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118 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Ionizing radiation
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enough energy to knock electrons from atoms forming ions, capable of causing cancer (ex. gamma - xrays - UV)
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High Quality Energy
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organized & concentrated, can perform useful work (ex. fossil fuel & nuclear)
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Low Quality Energy
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disorganized & dispersed (heat in ocean or air wind, solar)
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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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Natural radioactive decay
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unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha & beta particles
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Half-life
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the time it takes for half the mass of a radioisotope to decay
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Estimate of how long a radioisotope must be stored until it decays to a safe level
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approximately 10 half-lives
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Nuclear Fission
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nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons
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Nuclear Fusion
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2 isotopes of light elements (H) forced together at high temperatures until they fuse to form a heavier nucleus; expensive, break even point not reached yet
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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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Organic fertilizer
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slow-acting & long-lasting because the organic remains need time to be decomposed
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Best solution to energy shortage
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conservation and increase efficiency
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Surface mining
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cheaper & can remove more mineral, less hazardous to workers
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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
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Illuviation
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deposit of leached material in lower soil layers (B)
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Loam
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perfect agricultural soil with equal portions of sand, silt, and clay
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Conservation
--- Preservation |
allowing the use of resources in a responsible manner
--- setting aside areas and protecting them from human activities |
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Parts of the hydrologic cycle
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evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, infiltration
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Aquifer
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any water-bearing layer in the ground
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Cone of depression
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lowering of the water table around a pumping well
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Salt water intrusion
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near the coast, overpumping of ground water causes saltwater to move into the aquifer
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ENSO
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El Nino Southern Oscillation; see-sawing of air pressure over the South Pacific
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During an El Nino year
--- During a Non El Nino year |
trade winds weaken & warm water sloshed back to South America
--- Easterly tradewinds 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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Effects of El Nino
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upwelling decreases disrupting food chains, Northern United States has mild winters, Southwestern United States has increased rainfall, less Atlantic hurricanes
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Nitrogen fixing
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because atmospheric N cannot be used directly by plants, it must first be converted into ammonia by bacteria (rhizobium)
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Ammonification
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decomposers convert organic waste into ammonia
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Nitrification
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ammonia is converted into nitrate ions (NO3)
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Assimilation
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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
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Phosphorus does not circulate as easily as nitrogen because...
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it does not exist as a gas, but is released by weathering of
phosphate rocks |
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Sustainability
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the ability to meet the current needs of humanity without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their needs |
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How excess phosphorus is added to aquatic ecosystems
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runoff of animal wastes, fertilizer, discharge of sewage
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Photosynthesis
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plants convert atmospheric carbon (CO2) 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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Largest reservoirs of C
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carbonate rocks first, oceans second
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Biotic and abiotic
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living and nonliving components of an ecosystem
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Producer/Autotroph
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photosynthetic or chemosynthetic life
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Fecal coliform/Enterococcus bacteria
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indicator of sewage contamination
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Energy flow in food webs
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only 10% of the usable energy is transferred because usable energy lost as heat (second law); not
all biomass is digested and absorbed; predators expend energy to catch prey |
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Chlorine
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good = disinfection of water
bad = forms trihalomethanes |
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Primary succession
--- Secondary succession |
development of communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life or those in which the soil
profile is totally destroyed (lava flows); begins with lichen action --- life progresses where soil remains (clear-cut forest, fire) |
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Cogeneration
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using waste heat to make electricity
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Mutualism
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symbiotic relationship where both partners benefit
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Commensalism
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symbiotic relationship where one partner benefits & the other is unaffected
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Parasitism
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relationship in which one partner obtains nutrients at the expense of the host
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Biome
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large distinct terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants & animals
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Carrying capacity
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the number of individuals that can be sustained in an area
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R strategist
--- K strategist |
reproduce early in life; many small unprotected offspring
--- reproduce late in life; few offspring; care for offspring |
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Positive feedback
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when a change in some condition triggers a response that intensifies the changing condition (warmer
Earth - snow melts - less sunlight is reflected & more is absorbed, therefore warmer earth) |
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Natural selection
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organisms that possess favorable adaptations pass them onto the next generation
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Doubling time
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rule of 70; 70 divided by the percent growth rate
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Malthus
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said human population cannot continue to increase exponentially; consequences will be war, famine & disease
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Replacement level fertility
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the number of children a couple must have to replace themselves (2.1 in developed, 2.7 in developing)
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World Population
-- US Population |
6.5 billion
-- 300 million |
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Preindustrial stage
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high birth & death rates, population grows slowly, high infant mortality
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Transitional stage
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death rate lower, better health care, population grows fast
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Industrial stage
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decline in birth rate, population growth slows
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Postindustrial stage
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low birth & death rates
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Age structure diagrams
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broad base = rapid growth
narrow base = negative growth uniform shape = zero growth |
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First and second most populated countries
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China and India
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Most important thing affecting population growth
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low status of women
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Ways to decrease birth rate
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family planning, contraception, economic rewards and penalties
