ESS 4-6 Short Answer
Production of halons has stopped but atmospheric levels have continued to increase. What could be the main source of halons?
Fire extinguishers
What is the name of the machine, often lacked in LEDCs, that allows for preservation of fresh food for longer time periods?
Fridge
One of the methods used in sustainable food production to replace pesticides is introducing natural predators. Which of the following species is an example of one?
Ladybirds
Fill in the sentence below using one word only. In order to reduce the emissions of dangerous gases that contribute to acid deposition in big cities, the local authorities can introduce ___________ charges.
congestion
Water can be found in underground stores that can be accessed for human activities. What are these called?
aquifer
Name the gas that is the most abundant among trace gases in the atmosphere. Answer with a name of the gas, not its chemical symbol.
argon
Name the group of organism responsible for changing atmospheric oxygen levels during the Archean era?
blue green algae
What is the name of a natural, environmentally friendly refrigerant that can be used instead of the standard refrigerants without contributing to ozone depletion?
carbon dioxide
What are substances that increase the risks of cancer in humans called?
carcinogenic
What is the term used to describe crops that are usually grown on the most fertile lands and are sold by landowners for large profits?
cash crops
What is the name of a device that, when fitted onto a car, reduces the emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons?
catalytic converter
What is the name of the agricultural technique which involves turning the soil over and parallel to the hill in order to prevent soil erosion?
contour farming
Which human activity reduces the levels of evapotranspiration and therefore causes reduced rainfall?
deforestation
What is the term used to describe excessive soil degradation to the point where it can no longer support plant life? It is often accompanied by dry conditions.
desertification
The natural ability of the soil to let the water pass through is called soil _____________.
drainage
What is the form of water pollution which increases turbidity of water and is caused by human activity such as release of agricultural waste into aquatic ecosystems?
eutrophication
What is the name of a process which includes a change of state of water from liquid to water vapour?
evaporation
What is the name of the phenomenon, largely accelerated by human activities, which disrupts precipitation levels around the world and further affects the lack of water availability?
climate change
Fill in the sentence below, using one word only. A _______________ farm will cultivate a single crop for monetary profit.
commercial
Based on the diagram below, name the process which constitutes a part of the Earth's water cycle and is designated with X:
condensation
The second stage of eutrophication is the algal bloom. Is this an example of positive or negative feedback?
positive
Which of the following strategies is most likely to be adopted to reduce the emission level of primary pollutants that cause photochemical smog?
public transportation
What is the name of a regulatory measure that could be used to introduce limits on the permissible size of catch?
quota
What is the term used to describe a practice that involves restocking existing forests with newly planted trees?
reforestation
Which part of a tree is likely to be the most affected by toxic aluminium ions?
root
What is the term used to describe the rainwater that does not infiltrate the soil, and flows from the surface into rivers, lakes or the sea?
run-off
What is the term used to describe cultivation of multiple crops?
polyculture
Approximately how many years does the global conveyor belt cycle take? Answer in whole numbers.
1000
How many nations have ratified the Montreal Protocol? Please give a numerical answer.
197
Based on the information in the table showing number of macro-invertebrate species found at two different river sites, which of the two sites is likely to be the most polluted?
2
World consumption of fish per capita was 9kg in 1961 and 18.9kg in 2011. Calculate the average percentage increase per year per capita. Only give the numerical answer.
2.2
In which year will the production of HCFCs be banned?
2030
Based on the information in the table below, calculate the percentage increase in the population size with access to fresh water between 2010 and 2012. Give your answer to one decimal place in the following format: x%.
3.7%
The amount of water available on the Earth is described as the Earth's water budget. Knowing that fresh water is a very scarce resource, estimate what is its approximate amount on our planet:
Approximately 2.5%
Approximately how long ago was the earth formed?
4.6 Billion
Based on the information in the table below, calculate the number of Ethiopian's with access to fresh water in 2011 (Y). Give your answer as a whole number (no decimal places).
44,338,959
Based on the graphic below, number the shapes in order so that it describes the consecutive stages of eutrophication. Enter the combination as a continuous sequence of numbers, e.g. 0123456.
48271356
Wet deposition may be considered acidic if its pH is anything below:
5.5
Fertile soil may be seen as:
A non-renewable resource
Sulphuric acid is one of the main pollutants leading to wet deposition (acid rain). It is an example of:
A secondary pollutant
Name a method used by shrimp farmers to reduce the impact of organic matter on aquatic ecosystems.
Aeration
What are the main sources of CFCs emissions?
Aerosols, gas-blown plastics and refrigeration units.
Acid deposition leads to an increased solubility of metals such as aluminium. This means that they dissolve easier in water and may pose a threat to aquatic organisms. What is the effect of such dissolved aluminium ions on fish populations?
