Term
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Definition
| enough energy to dislodge electrons from atoms, forming ions; capable of causing cancer(gamma, x-rays, UV) |
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Term
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Definition
| organized and concentrated; can perform useful work(fossil fuel and nuclear) |
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Term
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Definition
| disorganized, dispersed (heat in ocean, wind power, solar energy) |
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Term
| First Law of Thermodynamics |
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Definition
| energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another(Law of Conservation of Energy) |
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Term
| Second Law of Thermodynamics |
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Definition
| when energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy, usually heat |
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Term
| Natural Radioactive Decay |
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Definition
| unstable radioisotopes decay releasin gamma rays, alpha particles and beta particles |
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Term
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Definition
| the time it takes for half of the radioactive isotope to decay |
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Term
| Estimate of how long a radioactive isotope must be stored until safe |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons |
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Term
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Definition
| two isotopes of light elements (H) forced together at high temps till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus (He). Process is expensive; not affordable at this point |
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Term
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Definition
| a rock that contains a large enough concentration of a mineral making it profitable to mine |
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Term
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Definition
| slow-acting and long-lasting because the organic remains need time to be decomposed |
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Term
| Best solutions to energy shortage |
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Definition
| conservation, increase efficiency, explore alternative energy options |
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Term
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Definition
| cheaper and can remove more minerals; less hazardous to workers |
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Term
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Definition
| organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms |
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Term
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Definition
| removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards |
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Term
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Definition
| deposit of leached material in lower soil layers (b horizon) |
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Term
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Definition
| perfect agricultual soil with optimal portions of sand, sil, clay (40%, 40% 20%) |
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Term
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Definition
| allowing the use of resouces in a responsible manner |
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Term
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Definition
| setting aside areas and protecting them from human activities |
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Term
| Parts of Hydrologic Cycle |
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Definition
| evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, infiltration |
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Term
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Definition
| any water-bearing layer in the ground |
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Term
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Definition
| lowering of the water table around a pumping well |
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Term
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Definition
| near the coast, over-pumping of groundwater causes saltwater to move into the aquifer |
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Term
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Definition
| El Nino Southern Oscillation, see-sawing of air pressure over the S. Pacific |
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Term
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Definition
| trade winds weaken and warm water sloshed back to SA |
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Term
| During a non-El Nino Year |
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Definition
| easterly trade winds and ocean currents pool warm water in the western Pacific, allowing upwelling of nutrient rich water off the west coast of South America |
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Term
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Definition
| upwelling decreases disrupting food chains; N U.S. has mild winters, SW U.S. has invreased rainfall, less Atlantic huricanes |
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Term
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Definition
| because atmospheric Nitrogen can't be used directly by plants it must first be converted into ammonia by bacteria |
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Term
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Definition
| decomposers convert organic waste into ammonia |
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Term
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Definition
| ammonia is converted into nitrate ions |
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Term
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Definition
| inorganic nitrogen is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids and proteins |
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Term
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Definition
| bacteria convert nitrate and nitrite back into nitrogen gas |
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Term
| Phosphorous cycles less easily than Nitrogen because |
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Definition
| it doesn't exist as a gas, but instead is released by weathering of phosphate in rocks |
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Term
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Definition
| the ability to meet the current needs of humanity without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs |
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Term
| How excess phosphorus is aded to auatic ecosystems |
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Definition
| runoff of animal wastes, fertilizer, discharge of sewage |
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Term
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Definition
| plants convert atmospheric carbon (carbon dioxide) into complex carbs (glucose) |
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Term
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Definition
| Oxygen gas consuming producers, consumers and decomposers break down complex organic compounds and convert Carbon back into carbon dioxide |
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Term
| Largest Reservoirs of Carbon |
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Definition
| Carbonate rocks first, oceans second |
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Term
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Definition
| Living and nonliving components of an ecosystem |
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Term
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Definition
| photosynthetic or chemosynthetic life |
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Term
| Fecal coliform/ Enterococcus bacteria |
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Definition
| indicator of sewage contamination |
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Term
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Definition
| only 10% of usuable energy is transferred because usable energy is lost as heat; not all biomass is digested and absorbed; predators expend energy to catch prey |
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Term
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Definition
| goo=disinfection of water; bad=forms trihalomethanes |
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Term
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Definition
| development of communitiesin a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life or those in which the soil profile is totally destroyed (lava flows); begins with lichen action |
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Term
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Definition
| life progresses where soil remains (clear-cut forest, fire) |
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Term
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Definition
| using waste heat to make electricity |
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Term
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Definition
| symbiotic relationship where both partners benefit |
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Term
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Definition
| symbiotic relationship where one partner benefits and the other is unaffected |
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Term
