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Environmental Science
Cards for the 2009 environmental science mid-term
30
Environmental Studies
Not Applicable
01/15/2009

Additional Environmental Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

 

 

What is advection? 

Definition

 

the movement of water through the atmosphere 

Term

 

What does BOD stand for? 

Definition

 

biological oxygen demand 

Term

 

What percentage of water is used in the bathroom of a typical home? 

Definition

 

50% 

Term

 

How many gallons of water are used in the U.S. each day? 

Definition

 

40 billion gallons 

Term

 

What percentage of industrial water use is for cooling? 

Definition

 

90% 

Term

 

What are the 5 horizons in soil profiling? 

Definition

 

1. O Horizon 

2. A Horizon

3. B Horizon

4. C Horizon

5. R Horizon 

Term

 

What type of soil has

  • no drainage
  • no air capacity
  • high water capacity
  • high nutrient capacity 
Definition

 

clay 

Term

 

What is loam? 

Definition

 

a mixture of soil that is suitable for growing plants 

Term

 

At what precentage must ground cover be mainained at to prevent the detatchment of soil particles?

Definition

 

70% 

Term

 

What number on the pH scale is both neutral and sweet?

Definition

 

7

Term

 

What product is most commonly recycled?

Definition

 

paper

Term

 

How many tons of trash are produced yearly in the US?

Definition

 

210 million tons

Term

 

What is the difference between a dump and a landfill? 

Definition

 

A dump is a hole in the ground that is filled with trash

A landfill is a planned structure built into the ground that isolates the trash from the environment

Term

 

What is the percentage of trash that is burned in the US?

Definition

 

16%

Term

 

List two methods used to monitor ground water around a landfill.

Definition

 

1. test the water temperature

2. test the water pH level

Term

 

List two advantages and two disadvantages to wind power

Definition

advantages:

1. wind is free

2. the wind turbine energy doesn't cause pollution

 

disadvantages:

1. wind strength is not consistant (un-reliable)

2. wind turbines are noisy

Term

 

What are three factors that affect the power output of a wind turbine?

Definition

 

1. wind speed

2. blade diameter

3. height of the wind turbine

Term

 

What are groups of large turbines called?

Definition

 

wind farms or wind plants

Term

 

What area of the US is most ideal for wind power use?

Definition

 

coastal areas

Term

 

Name three government incentives to increase the use of wind power.

Definition

 

1. production tax credit

2. renewable energy credits

3. installation tax credits

Term

 

What is the 'capacity factor'?

Definition

 

the percentage of time a power plant is active

Term

 

How much does geothermal energy production cost in the US per year?

Definition

 

$1.5 billioin

Term

 

What is the temperature of the center of the earth?

Definition

 

6,000 degrees Celsius

Term

 

How do some countries use geothermal energy?

Definition

 

for cooking and heating

Term

 

Where does the name 'geothermal' come from?

Definition

 

two Greek words: "geo" (earth) and "thermal" (heat)

Term

 

List two methods of soil conservation

Definition

 

1. soil erosion control

2. nutrient retention

Term

 

What is bioenergy and how can it be used?

Definition

 

bionenergy is the use of organic material to produce energy such as heat, fuel, and electricity

Term

 

What are three types of biomass?

Definition

 

1. municipal, animal, and industrial waste

2. soybeans, corn, sugar cane

3. wood chips & saw dust

Term

 

What are two advantages of using bioenergy?

Definition

 

1. bioenergy does not contribute to global warming

2. it reduces, reuses, and recylces biomass (environmentally friendly)

Term

 

Up to what percentage of coal-energy can be replaced by bioenergy?

Definition

 

15%

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