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ESRM test 2
Chapter 6-10
80
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 1
05/10/2008

Additional Environmental Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Forests
Definition

type of biome

 

Term
Forest Area by region
Definition
Europe -
historically was almost entirely deforested, is actually increasing the amount of forested land
 
Africa & South America
primary reason for this loss is the clearing of land for agricultural land
 
Asia & America(s)
primary reason for this loss is urbanization.
 
Term

Deforestation in Costa Rica

 

Definition
Since 1940 
 the rate of deforestation & the change in the nature of the forests has been very dramatic
Term
Forest Products
Definition

Most direct use - Wood

 

 

without involving destruction:

 

Latex extraction 

 

latex being extracted from rubber trees. 
 
Collecting nuts/fruits & raking foliage 
for animal bedding and fuel.

 

Term
Wood Consumption
Definition

Outranks the use of most other natural resources

 

3.7 billion metric tons of wood that are consumed each year is more than steel and plastic consumption put together (more than 1/2 for Firewood) 
 
Developed countries produce less than half of all "industrial" wood, but account for 80% of wood consumption
 
Demand for wood: Estimated to double in 25yrs 
(twice the current availability) 
*particularly negative on impact poorer countries.
 
25% of world's forests = managed for wood production  
 

 

Term

Monoculture Forestry

 

(aka Plantation Forestry) 

Definition

type of reforestation  - only one species grown

 

example: Brazil

2% of forests (monoculture) produces approx. 50% of demanded product

 

 

*Criticized for extracting wood from native land (drastically less efficient) 

Term

Intensive Forestry

 

 

Definition

more efficient

 

Ideal: Sustainable Efficiency

 

 

 

protects natural land;

still producing demand but effieciently

 

 

Term

Causes of Tropical Deforestation

 

Definition

Logging for valuable hardwoods (Mahogany)

 

Clearing land (Cattle ranch & exported crops)

ie: bananas & pineapples 

Term
Slash and Burn Agriculture
Definition

burning of vegetation to release natural resources which assist growth of farm productivity 

(worked with low population)

 

Now the amount of people using land rises, so Slash and Burn could lead to deforestation

 

Term
Forest Cutting
Definition

Major problem : changing area to non-forest for people

 

Destruction of habitat : leads to increased soil erosion from rain (namely tropical rainforest)

 

Waste of resources : could have been valuable exported somewhere instead of burned

 

 

Term
Biggest Dietary Problem in the Richest Countries
Definition

Too much Poor-quality food

(issue in malnutrition)

 

Term

Greatest Threats to "Food Security"

 

(ability to obtain enough food daily)

 

Definition

Poverty

 

Lack of Social Status 

 

 

 

Term
Statistics of Malnutrition
Definition

55% of the 12 million child deaths(per year)

 

 

More than 800 million (200million = children) are chronically undernourished

- receive < 90% minimum caloric intake

 

Most Hungry: East/South Asia

- also in Africa:  Tanzania & Ehiopia

 

  

 

 

Term
Famines
Definition

Large-scale food shortages

 

Massive Starvation

 

Social Disruption

 

Economic Chaos 

Term

Causes of Famines

     

Definition

Economic

 -price gouging

-landlessness

 

Environmental

-drought

-insects

-natural disasters

 

Political

-war

-oppression using famine as weapon

Term
Malnourishment
Definition

Nutritional imbalance caused by:

- a lack of specific dietary components

or 

- inability to utilize essential nutrients

 

 

 

 

 

Term
Nutrition Deficiencies
Definition

Iron deficiency (India)

- anemia. (little oxygen in blood)

affects physical and mental development 

- most common dietary deficiency in world

-most extreme in India

 

 Iodine Deficiency

- hyperthyroidism / goiter

 

Protein Deficiency:

Kwashioker 

-inflated belly disease occuring from lack of protein

 

Marasmus

"wasting away" sunken eyes, shriveledness, extreme thinness

 

 

Term
Obesity
Definition

Most common dietary problem in Wealthy Countries

 

US:

61% adults

 

Russia:

54% adults

 

United Kingdom:

51% adults

 

Germany:

50% adults 

Term
Major Crops
Definition

THREE

rice, corn, wheat

 

these 3 produce > 50% world's food

 

 

Term
Vitamin A deficiency
Definition

Rice

 

this deficiency in poor countries causes blindness and a million child deaths each year

 

Genetic engineering - Europe

found "cure" in daffodils 

 

Term

Animal Protein

 

Definition

Milk, Meat, Seafood

 

provides smaller amount of world food supply

 

90% grain produced is used to feed animals for Milk and Meat, but 20% of world consume 80% of meat/milk

 

 

Term
Seafood
Definition

important source of protein

 

overharvesting / habitat destruction has resulted

 

Southeast Asia - destruction of wetlands for shrimp dependency

 

 

Term

Environmental Issues Raising cattle

 

