Term
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Definition
| enough energy to knock electrons from atoms forming ions, capable of causing cancer (ex gamma-Xrays-UV) |
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Term
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Definition
| organized & concentrated, can perform useful work (ex 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 |
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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 releasing gamma rays, alpha & beta particles |
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Term
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Definition
| the time it takes for ½ 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
| 2 isotopes of light elements (H) forced together at high temperatures till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus. 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 solution to Energy shortage |
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Definition
| conservation and increase efficiency |
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Term
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Definition
| cheaper & can remove more mineral, 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) |
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Term
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Definition
| perfect agricultural soil with equal portions of sand, silt, clay |
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Term
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Definition
| allows the use of resources in a responsible manner |
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Term
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Definition
| setting aside areas & protecting them from human activities |
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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, overpumping of groundwater causes saltwater to move into the acquifer |
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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 & 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 US has mild winters, SW US has increased rainfall, less Atlantic Hurricanes |
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Term
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Definition
| because atmospheric N cannot 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 covert organic waste into ammonia |
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Term
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Definition
| ammonia is converted to nitrate ions (NO-3) |
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Term
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Definition
| inorganic N is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids & proteins |
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Term
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Definition
| bacteria convert ammonia back into N |
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Term
| Phosphorus does not circulate as easily as N because |
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Definition
| it does not exist as a gas, but is released by weathering of phosphate rocks |
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Term
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Definition
| the ability to meet humanities current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs |
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Term
| Excess phosphorus is added to aquatic ecosystems by |
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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 C (CO2) into complex carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6) |
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Term
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Definition
| oxygen 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 rocks first, oceans second |
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Term
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Definition
| living & nonliving components of an ecosystem |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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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 (2nd law), not all biomass is digested & absorbed, predators expend energy to catch prey |
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Term
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Definition
| (good>disinfection of water)( bad>forms trihalomethanes) |
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Term
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Definition
| development of communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life (lava) |
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Term
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Definition
| life progresses where soil remains (clear cut forest) |
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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 & 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, many small unprotected offspring |
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Term
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Definition
| reproduce late, few, cared 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 (EX: warmner Earth - snow melts - less sunlight is reflected & more is absorbed, therefore warmer earth) |
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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
| said human population cannot continue to increase..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 developed, 2.7 developing) |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| birth & death rates high, population grows slowly, infant mortality high |
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Term
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Definition
| death rate lower, better health care, population grows fast |
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Term
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Definition
| decline in birth rate, population growth slows |
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Term
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Definition
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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
| 1st & 2nd 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 & 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,recyling)(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 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 N & P |
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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
| mental impairments caused by mercury |
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Term
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Definition
| produced by humans & nature (CO,CO2,SO2,NO,hydrocarbons, particulates) |
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Term
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Definition
| when a changing in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition (EX: warmer earth - more ocean evaporation - more stratus clouds - less sunlight reaches the ground - therefore cooler Earth) |
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Term
| Particulate matter (source,effect,reduction) |
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Definition
| (burning fossil fuels & car exhaust) (reduces visibility & respiratory irritation) (filtering, electrostatic precipitators, alternative energy) |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog & ozone |
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Term
| Nitrogen Oxide equation for acidic formation |
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Definition
| NO + O2 = NO2 + H2O = HNO3 |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| acid deposition, respiratory irritation, damages plants |
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Term
| Sulfur oxides equation for acid formation |
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Definition
| SO2 + O2 = SO3 + H2O = H2SO4 |
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Term
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Definition
| scrubbers, burn low sulfur fuel |
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Term
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Definition
| auto exhaust, incomplete combustion |
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Term
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Definition
| CO binds to hemoglobin reducing bloods ability to carry O, CO2 contributes to global warming |
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Term
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Definition
