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Environmental Science Unit 3
N/A
50
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 1
12/16/2012

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Cards

Term
Transpiration is the way plants
Definition
Return large amounts of water to the atmosphere
Term
Natural evaporation processes are mainly driven by
Definition
solar energy
Term
Water enters groundwater by
Definition
Infiltration
Term
The amount of water in aquifers in the US is
Definition
over 30 times greater than all the surface water in the US
Term
Withdrawl of groundwater often causes subsidence, a situatino where
Definition
porous rocks settle and ground level falls
Term
Primary pollutants are those that are
Definition
Released directly in dangerous forms
Term
___ are examples of secondary pollutants
Definition
Photochemical oxidants
Term
Which criteria pollutants result mainly from burning coal?
Definition
Sulfer Dioxide
Term
The most dangerous airborne particulates are those 
Definition
Small enough to be drawn into the lungs
Term
Tall smokestacks were effective ways of 
Definition
displacing and dispersing pollution
Term
Worldwide, coal deposits are
Definition
widespread and extensive
Term
Under normal operating conditions ____ power plants release radioactivity as well as toxic metals
Definition
Coal fired
Term
The main pollutant released by coal burning is
Definition
Sulfur oxides
Term

oil wells are usually able to extract ___ of the petroleum present in an oil resevoir

Definition
30-40%
Term
___ is the most rapidly growing energy source
Definition
natural gas
Term
the fuel used in a conventional PWR or BWR nuclear power plant is
Definition
Uranium
Term
Nuclear fission occurs when a high energy subatomic particle, a neutron, strikes a uranium atom, releases energy and
Definition
Releases neutrons
Term
Nuclear waste storage in the US is currently handled
Definition
In temporary storage at individual plants
Term
A breeder reacter is designed to
Definition
create fissionable plutonium from spent fission reactor fuel
Term
The most likely disaster in a nuclear power plant is that 
Definition
Cooling systems could fail, causing rapid overheating
Term
Energy efficiency is a measure of 
Definition
Energy produced compated to energy consumed
Term
The idea of cogeneration is to actively use ____ electriciity generating plants
Definition
Both electricity and waste steam heat from
Term
A glass greenhouse on the south side of a building is an example of
Definition
Passive heat absorption
Term
Photovoltaic cells work because solar energy striking their surface
Definition
Releases electrons, causing an electric potential in attached wires
Term
Since 1920s, hydropower production has 
Definition
Risen, but not as fast as fossil fuel use
Term
Geothermal energy uses ____ to produce usable heat or electricity
Definition
Natually occuring hot groundwater
Term

Which is not considered a fossil fuel?

-coal

-natural gas

-oil

-charcoal

-all of the above

Definition
charcoal
Term

Which of the following is true regarding fuel cell technology?

-They were first designed by NASA

-Must be recharded with an electrical outlet

-Only about 40-45% efficient

-Must receive a constant supply of water and oxygen

-a fuel cell stack providing all of the electricity for a typical home is not feasible because it would be too large

Definition
The are only 40-45% efficient
Term
A system of pipes painted blackt hat have water circulating on the wall in a glass green house on the south side of a building is an example of 
Definition
an active solar heating system
Term
The most effective technology developed so far to produce solar energy concentrated enough to run an industrail furnace or turnbine is to use 
Definition
Parabolic mirrors
Term

In the US about 2/3 a ton of wate are generated for each person (inc children). Compared to the US, Japan and Europe generate about half that amount. One of the factors that probably does not contribute to this difference is:

 

Definition
That people in the US have a hgiher standard of lving than Europe and Japan
Term
"Waste stream" is a term describing the
Definition
Steady production of all waste products that human produce
Term
The "Great Pacific Garbage Patch"
Definition
Is an area of floating garbage roughly twice the size of Texas
Term
If less developed countries can make money while more developed countries can rid themselves of waste, why would opponents be against exporting wastes to developing countries?
Definition

-Local people in the developing country probably do not know what is in the waste

-Poeple in the developing country may not have the resources to test for toxic materials in the waste

-The precitce can involve corrupt government officials who allow the wastes to be dumped illegally

The waste that is beign exported contains unwanted materials or it would not be exported

Term

The main method for disposing of municipal wastes in the US is _____ while ____ is the main method in Japan

-Incineration;recycling

-Recycling;landfilling

-Landfilling;recycling

-Landfilling;incineration

-Recycling;incineration

Definition
Landfilling; Recycling
Term
Energy recovery is another term for ___ waste
Definition
Burning
Term
Composting is a waste disposal method that
Definition
Vastly reduces total waste volumes
Term
What are the 'three Rs' of waste disposal in descending order of energy expenditure
Definition
Recycle, Reuse, Reduce
Term
Hazardous waste is anything that
Definition
Is toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, corrosive, or explosive
Term
Secure landfills are those that
Definition
Are built like a bathtub with a lid
Term
In economic terms, "demand" is how much of something 
Definition
People will buy at the current prices
Term
In economic terms, "supply" is how much of something
Definition
Is available on the market
Term
A(n) ____ relationship exists between supply and demand. Therefore, when supply is high, demand is ____.
Definition
inverse; low
Term
Using supply-demand economics, what happens as the price of a good or service increases?
Definition
Demand falls and supply increases
Term
Price inelasticity is when ____ while price elasticity is when _______.
Definition
Consumeres buy a product regardless of cost; the supply/demand curve is followed
Term
Political economy theory incorporates ____ while neoclassical economic theory incorporates _____.
Definition
The issues of social structures and value systems; objectivity and scientific analysis
Term
When we purchase a product, the price we pay directly reflects the ___ cost of producing it. If the manufacture of the product degrades the quality of air or water, then the cost of this pollution are termed ____ costs.
Definition
Internal; external
Term
The management of a wild area by a group of indigenous people such as the management of wild rice beds is an example of 
Definition
A communal resource management system
Term
In Limits to Growth the Club of Rome predicted that
Definition
Economic collapse is likely if we do not reduce population growth
Term
An example of a market based incentive for environmental protection would be 
Definition
Fees placed on certain types or volumes of a pollutant
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