulties for risk communication
1. Present statistical evidence. 2. Decode to layman's terms.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
1. Provides the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency. 2. Requires agencies to proactively post online certain categories of information, including frequently requested records. Exceptions (9 total): National security, proprietary information, on-going criminal investigation, some health records, personal information
Key topics (2) in Porter's article?
1. Regulations as drivers of innovation. 2. Coproduction through intra-industry cooperation and industry-regulatory agency cooperation.
What three elements does O'Leary require to address the five basic issues of environmental management?
1. Understand 2. Co-produce 3. Deliver
4 characteristics of ethical communication
1. Useful 2. Accurate 3. Open 4. Fair
3 reasons to communicate risk
1. Warn 2. Reassure 3. To prioritize for decision-making
2 questions for strategic communication
1. What do you want? 2. How are you going to get it?
10 ways to lose trust and credibility
1. don't involve people in decisions that directly affect their lives 2. hold onto information until people are screaming for it 3. ignore people's feelings 4. don't follow up 5. if you make a mistake, deny it 6. if you don't know the answer, fake it 7. don't speak plain English 8. present yourself like a bureaucrat 9. delay talking to other entities involved 10. if one of your scientists has trouble relating to people, hates it, and has asked not to, send him/her out anyway
Superior to subordinate task assignment:
1. explain why the task is necessary 2. state actual results expected at job completion 3. describe how this assignment resembles or differs from previous tasks 4. provide the information essential to completing this task: who, what, when, where, why, and how 5. check your subordinates understanding of the crucial aspects of this task 6. encourage your subordinates to rely on their resourcefulness but to ask questions if necessary
8 Barriers to communication
1. language 2. hierarchy 3. physical distance 4. faulty communication skills 5. difference in frame of reference 6. information overload 7. distractions 8. prejudice
minimum requirements for an effective compliance program
1. line managers monitor compliance w/ environmental laws 2. environmental policies are integrated into daily work 3. self auditing procedures are adopted 4. employees are trained to comply w/ environmental laws 5. incentives for complying are offered to them 6. employees who violate environmental policies are disciplined 7. improving compliance is a continually stressed goal 8. alternative approaches, such as minimizing waste, preventing pollution, and involving employees in agency environmental decision making, are adopted
4 components of ethical communication
1. open 2. fair 3. accurate 4. useful
Seven Legal Trends
1.Flow control 2.Erosion of sovereign immunity by government 3.hazardous waste liability 4.criminal liability of lower and middle government workers 5.increased reporting 6.liability of regulatory takings 7.the municipality as a mini water pollution control agency
TMDL's (total maximum daily load):
A pollution budget that includes a calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant that can occur in a body of water and allocates the necessary reductions to one or more pollutant sources.
ISO 14001
A series of environmental management standards developed and published by the International Organization for Standardization ( ISO ) for organizations.
Food Chain
A series of steps in which organisms transfer energy by eating and being eaten
Steady State
A state in which members of a population die as quickly as new members are born
Dam
A structure that is built across a river to control a river's flow.
Risk Assessment
A systematic process of evaluating the potential risks that may be involved in a projected activity or undertaking.
Convergent boundary
A tectonic plate boundary where two plates collide, come together, or crash into each other.
What are "brownfields"?
A term used to describe land previously used for industrial/commercial purposes which may have been contaminated with hazardous waste or pollution.
Ecosystem
A unit of nature in which living and non-living substances interact, with an exchange of materials between living and non-living parts.
Pathogen
A virus, microorganism, or other substance that causes disease.
Resilience
Ability of a living system to bounce back and repair damage after a disturbance that is not too drastic.
Biotic vs. Abiotic factors in ecosytems and examples of each.
Abiotic: nonliving rocks water, air Biotic: living forms: animals plants, prokaryotics.
Hazard Assessment
An assessment of the most likely targets of harm caused by the chemical, whether it be a human community, a specific sector of people, or a particular environment or species. It would rely on information such as its transport mechanism, persistence, mobility, sinks, and factors affecting exposure and dosage. This is used to predict its likely exposure routes, distribution and pathways, and likely targets.
Primary Producers
An autotroph, usually a photosynthetic organism. Collectively, autotrophs make up the trophic level of an ecosystem that ultimately supports all other levels.
Primary Succession
An ecological succession that begins in an area where no biotic community previously existed
Primary Consumer
An herbivore; an organism that eats plants or other autotrophs.
Tertiary Consumer
An organism that eats a secondary consumer or might be considered the top predator.
Secondary Consumer
An organism that eats primary consumers
Autotroph
An organism that makes its own food
Freedom of Information Act
Applies only to public agencies National security health records
Conduction
As one molecule is heated it begins to move and shake rapidly. As it does so, it passes some of its heat energy to other molecules around it.
Air Temperature
As solar energy reaches the Earth, equatorial regions heat up more than the poles. Warm air and water at the equator travel poleward while cold air and water at the poles travel equatorward in an attempt to equalize this temperature contrast. It is the atmosphere's continual struggle for temperature balance that brings us our changing weather.
3 phases of environmental assessment:
Assessment for possible contamination Monitoring for extent of contamination Remediation of contamination
Environmental Management System (EMS)
Audit, Plan, Implement and Monitor environmental policy to assess ongoing effectiveness of environmental practises.
why biodiversity is important
Biodiversity is important because it provides us with Natural Resources (Food, Water, Wood, etc.) Natural Services (Pest Control, Air and Water Purification, etc.) and of course, Aesthetic Pleasure.
