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 & concentrated; can perform useful work (fossil fuel & nuclear) |
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Term
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Definition
| Disorganized, dispersed (heat in ocean or air wind, solar) |
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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
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Natural radioactive decay
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Definition
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Unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha particles, and beta particles
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Term
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Definition
| The time it takes for 1⁄2 the mass of a radioisotope to decay |
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Term
| Estimate of how long a radioactive isotope must be stored until it decays to a safe level |
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Definition
| Approximately 10 half-lives |
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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 temperatures till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus (He). Process is expensive; break-even point not reached yet |
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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 & 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 agricultural soil with optimal portions of sand, silt, clay (40%, 40%, 20%) |
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Term
| Parts of the 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 Niño Southern Oscillation, see-sawing of air pressure over the S. Pacific |
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Term
During an El Niño year
During a non El Niño year |
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Definition
Trade winds weaken & warm water sloshed back to SA
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 increased rainfall, less Atlantic hurricanes |
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Term
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Definition
| Because atmospheric N2 cannot be used directly by plants it must first be converted into ammonia (NH3) by bacteria (rhizobium) |
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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 (NH3) is converted to nitrate ions (NO3) |
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Term
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Definition
| Inorganic nitrogen is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids & proteins |
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Term
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Definition
Allowing the use of resources in a responsible manner
Setting aside areas and protecting them from human activities |
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Term
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Definition
| Bacteria convert nitrate (NO3)- and nitrite (NO2)- back into N2 gas |
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Term
| Phosphorus does not circulate as easily as nitrogen because |
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Definition
It does not exist as a gas, but is released by weathering of
Phosphate (PO4)3- 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 added to aquatic 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 (CO2) into complex carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6) |
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Term
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Definition
O2-consuming producers, consumers & decomposers break down complex organic compounds &
Convert C back into CO2 |
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Term
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Definition
| Carbonate (CO3)2- 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 the usable energy is transferred because usable energy lost as heat (second law); not all biomass is digested and absorbed; predators expend |
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Term
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Definition
| Good= disinfection of water; bad = forms trihalomethanes |
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Term
1. Primary succession
2. Secondary succession |
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Definition
1. Development of communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life or those in which the soil profile is totally destroyed (lava flows); begins with lichen action
2. Life progresses where soil remains (clear-cut forest, fire) |
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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
| Using waste heat to make electricity |
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Term
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Definition
| symbiotic relationship where one partner benefits & the other is unaffected |
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Term
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Definition
| relationship in which one partner obtains nutrients at the expense of the host |
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Term
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Definition
| large distinct terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants & 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
reproduce late in life; few offspring; 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 (warmer
Earth - snow melts - less sunlight is reflected & more is absorbed, therefore warmer earth) |
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Term
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Definition
| when a changing in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition (warmer earth - more ocean evaporation - more stratus clouds - less sunlight reaches the ground - therefore cooler Earth) |
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Term
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Definition
| said human population cannot continue to increase exponentially; consequences will be war, famine & 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 to replace themselves (2.1 in developed countries) |
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Term
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Definition
| ~ 6.7 billion U.S. Population: ~ 305 million |
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Term
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Definition
| (demographic transition) birth & death rates high, population grows slowly, infant mortality high |
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Term
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Definition
| (demographic transition) death rate lower, better health care, population grows fast |
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Term
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Definition
| (demographic transition) decline in birth rate, population growth slows |
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Term
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Definition
| (demographic transition) low birth & death rates |
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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
| First, second and third most populated countries |
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Definition
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Term
| Most important thing affecting population growth |
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Definition
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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% seawater, 2.5% freshwater |
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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/trickle irrigation; industry = recycling; home = use gray water, repair leaks, low
flow fixtures |
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Term
| Point vs. non point sources |
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Definition
| Point, from specific location such as a pipe. Non-point, from over an area such as runoff |
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Term
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Definition
biological oxygen demand, amount of dissolved 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 (NO3)- and phosphates (PO4)3- 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 & the water
cannot support life |
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Term
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Definition
| (1932-1968, Japan) mental impairments caused by methylmercury (CH3Hg)+ poisoning |
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Term
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Definition
| produced by humans & nature (CO,CO2,SOx,NOx, hydrocarbons, particulates) |
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Term
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Definition
| organisms that possess favorable adaptations pass them onto the next generation |
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Term
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Definition
Source: burning fossil fuels and diesel exhaust
Effect: reduces visibility & respiratory irritation
Reduction: filtering, electrostatic precipitators, alternative energy) |
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Term
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Definition
Source: auto exhaust
Effects: acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog & ozone Equation for acid formation: NO + O2 = NO2 + H2O = HNO3 Reduction: catalytic converter |