 

Definition

Loss of food from feeding cattle

 

Feedlots: 

Manure

- produces methane

 

Scrap meat in food: Cannibalism

- spread of Prions (proteins which lead to neurological disease and spreading of TSE

leading to TSE or Mad Cow Disease 

 

Term
Soil
Definition

Complete Mixture of:

*Weathered minerals *partially decomposed organic matter and a  *host of living organisms

 

Non-renewable resource

 

Complex living substance

20,000 types of soil

 

topsoil = most fertile part of the soil 

 rate lost > rate to replace

Term

Land Resources

 

Definition

Average of 0.7 acres of cropland per person

 in 25 years estimated to be 0.42acres/person

 

land conversion = ecological trade off

refuges/reserves/etc 

 

Term
Erosion
Definition

Most serious threat to soil degradation

-topsoil removed & transported elsewhere

reduces crop production by 1% each year

 

Natural Process

gravity,wind,water

 

 

Term
Mechanics of Erosion
Definition

 Wind and Water

 

1) Sheet Erosion

Thin, uniform layer of soil removed

* 2) Rill Erosion *

                                    most common                                        small rivulets of water cut small channels into soil

3) Gully Erosion

Rills enlarge and forme small stream (torrent) and moves water deeper into the profile.  These channels are too large to remove through tillage

4) Streambank Erosion

Washing away the soil from an established stream bank

 

US and Canada have high erosion rates

 

 

 

 

Term
Row Crops
Definition

leave soil exposed to wind (erosion)

 

intensive farming practice

**US and Canada 

 

 

Term
Water
Definition

important agricultural resource

 

Huge costs - irrigation

80% water drawn never reaches intended destination

 

Extremely important in Northwest (apples) 

 

 

Term
Fertilizer
Definition

important and Limited agricultural resource

 

Over-fertilization can harm or pollute

 

Three essential elements:

Nitrogen

Phosphorous

Potassium

 

 

Term
Pesticides
Definition

90% never reach target  area

 

Precision agriculture

exciting new area of research

 

Crops w/o pesticides have lower yield, but also lower costs and eco damage 

Term

Genetic Engineering

 

Definition

Splicing of a gene

from one organism into the gene of another

produces a GMO aka transgenic

 

GMOs Currently:

1/3 soy beans & corn 

60% all processed foods

 

increase costs could hurt small farmers 

 

Term

Sustainable agriculture

 

Definition

"Regenerative Farming"

*Soil is essential

 

Goal: Produce food and fiber  w/o destructive agricultural processes

 

 

Term
Soil Conservation
Definition

Important elements in conservation: 

Land management

Ground Cover

Climate

Soil Type

Tillage Systems 

 

*Dependent on maintaining groundcover

 

 

Term
Managing Topography
Definition

Contour

plowing/planting with contour across slope

slows water flow

 

Strip-farming

planting different crops in alternating strips along the contours

 

Terracing

Shaping land to create level shelves

also with contour to hold water

 

*Also planting perennials (live>2years) 

Term
Examples of Terracing
Definition

1960 famine China - Great Leap Forward

-plowed terraces

*no longer held water

 

food productivity didn't restablize until terraces were  rebuilt

 

 

 

 

Term

 

Most important Factor of 

Long-term Sustainable Agriculture

Definition

Keeping area vegetative

  

(bare soil has higher erosion rates)

 

**Also need water availability

 

 

 

Term

Reduced tillage methods

 

Definition

one of the greatest advances in

sustainable agriculture

 

dead vegetation is left on ground

acts as mulch

 

Reduces:

efforts of plowing

runoff (soil erosion)

 

 

 

 

Term
Methods to reduce Bare Ground Erosion
Definition

Ground Cover

holds & protects soil

ie: Alfalfa and clover fix nitrogen in soil

can be harvested for hay 

 ie: Mulching - can prevent erosion and insulate plants

 

Reduced Tillage:requires more pesticides

1) Minimum Tillage - reduces #times soil is turned 

chisel plow/ridge tilling

2) Conserv-tilling - sharp blade "Coulter"

very little soil disruption 

3) No-tilling - drilled directly through mulch/ground cover 

 

 

 

 

 

Term

Environmental Health Hazards

 

Definition

Involve Introduction of pollutants to:

Air, water, soil, & food

 

**Air pollution has received much attention

-US Clean Air Act (decent job) 

Term
Health
Definition

state of well-being

physical, mental, social 

 

 

Term
WHO
Definition
World Health Organization
Term
Disease
Definition

deleterious change in the bodies condition

therefore cannot deal with some

environmental factor(s)

 

 

 

 

 

Term
Morbidity
Definition

presence of illness

(in a population) 

Term
Mortality
Definition

presence of death

(in a population) 

Term
Leading causes of Mortality
Definition

#1 Worldwide:

Cardiovascular disease

-failure of heart to move blood through body 

 