What are biomes? Aquatic life zones? and ecotones?
Biome: areas such as deserts, grasslands, and rainforests Aquatic Life Zones: describe the many different areas found within a water environment such as freshwater or coral reefs. Ecotones: The biomes with high density of life such as an estuary, rainforest, or swamps and marshes. this is because of the high ammount of moisture and warmth in these areas.
Sunshine Laws
Cannot do business behind closed doors: 1. Meetings, records, votes, deliberations and other official actions must be available for public observation, participation and/or inspection. 2. Sufficient advance notice of government meetings 3. Meetings are at times/places that are convenient/accessible to the public (except emergency meetings). 4. Does not always apply to advisory committees.
ozone depletion
Caused by CFCs methyl chloroform, carbon tetra chloride, halon , methyl for bromide which attack stratospheric ozone. Negative effects of ozone depletion include UV Increasing, skin cancer , cataracts and decreased plant growth
Weather
Caused by transfer of energy Radiation is method by which Earth receives solar energy Air moves in response to heating from the sun and movement of water Short term(present)
What does Deforestation do?
Changes landscapes and ecosystems Reduces biodiversity Worsens climate change Disrupts ecosystem services
CAA
Clean Air Act Intent: to p HH & E by regulating ambient air quality · Establishes National Ambient Air Quality Standards NAAQS · Defines NAAQS that polluters may not exceed as levels appropriate for human health · Sets limitations on emissions and enacts permitting on sources of toxic pollution
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: CAA
Clean Air Act. Intent: To protect human health and the environment with regards to ambient air quality. Provision: To create and maintain a list of Criteria Air Pollutants; To develop National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); Develop a compliance agreement with any parties in non-attainment;
CWA
Clean Water Act Intent: PHH & E by regulating the surface water quality in the USA · Establishes water quality standards · Mandates the regulation of permits and licenses for pollution limitations · Creates water management construction grants program
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: CWA
Clean Water Act. Intent: To protect human health and the environment with regards to surface waters of the United States. Provision: set state water quality standards; NPDES permits; technology-based effluent limitations.
Carbon Cycle: photosynthesis/ cellular respiration role, oceans role, how humans affect.
Co2 circulation through the biosphere. Important temperature regulator on earth. Carbon recycles through the oceans, they act as carbon sinks but when warming occurs they realease carbon dioxide. Humans have almost used up all fossil fuels which carbon has helped form, in a few hundred years all the fossil fuel on earth will be depleted which has taken millions of years to form.
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. Intent: To protect human health and the environment with regards to inactive waste sites. Provision: Rank sites based on extent of contamination; create and maintain National Priority List; Recover remediation costs from Responsible Party.
CERCLA
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act Intent: to p HH & E by providing a Superfund to clean up inactive hazardous waste sites and emergency releases of pollutants · Identify polluted sites · Rank the sites on the National Priority Listing NPL · Clean up the sites · Recover the costs of cleanup from the Potentially Responsible Parties PRPs · De-list sites
Limiting Factors
Conditions in the environment that put limits on where an organism can live
detrivores
Consumers that feed at every trophic level, obtaining their energy and nutrients by eating dead organic matter.
Convection
Convection takes place when heated molecules move from one place to another, taking the heat with them. Common in both the atmosphere, as well as in the oceans. Heated air in our atmosphere expands, becoming less dense and rises upward. Cooler air rushes in to replace the air that lifted up. As warm air rises, and cool are falls, a giant circular pattern is created. Eventually the warmer air cools, and begins to fall again.
overgrazing
Destruction of vegetation caused by too many grazing animals consuming the plants in a particular area so they cannot recover
Hydrosphere:
Earth's water, found in liquid water, ice, and water vapor.
What is ecological efficiency and how is it calculated? How is it related to trophic levels?
Ecological efficiency: The term that describes the percentage of usable energy transferred as biomass from one trophic level to another and ranges from 2% to 40% with 10% being typical. Calculated: The greater the number of trophic levels the greater the loss of usable energy.
ESA
Endangered Species Act Intent: to p HH & E by protecting threatened and endangered species · Establishes program for the conservation of species · Establishes program for the conservation of habitat · Categorizes animals on a listing status of most to least concern
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: ESA
Endangered Species Act. Intent: To provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved, and to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species. Provisions: to establish conservation programs to protect said species; Definition of "Take", Critical Habitat Designation.
Heat budget
Energy imbalance - more energy comes in at the equator than at the poles 51% of the short-wave radiation (light) striking land is converted to longer-wave radiation (heat) and transferred into the atmosphere by conduction, radiation and evaporation. Eventually, atmosphere, land and ocean radiate heat back to space as long-wave radiation (heat) Input and outflow of heat comprise the earth's heat budget
SIP's (state implementation plan):
Every state has different environmental concerns and must focus on what will help its community best.
Atmosphere layers
Exosphere Thermosphere (Ionosphere) Mesosphere Stratosphere Troposphere
Compare/Contrast: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) vs. Sunshine Laws
FOIA --> federal government must provide information requested by citizens (with 9 exceptions) Sunshine Laws --> publicizes/opens up governmental proceedings, providing citizens the opportunity to participate in and respond to local/state government actions more readily.
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: FIFRA
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. Intent: To protect human health and the environment with regards to insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides. Provision: ensure products are registered prior to relase; ensure products are properly labeled prior to release into commerce; Define penalties for unlawful use.
