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53 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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what is acid deposition?
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a combination of airborne dry acidic particles and precipitation that falls to earth.
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effects of acid rain
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-leach nutrients in the groun
- kill nitrogen-fixing microorganisms that nourish plants - kill fish - release toxic metals |
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what are acid rain controls?
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- fuel switching
- coal washing - scrubbers - fluidized bed combustion - reduced consumption or electricity |
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- sun's rays strike the earth and some are converted to infrared that is transmitted back into outer space
- some of the infrared is absorbed by greenhouse gases insulating the earth - more accumulations of greenhouse gases delays the release of infrared to outer space |
global warming
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what is the role of CO2 in the Greenhouse Effect?
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-moderates the earth's temperature
-without CO2 the earth's temp would be 90 degrees cooler. -increasing CO2 would increase earth's temp. |
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how will global warming affect human illness
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-deaths will most likely be linked to heart attack and stroke
-mosquito breeding will increase -el nino effects and flooding |
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what was the kyoto protocol?
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developed countries to cut greenhouse gases to less than 5%
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-generated in the stratosphere by the action of UV and O2
-amounts vary depending on location and season -most UV radiation is absorbed by this - existence is of great biological significance |
the ozone layer
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-allows UV to penetrate to earth
-causes health effects, damages crops, causes more smog |
the effects of the destruction of ozone
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list some UV health effects:
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skin cancer, premature skin aging, eye damage, damage to the immune system
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what was the policy response-montreal protocol?
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aimed at controlling the chemicals most responsible for ozone layer depletion, mostly dealt with cfc reduction. half cfc's entirely by 1999.
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what are air pollutants
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substances in the atmosphere that have harmful effects on the environment and on animals,plants, and microbes.
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warm air gets sandwiched between two layers of cold air. prevents warm air from rising and results in accumulation of pollutants near the ground.
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inversion
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Clean air act of 1970:
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-administered by epa
-foundation of air pollution control efforts in the us -calls for identifying the most widespread pollutants, by setting ambient air standards |
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ambient air standards
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how much pollution can we put into the air with it still being at a safe level?
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industrial smog
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an irritating, grayish mixture of soot, sulfurous compounds and water vapor.
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photochemical smog
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brownish-reddish haze
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some of the major air pollutants:
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-suspended particulates
-VOC's -carbon monoxide -sulfur oxides |
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sources of pollution emissions in the US?
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-sulfur dioxide from burning fuel
-particulate matter from agriculture and construction and factory emissions -volatile organic compounds from factories and cars -nitrogen oxides from fuel burning and transportation -carbon monoxide from cars |
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affects of air pollution on humans
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-chronic- emphysema
-acute- irritation, asthma |
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effects of air pollution on plants:
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destroy leaves and soil when toxic substances enter the soil
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pollution and motor vehicles
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90% reduction of exhaust emissions due to the catalytic converter
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clean air act of 1990
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tighten up emission standards
encourage development of cleaner burning fuels persuade people to drive less identified 189 toxic pollutants |
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how to prevent air pollution?
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-cut fossil fuel use
-remove sulfur from coal -convert coal to liquid fuel -use more alternate energy sources |
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describe the problem with indoor air pollutants
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air inside the home and workplace contains more hazardous pollutants than outdoor air
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what is radon?
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-originates from the natural radioactive decay of uranium
-odorless, invisible and tasteless |
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radon has been linked with...
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lung cancer
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what is asbestos?
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-term for a group of six fibrous silicate minerals found almost worldwide
-no safe level of asbestos exposure |
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what are the asbestos abatement methods?
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-encapsulation
-enclosure -removal |
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how is lead a toxic hazard
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-alloys
-ingredients in paints and glazes -in cosmetics -gutters and piping |
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sources of lead:
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-industrial products
-ammunition -glass t.v. tubes -solder and pigments -communication cable covers |
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what are some emerging problems with game animals?
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-numbers killed on roadways far exceed number killed by hunters
-thriving in highly urbanized areas -have no predators but hunters -urbanization encroaches on the wild |
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the relationship between human and animal populations:
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as the number of people increase, the number of species left in the world decreases
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a species that has been reduced to the point where it is in imminent danger of becoming extinct if protection is not provided
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an endangered species
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species judged to be in jeopardy but on the brink of extinction
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a threatened species
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what are the three major causes for extinction of animal species?
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- species introductions
- habitat destruction - hunting |
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habitat destruction is the most important factor for species destruction due to four problems:
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- conversion
- fragmentation - simplification - pollution of habitat |
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What was the Lacey act of 1900?
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prohibits the transporting of live or dead wild animals or their parts across borders without a federal permit.
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Describe the endangered species act of 1973:
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illegal for americans to import or trade any product made from an endangered or threatened species
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What is the role of the US fish and Wildlife service?
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- list endangered or threatened species
- protection for the habitat of endangered species - certain species cannot be hunted, killed, collected,or injured in the US |
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what is the role of the national marine fisheries service?
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identifies and lists the endangered and threatened ocean species
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What is the instrumental value of wild species?
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- drugs and other scientific value
- agriculture - recreation - other commercial value |
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what is the intrinsic value of wild species?
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- wild species have value in their own right
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What was CITES?
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- lists 676 species that cannot be commercially traded as live specimens or wildlife products
- a governing body that regulates international trade in and shipments of specified animal and plant products - flatly prohibits trade in products from endangered species |
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what is a renewable resource?
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- replenish itself through reproduction despite certain quantities being taken from the source
- renewal can be indefinite |
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manage or regulate use so that it does not exceed the capacity of the species or system to renew itself
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conservation
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ensure the continuity species and ecosystems regardless of their potential utility
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preservation
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what is maximum sustainable yield?
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the highest possible use that the system can match its own rate of replacement or maintenance
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restoring natural systems that have been lost or damaged
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restoration
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what is the problem with aquatic wetlands?
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one of nature's most productive ecosystems that are in danger from human activities
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what is ecosystem restoration?
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- repair the damage so that normal functioning returns
- native flora and fauna are once again present - returning wetlands to the before state |
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what is the commercial and ecological importance of forests?
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- lumber for housing
- biomass for fuel wood - pulp for paper - all worth about $300 billion a year |
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what reforms are needed for federal forests?
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-building no more roads
- reducing waste of wood to reduce the need for tree harvesting - making sustaining biodiversity and ecological integrity the first priority of national forestry management |