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Definition
| relationship in which one partner obtains nutrients at the other's expense |
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Term
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Definition
| Large distince terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants and animals |
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Term
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Definition
| the number of individuals that can be sustained in an area |
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Term
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Definition
| reproduce early in life; many small unprotected offspring |
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Term
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Definition
| reproduce late in life; few offspring; parents care for offspring |
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Term
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Definition
| when a change in some condition triggers a response that intensifies the changing condition |
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Term
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Definition
| when a changing in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition |
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Term
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Definition
| said human population cannot continue to increase exponentially; consequences will be war, famine and disease |
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Term
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Definition
| Rule of 70; 70 divided by the percent growth rate |
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Term
| Replacement Level Fertility |
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Definition
| the number of children a couple must have in order to replace themselves (2.1 in developed countries) |
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Term
| World Population/US Population |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| birth and death rates high, population grows slowly, infant mortality high |
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Term
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Definition
| death rates drop, birth rates still high, population grows quickly |
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Term
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Definition
| low death rates, declining birth rates, declining population growth |
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Term
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Definition
| low birth and death rates, population growth low |
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Term
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Definition
| broad base=rapid growth; narrow base= negative growth; uniform shape=zero growth |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| Most important thing affecting population growth |
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Definition
| status of women in society |
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Term
| Ways to decrease birth rate |
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Definition
| family planning, contraception, economic rewards and penalties |
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Term
| Percent water on Earth by type |
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Definition
| 97.5% Saltwater, 2.5% freshwater (only 1% usable) |
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Term
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Definition
| in arid regions, water evaporates leaving salts behind |
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Term
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Definition
| Agriculture=drip irrigation; industry=recycling; home=use gray water, repair leaks, low flow fixtures |
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Term
| Point vs. Nonpoint Pollution |
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Definition
| Point sources can be easily identified, like a pipe. Nonpoint are difficult to pinpoint like run-off from a parking lot |
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Term
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Definition
| Biological Oxygen Demand-amount of disolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down organic materials |
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Term
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Definition
| rapid algal growth caused by an excess of nitrates and phosphates in water |
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Term
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Definition
| when aquatic plants die, the BOD rises as aerobic decomposers break down the plants, the Do drops and the water can't support life |
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Term
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Definition
| (1932-1968, Japan) Mental impairments due to mercury poisoning |
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Term
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Definition
| CO, CO2, Sulfates, Sulfites, Nitrates, Nitrites, hydrocarbons, particulates |
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Term
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Definition
| organisms that possess favorable adaptations pass them on to the next generation |
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Term
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Definition
Source: Burning fossil fuels
Effect: reduces visibility & respiratory problems
Reduction: filtering, alternative energy |
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Term
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Definition
Source: Auto exhaust
Effects: acidification of lakes, smog, ozone
Reduction: catalytic converter |
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Term
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Definition
Source: Coal burning
Effects: Acid deposition, kills plants
Reduction: scrubbers |
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Term
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Definition
Source: Auto exhaust, incomplete combustion
Effects: global warming (greenhouse gas)
Reduction: catalytic converter, mass transit |
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Term
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Definition
Formation: Secondary pollutant
Effects: Respiratory irritant, plant damage
Reduction: Reduce NO emissions |
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Term
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Definition
| naturally occuring colorless, odorless, radioactive gas found in some types of soi and rock, can seep into homes and buildings, causes lung cancer |
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Term
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Definition
| formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight |
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Term
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Definition
| caused by sulfuric and nitric acids, resulting in lowered pH of surface water |
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Term
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Definition
Examples: H2O, CO2, O3, CFCs, Methane
Effect: trap outgoing infrared energy, causing Earth to warm |
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Term
| Effects of Global Warming |
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Definition
| rising sea levels, extreme weather, drought, famine, extinction |
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Term
| Causes of Ozone Depletion |
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Definition
| CFCs attack stratospheric ozone |
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Term
| Effects of Ozone Depletion |
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Definition
| increased UV, skin cancer, cataracts, decreased plant growth |
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Term
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Definition
| (1950's+)chemicals buried in old canal; school and homes built over it; caused birth defects and cancer |
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Term
| Main component of municipal solid waste |
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Definition
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Term
| True cost/ External costs |
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Definition
| harmful environmental side effects that are not reflected in a product's price |
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Term
| Sanitary landfill problems and solutions |
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Definition
Leaching-liner with collection system
Methane gas- collect gas and use as fuel
Garbage- compact and reduce |
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Term
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Definition
| volume of waste reduced by 90% and waste heat can be used |
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Term
| Incineration Disadvantages |
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Definition
| toxic emissions; scrubbers needed; ash disposal |
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Term
| Best way to solve waste issue |
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Definition
| Reduce the amount of waste at the sources |
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Term
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Definition
| species whose role in an ecosystem are more importnat than others, such as a sea otter ,sea stars, grizzly bears, prairie dogs, elephants and alligators |
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Term