FIFRA
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Intent: to p HH & E by regulating the manufacture, distribution, and use of pesticides -Requires that pesticides must be tested and show no unreasonable health effects - pesticides must be registered by the EPA - Requires labeling on chemicals demonstrating legal use
Trophic levels in an ecosystem: what are they? how are they organized? what do we call organisms in each level?
Feeding levels for organisms within an ecosystem. 1. Producers 2. Primary consumers 3. secondary consumers 4, decomposers and detrivores
pioneer community
First integrated set of plants, animals, and decomposers found in an area undergoing primary ecological succession.
levels of food chain
Formally called trophic levels: 1) plants 2) plant eater/herbivore 3) carnivore
Who is the current EPA Administrator?
Gina McCarthy
What is Biogeochemical cycle and why is it important? How would you describe it?
Global cycling systems that interconnect all organisms. Nutrient atoms, ions, and molecules continuously cycle between air, water, rock, soil, and living organisms.
Group of Ten
Group of ten 10 national environmental groups, located in Washington, D.C.: 1. Sierra Club 2. Wilderness Society 3. Friends of the Earth 4. Environmental Defense Fund 5. Izaak Walton League 6. National Wildlife Federation 7. National Audubon Society 8. National Parks and Conservation Association 9. Natural Resources Defense Council 10. Environmental Policy Institute
Habitat and distribution or range: what do these refer to?
Habitat is the place where a population or individual lives. It's distribution or range is the area which a species may be found.
HSWA
Hazardous Solid Waste Amendment (HSWA) Intent: to p HH & E by expanding regulations and encouraging minimization of active hazardous waste · Regulates Underground Storage Tank UST facilities and incinerators · Land ban, sets limits on disposal of hazardous wastes on land · Establishes liability and provisions to cover cleanups of closing waste sites
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: HSWA
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments. Intent: To protect human health and the environment with regards to hazardous and solid wastes. Provision: Land ban (prevent burial of hazardous and solid wastes); new classes of facilities; reduce contamination of groundwater.
Define "risk communication."
Helping others comprehend risk while respecting people's values and helping people make decisions.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Identify and evaluate the environmental effects of a proposed development prior to major decisions being made.
Environmental Risk Assessment
Identify and evaluate the environmental risks of implementing policies.
Life cycle analysis/assessment (LCA)
Implement a 'whole of lifetime' analysis of a product to increase efficiency of resource use and disposal
NPDES Permit = ?
NPDES Permit: National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit
What are NPP vs. GPP and how do they differ? What are the most productive terrestrial and aquatic systems on Earth and why are they so productive?
NPP: the rate at which producers use photosynthesis to store biomass minus the rate which they use energy for aerobic respiration. Measures how fast producers can provide biomass needed by consumers in an ecosystem. GPP: the rate of an ecosystem's producers converting energy as biomass. Estuaries, rainforersts, swamps, and marshes are the most productive systems on earth because they have a warm climate and moisture.
NEPA
National Environmental Policy Act Intent: PH&E by forcing government entities to understand and report the environmental impact of their actions · Establishes action-forcing provisions to implement environmental policies and goals · Requires Environmental Impact Statement EIS · Creates Council on Environmental Quality
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: NEPA
National Environmental Policy Act. Intent: Federal officials must weigh environmental factors equal to all other factors in decision making. Provision: Statement of environmental policy goals; Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for all federal agencies; Establishment of the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ).
Air pollution (causes)
Natural causes - forest fires, dust storms, volcanoes Human causes - farming, construction, burning fuels such as coal, oil, gasoline, diesel. Most comes from cars and other vehicles.
Composition
Nitrogen (N2, 78%) Oxygen (O2, 21%) Argon (Ar, 1%) myriad of other very influential components are also present which include the Water (H2O, 0 - 7%), "greenhouse" gases or Ozone (O3, 0 - 0.01%), Carbon Dioxide (CO2, 0.01-0.1%), CH4<<<1% and N2O <<<1%
What are some examples of Abiotic factors?
Intesity of light, range of temp., amount of moisture, type of substratum (soil or rock type), availability of inorganic substances, supply of gases
Co-Production environmental ethic
Involves knowledge of accountability, environmental justice, ecosystem management, un/underfunded mandates, and sustainable development. and co-produces an ethical response for specific problems that effect these environmental issues.
Aquifer
Is a body or rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows the flow of groundwater.
Organism
Living Creatures.
Biotic
Living organism.
Suggest three reasons why people may be against a dam.
Loss of home, loss of wildlife habitat, expense, environmental damage, disturbance during construction.
Functions
Major conduit for transport between oceans & land, controls climate, held on earths surface by gravity, composition evolves, human activities change it, has a structured layer.
stakeholder
People, companies and government bodies with an interest in a project or development.
The roles of an environmental regulatory agency:
Permitting Monitoring for compliance conducting enforcement technical assistance
Describe 2 problems caused by the Green Revolution.
Pesticides kill animals (bioamplification), herbicides also kill animals, fertilisers cause eutrophication.
What department is responsible for environmental management at IU?
The Office of Environmental, Health and Safety Management
Porosity
The percentage of the total volume of a rock or sediment that consists of open spaces.
Focus
The point beneath Earth's surface where rock breaks under stress and causes an earthquake
focus
The point beneath Earth's surface where rock breaks under stress and causes an earthquake. Where shockwaves are produced
Trophic Level
The position of an organism in relation to the flow of energy and inorganic nutrients through an ecosystem (e.g., producer, consumer, and decomposer).