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Percent water on earth by type
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97.5% seawater
2.5% freshwater |
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Salinization of soil
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in arid regions, water evaporates leaving salts behind
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Ways to conserve water
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agriculture = drip/trickle irrigation
industry = recycling home = use gray water, repair leaks, low flow fixtures flow fixtures |
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Point vs. non point sources
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Point: from specific location such as a pipe
Non-point: from over an area such as runoff |
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BOD
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biological oxygen demand, amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down organic materials
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Eutrophication
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rapid algal growth caused by an excess of nitrates and phosphates in water
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Hypoxia
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when aquatic plants die, the BOD rises as aerobic decomposers break down the plants, the DO drops and the water cannot support life
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Minamata Disease
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mental impairments caused by mercury
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Primary air pollutants
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produced by humans and nature
(CO, CO2, SO2, NO, hydrocarbons, particulates) |
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Negative feedback
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when a changing in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition (warmer earth - more ocean evaporation - more stratus clouds less sunlight reaches the ground - therefore cooler Earth)
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Particulate matter (source, effect, reduction)
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Source: burning fossil fuel fuels and diesel exhaust
Effect: reduces visibility and respiratory irritation Reduction: filtering, electrostatic precipitators, alternative energy |
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Nitrogen Oxides
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Source: auto exhaust
Effects: acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog and ozone Equation for acid formation: NO+O2=NO2+H2O+HNO3 Reduction: catalytic converter |
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Sulfur Oxides
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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 |
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Carbon Oxides
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Source: auto exhaust, incomplete combustion
Effects: CO binds to hemoglobin reducing blood's ability to carry O, CO2, contributes to global warming Reduction: catalytic converter, emission testing, oxygenated fuel, mass transit |
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Ozone
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Formation: secondary pollutant, NO2+UV=NO+O,O+O2=O3, with VOCs
Effects: respiratory irritant, plant damage Reduction: reduce NO emissions and VOCs |
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Radon
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radioactive gas, formed from the decay of uranium, causes lung cancer and is a problem in the Reading Prong
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Photochemical smog
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formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight (NO, VOC, O)
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Acid deposition
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caused by sulfuric acid and nitric acids resulting in lower pH of surface waters
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Greenhouse gases
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Examples: H2O, CO2, O3, methane (CH4), CFC's
Effect: they trap outgoing infrared (heat) energy causing earth to warm |
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Effects of global warming
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rising sea level (thermal expansion), extreme weather, droughts (famine), extinctions
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Ozone depletion caused by
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CFC's, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, halon, methyl bromide, all of which attack stratospheric ozone
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Effects of ozone depletion
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increased UV, skin cancer, cataracts, decreased plant growth
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Love Canal, NY
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chemicals buried in old canal and school and homes built over it causing birth defects and cancer
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Municipal solid waste is mostly
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paper and usually dumped in landfills
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True cost/ External costs
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harmful environmental side effects that are not reflected in a product's price
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Sanitary landfill problems and solutions
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leachate - liner with collection system
methane gas - collect gas and burn volume of garbage - compact and reduce |
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Incineration advantages
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volume of waste reduced by 90% and waste heat can be used
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Incineration disadvantages
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toxic emissions (polyvinyl chloride - dioxin), scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators needed, ash disposal (contains heavy metals)
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Best way to solve waste problem
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reduce the amounts of waste at the source
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Keystone species
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species whose role in an ecosystem are more important than others
(ex. sea otter) |
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Indicator species
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species that serve as early warnings that an ecosystem is being damaged
(ex. trout) |
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Most endangered species
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have a small range, require large territory or live on an island
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In natural ecosystems, 50-90% of pest species are kept under control by...
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predators, diseases, parasites
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Major insecticide groups and examples
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chlorinated hydrocarbons - DDT
organophosphates - malathion carbamates - aldicarb |
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Pesticide pros
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saves lives from insect-transmitted disease, increases food supply, increases profits for farmers
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Pesticide cons
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genetic resistance, ecosystem imbalance, pesticide treadmill, persistence, bioaccumulation, biological magnification
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Natural pest control
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better agricultural practices, genetically resistant plants, natural enemies, biopesticides, sex attractants
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Electricity is generated by...
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using steam (from water boiled by fossil fuels or nuclear) or falling water to turn a generator
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Petroleum forms from...
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microscopic aquatic organisms in sediments converted by heat and pressure into a mixture of hydrocarbons
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Pros of petroleum
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cheap, easily transported, high quality energy
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Cons of petroleum
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reserves depleted soon, pollution during drilling, transport and refining, burning makes CO2
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Steps in coal formation
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peat, lignite, bituminous, anthracite
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Major parts of a nuclear reactor
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core, control rods, steam generator, turbine, containment building
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Two most serious nuclear accidents
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Chernobyl, Ukraine
Three Mile Island, PA |
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Alternate energy sources
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wind, solar, waves, biomass, geothermal, fuel cells
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LD50
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the amount of a chemical that kills 50% of the animals in a test population
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Mutagen, Teratogen, Carcinogen
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causes hereditary changes, fetus deformities, and cancer
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Endangered species
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North spotted owl (loss of old forest growth)
Bald eagle (thinning of eggs caused by DDT) Piping plover (nesting areas threatened by development) |
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LI Exotic species
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gypsy moth and Asian long-horned beetle
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Garret Hardin & the Tragedy of the Commons
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Freedom to breed is bringing ruin to all. Global commons such as atmosphere and oceans are used by all and owned by none.
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Volcanoes and earthquakes occur...
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at plate boundaries
(divergent, spreading, mid-ocean ridges) (convergent, trenches) (transform, San Andreas) |
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Sources of mercury
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burning coal, compact fluorescent bulbs
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Major source of sulfur
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burning coal
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Threshold dose
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the maximum dose that has no measurable effect
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