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Definition
| species that serve as early warnings that an ecosystem is being damaged ex. trout, frogs, some insects |
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Term
| Characteristics of endangered species |
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Definition
| small range, large territory, or live on an island |
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Term
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Definition
| Chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDT), organophosphates (malathion), carbamates (aldicarb) |
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Term
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Definition
| saves lives from insect transmitted disease, increases food supply, increases farmer profit margin |
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Term
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Definition
| genetic resistance, ecosystem imbalance, pesticide treadmill, persistence, bioaccumulation, biological magnification |
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Term
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Definition
| better ag. practices, genetically resistant plants, natural enemies, biopesticides, sex attractants |
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Term
| Electricity generation methods |
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Definition
| using steam from water to turn a turbine |
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Term
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Definition
| microscopic aquatic organisms in sediments converted by eat and pressure into a mixture of hydrocarbons |
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Term
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Definition
| relatively cheap, easily transported, high-quality energy |
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Term
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Definition
| reserves will be depleted soon, pollution during drilling, transport and refining; burning makes CO@ |
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Term
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Definition
| peat, lignite, subituminous, bituminous, anthracite |
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Term
| Major Parts of a Nuclear Reactor |
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Definition
| core, control rods, steam generator, turbine, containment building |
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Term
| Two most serious nuclear accidents |
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Definition
| Chernobyl, Ukraine (1986) and Three Mile Island, PA (1979) |
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Term
| Alternative Energy Sources |
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Definition
| wind, solar, waves, biomass, geothermal, fuel cells |
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Term
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Definition
| the dosage (LD) or concentration (LC) of a chemical needed to kill 50% of the organisms in a test population |
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Term
| Mutagen; Teratogen; Carcinogen |
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Definition
| (in order) cause hereditary changes through mutations; cause fetus deformities and cancer |
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Term
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Definition
| a group of organisms in danger of becoming extinct if the situation is not improved |
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Term
| Invasive/Alien/Exotic Species |
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Definition
| non-native species to an area; often thrive and disrupt the ecosystem balance EX. kudzu vine, purple loosestrife, African honeybee "killer bee", water hyacinth, fire ant, zebra mussel |
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Term
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Definition
| global commons such as atmosphere and oceans are used by all and owned by none, leads to overuse and misuse |
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Term
| Volcano and Earthquake Occurence |
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Definition
| at plate boundaries(divergent=spreading, mid-ocean ridges; convergent=trenches; transform=sliding) |
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Term
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Definition
| burning coal, compact fluorescent bulbs |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| the maximum dosae that has no measurable effect |
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Term
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Definition
| layer of dense, cool air trapped under a layer of warm dense air, pollution in trapped layer may build to harmful levels |
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Term
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Definition
| process by which water is absorbed by plant roots, moves up through plants, passes through pores(stomata) in leaves, evaporates into atmosphere as water vapor |
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Term
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Definition
| cultivation of a single crop, usually in a large area |
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Term
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Definition
| Wheat, rice and corn provide more than half of the calories in the food consumed by the world's people |
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Term
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Definition
Surface-usually burn only undergrowth and leaf litter on forest floor
Crown-hot fires, may start on ground but eventually leap from treetop to treetop
Ground-go underground, may smolder for days or weeks, difficult to detect and extinguish |
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Term
| Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act |
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Definition
| (1977) requires coal strip mines to reclaim land |
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Term
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Definition
| (1991) Suspension of minderal exploration for 50 years in Antarctica |
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Term
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Definition
| (1974) set maximum containment levels for pollutants in drinking water |
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Term
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Definition
| (1972) set max permissible amounts of water pollutants that can be discharged into waterways; aims to make surgace waters swimmable and fishable |
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Term
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Definition
| (1988) bans ocean dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste |
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Term
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Definition
| (1970) set emission standards for cars and limits for release of air pollutants |
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Term
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Definition
| (2005) controlling global warming by setting greenhouse gas emissions targets for developed countries |
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Term
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Definition
| (1987) phase out of ozone depleting substances |
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Term
| Resource Conservation and Recovery Act |
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Definition
| (1976) controls hazardous waste with a cradle to grave system |
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Term
| Comprehensive Envir. Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) |
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Definition
| (1980) "Superfund" designed to identify and clean up abandoned hazardous waste dump sites |
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Term
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Definition
| (1982) US gov. must develop a high level nuclear waste site (Yucca Mountain) |
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Term
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Definition
| (1973) indentifies threatened and endangered species in US and puts their protection ahead of economic considerations |
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Term
| Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) |
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Definition
| (1973) lists species that cannot be commercially traded as live specimens or wildlife products |
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Term
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Definition
| (1976)Management of Marine fisheries |
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Term
| Food Quality Protection Act |
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Definition
| (1996) set pesticide limits in food and all active and inactive ingredients must be screened for estrogenic/endocrine effects |
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Term
| National Environmental Policy Act |
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Definition
| (1969) Environmental Impact Statements must be done before any project affecting federal lands can be started |
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Term
| Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants |
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Definition
| (2004) seeks to protect human health for the 12 most toxic chmicals(includes 8 chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides/ DDT can be used for malaria control) |
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