Hazard
The potential for harm to be caused by a substance, apparatus or situation.
crop rotation
The practice of rotating use of different fields from crop to crop each year, to avoid exhausting the soil.
Desalination
The process of removing salt from ocean water.
What is a pyramid of energy flow and what does it look like graphed? What are the consequences for organisms such as carnivores and omnivores?
The pyramid of energy flow visualizes the loss of usable energy through a food chain. Carnivores lose much more usable energy at their trophic level because it takes more to support those organisms. Omnivores take less usable energy to support and therefor that trophic level can support more organisms.
What is biomass?
The tissue that makes up an organism.
Tertiary Consumer
The top of the food chain, also the top preditor.
Tropical Rain forests: importance, threats to, consequences of loss?
The tropical rainforests cover about 2% of the world and yet contain more than 50% of the known plants and animal species. These forests are being cut down to make room for expansions , cattle ranching, and palm oil farming. Rainforests contain our medicine, biodiversity, oxygen "lungs of the earth", and they set the climate "tone"
Groundwater
The water that is beneath the Earth's surface.
CORIOLIS EFFECT
The way Earth's rotation makes winds in the Northern Hemisphere curve to the right and winds in the Southern Hemisphere curve to the left.
(b) Using examples with which you are familiar, assess the extent to which MEDCs find it easier to achieve a sustainable supply of water than LEDCs.
There are problems in supplying water in LEDCs. These are: - lack of availability of clean water - diseases spread via the water supply - water pollution As LEDC cities grow, so does the demand for water. The problem doesn't end when water supplies have been improved and pipes put in place. The water has got to come from somewhere, and the source of supply may be scarce. There is also a lack of vegetation in LEDCs compared to MEDCs; vegetation holds sediments together and acts as a reservoir for water.
Why are natural ecosystems unsustainable?
They rely on perpetual solar energy and nutrient cycling
Climate
This is called atmospheric circulation This interaction of the atmosphere and the oceans creates "CLIMATE" Long Term average of weather (slow changes)
Air Movement
Water vapor rises, expands, & cools It condenses into clouds or precipitation (cooler air can't hold as much water) Atmosphere can lose water by precipitation As air loses water vapor, it becomes dense and air will then fall, compress, and heat.
Precautionary Principle
Where there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.
Habitat
Where they live
dam
a bank or wall built across a stream to hold back water
Transform boundary
a boundary in which two plates slide past each other without creating or destroying lithosphere
Food Chain
a community of organisms where each member is eaten in turn by another member
Food Web
a community of organisms where there are several interrelated food chains
Define ecosystem
a unit of nature in which living and nonliving substances interact with an exchange of materials between living and nonliving parts.
Air Pressure
air pressure is caused by the weight of the air pressing down on the Earth, the ocean and on the air below the pressure depends on the amount of air above the measuring point and falls as you go higher air pressure changes with weather
overgrazing
allowing more animals to graze in an area than the range can support, results in less desirable plant species coming in and sometimes soil erosion
reservoir
an artificial body of water that usually forms behind a dam.
Heterotroph
an organism that depends on complex organic substances for nutrition
Consumers
an organism that obtains energy and nutrients by feeding on other organisms or their remains.
Scavenger
any animal that feeds on refuse and other decaying organic matter
Predator
any animal that lives by preying on other animals
predator
any animal that lives by preying on other animals
Chemists
behavior of the chemical materials in the atmosphere the ways lightning causes the formation of substances chemistry of the ozone layer and of chemicals introduced from industrial processes
BOD
biological oxygen demand, amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down organic materials
vibration
caused by increase in gas bubbles pushing against surface
describe trench features
causes the formation of rolling mountains magam to rise and the deformation of the lighter plate
Ecosystem
collection of all the organisms that live in a particular place, together with their nonliving environment
Atmosphere size
compared to the size of the Earth (104 km), the atmosphere is a thin shell (120 km)
Atmosphere Composition
consists of layers of air that surround the Earth. Including oxygen, other gasses, dust particles, and water vapor.
Why is soil important?
controls decomposition, affects surface and subsurface hydrology, determines vegetation, habitat type and agricultural potential, supports human habitat/structures
Ocean trench
deep valley in the ocean floor that forms along a subduction zone
Ecologically sustainable development (ESD)
development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It balances the economic, social and environmental considerations of phenomena - the triple bottom line.
scrubber
device that is used to remove some pollutants before they are relased by smokestacks
what 3 elements are required to address these issues:
dynamism adaptation communication
tree farm
grow, plant trees on purpose very low in diversity (maybe 2 species) Ex: trees in perfect rows
old growth forest
hasn't been disturbed for 100s of years high level of diversity
What is a point source pollution and an example?
identifiable point of pollution. Sewage discharge pipe.
Biosphere:
includes most of the hydrosphere, parts of the lower atmosphere and upper lithosphere. All parts of biosphere are interconneted.
