EVR1001 Test 4: CH 12-15
What are the periodic variations in Earth's rotation and orbit around the sun that alter the way solar radiation is distributed over Earth's surface?
Milankovitch cycles
Rank the biomes in terms of how much you expect plant growth to increase as a function of increased CO2 in the atmosphere.
SMALLEST TO LARGEST -desert -grassland -temperate -tropical
Many present-day fisheries managers ________.
wish to set aside areas of ocean where systems can function without human interference
Which country leads the world in coal production and consumption by extracting and consuming approximately half of the world's annual coal yield?
China
Which of the following pollutants has the longest residence time?
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
How is climate change most significantly affecting coral reefs and sea life?
Climate change causes the oceans to absorb more carbon dioxide resulting in ocean acidification.
One key to the puzzle of Los Angeles's smog is the fact that ________.
Los Angeles and its suburbs are all ringed by mountains
Which of the following layers of the atmosphere is responsible for the weather that we experience on the surface of Earth?
Troposphere
____________ is the rising of deep, cold, dense water toward the surface.
Up-welling
What would do the most to reduce indoor air pollution in the developing world?
Using solar energy to heat homes
How is the energy produced by nuclear fission used to produce electricity?
Water in the containment vessel is kept under high pressure and heat from the fission reactions that heat it to well over boiling. This is then used to boil another loop of water, which turns a turbine that drives a generator and makes electricity.
Which of the following is an example of mitigation rather than adaptation for global climate change?
building more solar panels to generate electricity instead of more coal-fired power plants
Point sources of air pollution are __________.
specific spots--such as a factory's smokestacks--where large quantities of pollution are discharged
The primary causes of acid deposition are ________.
sulfur and nitrogen oxides
Zooxanthellae are ________.
symbiotic algae that provide energy to many species of corals
Which of the following wetland environments only occurs for a short period of time each year?
vernal pools
First developed in the ________, nuclear power showed the most growth during the ________.
1950s; 1970s and 1980s
Evidence from polar ice core analysis shows that, until now, carbon dioxide levels have never exceeded ________ ppm in the last several hundred thousand years.
300
All of the following are anthropogenic factors contributing to climate change EXCEPT:
breathing
Efficiency of coal-fired power plants can be nearly doubled by ________.
using cogeneration
The oil spill resulting from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster ________.
is the largest accidental oil spill in world history
What was the overall change in CO2 emissions for electricity generation from 1980 to 2005? What was the percent change in CO2 emissions for transportation from 1980 to 2005? If U.S. population increased 32% from 1980 to 2005, how would you describe the change in per capita CO2 emissions for electricity generation? Now compare the change in GDP to the change in CO2 emissions from electricity generation. If GDP more than doubled from 1980 to 2005, what is the ratio of changes in CO2 emissions to changes in GDP for that period of time? Which of the following emission reduction strategies would result in the greatest overall decrease in CO2?
0.9 billion metric tons 36% As population increased, per capita CO2 emissions increased twice as fast. Less than 1:1, showing a slight CO2 decrease per unit of economic activity A 10% decrease in both electricity generation and transportation emissions
According to the graph, how much warmer on average were global temperatures in the year 2000 than in the year 1900?
0.9°C
Moving clockwise, label the steps of energy production in this diagram of a coal-fired power plant.
1) Coal is burned in the furnace. 2) Heat from combustion boils water. 3) Steam turns the turbine. 4) Magnets are moved past copper coils to generate currecnt. 5) Steam is cooled and condensed. 6) Air pollutants are filtered out. 7) Toxic ash is taken to a hazardous waste disposal site
Which of the following is an example of mitigation?
making legislation to reduce our use of fossil fuels
According to tide gauge data, what was the approximate increase in global average sea level between 1950 and 2000?
10 cm
Roughly ________% of U.S. citizens live in coastal counties and are thus vulnerable to rises in sea level.
50
The oceans hold ________ carbon than the atmosphere.
50 times more
What is the amount of time that it takes for the radiation in a sample of uranium-235 waste to be reduced by half?
700 million years
Over ________% of the fuel you pump into your automobile does something other than move your vehicle down the road.
85
What is Hubbert's peak?
A prediction, based on rates of extraction and new discovery, of when a country's or global oil production will be at a maximum and then start to fall Submit
What is bitumen?
A thick type of petroleum formed in clay and sand
How did emissions change in the rest of Canada after British Columbia introduced its carbon tax in 2008, as reflected by the percent change post-tax vs. pre-tax? Using the information in the graph, in which category will you point out that British Columbia made the most dramatic reductions after introducing its carbon tax in 2008? What might explain an increase in total emissions but a decline in per-capita emissions as reflected by the percent change, post-tax vs. pre-tax?
