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50 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
acid deposition
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sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, emitted by burning fossil fuels, enter the atmosphere--where they combine with oxygen and water to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid--and return to Earth's surface
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acid precipitation
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conversion of sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides to acids that return to Earth as rain, snow, or fog
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active solar energy systems
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solar energy system that collects energy through the use of mechanical devices such as photo-voltaic cells or flat-plate collectors
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air pollution
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concentration of trace substances, such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and solid particulates, at a greater level than occurs in average air
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animate power
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power supplied by people or animals
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biodiversity
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the number of species within a specific habitat
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chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)
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a gas used as a a solvent, a propellant in aerosols, a refrigerant, and in plastic foams and fire extinguishers
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conservation
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the sustainable use and management of a natural resource, through consuming at a less rapid rate than it can be replaced
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ferrous
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metals, including iron ore, that are utilized in the production of iron and steel
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fossil fuel
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energy source formed from the residue of plants and animals buried millions of years ago
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greenhouse effect
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anticipated increase in Earth's temperature, caused by carbon dioxide (emitted by burning fossil fuels), trapping some of the radiation emitted by the surface
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nonferrous
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metals utilized to make products other than iron and steel
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nonpoint-source pollution
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pollution that originates form a large, diffuse area
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nonrenewable energy
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a source of energy that is a finite supply capable of being exhausted
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ozone
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a gas that absorbs ultraviolet solar radiation, found in the stratosphere, a zone between 15 and 50 kilometers (9 to 30 miles) above Earth's surface
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passive solar energy systems
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solar energy system that collects energy without the use of mechanical devices
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photochemical smog
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an atmospheric condition formed through a combination of weather conditions and pollution, especially from motor vehicle emissions
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photovoltaic cell
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solar energy cells, usually made from silicon, that collect solar rays to generate electricity
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point-source pollution
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pollution that enters water from a specific source
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pollution
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addition of more waste than a resource can accommodate
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potential reserve
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the amount of energy in deposits not yet identified but thought to exist
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presrvation
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maintenance of a resource in its present condition, with as little human impact as possible
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proven reserve
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the amount of a resource remaining in discovered deposits
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recycling
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the separation, collection, processing, marketing, and reuse of unwanted material
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renewable energy
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a resource supply that has a theoretically unlimited supply and is not depleted when used by humans
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resource
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a substance in the environment that is useful to people, is economically and technologically feasible to access, and is socially acceptable to use
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sanitary landfill
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a place to deposit waste, where a layer of Earth is bulldozed over garbage each day to reduce emissions of gases and odors from the decaying trash, to minimize fires, and to discourage vermin
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sustainability
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the use of Earth's limited resources by humans in ways that do not constrain resources use by people in the future
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sustainable development
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the level of development that can be maintained in a country without depleting resources to the extent that future generations will be unable to achieve a comparable level of development
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What is the environment?
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the totality of things that in any way affect an organism
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Who came up with the IPAT equation?
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Jerome Fellman
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What is the IPAT equation?
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I (Impact on the environment)= P (Population) x A (Affluence as measured by per capita income) x T (Technology); aka "The greater the population, and the increase in the standards of living, lead to greater use of natural resources and the greater production of waste."
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What is the biosphere (ecosphere)?
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atmosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere; must work together
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What is the atmosphere?
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a blanket of air, with more than half of its mass within 4 miles of Earth
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What is the hydrosphere?
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the surface and subsurface waters in oceans, rivers, lakes, and glaciers
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What is the lithosphere?
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upper reaches of the Earth's crust containing the soil
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What are biomes?
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major communities of plants and animals (including humans) occupying the Earth's surface
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How many different species are lost in the rain forest each year?
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50,000
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What are ecosystems?
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smaller, self-contained communities
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When did human impact to the environment become significant?
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later half of the 20th century
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What is overcooling?
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the icebox effect: radiation form the sun is deflected back into space; caused by aerosols and natural occurences
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What environmental issues arose in the 1980s?
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"greenhouse effect", acid precipitation, ozone depletion
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How is excess carbon dioxide produced?
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from burning of fossil fuels and deforestation by slash/burn
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How is excess methane produced?
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from decomposition process and is emitted from intestinal tracks of livestock and flooded rice paddies
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How is excess nitrous oxide produced?
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byproduct of increased fertilizer use
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What are some negative results of human's harmful impact on the environment?
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summer sea ice melting, sea levels rising, spreading droughts, increasing heat waves, intensity of tropical storms
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How does acid precipitation work?
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increased height of smokestacks, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, upper level winds, washed from air by rain, snow, and fog
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How does ozone depletion work?
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produced by sunlight and oxygen (3 oxygen atoms), protects the earth by blocking cancer-causing ultraviolet light that damages DNA, too much ozone can injure plants (stunt growth, reduce yields, death), photochemical smog (sunlight/pollution), motor vehicles are leading contributor
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Who are the polluters of water?
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industry (largest contributor), sewage, and agriculture
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What are "The R's"?
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resources, renewable, non-renewable, proven reserve, potential reserve, recycling
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