Environmental Science Final; Mutiti GCSU
**Effects/consequences of climate change** Temperature patterns
further in future= more emissions= increasing temperature, b/c of ozone hole growing
**Water Pollution** Chemical Pollution
inorganic (inorganic fertilizers) and organic (oil)
**Population Ecology** Survivorship curves (illustrate) -Type 1 -Type 2 -Type 3
is a generalized diagram showing the number of surviving members over time from a measured set of births -1; Common for large animals, low infant mortality, high parental care, usually a long life span -2; Birds, small mammals, reptiles, equal chance of dying at all ages, low parental care -3; Invertebrates, fish, plants, amphibians, tons of babies but most die quickly, some survive by chance, no parental care
Every other greenhouse gas has a much higher global warming potential than CO2, but we worry about CO2 more b/c
it is the most abundant that we contribute to.
Greenhouse Effect
light passes through the atmosphere; hits the earth; the light is absorbed and changed; the heat dissipates back to outer space; some heat is trapped by greenhouse gases and warms the earth
Water is renewable, but
limited
Evaporation
liquid to gas; into the atmosphere; condensation; precipitation
Independent variable
variable manipulated by researcher, located on x-axis
How is water distributed on Earth?
very unevenly
**Effects/consequences of climate change** Precipitation patterns
warmer air holds more moisture; increase precip. in some areas and decrease in others
Heat is the most...
useless form of energy; b/c it keeps dissipating and it is not evenly spaced out
Primary pollutants
the moment it goes into the air, it is already a pollutant
Streams and rivers
"blood vessels" that drain the earth's surface, moving water from the highest points (mountains) to the lowest (oceans) -our most important source of water; b/c they are accessible/everywhere
Illustrate how hydrogen and oxygen are bonded
**refer to notes**
**Regulation of Pollution** The Rivers and Harbors Act
-1899; AKA the Refuse Act, prohibited dumping solid waste and obstructed of water ways.
**Global Distribution** -Fresh water -Saline(oceans)
-3% -97%
**Global Distribution** Of that fresh water: -Ground water -Icecaps & glaciers
-30.1% -68.7%
What percent of water use is: -agricultural -industry -residential
-7%; crop irrigation, watering of livestock -20% -10%
Greenhouse gases in order of important to climate change
-Carbon Dioxide (CO2) -Methane (CH4) -Nitrus Oxide (N2O) -Fluorinated gases including: CFCs, HFCs, PFCs, and Sulfur Hexafluoride
The Carbon Cycle (be able to present in drawing; refer to notes) -General info about carbon
-Carbon forms the biomolecules from which all life is made -If something is living, it contains carbon
How does the process of eutrophication work?
-Excess nutrients (fertilizer: inorganic; buy in store & organic; manure/compost) -Runoff to surface water -Algal bloom (photosynthetic) -Algal death and decomposition (using oxygen) -DO decreases= death (fish, ect.)
**Effects/consequences of climate change** Sea level rising
-LAND ICE causes sea level to rise; sea ice does not effect it (b/c that space is already accounted for) -warmer temperatures= melting ice -thermal expansion of water= higher temp
**Effects/consequences of climate change** Ocean acidification -Most probable cause for?
-More CO2 in atmosphere= more hydrogen ions= lower pH= MORE ACIDIC -Most probable cause for coral bleaching; also effects formation of shells
Hydrogen fuel cell and impacts on the environment
-NO CO2 -combining hydrogen and oxygen creates current -waste product= water, fuel= hydrogen -where to store, must invest in energy first
Gases that make up the atmosphere (percentages)
-Nitrogen 78% -Oxygen 20% -Argon 0.9% (special b/c it does not reacts so it rarely changes) {Carbon Dioxide, Water (H2O) Vapor, & several others- mostly air pollutants, O3} VARY
What kinds of substances can dissolve in water and why?
-Polar -Ionic: salt (NaCl)
Know how to conduct an experiment. For example: say you want to test whether tutoring helps improve performance on exams, how would you go about doing this?
-Question: does tutoring improve grades? -Hypothesis: tutoring improves grades. -Prediction: tutored students will have higher grades. -Experiment: 0hr, 30min, 1hr, 2hr (time is ind. variable); 5 replicates (average each); (exam scores are dep. variable) -Create graph w results: bar graph -Conclusion: based on our results, student who were tutored scored better on tests.