After British Columbia introduced its carbon tax in 2008, the rest of Canada experienced a *increase* in total emissions, a *reduction* in emissions per capita, and a *reduction* in emissions per dollar of GDP. Emissions per dollar of GDP As the total emissions increased, the total population in that region increased more significantly, resulting in a reduction in emissions per capita.
How does a coal-fired power plant use the energy in coal to produce electricity? What environmental problem that contributes to global warming is addressed by using amine solutions to treat the fumes of a coal-burning power plant? Once the carbon dioxide is captured from the fumes of a coal-burning power plant, something must be done with it. The option with the least environmental impact involves releasing the carbon dioxide into __________. One-quarter of Scotland's electricity is generated by the third-largest coal-fired power station in Europe. In just three minutes, this power plant uses __________ of coal.
Burning coal heats water and creates steam that turns the blades of a turbine and generates electricity. the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere deep underground caverns one train car (wagon)
Which is the correct term to describe fish and other ocean organisms that are caught accidentally along with the targeted fish?
Bycatch
From which of the nations below did the United States import the most crude oil in 2012?
Canada
Which of the following countries exports the most oil to the United States?
Canada
Which of these countries increased its carbon emissions since the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol?
Canada
If the captain of a fishing fleet wanted to catch fish over a vast expanse of ocean, which of the following would be an effective method to do so?
Driftnets
The exceptionally strong warming of the eastern Pacific is referred to as ________.
El Niño
Using what you learned about the equation for photosynthesis and McCarthy's hypothesis, make predictions for the tree growth at each site. One has already been filled in for you.
FIRST ROW -Low growth -medium growth SECOND ROW -High Growth
Can you determine whether these factors have a warming or cooling effect on Earth's surface?
Factors that contribute to Warming - Everything expect the 2 below Factors that contribute to Cooling - Condensed water vapor (cloud albedo) - Parts of Earth's surface with high reflectivity (high albedo)
Why do environmentalists and scientists advocate stricter laws to limit power plant carbon dioxide emissions and subsidies for renewable energy?
Fossil fuel industries produce the most greenhouse gases.
Which of the following statements accurately describes nuclear fusion reactors?
Fusion reactions require very high temperatures.
Which of the following conditions would most likely lead to extreme winter haze in the East China plains? Based on the success of the Pollution Potential Index in China, it is implemented in parts of Africa to study air pollution and climate change. Which of the following will be needed to calculate the PPI? A haze hangs over the East China plains in winter. Which of the following will most likely disperse this haze? The Chinese winter monsoon continues to push east. What can people in Korea and Japan expect? Developing a technique to effectively and economically remove which of the following from the atmosphere would directly decrease haze in an area the most?
Heavy snow in Siberia and low levels of Arctic sea ice. Air temperature gradient anomalies and surface wind speeds. An extended blast of cold air. A cold winter. Particulate matter
What does the term anthropogenic mean in relation to climate change?
Human-generated intensification of the greenhouse effect
Which of the following is a nonconsumptive use of water as a resource?
Hydroelectric power
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is an international panel that ________.
reports on how climate change influences wildlife, ecosystems, and society
How are warming temperatures causing a vicious cycle (positive feedback) that is leading to enhanced warming?
Ice and snow reflect light, and as they melt, Earth absorbs more of the Sun's rays.
Which of the following is true? The future of green, renewable energy in Indonesia appears to rely the least on which of the following? Which of the following tends to be true in Indonesia? You are the CEO of a coal company in Indonesia. You commit to selling coal to the PLN through 2020. Which of the following is true? Which of the following is the reason the Paris Agreement had a goal of reducing the use of coal?
Indonesia uses a lot of coal in part because it has substantial coal reserves. hydropower The citizens and government support the use of coal. You know the highest price you will get. It is a large emitter of greenhouse gases.
What initiative or group is responsible for the most reviewed and widely accepted reports that we have on climate change?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
What does the moderator do in a nuclear fission reactor?
It slows down the neutrons so that they can react with the nucleus of a uranium atom.
Of the five countries shown, ________ have essentially no domestic oil production.
Japan and Germany
Upwelling ________.
brings benthic nutrients to the ocean surface promoting high primary productivity
How much land is Louisiana losing every year as a result of coastal erosion? The Mississippi River's flow has been greatly reduced over the last 200 years, preventing much of the sediment carried by the river from reaching the delta in Louisiana. What has caused this? What industry contributes to wetland loss in Louisiana?