Aluminium ions lead to a production of mucus that clogs up their gills and stops fish from breathing.
What is the acronym used for describing the biological oxygen demand of bacteria to break down dead organic matter?
BOD
Why might the process of photosynthesis in aquatic food production systems be relatively inefficient?Why might the process of photosynthesis in aquatic food production systems be relatively inefficient?
Because a large portion of the available solar energy is reflected by the body of water before it reaches the aquatic producers.
The soil will have the greatest drainage if it has:
Big particles
State what the acronym BOD stands for.
Biochemical oxygen demand
What is the name of a survey technique which counts numbers of indicator species in aquatic ecosystems, to give an idea of how polluted the water has become?
Biotic Index
The increasing need for irrigation of crops is one of the reasons for the growing need for fresh water use. How could these demands be reduced?
By farming drought-resistant crops.
Evergreen trees that retain their needles all year round are also known as:
Conifers
Which component of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) destroys ozone within the stratosphere?
Chlorine
Based on the soil texture triangle below, state the name of the soil type which contains 50% of clay, 20% of silt and 30% of sand.
Clay
Which of the following soil types is very hard to work in hot and dry conditions?
Clay
Using the soil triangle below state what type of soil has 33% clay, 43% silt and 24% sand.
Clay loam
Which component of the atmosphere often plays an important role in ensuring the functioning of the albedo effect?
Clouds
Soil fertility changes with different stages of succession. Which of the following stages is characterised by the lowest soil fertility?
Colonisation
What is the term used to describe the successive planting of different crops on the same land to maintain soil productivity?
Crop rotation
Trickle-flow irrigation is considered to be an improved technique of irrigation. What does this practice involve?
Delivering water directly onto the root zone of a plant through narrow tubes.
If there is no oxygen available in an aquatic ecosystem, it means that the water is __________.
anoxic
What units are used to measure ozone concentrations?
Dobson
What is the term used to describe the gravitational removal of acidic particulates from the atmosphere?
Dry deposition
A farm which uses small inputs of capital and labour relative to its size is called:
Extensive
Is the following statement true or false? 'Chemical tests are sufficient to determine if water is suitable to drink'.
False
Is the following statement true or false? 'Global fish production has stabilized and is no longer increasing.'
False
What is the term used to describe crops usually grown for their ability to increase nitrate content of the soil? Examples of such crops include clover and peas.
G
Genetically modified organisms are used in aquatic food production systems to increase stock and commercial profits. Why might there be concerns about genetically modified fish on ecological grounds?
Genetically modified fish can threaten wildlife fish population through interbreeding if released.
What strategy could be used successfully to reduce the scale of human activities that lead to a release of nitrates and phosphates into freshwater lakes and rivers?
Giving out samples of eco-friendly detergents.
Some gases in the atmosphere, such as water vapour and carbon dioxide, are known to trap the infrared light (IR) of longer wavelengths, thus warming up the planet Earth. What is this phenomenon called?
Greenhouse effect
Which of the following fresh water storages is particularly threatened by contamination through fertilizer run-off?
Groundwater
Some efforts have been put into replacing CFCs in spray cans with alternative chemicals. What is the acronym used to describe those?
HCFC
Which of the following water storages takes the longest time to replenish itself?
Ice caps
With reference to the following figure, state which mineral is most available at pH 4.5.
Iron
What is the significance of the stratosphere in the protection of living organisms from ultraviolet radiation?
It is where the ozonosphere containing stratospheric ozone is located.
How might the harvesting of the maximum sustainable yield every year affect the population of the Pink salmon?
It may lead to a population decline.
Which of the following organisms is often used as an indicator species for measuring the concentration of sulphur dioxide in the air?
Lichens
Which of the following cities is the most likely to be affected by the highest levels of photochemical smog?
Los Angeles
Eutrophication is the addition of excess nutrients to a freshwater ecosystem. In its early stages, what is the level of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)?
Low
Methods of measuring water pollution may be either direct or indirect. Choose which of the methods below is an example of a direct one:
Measuring water turbidity.
Name a toxic product of anaerobic degradation of uneaten fish feed. Do not use chemical symbols.
Methane
What strategy could be adopted by the local authorities to restore a small lake affected by eutrophication?
Mud pumping
Contamination of a freshwater lake with toxic chemicals (e.g. nitrates and phosphates) from urban runoff is an example of:
Non-point source pollution
What is the name of an American scientist who is often described as "the father of the Green Revolution"?
Norman Borlaug
Which of the following terrestrial food production systems poses the greatest threats of habitat loss?
North American cereal farming.