Others:

*Cancer(s)

*AIDS

*Malaria

*Diarrhea

(among infants) 

 

Term
outbreaks of lethal infectious diseases
Definition

 

Ebola (Africa)

Buruli Ulcer (W.Africa)

West Nile

 

Term

Factor that contribute to the

Spread of Contagious Disease

 

 

Definition

High population densities

-easier to move from person to person

 

Isolated Groups

-haven't developed basic immunities to othe diseases
 -native americans

 

Environmental Change

global warming

 

Speed of travel

stress decreases resistance

travel allows disease to pass geographical barriers

 

Contamination of Food & Water 

 

 

 

 

 

Term
Toxicology
Definition
Term
Antibiotic & Pesticide Resistance
Definition

Penicillin

not as effective anymore 

 

Disease-causing protozoa 

*Malaria

now resistant to most antibiotics

 

Pesticide Resistance:

Malaria-carrying mosquitos

resistance developed against pesticides

 

 

Term
Immune System depressants
Definition

PCBs

chemicals that affect immune system

 -reduce ability to fight disease

 

Term
Teratogens
Definition

Hazardous chemical substance

 

cause mutations (affecting fetus)

ie: alcohol

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

 

Term
Carcinogens
Definition

substances that cause/aggravate cancer

 

Term
US Top 3 Toxic & Hazardous substances
Definition

1) Arsenic

2) Lead

weights in fishing lures 

3) Mercury 

 

Term
Risk Assessment
Definition

Study of Toxins

how they may harm humans/organisms 

Term
Bioaccumulation
Definition

dilute toxins in the environment

-can reach dangerous levels inside cells & tissues

 

 

Term
biomagnification
Definition

Effects of toxins

*seen through food web

 

small concentration of toxins increase as we move up through the food chain

ex - DDT and the American Bald Eagle 

 

 

Term
DDT
Definition

LD 50 Factor (lethal dose)

measures toxicity of substance

lethal = 50% population dies

 

DDT's LD 50 = 50mg/kg

*wont be immediate lethal impact, but we can see from historical evidence DDT effected humans 

 

Term

Measuring Toxicity

 

Definition

Animal Testing

*can be quite inhumane

*can be unreasonable to compare

-animals & humans have different immunities 

 *can be time consuming

- toxic effects can take years to appear 

 

Term
Dose/Response Curve
Definition

Y-axis

#individuals first responding

 

X-axis

Dose 

 

 

Bell shaped 

Term

Acute Effect

 

Definition

immediate health effect

caused by single exposure to toxin

 

Can be reversible

 

ie: You swallow Rat Poison but you're okay 

Term
Chronic Effect
Definition

long lasting or permanent effect

caused by:

1) single exposure to very toxic substance

2) continuous or repeated sub lethal exposure to a toxin 

Term
Risk
Definition

Probability of

Harm x Exposure

 

*Biggest daily Risk = Driving

 

Risks change with perception

-therefore difficult to measure 

Term
Main components of Earth
Definition

Earth's Lower Atmosphere: 

Nitrogen - 78%

Oxygen - 21%

Argon - <1%

 

*Carbon Dioxide extremely important, but low concentration

 

 

Term
Earth's Zones
Definition

Troposphere

Humans live

Stratosphere

Ozone Layer

Mesosphere

&

Thermosphere 

 

*divided by absorbtion of solar energy

 

 

Term
Greenhouse Effect
Definition

50% Sun's energy reaches Earth

 

Energy absorbed by Earth's surface:

-changed into lower quality heat energy which is re-emitted as infrared energy

*because of Cloud Cover,

- this infrared energy is reflected back to surface to repeat same step

*cause of greenhouse effect / warming

 

 

 

 

 

Term
Hadley Cells
Definition

Vertical Convection Currents

 

 

Term
Coriolis Effect
Definition
Clockwise & Counterclockwise wind movements
Term
Milankovitch Cycles
Definition

causes variation in temperature

 

occurs because of shift in Earth's tilt, change in orbit, and wobble along axis.

 

Term

Kyoto Protocol

 

Definition

Treaty setting limits on greenhouse gases for individual nations

*Based on output before 1990 

Term
Photochemical Oxidants
Definition

Secondary pollutants

 

reduce local air quality

Term
Sulfur Dioxide
Definition
Colorless gas that harms both plants and animals
Term
Water Table
Definition
top layer of Zone of Saturation
Term
Watershed
Definition
All land drained by stream or river
Term
Primary Treatment
Definition

physically separates large solids from waste stream

(sewage treatment) 

Term
Secondary Treatment
Definition

(sewage treatment)

aerobic bacteria breakdown dissolved

organic compounds 

Term
Tertiary Treatment
Definition

(sewage treatment)

removal of plan nutrients

(such as nitrates and phosphates) 

from the secondary effluent

(chemicals, or natural wetlands) 

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