Louisiana is losing 75 km2 of wetlands every year. dams and reservoirs oil and natural gas
You are part of a research team replicating this study in Costa Rica's Braulio Carrillo National Park. The results are nearly identical to this study. Which of the following did you discover? Which of the following is a carrion fly least likely to feed on? Metabarcoding relies on large libraries of what? When comparing barcoding to metabarcoding, which of the following is true? You are a tourist walking through Yosemite National Park. You see a researcher walking a length of trail documenting every bird species she sees. Which of the following is she doing?
Metabarcoding detected more mammal species than transects or photographs. a sleeping sloth DNA sequences Metabarcoding is less expensive and less time consuming than barcoding. transect
What compound that results from hydraulic fracturing can contaminate groundwater?
Methane
Which greenhouse gas is produced by rice farming and the raising of cattle?
Methane
Which gas makes up 78% of the molecules in the atmosphere?
N2, nitrogen
How does radon originate?
Natural decay of uranium
Which of the following is a nonrenewable energy source?
Natural gas
For each of the studies described below, indicate if it is hypothesis driven and whether the scientist is employing observational or manipulative methods. Suppose you found the following sources for Janzen to use as references for the predicted rise in global temperature. Indicate if each source is an example of primary literature, and then decide if each source is reliable. If you are uncertain about a source, look it up online. Using the graph, drag the terms on the left to complete the sentences on the right. Terms may be used once, more than once, or not at all. The graphs are repeated below. Rank the species according to how much a global temperature increase of 1°C could bias their population sex ratio. A bias can be toward a greater number of males or a greater number of females. The direction of the bias does not matter but rather the magnitude of the bias. Note that two species exhibit the same amount of bias and should be ranked as equivalent (overlapped).
No, M Yes, O Yes, M Yes, O No, O No, O Yes, Yes No, Yes Yes, Yes Yes, No No, No a) nest temperature, percentage of hatchlings that are male b) males c) females d) nest temperature, percentage of hatchlings that are male e)50% f)0% Least Bias: Snake Painted Turtle / Alligator Tuatara
What happens when acids from acid deposition hit topsoil?
Plants and soil organisms are harmed.
Which of the following individuals would be least likely to support increasing federal funding for projects related to climate change? If another ice age occurs, which of the following is most likely? Which of the following is true regarding corals? If predictions prove correct, which of the following will be true? Which of the following is most likely in coastal areas as sunny-day flooding increases?
Republican Senator Sea levels will drop. As sea levels rise, corals grow taller. Both East and West Coasts of the United States will be impacted by climate change. An increase in salt-tolerant plants.
Suppose that you were a researcher trying to understand how rising levels of atmospheric CO2 might affect ragweed plants, and thus seasonal ragweed allergies. What questions, hypotheses, and predictions might you want to study? Complete the flow chart by selecting the hypothesis and predictions that follow from the question you're trying to answer. Not all labels will be used. Use the data table to answer these questions about the experimental results and conclusions. Not all terms will be used. What relationship between these two variables would support the researchers' hypothesis? Choose the appropriate graph line at left and drag it onto the graph's axes at right.
Prediction 1- produce more pollen Prediction 2- produce higher concentrations 1. As the CO2 level increases up to 600 µmol mol-1, how does ragweed pollen production change? increases 2. As the CO2 level increases up to 600 µmol mol-1, how does the ragweed allergen concentration change? increases 3. If the CO2 level increases above 600 µmol mol-1, how would ragweed pollen production and the allergen concentration change? cannot tell from the data 4. Do the data support Hypothesis 1 and its prediction--that plants grown at higher CO2 levels will produce more pollen? yes 5. Do the data support Hypothesis 2 and its prediction--that plants grown at higher CO2 levels will produce higher concentrations of allergens? yes 6. Do the data prove that increased CO2 levels cause more severe ragweed allergies? no Increasing line
Based on the graph, which of the criteria air pollutants declined the most significantly relative to the most recent national standard between 1980 and 2015? Based on information in the graph in Part A and what you know about the sources of various pollutants, which of the following recommendations might you offer to the congresswoman? By how much did the reduction of PM1010 concentration exceed the reduction of PM2.52.5 concentration by 2015?
SO2 Although SO22 concentration dropped significantly relative to national standards following the CAA, maintaining or furthering this reduction requires continued enforcement of regulations on fossil fuel combustion by industries and power plants. Efforts to achieve reductions in the concentrations of air pollutants such as CO, PM2.52.5, and PM1010, should include strategies to prevent and control wildfires. Future regulations should target reductions of ground level ozone with strategies that might include subsidizing public transportation and limiting the use of vehicles in dense urban areas during summer months. approximately 30%
The country with the largest amount of domestic oil available for sale on the international market is ________.
Saudi Arabia
In which layer of the atmosphere is the ozone layer found?
