Term
| The pollutants concentrated during the London Smog Crisis were largely emitted from what source? |
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Definition
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Term
| The primary source of sulfur dioxide emissions is ________________? |
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Definition
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Term
| What adverse effect is common to nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide? |
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Definition
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Term
| The catastrophic air pollution event in Bhopal, India was caused by _______________. |
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Definition
| Release of a highly toxic gas from an industrial installation |
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Term
| An atmospheric inversion originates from _______________. |
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Definition
| Cold air trapped beneath warm air |
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Term
| Indoor air pollutants in modern buildings originate mostly from ____________________. |
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Definition
| Degassing of construction materials |
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Term
| Automobiles are an example of _________ air pollution sources. |
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Definition
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Term
| The two major types of smog are photochemical smog and __________ smog. |
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Definition
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Term
| A _____________ converts automobile carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water. |
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Definition
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Term
| The _______ Act amendments of 1990 have improved air quality in the United States. |
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Definition
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Term
| Why are waste disposal problems increasing in urban areas? |
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Definition
| Waste production is increasing while possible disposal sites are becoming more scarce. |
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Term
| The main drawback of composting as a waste reduction strategy is _______________. |
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Definition
| The necessity to separate organic waste from non-organic waste. |
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Term
| The main detrimental byproduct of waste incineration is _______. |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| A mineralized liquid generated by water flow through landfills |
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Term
| What is the most important consideration in site selection for a sanitary landfill? |
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Definition
| Geological and climatic conditions that will limit water flow through the landfill |
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Term
| Resource Conservation and Recovery Act mandates _____________________. |
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Definition
| Management and monitoring of hazardous wastes from production to disposal |
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Term
| Those that are readily biodegradable |
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Definition
| Land application (land farming) is most appropriate for what types of hazardous wastes? |
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Term
| Deep-well disposal of hazardous wastes can result in ________________. |
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Definition
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Term
| "Superfund” sites are those that _______________. |
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Definition
| Have been abandoned by previous owners |
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Term
| One potentially valuable resource from sanitary landfills is __________. |
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Definition
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Term
| ________ can reduce the amount of organic waste disposed of in landfills. |
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Definition
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Term
| The financial viability of waste incinerators in dependent upon the production of ________. |
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Definition
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Term
| __________ is a liquid byproduct of sanitary landfill wastes. |
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Definition
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Term
| The most commonly used natural material in sanitary landfill design is _______. |
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Definition
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Term
| A ________ is designed to confine hazardous wastes, control and treat leachate, and monitor hazardous waste releases. |
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Definition
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Term
| _________ of hazardous waste has improved to the point of minimal emissions of toxic atmospheric byproducts. |
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Definition
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Term
| __________ is a hazardous waste dumping site in New York, famous as an example of the environmental consequences of indiscriminant disposal of wastes. |
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Definition
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Term
| Why was Times Beach, Missouri evacuated in 1983? |
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Definition
| Soils had become contaminated with dioxin |
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Term
| Which soil horizon is known as the zone of accumulation? |
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Definition
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Term
| In what way is color an indicator of soil drainage? |
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Definition
| Well-drained soils tend to be well aerated and red in color |
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Term
| Soil cohesion is enhanced by the presence of ____________. |
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Definition
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Term
| What is hydraulic conductivity? |
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Definition
| The ability of a porous material to transmit water |
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Term
| Shrink-well potential of a soil is dependent upon _________________. |
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Definition
| The proportion of clay in the soil |
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Term
| Urbanization influences soil erosion processes primarily because of _____________________. |
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Definition
| Vegetation removal and soil disturbance at construction sites |
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Term
| Off-road vehicle use contributes to soil problems by ________________. |
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Definition
| Loosening soil and changing the hydrology of site |
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Term
| _________ is the physical and chemical breakdown of rocks. |
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Definition
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Term
| Soils with the highest hydraulic conductivity consist of ________. |
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Definition
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Term
| ________ are aggregates of soil particles that comprise soil structure. |
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Definition
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Term
| Why was Eric the Red able to explore Greenland in the 10th Century AD? |
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Definition
| His explorations took place during a particularly warm climatic period |
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Term
| How has glacial ice aided the study of climate change? |
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Definition