**Impacts of fossil fuels** Coal
-black lung disease: miners get; kills lung tissue turning the lungs black -mountain top removal: destroying ecosystems -acid mine drainage: changes pH (way more hydrogen ions) -greenhouse gas emissions: main gas released when burning coal- CO2 (also comes from humans through cellular respiration) -Acid rain -Human health: air pollution, causing diseases
**Impacts of fossil fuels** Oil & natural gas
-ecosystem destruction -oil spills -fracking; contaminating water, ect. -climate change (CO2 and greenhouse gases being released)
Driving forces behind the hydrologic cycle:
-heat energy (from sun) -gravity
Geothermal energy (not directly related or associated w/ the sun) -Limitation
-hot spring; related to chemical reactions that take place in the core of the earth -not everywhere has this
Hypothesis vs. prediction
-hypothesis is a suggested explanation of an event -prediction is what you think will happen
**Regulation of Pollution** Clean Water Act (1972)
-improvement of previous law, lead to creation of EPA -goal to establish zero pollution discharge -standards are set by federal gov (EPA), but implemented by the state and local govs -covers point and non-point pollution -must have permit to discharge
Gaseous biomass
-in: food scraps, animal manure -out: methane gas (CH4) -releases CO2
Impacts of wind energy on the environment
-kill birds/wildlife -hard to store -not always there
Oceans
-largest contributor to hydrologic cycle -influence global climate -significant amount of biological diversity
Bioenergy
-largest used worldwide -anything that is or was once living that we are now using as fuel -ex: roasting marshmallow, during trash in incinerator
**Water Pollution** Biological Pollution
-leaves falling in river -disease causing bacteria
What is rainfall? What are the 3 main kinds?
-liquid falling from atmosphere 1. frontal: warm and cold air meet 2. convective 3. orographic
Efforts to combat nutrient pollution:
-maintain buffer zones -protecting, restoring, and/or building wetlands -improve sewage treatment plant efficiency -reduce fossil fuel combustion
**Global Distribution** Where is it stored: -Majority of water on the planet: -Majority of planet's freshwater:
-ocean -icecaps
Solar Energy; passive and active
-passive: don't need to actively do something to release energy (hanging clothes on a clothes line) -active: need to invest in some mechanism to capture light and transform it to energy (photovoltaics: solar panels)
Tidal power and impacts on the environment
-put dam across the opening to an estuary or bay; tides push water through turbine -similar impacts to hydroelectric; destroys ecosystems
**Water Scarcity** -Physical -Economic
-quantity: not enough -quality
Impacts of solar energy on the environment
-radioactive materials -destroying ecosystems to find area w/ enough sunlight -expensive
**Effects/consequences of climate change** Melting snow and ice
-sea ice: impacts arctic habitats and population migration patterns, contributes to thermal pollution and thermal expansion -land ice: dilutes nearby ocean water, may contain other pollutants deposited into ocean water, may lead to permafrost thawing
Anthropogenic Air Pollutants; give examples of stationary and mobile
-stationary: burning smoke stack (factories) -mobile: car/vehicles
Natural Air Pollutants; give examples of stationary and mobile
-stationary: volcano -mobile: forest fires
Atmospheric Layers (there are four) "The Most Simple Thing"
-troposphere -stratosphere -mesosphere -thermosphere
Impacts of hydroelectric power on the environment
-use of extra energy -dams destroy wildlife and ecosystems
Hydroelectric power
-very popular in some countries -potential energy is stored in the water "produces"/transforms into kinetic (dam) -NO CO2
Describe how water flows from one RESERVOIR to another via the hydrologic cycle:
-will be fill in the blanks -refer to illustration in notes
Practice Problem: -Population size= 1325 -Population growth rate= 53 Find r (per capita growth rate)
53= r(1325) =0.04 per capita growth rate
Criteria pollutants
1. CO 2. Lead (toxic) 3. Ground Ozone, O3 (secondary) 4. NO2 5. SO2 6. Particulate Matter - All but O3 are primary
Clean Air Act
1970; sets goals and standards for the quality and purity of air in the United States
Ozone (O3)
3 atoms of oxygen combined
What is eutrophication?
A process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae.
Adaptation vs Migration
A: change in our behavior in response to changing climate M: attempt to "fix" the problem We need to combine
Types of UV rays: A, B, & C
A: least harmful, can pass through B: most harmful, does not reach C: most harmful that reaches
High Heat of Vaporization:
Amount of energy needed to change 1 gram to a liquid or a gas. -Benefit: sweat cools us down
Main source of indoor air pollution in developed countries:
Radon gas, particulate matter, cigarette smoke.
What are CFCs?
Chlorofluorocarbons; very stable b/c they are man-made (synthetic)- b/c it doesn't occur in nature it is not easy to break down
What kind of bond is holding O3?
Covalent; b/c they are sharing electrons
What are fossil fuels and why are they non-renewable?
Found underneath earth's surface; combustible (burn to release energy); made up of remains of things that were living in the geologic past -"non-renewable" b/c it takes an extremely long time to make them, we only have what is here now
Polar covalent bond b/t atoms (in water)
H has 1 electron and O has 8 electrons
Chemical composition of water:
H20
What is specific heat capacity?
How much energy is needed to heat up. -Waters hydrogen bonds cause it to have a high specific heat capacity.
**Global Distribution** How much is actually usable?
Less than 1% of the 3% of fresh water
Which physical state is most dense?
Liquid
What is the role of the ozone?
Protects from harmful rays reaching the earth
Which physical state contains the least amount of energy?
Solid
How does the Law of Conservation of Mass relate to water?
The amount of water on the planet stays the same; never changing.
Zone of saturation
The lower zone where water accumulates between small rock particles. AKA: groundwater
What is the Hydrologic Cycle?
The movement of water and it's change in form as it moves in the atmosphere and on earth between living and non-living things.