How much of Earth's water is fresh?
less than 3%
Biotic Factors
living parts of an ecosystem
Renewable Resources
minerals that can be used and replaced over a relatively short time period; ex: trees, beans, bananas, sugar, tea
FOIA (freedom of information act) Exemptions:
national security proprietary information On-going criminal investigations only applies to public entities
Food Web
network of complex interactions formed by the feeding relationships among the various organisms in an ecosystem
abiotic factors
nonliving parts of an ecosystem
Autotroph
organism that can capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a producer
Carnivore
organism that obtains energy by eating animals
Omnivore
organism that obtains energy by eating both plants and animals
Herbivore
organism that obtains energy by eating only plants
indicator/umbrella species
organism whose presence/absence, population or density or dispersion, or reproductive success can indicated habitat conditions that are too difficult to measure for other species
decomposers
organisms that break down wastes and dead organisms and return raw materials to the environment
autrotrophs
organisms that make their own food
What are some causes of erosion?
overgrazing livestock, deforestation, agricultural activities, overexploitation of land, industrialization
food chain
pathway of food transfer from one trophic level to another
aquifer
underground bed or layer yielding ground water for wells and springs etc
4 factors to determine global air circulation patterns
unequal heating seasonal changes rotation of the earth properties of earth, air, and water
O'Learys 5 issues on environmental policy:
unfunded and underfunded mandates Accountability Ecosystem management environmental justice sustainable development
phosphorous
used in fertilizer to promote plant growth
soil profile
vertical sequence of soil layers, containing horizon A (topsoil), horizon B (subsoil), and horizon C (weathered parent material)
seismic waves
vibrations that travel through Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake
secondary waves
waves that travel outward from an earthquke's focus and move through Earth by causing particles in rocks to vibrate at right angles to the direction of the wave
estuary
wetlands formed where rivers meet the ocean
(b) With references to examples with which you are familiar, discuss how efforts to achieve a sustainable supply of water can have both positive and negative effects on human activity and the environment.
- Central Florida is already reaching the sustainable limits of its predominant source of water, the Floridan Aquifer. - The three water management districts in this five county area - the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD), South Florida Water Management District and Southwest Florida Water Management District - created the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) to identify alternative sources of water to meet demand. - The CFWI released water supply plans that include projects that could remove up to 160 million gallons a day of surface water from the St. Johns River at a cost of up to $1.79 billion. Positive: -Water demands are met for Agricultural, Industrial, and Domestic uses. Negative: - The River's surface water level will go down along with the water table line, which will affect the groundwater movement. - Removing millions of gallons a day from the flow of the St. Johns will worsen existing pollution problems, increase salinity levels, and adversely impact the fisheries, wildlife, and submerged vegetation in and along the river.
How is the PPA unique?
1. It is the only proactive environmental law 2. it is the only law that covers the three environmental media; air, waste, and water
(b) There are growing concerns regarding the consequences of the depletion and degradation of groundwater supplies due to increasing human demand on groundwater. Explain the risks to groundwater supply and the issues arising from their depletion and degradation. Using examples with which you are familiar, assess to what extent measures taken to manage these problems are effective.
- explosive population growth is leading to a huge increase in groundwater demand. - depletion of groundwater is becoming a massive problem as there are a lack of regulations to protect confined aquifers. - in MEDCs, water is severely underpriced and abused heavily by domestic and agricultural uses. - many corporations use artesian wells to drill into confined aquifers, this is entirely unregulated and can lead to major environmental damage over time. - after a confined aquifers is depleted, it can take hundreds, or even thousands, of years for the water cycle to recharge it through infiltration and percolation. - less water in our aquifers can lead to a massive slowing of the global water cycle and result in a loss of necessary plant life and biodiversity. - degradation takes place through gradual pollution from human activity, industry and automobiles. - pollution in the atmosphere can be return as acid rain, some corporations dump waste directly into water sources, and fertilizer in lawns can also seep into rain gutters. - this polluted water gradually seeps into the ground and enters our wager supply. - pumping this water out can lead to health issues in humans, and detrimental impacts to our crops. - ultimately, the groundwater supply is being depleted much faster than nature can recharge it and this is adversely affecting human life, the local and global environments, and our agriculture and industry. - the ways to fix this are to seek alternative sources of water, cut back on human demand, or begin a aquifer replied program. - the Florida aquifer is one of the most productive in the world, however, it still faces the issue of rapid depletion. - many protocols are put into place to stop this, they include limitation on withdrawal, standards of recycled water that can be put back into circulation, and in clay county, there is even a replenish program being started. - despite this, it is still largely unregulated and many of the efforts have proven ineffective. - states like Alabama, Georgia, and even the crimes seek to withdraw water from our aquifer, this in combination with explosive population growth in metropolitan areas results in an unprecedented withdraw of water.
mitigating factors
- voluntary disclosure - cooperating with government investigation -implementing prevention measures and compliance programs
What is nonpoint source pollution and an example?
-Land use practices generating pollution carried by storm water into surface water or ground water -60 to 70% (40%) of the nation's waters are not meeting water quality due to NPS pollution.
what do forests do?
-Moderate temperature, maintain humidity levels through evapotranspiration, regulate stream flows
impacts of urbanization on ecosystems
-ecological function and biodiversity decreases -surface temps increase -Hydrology (runoff quantity increases due to impervious surfaces) -Nutrient loading increases, peaks, and then decreases toward the urban core
Irrigation
A method of providing plants with water.
5 ways to conserve soil
1) crop rotation - rotating crops each yr. 2) conservation tillage - attaches to tractor to prevent too much loose soil 3) terracing - hilly to flat land, holds water better 4) contour planting - planting arnd. terrain, cutting across instead of up & down 5) strip cropping - intercropping, alternating strips of crops to cover more land
disadvantages of aquaculture
1) disease could spread faster in dense population 2) occupies bodies of water, mangrove forests, & estuaries 3) have to grow or buy food which costs $ 4) have to manage waste output
advantages of aquaculture
1) reduces overfishing in wild 2) reduces fuel usage 3) guarantee of having some profit 4) fishing in small body of water (dense population)
consequences of longterm irrigation
1) salinization - water evaporates & salt stays (would need drainage pipes to help this) 2) waterlogging - watertable rises causing roots to sit in water
What are O'Leary's five basic issues of environmental management?
