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120 Cards in this Set

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Ionizing radiation
Enough energy to knock electrons from atoms forming ions, capable of causing cancer (gamma-Xrays-UV)
High Quality Energy
Organized & concetrated, can perform useful work (fossil fuel & nuclear)
Low Quality Energy
Disorganized, dispersed (heat in ocean or air wind, solar)
First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another
Anything relating to energy?
Second Law of Thermodynamics
When energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy (usually heat)
Natural radioactive decay
Unstable readioistoptope decay releasaing gamma rays, alpha & beta particles
Half life
The time it takes for 1/2 the mass of a radioisotope to decay
Estimate of how long a radioactive isoptope must be stored until it decays to a safe level
Approximately 10 half-lives
Nuclear Fission
Nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons
Nuclear Fusion
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
Ore
A rock that contains a large enough concentration of a mineral, making it profitable to mine
Organic fertilizer
Slow acting & long lasting because the organic remains need time to be decomposed
Best solution to Energy shortage
Conservation and increase efficiency
Surface mining
Cheaper & can remove more mineral, less hazardous to workers
Humus
Organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms
Leaching
Removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards
Illuviation
Deposit of leached materials from soil by water moving downwards
Loam
Perfect agricultural soil with equal portions of sand, silt, clay
Conservation
Allows the use of resources in a responsible manner
Preservation
Setting aside areas & protecting them from human activities
Aquifer
Any water bearing layer in the ground
Cone of depression
Lowering of the water table around a pumping well
Salt water intrusion
Near the cost, overpumping of groundwater causes saltwater to move into the aquifer
ENSO
El Nino Southern Oscillation, see-sawing of air pressure over the South Pacific
During an El Nino year
Trade winds weaken & warm water sloshed back to SA
What happens to the winds? Temperature?
During a Non El Nino year
Easterly trade winds and ocean currents pool warm water in the western Pacific, allowing upwelling of nutrient rich water oof the West cost of South America
Effects of El Nino
Upwelling decreases disrupting food chains, N US has mild winters, SW US has increased rainfall, less Atlantic Hurricans
Nitrogen fixing
Because atmospheric N cannot be used directly by plants, it must first be converted into ammonia by bacteria (rhizobium)
Ammonification
Decomposers covert organic waste into ammonia
Nitrification
Ammonia is converted to nitrate ions
Assimilation
Inorganic N is converted into organic meleacules such as DNA/amino acids & protiens
Denitrification
Bacteria convert ammonia back into N
Phosphorus does not circulate as easily as N because
It does not exist as a gas, but is released by weathering of phosphate rocks
Sustainability
The ability to meet humanties current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
Excess phosphorus is added to aquatic ecosystems by
Runoff of animal weastes, fertilizer, discharge of sewage
Photosynthesis
Plants convert atmopsheric C (CO2) into complex carbohydrates (glucose)
Aerobic respiration
Oxygen consuming produces, consumers & decomposers break down complex organic compounds & convert C back into CO2
Largest reservoirs of C
Carbonate rocks first, oceans second
Biotic/abiotic
Living & nonliving components of an ecosystem
Producer/Autotroph
Photosynthetic life
Fecal coliform/Enterococcus
Indicator of sewage contaminiation
Energy flow in food webs
Only 10% of the usable nergy is tranferred because usable energy lost as heat (2nd law), not all biomass is digested & absorbed, predators expand energy to catch prey
Chlorine
Good: Disinfection of water
Bad: Forms trihalomethanes
Primary succession
Development if communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life (lava)
Secondary succession
Life progresses where soil remains (clear cut forest, fire)
Cogeneration
Using waste heat to make electricity
Mutualism
Symbiotic relationship where both partners benefit
Commensalism
Symbiotic relationship where one partner benefits & the other is unaffected
Parasitism
Relationship in which one partner obtains nutrients and the expense of the host
Biome
Large distinct terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants, & animals
Carrying capacity
The number of individuals that can be sustained in an area
R strategist
Reproduce early, many small unprotected offspring
K strategist
Reproduce late, few, cared for offspring
Positive feedback
When a change in some condition tirggers a response that intensifies the changing condition
(EX: wamer earth - snow melts - less sunlight is reflected & more is absorved, therefore warmer earth)
Natural selection
Organisms that possess favorable adaptions pass them onto the next generation
Malthus
Said human population cannot continue to increase. Consequences will be war, famine & disease
Doubling time
Rule of 70 (70 divided by the percent growth rate)
Replacement level fertility
The number of children a couple must have to replace themselves (2.1 developed, 2.7 developing)
World Population is
6.5 billion
US Population
300 million
Preindustrial stage
Birth & death rates high, pupulation grows slowly, infant mortality high
Industrial stage
Death rate lower, better health car, population grows fast
Postindustrial stage
Low birth & death rates
Age structure diagrams
(broad base, rapid growth)
(narrow base, negative growth)
(uniform shape, zero growth)
1st & 2nd most populated countries
China & India
Most important thing affecting population growth
Low status of women
Ways to decrease birth
Family planning, contraception, economic rewards & penalties
Percent water on earth by type
97.5% seawater
2.5% freshwater