| catalytic converter, emission testing, oxygenated fuel, mass transit |
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Term
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Definition
| secondary pollutant, NO2+UV=NO+O O+O2=O3, with VOC’s |
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Term
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Definition
| respiratory irritant, plant damage |
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Term
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Definition
| reduce NO emissions & VOCs |
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Term
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Definition
| radioactive gas, formed from the decay of Uranium, causes lung cancer and is a problem in the Reading Prong |
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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 resulting in lowered pH of surface waters |
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Term
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Definition
| Examples: H2O, CO2, O3, methane (CH4), CFC’s) (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 sealevel (thermal expansion), extreme weather, droughts (famine), extinctions |
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Term
| Ozone depletion caused by |
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Definition
| CFC’s, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, halon, methyl bromide 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 and school & homes built over it causing birth defects & cancer |
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Term
| Municpal solid waste is mostly |
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Definition
| paper and 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 products price |
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Term
| Sanitary landfill problems and solutions |
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Definition
| (leachate, liner with collection system) (methane gas, collect gas and burn) (volume of garbage, compact & reduce) |
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Term
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Definition
| volume of waste reduced by 90% & waste heat can be used |
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Term
| Incineration disadvantages |
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Definition
| toxic emissions (polyvinyl chloride—dioxin), scrubbers & 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, ex sea otter |
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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
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Definition
| have a small range, require large territory or live on an island |
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Term
| In natural ecosystems, 50-90% of pest species are kept under control by |
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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 is generated by |
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Definition
| using steam (from water boiled by fossils fuels or nuclear) or falling water to turn a generator |
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Term
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Definition
| microscopic aquatic organisms in sediments converted by heat & pressure into a mixture of hydrocarbons |
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Term
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Definition
| cheap, easily transported, high quality energy |
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Term
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Definition
| reserves 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) (Three Mile Island, PA) |
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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
| causes hereditary changes, Fetus deformities, cancer |
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Term
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Definition
| North spotted Owl (loss of old growth forest), Bald Eagle (thinning of eggs caused by DDT), Piping Plover (nesting areas threatened by development) |
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Term
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Definition
| gypsy moth, Asian Long Horned Beetle |
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Term
| Garret Hardin & The Tragedy of the Commons |
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Definition
| Freedom to breed is bringing ruin to all. Global commons such as atmosphere & oceans are used by all and owned by none |
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Term
| Volcanoes and Earthquakes occur |
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Definition
| at plate boundaries (divergent, spreading, mid-ocean ridges) (convergent, trenches) (transform, sliding, San Andreas) |
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Term
| Surface Mining Control & Reclamation Act |
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Definition
| requires coal strip mines to reclaim the land |
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Term
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Definition
| Moratorium on mineral exploration for 50 years in Antarctica |
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Term
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Definition
| set maximum contaminant levels for pollutants that may have adverse effects on human health |
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Term
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Definition
| set maximum permissible amounts of water pollutants that can be discharged into waterways..aim to make surface waters swimmable and fishable |
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Term
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Definition
| attempt to reduce non-point source pollution |
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Term
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Definition
| bans ocean dumping of sewage sludge & industrial waste in the ocean |
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Term
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Definition
| Set emission standards for cars, and limits for release of air pollutants |
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Term
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Definition
| controlling global warming by setting greenhouse gas emissions targets for developed countries |
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Term
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Definition
| phaseout of ozone deleting substances |
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Term
| Resource Conservation & Recovery Act |
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Definition
| controls hazardous waste with a cradle to grave system |
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Term
| Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liability Act |
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Definition
| Superfund, designed to identify and clean up abandoned hazardous waste dump sites |
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Term
| Low Level Radioactive Policy Act |
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Definition
| all states must have facilities to handle low level radioactive wastes |
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Term
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Definition
| US government must develop a high level nuclear waste site by 2015 |
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Term
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Definition
| identifies threatened and endangered species in the US, and puts their protection ahead of economic considerations |
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Term
| Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species |
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Definition
| lists species that cannot be commercially traded as live specimens or wildlife products |
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Term
| Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, Rodenticide Act |
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Definition
| regulates the effectiveness of pesticides |
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Term
| Food Quality Protection Act |
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Definition
| 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
| Environmental Impact Statements must be done before any project affecting federal lands can be started |
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