1. Accountability 2. Ecosystem Management 3. Sustainable Development 4. Environmental Justice 5. Unfunded/underfunded mandates
Phases of Environmental Assessment
1. Assess (possible contamination) 2. Monitor (for extent of contamination) 3. Liability determination and site remediation.
What does and ecosystem need to be self sustaining?
1. Constant source of energy and a living system capable of incorporating the energy into organic substances. 2. A cycling of materials between organisms and their environment.
5 steps of risk communication
1. Credibility 2. Awareness (of hazard/danger) 3. Understanding (why it's happening) 4. Solutions (ideas to mitigate problem) 5. Enactment/Implementation (specifically, what you will do as a manager)
8 barriers to communication
1. Different frame of reference 2. Physical distance 3. Hierarchy 4. Information overload 5. Distractions 6. Language 7. Prejudice 8. Faulty communication skills
Ten ways to lose trust and credibility.
1. Don't involve people. 2. Hold on to information (until people are screaming for it). 3. Ignore people's feelings. 4. Don't follow up. 5. Deny mistakes. 6. Fake unknown answers. 7. Don't speak English (speak in technical jargon) 8. Present yourself like bureaucrat (dress/act uppity, etc) 9. Delay talking to other entities involved. 10. Send reluctant, poor communicators to communicate information to the public.
What are the main steps of the Hydrologic Cycle and why is it important?
1. Evaporation 2. transportation 3. condensation 4. precipitation 5. infiltration/percolation 6.runoff Collects, purifies, and distributes the earth's water.
Role of a Public Ombudsman (4)
1. Facilitator of co-production. 2. Someone from an agency who deals with people who have problems with that agency 3. anchor 4. referral service
What are the 7 legal trends?
1. Flow control 2. Increased reporting requirements 3. Liability of regulatory takings 4. Municipalities as mini water pollution control agencies 5. Erosion of sovereign immunity 6. Criminal liability of low and middle government workers 7. Hazardous waste liabilities
3 objectives of communication
1. Give/get information 2. Influence behavior (actions) 3. Affect attitudes (beliefs)
Clean Air Act
1970- law that established national standards for states, strict auto emissions guidelines, and regulations, which set air pollution standards for private industry
primary waves
1st wave, P, travels the fastest, back-and-forth waves, move through solids, liquids, and gases
Troposphere
8 to 14.5 kilometers high (5 to 9 miles) Air thins in this layer and is denser than in other layers. the temperature drops from about 17 to -52 degrees Celsius closest to the surface of Earth. Nearly all life and all weather occur in this layer. (75% of the atmosphere's mass) The higher up from Earth's surface you go, the colder it gets.
What did the Clean Air Act require?
90% reduction in emissions
Food Web
A complex arrangement of interrelated food chains illustrating the flow of energy between interdependent organisms.
Secondary Consumer
A consumer that eats other animals.
electrostatic precipitator
A device used for removing particulates from smokestack emissions. The charged particles are attracted to an oppositely charged metal plate, where they are precipitated out of the air.
Environmental Effects Statement (EES)
A document that researches and presents the findings of and Environmental Impact Assessment.
Samboja Lostari Rainforest
A ecosystem in Indonesia mits created originaly for Orangatangs.
River Basin
A flowing network of rivers and streams draining a river basin.
Community
A group of different species in the same area.
NIche
A job that a species does.
(a) Briefly describe and explain both the advantages and the disadvantages of pipeline projects, such as the one shown in Fig. 4.1.
Advantages - Arid lands that are rapidly being developed will not be able to sustain their people or their land use practices without an alternative water resource that can be provided through pipelines. - In Libya, a country dominated by the Sahara Desert, water is scarce. - With the growing population of Libya's coastal cities, the demand for fresh water is increasing. - These massive pipelines pump water from a large source and transfer it across a great distance to areas in need. - The purpose of water pipelines is to transport surface water or groundwater from one area to another without causing erosion and reducing the chance of evaporation (Usually in LEDCs). - Water pipelines provide a solution to areas lacking a continual and sustainable water source. Disadvantages - The construction of a major water pipeline is extremely expensive. - Pipelines need to be monitored continually and water quality must be constantly checked. - Thousands of miles of massive pipes can disrupt ecosystems, ruin scenery, and act as an obstruction. - The pumping of water out of an aquifer, a reservoir, or a watershed basin can cause severe damage, such as water level drawdowns, which can affect coastlines, aquatic life, plant life, and economic activity. - The water replenishment rate is not fast enough to rejuvenate water sources that are being reduced through large-scale transfer.
Properties of Atmosphere
Air has mass (and density) Molecular movement associated with heat causes the same mass of warm air to occupy more space than cool air. So, warm air is less dense. Humid air is less dense than dry air at the same temperature because molecules of water vapor (H2O) weigh less than N2 and O2 molecules displaced.
Ecosystem
All the abiotic, and the organisms, interacting creating a big group.
Surface Water
All the bodies of fresh water that are found above the ground.
Recharge Zone
An area in which water travels downward to become part of an aquifer.
shadow zone
An area on the Earth's surface where no direct seimic waves from a particular earthquake can be detected.