| Glacial ice contains trapped air bubbles that archive former atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations |
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Term
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Definition
| A warm period when glacial ice volume is relatively low |
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Term
| The greenhouse effect represents ______________. |
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Definition
| Trapping of heat by atmospheric gases |
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Term
| What effect does a large volcanic eruption typically have on the atmosphere? |
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Definition
| Cooling for one or two years |
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Term
| __________cycles control the amount of solar radiation received at important latitudes, and therefore, control the temporal pattern of the ice ages. |
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Definition
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Term
| _______events reflect changes in atmospheric flow and water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. |
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Definition
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Term
| Hydrothermal mineral deposits would be least expected to form in what type of plate tectonic setting? |
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Definition
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Term
| Kimberlite pipes are sources of what mineral? |
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Definition
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Term
| If surface mines tend to cause greater environmental impacts, why are they used? |
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Definition
| Surface mines are more economical |
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Term
| Coal type is based upon ____________________. |
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Definition
| the carbon percentage and heat value |
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Term
| What is the principal social impact of mining operations? |
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Definition
| Boom and bust cycles that impact local economies and social structure |
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Term
| How is biotechnology helping to reduce the environmental impacts of mining? |
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Definition
| Through efficient treatment of mine wastes and contaminated water |
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Term
| A concentration of minerals that could now be legally mined at a profit is called a __________. |
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Definition
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Term
| Smelter emissions often cause what type of adverse environmental degradation? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the principal reason that iron and steel are recycled at such a high rate? |
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Definition
| The market for steel is large and widespread |
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Term
| Weathering processes are primarily responsible for the concentration of what types of ore? |
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Definition
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Term
| The fact that mineral resources are formed slowly over time means that mineral resources are our __________heritage from the geologic past. |
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Definition
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Term
| Placer deposits are expected in what type of rock? |
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Definition
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Term
| A ____________is a resource that is currently available to be legally and economically mined. |
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Definition
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Term
| The ________of a metal is a measure of its concentration necessary for profitable mining. |
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Definition
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Term
| Sulfide deposits of copper and iron form through seawater circulation at _________plate boundaries. |
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Definition
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Term
| ________deposits form through the desiccation or evaporation of marine basins or lakes. |
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Definition
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Term
| The element ________represents the greatest amount of recycling by volume. |
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Definition
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Term
| _______mine drainage results from oxidation of sulfide-bearing deposits. |
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Definition
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Term
| Between the mid-1970’s and the mid’1990’s, energy consumption in the U.S. |
|
Definition
| increased, but at a slower rate |
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Term
| The ultimate source of the energy in fossil fuels is ________. |
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Definition
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Term
| Why is coal usage likely to increase in the future? |
|
Definition
| coal is an abundant resource in relation to oil and gas |
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Term
| Which of the following geologic features is not required for an oil or gas deposit to form? |
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Definition
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Term
| Methane hydrates may be a viable future energy source because ___________________. |
|
Definition
| they are abundant and clean burning |
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Term
| Most water pollution associated with mining operations has to do with ____________. |
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Definition
| Water passing through mine wastes |
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Term
| Why does acid rain result from fossil fuel consumption? |
|
Definition
| fossil fuel burning releases nitrogen and sulfur oxides |
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Term
| Nuclear fission is the process of ____________. |
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Definition
| splitting heavy atoms to make light atoms |
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Term
| A breeder reactor differs from a burner reactor in that _______________. |
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Definition
| A breeder reactor produces more nuclear fuel than it burns. |
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Term
| The ultimate source of geothermal energy is _____________. |
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Definition
| heat generated in the Earth’s interior |
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Term
| _________coal has the highest heat content. |
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Definition
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Term
| The rock unit that provides a barrier to upward migration of oil is called__________ |
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Definition
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Term
| __________is the only site being considered in the U.S. for high-level nuclear waste storage. |
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Definition
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Term
| ________systems are characterized by hot water circulation. |
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Definition
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Term
| _________solar energy systems simply enhance absorption of solar energy without requiring mechanical power. |
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Definition
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Term
| Electricity generation through urban wasted incineration is an example of _____power. |
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Definition
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Term
| All renewable energy sources ultimately capture energy from the ______. |
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Definition
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Term
| What phase of mining generally causes the least environmental degradation? |