Zone of aeration
The upper zone which usually isn't completely filled with water, but with rocks and soil too. ( Is about Ground water) -plant roots get water
Cohesion
Water molecules are attracted to one another; hydrogen bond
Adhesion
Water molecules attracted/stick to other things (b/c adhesion- water bead forms)
Why do we put up dams?
To create a pool of water as a reservoir; drinking water, irrigation, fishing
Main sources of indoor air pollution in developing countries:
burning woody biomass, releasing particulate matter and CO.
Is water vapor a greenhouse gas?
Yes
Is there enough freshwater?
Yes, but distribution is an issue
What is an atmosphere?
a complex mix of gases that surrounds the earth (ex: candy apple); it is being attracted to the earth by gravity
Sustainability
ability to use resources responsibly now and not limit the availability of these resources for future generations
Carbon neutrality
adding the same amount that has been removed
**Water Pollution** Non-Point Source
almost impossible to pin point the source
Replication (replicates)
always have replicates to obtain a more accurate result; average these results in conclusions and graphs
Aquifer
an underground geological formation able to store and yield water
Nutrient pollution
any pollution that contains a lot of nutrients (Nitrates and Phosphates), examples include inorganic fertilizers, animal feces, and sewage
Toxic Pollutants
associated with cancer and birth defects; long term
Hydrogen bond:
b/t molecules
Secondary pollutants
became a pollutant because of something that happened to it
Water table:
boundary b/t zone of aeration and the groundwater
Impacts of bioenergy on the environment
burning gas to produce corn, ect; releasing CO2
**Water Pollution** Point Source
coming from one specific place (ex: pipe)
**Regulation of Pollution** 1948; Federal Water Pollution Act was enacted
covered contamination from sewage outfalls
How are waves measured?
crest to crest; the longer the length, the lower the energy and vice versa
Practice Problem: -Death rate= 0.5 -Birth rate= 0.12 -Population= 550 bears -Population growth rate= 36 Find K (carrying capacity)
dN/dt= rN(1-N/K) 36= 0.7(1-550/K) K= 8.470
Solar Radiation
energy from the sun; energy that travels in waves AND can travel through a vacuum
Kinetic energy, give ex
energy of motion; heat
Rills
erosion channels on bare soils
Fluxes/processes:
evaporation, precipitation, condensation, melting, runoff, consumption, extraction, infiltration, percolation, transpiration, sublimation, excretion, perspiration, respiration
Logistic growth
exponential until it reaches carrying capacity
**Global Distribution** Where is the majority of USABLE water stored?
groundwater
Population
group of individuals of the same species occupying a given area at a given time
Exponential growth
grows faster as time goes on
Wind energy (kinetic to kinetic)
has to be active/transformed
Industrial Smog
heat source: industry
Photochemical Smog
heat source: sunlight
**Water Pollution** Physical Pollution
heat/thermal
Difference b/t moving matter and energy in an ecosystem: -Illustrate how this works (in notes)
matter moves through both living and non-living things, energy only moves through living things
Control
not manipulated, kept the same, used for reference and comparison
Largest contributor to the hydrologic cycle:
oceans
Reservoirs for the hydrologic cycle:
oceans, glaciers/ice, ground water, lakes, soil/land, atmosphere (water vapor/clouds), rivers, plants, and animals
What human activities threaten biodiversity in oceans?
overfishing and pollution
Dependent variable
result/outcome of manipulated variable, located on y-axis
Milankovitch Cycles
proposed that changes in the geometry of the Earth's orbit around the sun are responsible for the advance and retreat of continental ice sheets (glacial-interglacial intervals)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
quickly react, contains carbon -new car smell -benzine: found in gasoline, toxic pollutant
Acid rain
rain mixes with gases in air and becomes acidic before it even hits the ground
Illustrate the ozone-oxygen cycle
refer to notes
Global Warming
rise in global temperature DUE to an increase in greenhouse gases; too much is being absorbed
Scientific Method
series of well defined steps; -make an observation -ask a question -form a hypothesis that answers the question -make a prediction based on the hypothesis -do an experiment that tests the prediction -analyze the results
Covalent bond:
sharing electrons
**Population Ecology** Age Structure Diagrams
shows distribution by ages of females and males within a certain population in graphic form (females on right, males on left) -many countries have a female majority due to the longer life expectancy for females
**Population Ecology** Demographic Transition Model (illustrate)
shows patterns of birth rate and death rate that typically occur
Rivulet
small stream
Physical states of water:
solid, liquid, and gas
Floodplains
store excess water on a temporary basis; filter storm water, recharge groundwater
Potential energy, give ex
stored energy; wood
Population Ecology
study of populations and their change over time
Energy
the ability to do work; sun is the biggest form/supply
Consumptive water use:
water use that does not return water to its source, but instead leads to water being lost to evaporation, transported to another area, or contamination -personal use -ex: irrigation *illustration in notes*
Non-consumptive water use:
water use that returns water to its source -ex: power plants *illustration in notes*
Precautionary Principle
when health of humans and environment are at stake, no need for scientific proof to take action