Nitrogen leaving the atmosphere either through nitrogen-fixing or lightning is an example of an atmospheric:
Output
In 1930s, the central states of the USA experienced a tragic ecological disaster, often referred to as the 'Dust Bowl'. What exactly happened there?
Over cropping reduced soil fertility causing crop failure and the removal of topsoil by the wind.
How does irrigation lead to soil degradation?
Over-irrigation in hot countries leads to high levels of evaporation, leaving salt deposits to build up on the soil (salinisation).
Which of the following human activities contributed to worsening soil degradation in Sahel in 1970s and 1980s?
Overgrazing
Which of the following statements describes how ozone is formed in the stratosphere?
Oxygen molecules (O2) split into single atoms under UV which quickly react with another oxygen molecule to form stratospheric ozone (O3)
Choose which one of the following species is the most likely to be a part of a human diet:
Pike
What does the acronym PSC stand for?
Polar stratospheric cloud
Even the localised human activities can lead to global problems affecting the composition of the atmosphere. Why is it so?
Pollutants are carried by air currents away from the location where they were produced.
Why are MEDCs likely to have a high demand for fresh water?
Populations MEDCs require lots of water to suit their everyday lifestyles.
State the trophic level associated with zooplankton.
Primary consumers
With greater urbanisation, the water run-off increases, channelling the water into rivers, streams or lakes. What is the effect on the quality of surface water in this case?
Quality decreases.
What is the material that is easily damaged by tropospheric ozone? It is usually used for the production of car tyres.
RUBBER
The composition of the atmosphere may change dynamically over time. What is the effect on the rates of photosynthesis if the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases?
Rates increase.
The cultivation of freshwater or saltwater fish populations under controlled conditions is known as:
aquaculture
The levels of evapotranspiration in urbanised areas are likely to be:
Relatively low
State the type of erosion illustrated in this figure?
Rill
The Earth's fresh water supplies have a different potential for replenishment depending on where they are found. In which of the following storages will the water replenish itself the quickest?
Rivers
Choose which combination of examples lists the sources of freshwater pollution:
Runoff, sewage, industrial discharge, solid domestic waste
Among the soil types below, which one can retain the smallest amounts of nutrients and minerals?
Sand
Which type of soil is characterised by the biggest particle size?
Sandy soil
Desalinisation is a process involving the removal of dissolved salts from salty or brackish water and rendering it suitable for use. Which of these countries is the most likely to adopt this strategy as a means of dealing with growing demands for fresh water?
Saudi Arabia
What force drives the Earth's hydrological (water) cycle?
Solar energy
Stratospheric ozone is a very reactive gas that constantly breaks down and reforms in a chain reaction. What type of equilibrium does this represent?
Steady-state equilibrium
The main primary pollutants that contribute to the formation of acid deposition are:
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
What does SUDS stand for?
Sustainable Urban Drainage System
Flue gas desulphurisation units that remove sulphur and nitrogen oxides are required by UK law to be placed in industrial chimneys to prevent acid rain being blown to a certain group of countries by the prevailing winds. Which countries are they?
The Scandinavian countries
Choose which part of a sea will have the highest rates of productivity.
The coastlines
What happens to the groundwater storage of an area that is becoming gradually more and more urbanised?
The levels of groundwater are likely to decrease.
Towns and cities placed in valleys where mountains or hills prevent the wind from driving the photochemical smog away are called:
Thermal inversion traps
What is the importance of putrefying bacteria in soil?
They break down dead organic matter into ammonia which dissolves in soil moisture.
What is the function of nitrifying bacteria (nitrosomonas) in soil?
They convert ammonium to nitrate ions.
What is the function of nitrifying bacteria (nitrobacter) in soil?
They convert nitrites into nitrates.
State what the acronym TAC stands for.
Total allowable catch
Finish the sentence below by filling in the blank space with one word. __________-flow irrigation allows for delivering water directly to the root zone of crops.
Trickle
Which part of the atmosphere is where most weather is found?
Troposphere
Is the following statement true or false? 'Oil pollution can cause aquatic animals to die from drowning'.
True
What does "VOCs" stand for?
Volatile Organic Compound
What is the effect, if any, of industries releasing warm water into rivers or lakes?
Warm water contains less dissolved oxygen than cold water which leads to the killing of aquatic animals.
The atmosphere accommodates for some of the Earth's freshwater budget. What form is the water in the atmosphere found in?