Stratosphere
Which of the following is one of the two methods for mining oil shale?
Strip mining
What are the effects of carbon monoxide?
Suffocation in mammals
For the strategies below, decide whether they are best described as demand-side solutions or supply-side solutions to meeting human needs for fresh water. Remember that a demand-side solution reduces demand for fresh water, whereas a supply-side solution increases the supply of fresh water.
Supply-side solutions: desalinating seawater damming a river to create a reservoir a nation invading a neighboring country to access their rivers Demand-side solutions: raising water prices for consumers and businesses providing tax breaks for companies that use less water requiring low-flow shower heads in al new homes replacing inefficient irrigation with more-efficient drip irrigation to grow crops
What is the current status of carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the United States?
Technologies are not sufficiently reliable, and it is currently too energetically expensive for coal power plants to capture and store their carbon emissions.
Which of the following statements properly describes the cause of a temperature inversion or its effects?
Temperature inversions can trap air pollution in one place for many days.
In his essay Ken Boyd gives his rationale for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) oil drilling. Which of the following statements is one of his reasons? Karen Wayland discusses her rationale for not drilling in ANWR. Review the statements below to identify one of her reasons. One point of disparity between the essays concerned native Eskimos. Each author mentions only the tribe that fits with his or her point of view. Identify the correct combination of tribe and viewpoint. Compare the two essays to predict how each author would respond to the other author's main argument. Part of the debate about drilling for oil in ANWR centers on our national dependence on imported oil. Which of the following scenarios would decrease our foreign oil needs without using ANWR oil?
The federal government owns 64% of Alaska, and 56% of that land is official "wilderness," so ANWR is not needed as additional "wilderness." Drilling for oil would require an extensive network of roads, pipelines, and airstrips, all of which would be harmful to the ecosystem. The Gwich'in depends on caribou that live in ANWR. Boyd: We don't need more wilderness. Most of Alaska is already wilderness. What we need is more oil. Federal policy mandating increased fuel efficiency for cars and trucks
How does South Florida's geology cause problems for Miami? Which government officials have taken action against the effects of climate change? How high did sea level rise during the 20th century?
The limestone bedrock allows water to move through. Local Florida city officials 20 cm
Which term describes a regular periodic change to the ocean's height due to the gravitational influence of the moon and the sun?
Tides
Which of the following U.S. states experiences the lowest levels of acid rain?
Wyoming
Which of the following is an adaptation response to climate change?
a Pacific island nation building higher seawalls
Oceans have absorbed approximately one-third of the excess carbon dioxide that humans have added to Earth's atmosphere so far. This has slowed the progression of global climate change, but it has led to ________.
a decrease in the pH (ocean acidification)
All of the following are examples of point sources of pollution except ________.
a large farm
What is the direct cause of death for aquatic animals during eutrophication?
a loss of dissolved oxygen in the water
Which of the following best describes a floodplain?
a region of land that is periodically flooded when a river overflows
A septic system is ________.
a rural method of processing wastewater
The rapid melting of Greenland's ice cap could disrupt the NADW formation by ________.
adding huge amounts of less-dense fresh water to the surface of the system
What is the most cost-effective solution for groundwater depletion and land-level subsidence?
allowing no more water to be withdrawn from an aquifer than is naturally recharged
What is a marine protected area?
any portion of the ocean that is protected from some human activities but may be open to others, such as the laying of cables and some fishing
Carbon monoxide ________.
blocks oxygen transport in human blood
Recent research that analyzed the content of commercial bottled water indicates that ________.
bottled water is no safer or purer than most samples of tap water
The most obvious cause of industrial smog is ________.
burning fossil fuels
All of the following are standard steps at a coal-fired power plant in the United States EXCEPT:
carbon capture.
The predominant greenhouse gas produced by human use of fossil fuels is __________.
carbon dioxide
Many pollutants from coal-fired power plants are properly managed today. Which of the following is currently considered to be the biggest threat to the environment? All fossil fuels, including coal, are considered an indirect form of ____________ energy. Where is electricity made at a coal-fired power plant? During peak usage, what happens to the cost of electricity? What color smoke coming from a coal-fired power plant would indicate wasted fuel?
carbon dioxide solar generator It almost always increases. black
Which of the following chemicals is NOT a VOC (volatile organic compound)?
carbon monoxide
Scientists evaluate concentrations of gases and other atmospheric constituents from the distant past by examining which of the following?
gas bubbles trapped in ice
What is largely responsible for the ozone hole?
chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants
Scientist often use ______________ which are programs that combine what is known about atmospheric circulation, ocean circulation, atmosphere-ocean interactions, and feedback cycles to simulate climate dynamics
climate models
All of the following, are forms of renewable energy EXCEPT:
coal
Water currents along the coastline of Chile pull up deep water that is __________. The largest fishery on Earth, located along the west coast of Chile, consists of __________. In which one of the following locations is the ocean current flowing from the north toward the equator? A boat floating along the eastern shore of Florida is expected to drift __________.
cold and high in nutrients 1% of the ocean and provides 20% of the world's total fish catch west coast of the United States northward toward the New England states
The area that underlies the shallow water bordering continents is called the ________.
continental shelf
What drives long-term climate patterns, such as the Hadley Cells at the Equator, over large geographic scales?
convective air currents
What technology is used to extract freshwater from ocean water?
desalinization
The practice of reducing wasteful or unnecessary energy use is called ________.
energy conservation
What term describes the ability to obtain a given result while using less energy?
energy efficiency
What type of coastal feature experiences fluctuations in salinity with daily and seasonal variations?
estuaries
Which of the following is a method to gain additional power from coal?
gasification
In 1970, ________ was/were the source of most of the airborne lead emissions in the United States.
gasoline
We build dams to ________.
generate electricity, prevent flooding, and provide irrigation and drinking water
Which of the following have the ability to absorb energy from Earth's surface and then emit infrared radiation in all directions?
greenhouse gases
Carbon-based fuels in the lithosphere ________.
have been slowly sequestered over many millions of years
Which of the following is a renewable energy source?
hydropower
Organizations like OPEC have formed ________.
in order to take maximum advantage of developed nations dependence on imported oil
One reasonable way to prevent sinkholes might be to ________.
increase groundwater recharge by constructing artificial wetlands that use treated municipal wastewater
One of the problems that occur as a consequence of CFC pollution is ________.
increased rates of skin cancer in humans
In the United States, per capita energy use ________, and energy intensity ________.
increased sharply from 1950 to the 1970s but has since declined; has been declining since 1970
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the number of human-induced sinkholes has doubled since 1930. Insurance claims increased 1200% from 1987 to 1991, costing nearly $100 million. A major reason for this is ________.
increased water consumption through development and urbanization
In the stratosphere, ________.
increases of temperature and ozone levels are strongly correlated
Ocean water is 96.5% water by mass. Most of the remainder consists of __________.
ions from dissolved salts
Humans use more fresh water for ________ than for any other purpose.
irrigating crops
Hydroelectric power generation ________.
is an alternative to fossil fuels that produces fewer greenhouse gases
Recent research indicates that the variation in solar output ________.
is less than any of the anthropogenic factors affecting climate change
Scientists currently assessing the environmental impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico report that ________.
it may take years or decades before the full impacts are known
The region of a lake where plants are able to attach to the bottom and still reach above the surface is known as the __________.
littoral zone
Of the following greenhouse gases, ________ concentrations have increased by the greatest percentage since 1750.
methane
The atmosphere around Earth can cause global warming because ________.
molecules in the atmosphere are warmed by radiation from Earth and retain that heat
If all of the stratospheric ozone suddenly disappeared, ________.
most life on Earth would cease to exist because of the amount of UV radiation penetrating the atmosphere
The Acid Rain Program established under the Clean Air Act of 1990 has been successful in reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide and ________.
nitrogen oxides
The fact that there is a high sulfur content of the coal burned in South African power plants means that the ________.
power plants contribute to acidic deposition
What caused the Aral Sea, the fourth largest lake on Earth, to lose four-fifths of its volume in 40 years?
overconsumption by cotton farmers
Sinkholes can result from ________.
overconsumption of water from aquifers
Currently, the greatest ecological crisis facing marine food webs is ________.
overharvesting
Which of the following types of pollution is most responsible for large numbers of deaths worldwide because of unsafe drinking water?
pathogen pollution
Alaskans benefit from the trans-Alaska pipeline because Alaska's state constitution requires approximately 25% of state revenues associated with the oil industry to be placed into a monetary fund called the Permanent Fund, which ________.
pays yearly dividends to all Alaska residents
Which of these would NOT contribute to a global increase in temperature? Switching from fossil fuels to _____ energy would significantly decrease the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
planting trees solar, nuclear, and geothermal
Pathogens and waterborne diseases enter drinking water supplies from ________.
poorly treated wastewater and animal wastes from feed lots
Crude oil is ________.
refined to separate the chemicals used for gasoline, lubricants, plastics, and other products
A(n) ________ is a device designed to remove airborne pollutants from smokestack emissions.
scrubber
In the troposphere ________.
temperature decreases nearly linearly with altitude
Occasionally, a layer of cool air forms under a layer of warmer air in the troposphere. This change from the normal temperature profile in the troposphere is called a ________.
