Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel?

Petroleum

Coal

Uranium (correct)

Natural gas

What is the primary process that forms fossil fuels?

Decomposition of living organisms (correct)

Chemical alteration of rocks

Sedimentation of minerals

Evaporation of seawater

What is a significant advantage of using fossil fuels compared to renewable energy sources?

Completely clean emissions

Low cost of extraction

Sustainability

High net energy yield (correct)

Which of these products can be derived from the refining of crude oil?

Diesel Signup and view all the answers

What is the composition of the continental crust primarily made of?

Granites Signup and view all the answers

What is the main component of the outer core?

Molten iron and nickel Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the Earth is considered hottest?

The inner core Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the oceanic crust is true?

It primarily consists of basalts. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes plate tectonics?

It helps explain natural phenomena like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two parts of the mantle called?

The upper mantle and lower mantle Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following types of plate boundaries is considered constructive?

Divergent boundaries Signup and view all the answers

What geological feature is formed by convergent plate boundaries?

Volcanoes and mountains Signup and view all the answers

Which elements are most abundant in Earth's crust?

Oxygen, silicon, and aluminum Signup and view all the answers

Which type of rock is formed from solidified magma?

Igneous rocks Signup and view all the answers

What process is described as mechanical weathering?

Physical breakdown of rocks due to temperature changes. Signup and view all the answers

What type of rock includes both basalts and granites?

Igneous rocks Signup and view all the answers

Which weathering type involves chemical reactions with environmental chemicals?

Chemical weathering Signup and view all the answers

What is a major consequence of illegal hunting?

It can threaten wild populations. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the reasons for unsustainable fishing practices?

High technology fishing boats Signup and view all the answers

Which management strategy involves setting limits on harvesting specific species?

Quotas Signup and view all the answers

What can be disrupted by overfishing according to the content?

Marine ecosystem balance Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT listed as a reason for unsustainable fishing?

Use of eco-friendly fishing gear Signup and view all the answers

What role do protected habitats play in sustainable resource management?

They prevent over-exploitation of species. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of fishing method is specifically mentioned as destructive?

Trawling Signup and view all the answers

What is the main aim of aquaculture in the context of sustainable management?

To reduce pressure on wild stocks. Signup and view all the answers

What is smelting primarily used for?

Releasing molten metal from ore Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the O horizon in soil composition?

It is the layer of decaying organic matter Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of soil is considered the most fertile?

A horizon Signup and view all the answers

Why is the mineral holding capacity of soil significant?

It affects the soil's ability to retain nutrients Signup and view all the answers

What can be a consequence of soil being waterlogged?

Root rot and plant death Signup and view all the answers

What range of soil pH is typically considered ideal for most plants?

6.5 to 7.2 Signup and view all the answers

How is soil formed?

Through the weathering and erosion of rock Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes pollution abatement technologies in modern smelting plants?

They aim to reduce air pollution caused by smelting Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of contour farming?

Enhances water percolation through soil Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of terracing in agriculture?

To create level steps for farming on steep hills Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a consequence of livestock rearing?

Release of methane into the atmosphere Signup and view all the answers

What is one major environmental issue associated with agriculture?

Water pollution from agricultural runoff Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes chemical fertilizers compared to natural fertilizers?

They are known to cause more pollution Signup and view all the answers

What defines eutrophication in water systems?

An increase in nutrient levels Signup and view all the answers

What agricultural practice involves growing multiple types of crops simultaneously?

Polyculture Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following agricultural practices helps prevent soil erosion?

Reduced tillage Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Environmental Issues - Indirect Drivers

Human population growth
Dependence on fossil fuels (transport, electricity, industry)
Consumerism/materialism (unsustainable production & consumption)
Poverty and conflict
Degradation of common property (air, sea, fish, land, forests)

Sustainable Development

Improvement in quality of life for its people
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland report 1987)
Three interconnected pillars:
- Social progress (justice and quality of life)
- Economic growth (wealth generation)
- Environmental responsibility (care for the planet)

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

United Nations adopted Agenda 2030, based on 17 SDGs
Aim to achieve more sustainable development
Improve people's quality of life, while protecting climate and biodiversity