Reservoir
An artificial body of water that usually forms behind a dam. This can be used for flood control, drinking water, irrigation, recreation, and industry.
biomagnification
Increase in concentration of certain stable chemicals (for example, heavy metals or fat-soluble pesticides) in successively higher trophic levels of a food chain or web
OPA
Oil Pollution Act (OPA) Intent: to p HH & E by strengthening the EPA's ability to prevent and respond to catastrophic oil spills · Establishes spill response plans and resources · Authorizes EPA to direct oil spill cleanup · Imposes strict liability for damages · Requires oil-carrying vessels to prevent spills by using double hulls
Levels of organization studied by ecologists, and characteristics of each.
Organism- any form of life. composed of one or more cells. Species- groups together organisms similar to each other in appearance, behavior, chemistry, and genetic makeup. population-a group of interacting individuals of the same species occupying a specific area. community-represents population of different species living and interacting in a specific area. ecosystem-a community of different species interacting with each other and with their nonliving environment of matter and energy. biosphere-all of the earths diverse ecosystems comprise of the biosphere.
heterotrophs
Organisms that cannot make their own food
What is baseline data?
Physical and chemical conditions in order to determine how well the ecosystem is functioning in order to anticipate and determine how best to prevent harmful environmental changes. Comparing the beginning of an experiment to where you are now, it helps find out what is happening in an environment.
Respiration
Plants and animals obtained energy by oxidizing carbohydrates in their cells to carbon dioxide and water, which are excreted
photosynthesis
Plants use the sun's energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars
PPA
Pollution Prevention Act Intent: to p HH & E by preventing pollution at its source · Pollution should be mitigated at the source · Or, pollution should be recycled safely · Or, pollution should be treated safely · If none of these, then pollution can be disposed or released
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: PPA
Pollution Prevention Act. Intent: To protect human health and the environment with regards to proactive pollution prevention. Provision: Prevent pollution at the source; recycle in an environmentally friendly manner; treat in an environmentally safe way.
Atmospheric Circulation
Powered by sunlight - uneven solar heating About 51% of incoming energy is absorbed by Earth's land and water Energy absorption varies depending on the angle of approach, the sea state and the presence of ice or other covering (e.g., foam)
Quantitative Risk Management (QRM)
Priority setting that compares risk and risk trade-offs in terms of economic costs and benefits to public and ecosystem health.
Communication
Process whereby participants create and share information to reach a mutual understanding.
Prokaryotic vs. eukaryotic cell lines: what are similarities and differences?
Prokaryotic are very simply, mainly bacteria. Eukaryotic cells are more complex and basically every other life form. Fungi, animals, plants, protists.
Pros/Cons of QRM
Pros: 1. Considers human health & health of the environment. 2. Provides concrete rationale for prioritizing site remediation. Cons: 1. Less effort to minimize waste than technologically-based standards. 2. Permits harm to humans and ecosystems.
Primary versus secondary health standards?
Protect: 1. Human health 2. Environment
Range of tolerance and limiting factors?
Range of tolerance: The distribution of a species in an ecosystem is determined by the levels of one or more physical or chemical factors being within the range tolerated by that species. Limiting factors: when too much or too little of any abiotic factor can limit or prevent growth of a population, even if all other factors area t or near the optimum range of tolerance. A lack of water can be an example.
Gross Primary Productivity
Rate at which an ecosystem's producers capture and store an amount of chemical energy as biomass in a given length of time.
Nitrogen
Recycled by different types of bacteria Converts nitrogen into nutrients for plants and animals
Explain what renewable resource means.
Replaced quickly by natural processes - able to be used again and again without running out.
RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Intent: to p HH & E by setting a cradle-to-grave regulatory framework that covers hazardous waste from generation to disposal · Mandates the tracking of hazardous wastes through generation, transportation, treatment, and disposal · Defines hazardous waste · Sets rules for issuing permits to facilities that manage hazardous waste
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: RCRA
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Intent: To protect human health and the environment with regards to active waste sites. Provision: Define hazardous wastes; Track hazardous substances from womb to tomb; set technological standards for disposal, treatment and storage.
Roles of a Public Manager
Resource, program, political
SDWA
Safe Drinking Water Act Intent: to p HH & E by ensuring drinking water is safe and preventing the contamination of groundwater · Mandates the regulation of underground disposal of wastes · Requires health-based water quality standards · Delegates to the states the authority to enforce the drinking water program
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: SDWA
Safe Drinking Water Act. Intent: To protect human health and the environment with regards to drinking water and groundwater sources. Provision: prevent contamination of drinking and groundwater sources; set standards for drinking water quality; Lead-free plumbing.
silt
Small particles of rich soil
What are the 3 interconnected factors that sustain life on earth?
Solar energy, nutrient cycles, and gravity. 1. the one way flow of solar enrgy through living things (as they eat) produces low-quality energy (heat). Energy cannot be recycled 2. matter cycles through parts of the biosphere- water, carbon, nitrogen 3. gravity causes the downward movement of chemicals in matter cycles.
Species
Specific type of organism.
keystone species
a species that influences the survival of many other species in an ecosystem
Potable
Suitable for drinking.