temperature or thermal inversion
Which piece of legislation set strict standards for air quality and pollution control in the United States?
the Clean Air Act
The United States should enact laws slowing global climate change because ________.
the United States is a major source of the problem
A watershed is ________.
the area of land that drains into a river or lake
What was the primary cause of the decline in oil prices in 2016 to only one quarter of the prices in 2008?
the oil supply glut caused by fracking
Ice that formed thousands of years ago is often found to contain tiny bubbles of gas. This gas came from __________. If we take a sample of ice from 10 meters beneath the surface and find that it is 1,000 years old, where would we need to look for ice that is about 10,000 years old? Which one of the following types of scientists would most likely be interested in the information we can learn from ice cores from Antarctica? Which of the following questions is best addressed by studying ice samples from Antarctica?
the atmosphere much deeper, about 100 meters below the surface climatologists interested in climate change How have the atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide changed in the last 100,000 years?
What does the y-axis show? The bars on the graph are not of equal width. What does the width of each bar represent? How much energy would be saved by adding insulation to ceilings? What is the cost of conserved energy for compact fluorescent lighting? Which of these energy investments is the least expensive to install? Which of the following energy investments would be cost-effective to install? How much energy would the family save by investing in all of the features that are cost-effective at the current price of energy? If the cost of energy rose to $.18 per kilowatt-hour, which of the following would be true?
the cost of conserved energy, in dollars per kilowatt-hour the amount of energy saved by an investment, in kilowatt-hours per year about 2,000 kilowatt-hours/year about $.08 per kilowatt-hour adding insulation to ceilings triple paned windows about 9,000 kilowatt-hours per year Investing in a solar hot water heating and a ground source heat pump would become cost-effective.
What is energy intensity?
the energy use per dollar of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
When did the use of coal for cooking, heating, and other purposes begin?
thousands of years ago, by Native Americans (and other ancient cultures)
The United States and other industrialized nations devote about one-third of their oil use to __________.
transportation
Most of Earth's liquid fresh water is found ________. Which of the following statements is true?
underground Most of Earth's fresh water is frozen.
"Biosolids" produced at a wastewater treatment plant are often ________.
used as crop fertilizer
Secondary extraction of petroleum ________.
uses solvents, water, or steam
Air near Earth's surface tends to be ________.
warmer and wetter; then it rises, expanding and cooling
The Kyoto Protocol ________.
was intended to reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases to levels lower than those of 1990
Which of the following will contribute to water conservation?
watering lawns at night and landscaping with native plants
The huge dust storms that took place in the United States in the 1930s ________.
were the result of poor farming techniques
Along with many other governmental reforms that began in 1994, the electrical plant just outside Soweto was closed in 2000, and other plants were brought into use. Some parts of Soweto were then wired for electricity. It is estimated, however, that only about 30% of the more than 1.2 million black inhabitants have electricity in their homes; the remainder either cannot afford the costs involved or live in areas that have no electrical access. These inhabitants probably use ________ for fuel.
wood and coal
What was the percent change from 1970 to 2006 for vehicle miles traveled? If the U.S. population in 1970 was approximately 200 million people, what was the approximate population by 2006? Over the time period shown on the graph, both population and vehicle miles traveled have changed. Describe the relationship between the two factors. Energy consumption and aggregate emissions have also changed over time. Whereas the ratio of energy consumption to emissions was 1:1 in 1970, by 2006 the ratio was _________. In an effort to further reduce emissions, a government panel is considering several policy options. For the trends on the graph, which of the following policies could have the biggest long-term impact on lowering emissions?
+175% 300 million people By 2006, people were driving about twice as many miles per person as in 1970. 3:1 A mandated switch to electric cars with a solar and wind-powered electrical grid to "fuel" the cars
Scientists compared the plant biomass and soil structure of restored wetlands to that of natural, undisturbed wetlands. The graph shows their findings. -What does the y-axis show? -What does the red graph line represent? -After 20 years, how much plant biomass does a restored wetland contain? -After 55 years, how does the capacity of a restored wetland to absorb nutrients compare to that of a natural wetland? -Is the following statement supported or not supported by the data shown in the graph? Most of the productivity of a wetland can be restored within 50 years, but it takes much longer to restore soil fertility -Natural wetlands provide many ecosystem services. When a wetland is restored, which of the following ecosystem services returns most rapidly? -Is the following statement supported or not supported by the data shown in the graph? The restoration of a wetland takes about 100 years.