Natural Resources

Any substance, form of energy, or object found in the natural environment that is useful to any living organism (air, water, soil)
Biotic: Living resources (crops, fish, trees)
Abiotic: Non-living resources (metals, fossil fuels, wind, soil, flowing water)
Renewable: Resources that can replenish themselves (sun, wind, water, biotic resources)
Non-renewable: Resources that don't replenish on human timescales (fossil fuels, metals, minerals)

Earth's Structure

Crust: Outermost layer, divided into continental and oceanic crusts.
- Continental crust: thicker, less dense, made primarily of granite
- Oceanic crust: thinner, denser, made primarily of basalt
Mantle: Thick layer below the crust, mainly comprised of silicon and magnesium oxides.
- Upper mantle: solid, contains the asthenosphere (semi-molten material)
- Lower mantle: solid despite high temperatures due to high pressures
Core: Innermost layer, two parts.
- Outer core: molten iron and nickel; controls Earth's magnetic field.
- Inner core: solid iron and nickel; hottest part of Earth.

Plate Tectonics

Theory explaining natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, mountain building, and ocean trenches.
Lithosphere is divided into seven major and several minor tectonic plates.
Plates are in slow, continuous movement due to convection currents in the asthenosphere.
Plate boundaries (margins): where plates interact – divergent, convergent, and conservative.

Rocks

Earth's lithosphere is made from rocks.
Rocks are categorized into three main classes: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.
Igneous: Formed from solidified magma (basalts and granites).
Sedimentary: Formed by lithification of sediments (e.g., chalk, limestone).
Metamorphic: Formed from other rocks due to heat and pressure.

Weathering and Erosion

Weathering: Gradual breakdown of rocks and soil. Can be chemical, physical, or biological.
Erosion: Removal of weathered particles by wind or water.
Main types of weathering processes include chemical, physical, and biological.

Biogenic Sedimentation

Sedimentation made up of hard remains of dead organisms.
Examples: Plankton, coralline algae, seashells, crabs.

The Rock Cycle

Rocks are neither created nor destroyed, transformed over long periods of time by physical and chemical processes.
Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are involved in the rock cycle.

Soil

Soil is a natural resource that supports life and agriculture.
A complex mixture of weathered rock, water, air, nutrients, and living organisms.
Five main soil horizons are commonly recognised: O (humus), A (topsoil), B (subsoil), C (parent material), and R (bedrock).

Soil Degradation

Loss of soil through the action of wind or water.
Various practices like overgrazing, deforestation, and overcultivation can lead to soil erosion.
Overgrazing: leads to soil exposed and susceptible to erosion
Deforestation: takes away tree cover.
Overcultivation: leads to land degradation
Gullying: a type of erosion.
Silting of water bodies: occurs when soil is carried into rivers, lakes or reservoirs.
Desertification: transformation of habitable land into a desert.

Soil Fertility

Depends on minerals present, water content, and aeration levels.

Agriculture’s Role in Environmental Impacts

Soil: Overgrazing, deforestation, and overcultivation.
Water: Leachate and runoff from agricultural lands, containing animal waste and fertilizers.
Air: Emissions from livestock (methane), fertilizers (nitrous oxide), and burning crop residues.
Biodiversity: Clearing of forests for agriculture, use of intensive monoculture farming, pesticide use.
GMOs: Potential for impacting traditional crop varieties.

Agriculture and Water Quality

Leaching of fertilizers (nitrates and phosphates) and/or animal waste.
Eutrophication: Increased nutrient levels in water, leading to algal blooms and low oxygen levels, harmful to other aquatic life.

Agriculture and Groundwater

Leaching of nitrates from fertilizers.
Nitrate contamination: can pose health risks.

Sustainable Management of Resources

Quotas: Limits on harvesting.
Protected habitats: setting aside areas for species protection.
Monitoring & enforcement: strict regulations on specific species
Restoration of degraded habitats.
Afforestation. Improved practices for re-growing forests
Aquaculture: Farming in water, and substituting less threatened species.
Resource substitution: replacing threatened resources with less endangered ones, such as reducing the consumption of rarer fish.

Energy Sources

Renewable: Sunlight, wind, water, geothermal, biomass
Non-renewable: Fossil fuels (crude oil, natural gas, coal), nuclear fuels

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Description

Explore the complex relationship between environmental issues and sustainable development in this informative quiz. Understand the indirect drivers of environmental degradation and the importance of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. This quiz will test your knowledge on how human actions impact our planet and future generations.