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: SARA
Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act. Intent: Community right to know Provision: maintain a record of all hazardous chemicals used on site; report annual emission of toxic chemicals; Maintain Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)
SARA
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act Intent: to p HH & E by requiring transparency about hazardous waste and making CERCLA more effective · Mandates that data about harmful chemicals in waste sites is published and stored in the Hazard Ranking System HRS · Requires that annual emissions of chemicals are reported in a Toxic Release Inventory TRI
Thermosphere
Temperatures in the thermosphere are very high, more that 2000 degrees Fahrenheit. This is where space begins. The International Space Station orbits Earth in this layer. Results in the aurora borealis (N. hem) or aurora australis (S. lights)
Permeability
The ability of a rock or sediment to let fluids pass through it open spaces or pores
Standing Crop
The amount of biomass present in an ecosystem at a particular time.
Watershed
The area of land that is drained by a water system.
Producer
The bottom of the food chain, for example plants.
climax community
a stable, mature community that undergoes little or no change in species over time
Exosphere
The exosphere is the outermost layer of Earth's atmosphere but there is no exact dividing line between this layer and space.
Primary Consumer
The first consumer.
Hazard identification
The identification of the nature of the hazard of the chemical, e.g. its properties including its toxicity, its toxicological effects on people and the environment, safe thresholds.
soil horizon
The layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it.
Risk
The likelihood or probability that harm will be caused by a hazard in a given situation.
Carrying Capacity
The maximum population size that can be supported by the available resources
Mesosphere
The mesosphere is the coldest layer of the atmosphere. When meteoroids from space enter our atmosphere, this is the layer in which they usually burn up. That might be surprising because it's a pretty thin layer.
Abiotic
The non-alive things.
Species Richness
The number of different species in a community
Population
The number of species, in the same area.
carrying capacity
largest number of individuals of a population that a environment can support
Name Env. Law, Intent and 3 provisions: TSCA
Toxic Substance Control Act. Intent: To protect human health and the environment with regards to toxic substances. Provision: Define chemical substance; test chemicals for risk to humans and the evironment; characterize and understand the risks that a chemical poses before it is introduced to commerce
TSCA
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Intent: to p HH & E by characterizing the risks that a chemical poses before it is introduced into commerce · Establishes that risk-based pollution standards be set · Requires EPA to collect data and test chemicals for harmful effects · Authorizes EPA to regulate the manufacture, use, distribution, and disposal of chemicals
Toxic waste
Waste materials from industry that are poisonous to humans or other living things
Domestic waste
Waste that comes from day-to-day living (not including waste from sewerage)
Peat
a soft, brown material made up of partly decayed plants; first stage of coal formation
occluded front
a front where a warm air mass is caught between two colder air masses and brings cool temperatures and large amounts of rain and snow
warm front
a front where warm air moves over cold air and brings drizzly rain and then are followed by warm and clear weather
community
a group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other
Population
a group of organisms of the same species populating a given area
Sunshine laws
a law requiring certain proceedings of government agencies to be open or available to the public
outer core
a layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth
Organism
a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently
Biome
a major biotic community characterized by the dominant forms of plant life and the prevailing climate
seismograph
a measuring instrument for detecting and measuring the intensity and direction and duration of movements of the ground (as an earthquake)
pathogen
a microorganism, another organism, a virus or a protein that causes disease; an infectious agent.
decomposers
a organism that feeds of dead creatures or waste such as bacteria.
desalination
a process of removing salt from ocean water.
Coal
a solid, hard black substance that burns and gives off heat. Coal is composed mostly of carbon. It is formed from partly decayed vegetable matter under great pressure and heat in the earth.
Alternative Energy
energy, as solar, wind, or nuclear energy, that can replace or supplement traditional fossil-fuel sources, as coal, oil, and natural gas.
Eutrophication
enrichment of an ecosystem with chemical nutrients. nitrates and phosphates leading to algae blooms.
Green House Gases
gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range: Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Chlorofluorocarbons,Nitrous oxide
Stratosphere
extends to 50 kilometers (31 miles) high dry and less dense temperature in this region increases gradually to -3 degrees Celsius, due to the absorption of ultraviolet radiation ozone layer absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation ninety-nine percent of "air" is located in first two layers every 1000-m 11% less air pressure
desertification
extreme version of land degradation
Food chains vs. food webs?
food chains: the sequence of organisms as they are eaten. represneted by looking at trophic levels. food webs: complex networks of interconnected food chains. Made of life's interdependence.
trench
formed when two plates collide causing the heavier plate to dive under the lighter plate
cold front
forms when cold air moves under warm air which is less dense and pushes air up (produces thunderstorms heavy rain or snow
scrubber
removes certain gases and particles from industrial exhaust in an effort to control pollution
harmonic tremors
result of magam pushing against overlying rock below the surface.
rock cycle
sequence of events in which rocks are formed, destroyed, altered, and reformed by geological processes
What was the dust bowl and what was its effect?
severe dust storms in 1930's that caused major damage. Millions of acres of farmland were damaged and thousands were forced to leave their homes.
terracing
shaping the land to create level shelves of earth to hold water and soil; requires extensive hand labor or expensive machinery, but it enables farmers to farm very steep hillsides
weather
short term variations that interact and affect the environment and life on earth
S Waves
side-to-side waves; 2nd, slower, & go though solids;
Lithosphere:
the crust and upper mantle of the Earth's soil. Contains nonrenewable fossil fuels, minerals, and soil.
Latitude
the distance from the Earth's equator contributes to unequal heating of the Earth's surface. The farther from the equator a location is the less sunlight it receives and thus less heat
Albedo
the fraction of solar radiation that is reflected off the surface of an object