- percent of recovery compared to natural wetlands -Plant Biomass -about 80% of the biomass of a natural wetland -about 40% of natural wetland capacity -Supported-providing food for fish and wildlife -Cannot be determined by the graph
Which of the following statements accurately describe(s) changes in bird species diversity following the construction of a wetland in the study area? Select all that apply. Based on the bar graph, during which season did bird abundances decline post-construction of the artificial wetland? Which of the following statements reflects how you might use the data from the graphs in the previous parts to make your case? Select all that apply.
-An increase in bird species diversity was observed across most months of the study period following wetland construction. -A decrease in bird species diversity was observed only in August. Summer -Construction of an artificial wetland in California resulted in an overall increase in the abundance of birds inhabiting that location. -Based on evidence of changes in diversity and abundance of birds, construction of an artificial wetland creates new foraging and nesting habitat. -Construction of an artificial wetland in California resulted in an overall increase in the number of bird species inhabiting that location.
For every metric ton of carbon dioxide emitted as a result of changes in land use (e.g. deforestation), approximately how much is emitted from industry? The figure indicates a net accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere of approximately 15 billion metric tons per year. Based on the figure, what is causing this?
4 metric tons Human activities are sending more CO2 into the atmosphere than is moving from the atmosphere to the surface.
Which of the following has contributed to longer life spans in the United States? On average, it appears that over the past 25 years, improved air quality in the United States has resulted in __________ in the lifespan of the average individual. Based strictly on increases in air pollution over the past few decades, where would we expect to see the greatest decrease in life spans? We would expect to see a decrease in life span in __________. Which of the following describes the greatest health risk posed by air pollution? Air pollutants __________.
All of the listed responses are correct. an increase of about five months Beijing, China damage blood vessels in human lungs
As the world's population and our demand for water rise, we are tapping groundwater and surface water sources, often at unsustainable rates. The resulting fresh water depletion is having ecological and social impacts in many areas. However, we have at our disposal many proven strategies for avoiding water shortages and making our water use more sustainable
Causes: -Population Growth -groundwater pumping for agriculture -domestic water use for homes and landscaping Consequences: -water shortages -salinization -altered plant communities Solutions: -development of water conservation policies -deployment of more efficient irrigation approaches -improvement of wastewater treatment technology
Indoor air pollution receives less attention than outdoor air pollution, yet it exerts severe health impacts on millions of people. Poverty worsens indoor air pollution in the developing world; high-technology products and chemicals contribute to it in the developed world; and certain lifestyle choices can affect all of us. Fortunately, many solutions are within reach to address the causes and lessen the consequences of this environmental health risk.
Causes: 1. inefficient indoor cookstoves 2. VOCs from paints, carpeting, and furniture 3. radon seepage into homes Consequences: 1. respiratory disease in developing countries 2. people ill from sick-building syndrome 3. lung cancer; 20,000 deaths per year in the United States Solutions: 1. measurement of radon with a test kit; increase in ventilation 2. purchase of low- or no-VOC paints, carpeting, and furniture 3. conversion to more efficient clean-burning cook stoves
What process depends on the cyclical, vertical movement of air currents: sinking cold, dense and rising warm, less dense air masses?
Convective circulation
Suppose you are able to manipulate a plant's access to components in the photosynthesis equation. Drag each label to the appropriate bin to predict how that action will affect plant growth. For each increase or decrease, assume that every other component of the photosynthesis equation is unlimited.
Decrease plant growth: -Decrease Sunlight -decrease H2O -Decrease CO2 No Impact on plant growth: -decrease C6H12O6 -increase C6H12O6 Increase Plant growth: -Increase H20 -Increase CO2 -Increase sunlight
Which of the following is a systematic shift in atmospheric pressure, sea surface temperature, and ocean circulation patterns in the tropical Pacific Ocean that alters weather patterns on a worldwide scale?
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
Doing which of the following would reduce deaths from PM 2.5 in China by the most? Which of the following is likely to have the highest concentration of PM 2.5 in China? Which of the following countries likely has the highest level of premature deaths due to PM 2.5? Currently, issues related to which of the following cause the most premature deaths worldwide? You enjoy travelling. Where are you likely to be exposed to the highest concentration of PM 2.5?
Eliminate the use of coal. A steel manufacturing province. Turkey Water India
Thomas Flint and Christine Stallard cite multiple benefits of dams. Which of the following statements represents their primary argument for the importance of dams? Sara Nicholas presents the case for dam removal by offering a variety of reasons. Which of the following reasons is her primary argument for removing dams? Which of the following environmental concerns do both essay discuss? The essay in support of dam removal avoids one key environmental benefit touted by dam advocates. If the authors were participating in a debate, how might dam advocates state this benefit? You are part of a panel that reviews dam permits for renewal. Your panel hears testimony from both pro-dam and pro-dam removal advocates. Which of the following scenarios is least likely to be controversial?