Salinization of soil
In arid regions, water evaporates leaving salts behind
Ways to conserve water
Agriculture: Drip/trickle irrigation
Industry: Recycling
Home: Use gray water, repair leaks, low flow fixtures
Point VS Nonpoint Resources
Point: From specific location such as pipe
Nonpoint:
BOD
Biological Oxygen Demand
Amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down organic materials
Eutrophication
Rapid algal growth caused by an excess of nitrates (NO3)- and phosphates (PO4)3- in water
Hypoxia
(1932-1968, Japan) mental impairments caused by methylmercury (CH3Hg)+ poisoning
Minamata Disease
produced by humans & nature (CO,CO2,SOx,NOx, hydrocarbons, particulates)
Primary air pollutants
organisms that possess favorable adaptations pass them onto the next generation
Natural selection
Source: burning fossil fuels and diesel exhaust
Effect: reduces visibility & respiratory irritation
Reduction: filtering, electrostatic precipitators, alternative energy)
Particulate matter
source,effect,reduction): (burning fossil fuels & car exhaust) (reduces visibility & respiratory irritation) (filtering, electrostatic precipitators, alternative energy)
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
Source: auto exhaust
Effects: acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog & ozone
Equation for acid formation: NO + O2 = NO2 + H2O = HNO3
Reduction: catalytic converter
Sulfur oxides (SOx):
(Source: coal burning) (Effects: acid deposition, respiratory irritation, damages plants) (Equation for acid formation: SO2 + O2 = SO3 + H2O = H2SO4) (Reduction: scrubbers, burn low sulfur fuel)
Carbon oxides (CO and CO2):
Source: auto exhaust, incomplete combustion
Effects: CO binds to hemoglobin, reducing blood’s ability to carry O2; CO2 contributes to
global warming
Reduction: catalytic converter, emission testing, oxygenated fuel, mass transit
Ozone (O3):
Formation: secondary pollutant,
NO2 + uv = NO + O* O* + O2 = O3, with VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
Effects: respiratory irritant, plant damage
Reduction: reduce NO and VOC emissions
Photochemical smog
formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight (NO, VOC,O)
Acid deposition
caused by sulfuric and nitric acids resulting in lowered pH of surface waters
Greenhouse gases
Examples: H2O, CO2, O3, methane (CH4), CFC’s
Effect: they trap outgoing infrared
(heat) energy causing earth to warm
Effects of global warming
rising sea level (thermal expansion), extreme weather, droughts (famine),
extinctions
Ozone depletion caused by
CFC’s, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, halon, methyl bromide all of
which attack stratospheric ozone
Effects of ozone depletion
increased UV, skin cancer, cataracts, decreased plant growth
Love Canal, NY
chemicals buried in old canal and school & homes built over it causing birth defects &
cancer
Municipal solid waste is mostly
paper and usually dumped in landfills
True cost / External costs
harmful environmental side effects that are not reflected in a products price
Sanitary landfill problems and solutions
(leachate, liner with collection system) (methane gas, collect gas
and burn) (volume of garbage, compact & reduce)
Incineration advantages
volume of waste reduced by 90% & waste heat can be used
Incineration disadvantages
toxic emissions (polyvinyl chloride—dioxin), scrubbers & electrostatic
precipitators needed, ash disposal (contains heavy metals)
Best way to solve waste problem:
reduce the amounts of waste at the source
Keystone species
species whose role in an ecosystem are more important than others, ex sea otter
Indicator species
species that serve as early warnings that an ecosystem is being damaged ex trout
Most endangered species
have a small range, require large territory or live on an island
In natural ecosystems, 50-90% of pest species are kept under control by
predators, diseases, parasites
Major insecticide groups and examples
(chlorinated hydrocarbons, DDT) (organophosphates, malathion)
(carbamates, aldicarb)
Pesticide pros
saves lives from insect transmitted disease, increases food supply, increases profits for
farmers
Pesticide cons
genetic resistance, ecosystem imbalance, pesticide treadmill, persistence, bioaccumulation,
biological magnification
Natural pest control
better agricultural practices, genetically resistant plants, natural enemies,
biopesticides, sex attractants
Electricity is generated by
using steam (from water boiled by fossils fuels or nuclear) or falling water to
turn a generator
Petroleum forms from
microscopic aquatic organisms in sediments converted by heat & pressure into a
mixture of hydrocarbons
Pros of petroleum
cheap, easily transported, high quality energy
Cons of petroleum
reserves depleted soon, pollution during drilling, transport and refining, burning makes
CO2
Steps in coal formation
peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite
Major parts of a nuclear reactor
core, control rods, steam generator, turbine, containment building
Two most serious nuclear accidents
(Chernobyl, Ukraine) (Three Miles Island, PA)
Alternate energy sources
wind, solar, waves, biomass, geothermal, fuel cells
LD50
the amount of a chemical that kills 50% of the animals in a test population
Mutagen, Teratogen, Carcinogen
causes hereditary changes, fetus deformities, cancer
Endangered species
North spotted Owl (loss of old growth forest), Bald Eagle (thinning of eggs caused by
DDT), Piping Plover (nesting areas threatened by development)
LI Exotic species
gypsy moth, Asian Long Horned Beetle
Garret Hardin & the Tragedy of the Commons
Freedom to breed is bringing ruin to all. Global commons
such as atmosphere & oceans are used by all and owned by none
Volcanoes and Earthquakes occur
at plate boundaries (divergent, spreading, mid-ocean ridges)
(convergent, trenches) (transform, sliding, San Andreas)
Sources of mercury
burning coal, Compact Fluorescent bulbs
Major source of sulfur
burning coal
Threshold dose
the maximum dose that has no measurable effect