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58 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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First Law of Thermodynamics
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energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another.
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Second Law of Thermodynamics
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when energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy (usually heat).
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Ionizing radiation
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radiation w/enough energy to free electrons from atoms forming ions, may cause cancer (ex. gamma, X-rays, UV).
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High Quality Energy
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organized & concentrated, can perform useful work (ex. fossil fuels & nuclear).
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First Law of Thermodynamics
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energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another.
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Low Quality Energy
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disorganized, dispersed (ex. heat in ocean or air/wind, solar).
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Second Law of Thermodynamics
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when energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy (usually heat).
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Natural radioactive decay
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unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha & beta particles (ex. Radon).
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Ionizing radiation
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radiation w/enough energy to free electrons from atoms forming ions, may cause cancer (ex. gamma, X-rays, UV).
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Half-life
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the time it takes for 1⁄2 of the mass of a radioisotope to decay. A radioactive isotope must be stored for approximately 10 half-lives until it decays to a safe level.
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High Quality Energy
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organized & concentrated, can perform useful work (ex. fossil fuels & nuclear).
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Nuclear Fission
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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. Happens in the Sun, very difficult to accomplish on Earth, prohibitively expensive.
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Low Quality Energy
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disorganized, dispersed (ex. heat in ocean or air/wind, solar).
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Ore
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a rock that contains a large enough concentration of a mineral making it profitable to mine.
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Natural radioactive decay
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unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha & beta particles (ex. Radon).
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Mineral Reserve
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identified deposits currently profitable to extract.
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Half-life
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the time it takes for 1⁄2 of the mass of a radioisotope to decay. A radioactive isotope must be stored for approximately 10 half-lives until it decays to a safe level.
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Surface mining
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cheaper, can remove more minerals, less hazardous to workers.
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Nuclear Fission
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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. Happens
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Humus
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organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms.
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Leaching
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removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards through soil.
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Ore
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a rock that contains a large enough concentration of a mineral making it profitable to mine.
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Loam
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perfect agricultural soil with equal portions of sand, silt, and clay.
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Mineral Reserve
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identified deposits currently profitable to extract.
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Soil Conservation Methods
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conservation tillage, crop rotation, contour plowing, organic fertilizers.
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Surface mining
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cheaper, can remove more minerals, less hazardous to workers.
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Soil Salinization
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in arid regions, water evaporates leaving salts behind. (ex. Fertile crescent, southwestern US)
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Humus
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organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms.
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Water Logging
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water completely saturates soil starves plant roots of oxygen, rots roots
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Leaching
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removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards through soil.
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Hydrologic Cycle Components
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evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration.
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Loam
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perfect agricultural soil with equal portions of sand, silt, and clay.
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Watershed
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all of the land that drains into a body of water.
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Soil Conservation Methods
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conservation tillage, crop rotation, contour plowing, organic fertilizers.
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Aquifer
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underground layers of porous rock allow water to move slowly.
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Soil Salinization
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in arid regions, water evaporates leaving salts behind. (ex. Fertile crescent, southwestern US)
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Cone of Depression
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lowering of the water table around a pumping well.
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Water Logging
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water completely saturates soil starves plant roots of oxygen, rots roots
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Salt Water Intrusion
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near the coast, overpumping of groundwater causes saltwater to move into the aquifer.
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Hydrologic Cycle Components
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evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration.
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ENSO
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El Nino Southern Oscillation, trade winds weaken & warm surface water moves toward South America. Diminished fisheries off South America, drought in western Pacific, increased precipitation in southwestern North America, fewer Atlantic hurricanes.
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Watershed
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all of the land that drains into a body of water.
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La Nina
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“Normal” year, easterly trade winds and ocean currents pool warm water in the western Pacific, allowing upwelling of nutrient rich water off the West coast of South America.
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Aquifer
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underground layers of porous rock allow water to move slowly.
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Nitrogen Fixation
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because atmospheric N cannot be used directly by plants, it must first be converted into ammonia by bacteria. Ammonification: decomposers covert organic waste into ammonia. Nitrification: ammonia is converted to nitrate ions (NO3-). Assimilation: inorganic N is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids & proteins.
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Cone of Depression
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lowering of the water table around a pumping well.
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Denitrification
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bacteria convert ammonia back into N. Phosphorus: does not exist as a gas; released by weathering of phosphate rocks, it is a major limiting factor for plant growth. Phosphorus cycle is slow, and not atmospheric.
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Photosynthesis
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plants convert CO2 (atmospheric carbon) into complex carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6).
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Aerobic Respiration
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oxygen consuming producers, consumers & decomposers break down complex organic compounds & convert C back into CO2.
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Biotic
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the living components of an ecosystem. Abiotic: the nonliving components of an ecosystem. Producer/Autotroph: organisms that make their own food—photosynthetic life (plants).
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Salt Water Intrusion
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near the coast, overpumping of groundwater causes saltwater to move into the aquifer.
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ENSO
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El Nino Southern Oscillation, trade winds weaken & warm surface water moves toward South America. Diminished fisheries off South America, drought in western Pacific, increased precipitation in southwestern North America, fewer Atlantic hurricanes.
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La Nina
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“Normal” year, easterly trade winds and ocean currents pool warm water in the western Pacific, allowing upwelling of nutrient rich water off the West coast of South America.
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Nitrogen Fixation
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because atmospheric N cannot be used directly by plants, it must first be converted into ammonia by bacteria. Ammonification: decomposers covert organic waste into ammonia. Nitrification: ammonia is converted to nitrate ions (NO3-). Assimilation: inorganic N is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids & proteins.
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Denitrification
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bacteria convert ammonia back into N. Phosphorus: does not exist as a gas; released by weathering of phosphate rocks, it is a major limiting factor for plant growth. Phosphorus cycle is slow, and not atmospheric.
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Photosynthesis
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plants convert CO2 (atmospheric carbon) into complex carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6).
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Aerobic Respiration
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oxygen consuming producers, consumers & decomposers break down complex organic compounds & convert C back into CO2.
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Biotic
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the living components of an ecosystem. Abiotic: the nonliving components of an ecosystem. Producer/Autotroph: organisms that make their own food—photosynthetic life (plants).
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