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Term
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Definition
Source: coal burning
Effects: acid deposition, respiratory irritation, damages plants Equation for acid formation: SO2 + O2 = SO3 + H2O = H2SO4 Reduction: scrubbers, burn low sulfur fuel) |
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Term
| Carbon oxides (CO and CO2) |
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Definition
Source: auto exhaust, incomplete combustion
Effects: CO binds to hemoglobin, reducing blood’s ability to carry O2; CO2 contributes to global warming
Reduction: catalytic converter, emission testing, oxygenated fuel, mass transit |
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Term
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Definition
Formation: secondary pollutant,
NO2 + uv = NO + O* O* + O2 = O3, with VOCs (volatile organic compounds) Effects: respiratory irritant, plant damage
Reduction: reduce NO and VOC emissions |
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Term
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Definition
| naturally occurring colorless, odorless, radioactive gas, found in some types of soil and rock, can seep into homes and buildings, formed from the decay of uranium (U), causes lung cancer |
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Term
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Definition
| formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight (NO, VOC, O*) |
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Term
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Definition
| caused by sulfuric and nitric acids (H2SO4, HNO3), resulting in lowered pH of surface waters |
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Term
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Definition
| Examples: H2O, CO2, O3, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), methane (CH4). Effect: they trap outgoing infrared (heat) energy, causing Earth to warm |
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Term
| Effects of global warming |
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Definition
| rising sea level (thermal expansion), extreme weather, drought, famine, extinctions |
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Term
| Causes of ozone depletion |
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Definition
CFCs, methyl chloroform or trichloromethane (CHCl3), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), halon
(haloalkanes), methyl bromide (CH3Br)— all of which 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
| 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 (MSW) |
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Definition
| paper; most is landfilled |
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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
| problem = leachate; solution = liner with collection system problem = methane gas; solution = collect gas and burn problem = volume of garbage; solution = 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 (polyvinyl chloride, dioxins), scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators needed,
ash disposal (contains heavy metals) |
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Term
| Best way to solve waste problem |
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Definition
| reduce the amounts of waste at the source |
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Term
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Definition
species whose role in an ecosystem are more important than others, such as a sea otter, sea stars, grizzly
bear, prairie dogs |
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Term
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Definition
| species that serve as early warnings that an ecosystem is being damaged ex. trout |
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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
| In natural ecosystems, methods which control 50-90% of pests |
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Definition
| predators, diseases, parasites |
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Term
| Major insecticide groups (and examples) |
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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 profits for farmers |
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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 agricultural 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 boiled by fossils fuels or nuclear reactions; falling water to turn a
turbine to power a generator |
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Term
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Definition
microscopic aquatic organisms in sediments converted by heat 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 CO2 |
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Term
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Definition
| peat, lignite, 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
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Definition
| wind, solar, waves, biomass, geothermal, fuel cells |
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Term
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Definition
| the amount of a chemical that kills 50% of the animals in a test population |
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Term
| Mutagen; Teratogen; Carcinogen |
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Definition
(in order) causes hereditary changes through mutations; causes fetus deformities; causes
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; population
numbers have dropped below the critical number of organisms; North spotted owl, Arctic polar bear, many others... |
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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 examples :
kudzu vine, purple loosestrife, African honeybee ―killer bee‖, water hyacinth, fire ant, zebra mussel |
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Term
| The Tragedy of the Commons: |
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Definition
(1968 paper by ecologist Garret Hardin) global commons such as atmosphere and oceans
are used by all and owned by none |
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Term
| Volcano and Earthquake occurrence |
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Definition
at plate boundaries (divergent= spreading, mid-ocean ridges) (convergent= trenches)
(transform= sliding, San Andreas) |
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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 dose 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. Frequent in Los Angeles, California and Mexico City, Mexico. |
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Term
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Definition
process where water is absorbed by plant roots, moves up through plants, passes through pores (stomata) in
leaves or other parts, evaporates into atm. 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 1⁄2 of the calories in the food consumed by the world’s people. |
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Term
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Definition
Types – Surface, Crown, Ground (in order) usually burn only under growth and leaf litter on forest floor;, hot
fires, may start on ground but eventually leap from treetop to treetop; go underground, may smolder for days or weeks, difficult to detect and extinguish i.e. peat bogs. |
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Term
| Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act: |
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Definition
| (1977) requires coal strip mines to reclaim the land |
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Term
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Definition
| (1991) Suspension of mineral exploration (mining) for 50 years in Antarctica |
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Term
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Definition
| (SDWA, 1974) set maximum contaminant levels for pollutants in drinking water that may have adverse effects on human health |
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Term
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Definition
| CWA, 1972) set maximum permissible amounts of water pollutants that can be discharged into waterways; aims to make surface waters swimmable and fishable |
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Term
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Definition
| (1988) bans ocean dumping of sewage sludge and industrial waste in the ocean |
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Term
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Definition
| (CAA, 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 & Recovery Act (RCRA) |
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Definition
| (1976) controls hazardous waste with a cradle to grave system |
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Term
| Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & 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
| Nuclear Waste Policy Act: |
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Definition
| (1982) U.S. government must develop a high level nuclear waste site (Yucca Mtn) |
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Term
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Definition
| (1973) identifies threatened and endangered species in the U.S., 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, & 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 from the 12 most toxic chemicals (includes 8 chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides / DDT can be used for malaria control) |
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