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Definition
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Term
| The accident at the Chernobly nuclear power plant caused similar levels of environmental degradation as did the Three Mile Island accident. |
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Definition
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|
Term
| __________mineral deposits form through the circulation of hot, chemically active waters. |
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Definition
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Term
| The society of ___________ Island was destroyed by environmental degradation. |
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Definition
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Term
| The law of ____________ states that rocks with similar fossils are most likely of a similar geologic age. |
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Definition
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Term
| _________ growth implies that a constant percentage is added each year. |
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Definition
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Term
| The maximum number of people Earth can hold without causing severe environmental degradation is called _________________. |
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Definition
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Term
| Large scale ___________ of earth materials will be required to meet future resource demands. |
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Definition
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Term
| A(n) __________ system is one that exchanges energy and/or materials with its surroundings. |
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Definition
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Term
| _____________, a principle proposed by James Hutton in 1785, is often summarized in the phrase, "the present is the key to the past." |
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Definition
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Term
| The principle of ___________ states that one action leads to subsequent actions in linked systems. |
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Definition
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Term
| Humans first evolved during the ____________ Epoch of Geologic time. |
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Definition
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Term
|
Definition
| A hypothesis that has withstood extensive testing |
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Term
| If water is so abundant on Earth, why are water resources such a big concern? |
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Definition
| Water resources are not necessarily where humans need them and when they need them. |
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Term
| The boundary between drainage basins is called the _________. |
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Definition
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|
Term
| Vegetation decreases runoff by ____________________________. |
|
Definition
| Intercepting rainfall and slowing its fall to the ground allowing for more more infiltration |
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|
Term
| The vadose zone differs from the groundwater zone in what way? |
|
Definition
| The vadose zone is unsaturated, while the groundwater zone is saturated |
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|
Term
| Which of the following would likely serve as an aquitard? |
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Definition
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|
Term
| An artesian well is one that ___________. |
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Definition
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|
Term
| Groundwater mining is accomplished by _________________. |
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Definition
| Pumping that exceeds recharge |
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Term
| Surface water ad groundwater are _________________. |
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Definition
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|
Term
| What is the dominant trend in water use in the U.S.? |
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Definition
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|
Term
| The global ________ involves the transfer of water between Earth's water reservoirs. |
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Definition
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Term
| A(n) __________ aquifer is largely isolated from the Earth's surface above it by a layer of impermeable material. |
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Definition
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Term
| Pumping of groundwater from a well creates a(n) _____________ in the aquifer. |
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Definition
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Term
| The ability of Earth material to transmit water is a function of that material's ____________. |
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Definition
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Term
| A(n) __________ streams gains water from a aquifer. |
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Definition
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Term
| ___________ water use does not divert or remove water from its source. |
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Definition
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Term
| __________ are areas that are either inundated by water or in which the ground is saturated to shallow depths at least a few days in most years. |
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Definition
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|
Term
| The _________ aquifer supplies water for the city of Austin, Texas. |
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Definition
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|
Term
| How did Hurricane Floyd contribute to dramatic water pollution in North Carolina? |
|
Definition
| Intense rain and river flooding caused poorly sited pig farm waste from lagoons to overflow |
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|
Term
| The level of decaying organic matter in which water is indicated by what measure? |
|
Definition
| Biochemical Oxygen Demand |
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|
Term
| What measures have largely eliminated waterborne diseases in the U.S.? |
|
Definition
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|
Term
| The biomagnifications of mercury occurs as mercury moves through _________________. |
|
Definition
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|
Term
| If sediment is from natural sources, why is it considered a water pollutant? |
|
Definition
| It is an out-of-place resource |
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|
Term
| Which of the following would be considered a point source of pollution? |
|
Definition
| Industrial wastewater discharge |
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|
Term
| Acid mine drainage is a problem because ________________. |
|
Definition
| It has acidified 1000's of kilometers of streams |
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|
Term
| What happened to the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland in 1969? |
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Definition
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|
Term
| Saltwater intrusion results from _________________. |
|
Definition
| Overpumping of groundwater |
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|
Term
| What is the principle cause of septic system failure? |
|
Definition
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|
Term
| Why is municipal wastewater sludge considered problematic? |
|
Definition
| It sometimes contains heavy metals |
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|
Term
| Wastewater renovation relies on what process to purify water? |
|
Definition
| Natural purification in the soil. |
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|
Term
| The oil tanker __________ caused massive water pollution near Valdez, Alaska in 1989. |
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Definition
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|
Term
| Biomagnification is an especially important process in the concentration of _______ to toxic levels. |
|
Definition
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