Water Vapour
Acid rain is an example of:
Wet deposition
Capture fisheries are an example of:
Wild fisheries
Some aquatic ecosystems can be protected by constituting a part of a specially designated zones which temporarily or permanently prohibits human intervention or disruption. What are such zones called?
exclusion zones
Finish the sentence below using only one word. One of the techniques used as a SUDS is retaining the surface water in ponds or basins in order to minimise the risks of ____________.
flooding
Finish the sentence below. Plastics produced when 'blown' with either CFCs or HCFCs are called ____________ plastics.
gas-blown
Based on the picture below, name this material that can be used for insulation purposes instead of polymer foams or Styrofoam.
glass wool
A form of dirty water, often containing such compounds as nitrogen or phosphorus (but not from toilets), is often discharged from households into lakes or rivers. What is the term used to describe such water?
grey water
Catching rainwater in order to reuse it later on for sanitation or washing is otherwise called rainwater
harvesting
Is the examination of indicator species a direct or indirect way of measuring water pollution?
indirect
Based on the diagram below name the flow represented by the arrow between soil and groundwater.
infiltration
Name one way in which the figure below shows how soil interacts with the hydrosphere.
infiltration
What is the name of an agricultural practice, extremely often used in countries such as the USA, Australia or Spain, that puts great pressure on the depletion of groundwater storages?
irrigation
Underground aquifers can be contaminated by a liquid waste seeping out of landfill sites that is otherwise called _____________. Answer with one word only.
leachate
Name the transfer that occurs when rainwater penetrates the soil, dissolving and removing minerals such as nitrates and phosphates.
leaching
Name a chemical often used to neutralize acidified lakes.
limestone
Name the conservation method often used to increase the pH of soil affected by acid precipitation.
liming
What is the name of a strategy commonly used to treat soil, lakes or rivers that have become too acidic due to acid deposition?
liming
What is the name of the soil type that consists of sand, silt and clay?
loam
Fill in the sentence below using one word only. A practice of a group of individuals, private businesses or corporations involving attempts to influence a decision of legislators or public authorities in favour of a specific issue is called ________________.
lobbying
What is the term used to describe cultivation of a single crop?
monoculture
Which fossil fuel does not release sulphur dioxide when combusted?
natural gas
What is the name of the acid created when nitrogen oxides react with water vapour in the atmosphere?
nitric
Name the most abundant gas in the atmosphere. Do not use chemical symbols.
nitrogen
What is the name of the chemical that forms when oxygen and nitrogen in the air react due to high temperatures in combustion reactions?
nitrogen oxide
What natural force(s) can cause warming or cooling, distributing heat around the world?
ocean current
Farming is a system. What general term is given to describe X below: Input → process → X Give your answer in one word.
output
Based on the chart below, name the chemical that constitutes about 21% of the atmosphere. Answer with the name of this compound, not the chemical symbol.
oxygen
What is the main pollutant formed in photochemical smog?
ozone
Is fresh water found in underground aquifers formed by the process of advection, sublimation or percolation? To answer, copy one of the three words provided.
percolation
The above figure shows water storages and flows. Label flow D.
percolation
Name an autotrophic organism that perform photosynthesis in aquatic ecosystems?
phytoplankton
Which of the aquatic producers is the most vulnerable to the harmful effects of UV radiation?
phytoplankton
Complete the following sentence Soil texture is the look and feel of the soil and is linked to the proportion of , silt and __ particles. Your response should state the two correct words separated by a comma.
sand, clay
What is the term used to describe the solids left over after domestic waste undergoes sewage treatment?
sludge
An alternative term to describe urban haze is:
smog
What is the term used to describe dry particles of unburnt carbon that are an example of dry acid deposition?
soot
In which layer of the atmosphere does the ozone layer occur?
stratosphere
The figure below shows the lowest two layers of the Earth's atmosphere. Name the layer that is 10-50 km above sea level.
stratosphere
What is the name of the process involving a direct transformation of water from a solid form (ice) into gas (water vapour)?
sublimation
Fill in the sentence below, using one word only. A ______________ farm will produce only that amount of yield that is sufficient to feed a family.
subsistence
What source of energy is responsible for creating photochemical smog in interaction with ozone, nitrogen oxide and gaseous hydrocarbons?
sunlight
State one factor that determines the density of seawater.
temperature
What is the name of a method often used to increase the area of available agricultural land in hilly areas, as well as reduce the erosion of soil by run-off?
terracing
Which atmospheric layer are the Northern lights associated with?
thermosphere
Finish the sentence below, using one word only. Overusing pesticides in order to ensure high crop yield may lead to increased _________________ of soil.
toxicity
What is the term used to describe those gases which constitute a very small part of the Earth's atmosphere?
trace gas
What is the name of a legislative measure that can be introduced in order to manage and supervise the use and sharing of scarce water resources internationally?
treaty
Name the layer closest to the earth's surface.
troposphere
Salinization is caused by the movement of water in soil.
upward
The process in which rocks or soil are broken down into small particles as a result of exposure to wind, water or biota is called:
weathering
Is water vapour a trace gas? Answer with yes or no.
yes