Global water use has increased at twice the rate of population growth, and dams can provide water. All dams harm riparian environments. Dams block passage for migratory fish. Dams use a renewable "fuel" (water) to generate clean electricity. Removal of a mill dam for a now defunct mill operation
Suppose you are helping McCarthy choose her sample sites. You have the resources to conduct the study at only 4 sites. Pick the 4 sites that allow all 4 possible treatment combinations, while controlling for sunlight. Drag a check mark to each site you would use, and drag Xs to the sites you would not use. You should end up placing 4 check marks and 8 Xs. Labels can be used more than once.
LEFT TO RIGHT=FIRST ROW 1-NO 2-YES 3-NO LEFT TO RIGHT=SECOND ROW 1-NO 2-YES 3-NO LEFT TO RIGHT= THIRD ROW 1-NO 2-YES 3-YES LEFT TO RIGHT=FOURTH ROW 1-NO 2-N0 3-NO
What is the spatial relationship between the distributions of water and people?
Populations and water resources too often have an inverse relationship (lots of people where there is little water).
Why do pollution and smog often become trapped in Los Angeles and other similar urban areas? What is one of the greatest sources of pollution in Mexico City that has persisted even after the government successfully lowered overall pollutant levels? Which of the following results in increased levels of pollution caused by automobile exhaust?
The combination of temperature inversions (because of being surrounded by mountains) and extended periods of sunlight result in the buildup of smog in Los Angeles. emissions from automobile exhaust the construction of new highways
John Walke supports government regulation as the most effective approach for reducing air pollution. Which of the following statements expresses one of his reasons? Jerry Taylor considers better air quality a luxury good. What evidence does he give for this reasoning? Both authors refer to voluntary actions and their effect on pollution control. Which of the following statements best describes one author's viewpoint? Taylor mentions the reduced demands on natural resources due to both reduced use of natural resources and the shift away from manufacturing economies to service economies. Imagine how Walke might respond to Taylor's statements in a debate. The authors of the two essays are quite opposite in their views, with Walke pro-regulation and Taylor anti-regulation. If you had to select a type of regulation that both authors would approve, which of the following might work?
There is little or no economic incentive for polluters to pay pollution costs. Once per capita income reaches a certain level, concentrations of pollutants begin to decline as rapidly as they had increased. Walke; Voluntary programs are unsuccessful. For example, in a voluntary EPA program, only one-fourth of the participants committed to reducing emissions. I disagree; the shift to a service economy simply means that manufacturing has moved to other countries. Because air pollution does not respect borders, we will still need pollution regulation. Regulatory incentives that award subsidies to companies demonstrating technological changes in their processes that measurably reduce pollution
Classify each pollutant based on the category that best describes its impact on waterways.
Toxic chemicals: acid drainage from an abandoned coal mine herbicide from a soccer field Pathogens and waterborne diseases: medical waste from a hospital dumped in an illegal location thermal pollution: frigid water from the bottom of a reservoir Nutrient pollution: phosphorous-rich fertilizer from agricultural land nitrogen-rich grass clippings from a mowed lawn Sediment: clay soil from land cleared for home construction eroded topsoil from agricultural land
What sorts of constituents do atmospheric pollutants (such as sulfates and nitrates) react with to initiate the process that results in acid deposition?
Water, oxygen, and oxidants
What is the name of an area of land that is drained by a river and all of its tributaries?
Watershed
As a result of humans' increased use of the water in the Colorado River, __________. In the past 50 years, the global hydrological environment has experienced great change due to __________. Most water taken out of the natural world is used for __________. Which of the following is a promising way to reduce global water consumption?
fisheries in the upper Gulf of California have been hurt the construction of more than 40,000 new dams irrigation avoiding waste and mismanagement
The fish in the lake at the local park are dying, and a professor from the local college comes to investigate. First, she measures the levels of dissolved oxygen in order to check for ________.
hypoxia
The Coriolis effect ________.
is caused by Earth's rotation
How does China's air pollution get to the United States? China's air pollution __________. In general, China's air pollution __________. How do dust particles from the vast deserts in China affect weather patterns? The dust __________. Snow and ice accumulations in California's mountains are carefully monitored because __________.
is moved by the jet stream to the west coast of the United States decreases rainfall in California increases the chances of rainfall in California they contribute to the main water source for most of the residents of the state
Tropospheric ozone ________.
is produced through the interaction of heat and UV light, with nitrogen oxides and carbon-containing compounds
In developed countries, the two most deadly sources of indoor pollution are ________.
radon and cigarette smoke