Environmental Science & Engineering Introduction Quiz

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What are two ways that phosphate enters the oceans?

Surface runoff and river flow (correct)

Marine food webs and sediment formation

Groundwater flow and evaporation

Atmospheric deposition and volcanic activity

Which process makes sulfates available to terrestrial ecosystems?

Volcanic activity

Sulfur dioxide dissolution

Decomposition of living organisms

Weathering of rocks (correct)

How does sulfur dioxide from the atmosphere become available to terrestrial ecosystems?

Through marine food webs

By decomposition of organic molecules

As precipitation or fallout (correct)

By volcanic activity

In what form is atmospheric sulfur commonly found?

Hydrogen sulfide gas Signup and view all the answers

What human activity significantly impacts the sulfur cycle, releasing hydrogen sulfide gas into the atmosphere?

Burning fossil fuels, especially coal Signup and view all the answers

What happens to some phosphate from marine food webs?

It forms sediment on the ocean floor Signup and view all the answers

What is the initial step in the nitrogen cycle where bacteria convert ammonium?

Converting ammonium into nitrites Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a way human activity can alter the nitrogen cycle?

Nitrogen fixation by legumes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary effect of fertilizer runoff on aquatic ecosystems?

Eutrophication Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about phosphorus is NOT true?

It is a component of proteins in living organisms Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary form in which phosphorus is exchanged between the ocean and marine organisms?

Phosphate dissolved in the ocean Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a potential effect of atmospheric nitrogen compounds on Earth's ecosystems?

Eutrophication of water bodies Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of environmental science?

Studying the interactions between chemical, physical, and biological components of the environment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered an abiotic factor in an ecosystem?

Fungi Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main goals of environmental science?

To understand how humans interact with the environment and find ways to mitigate negative effects Signup and view all the answers

Which field of electrical engineering is directly related to environmental science?

Renewable energy generation Signup and view all the answers

What approach do environmental scientists and engineers employ when analyzing environmental problems?

A system approach, considering the interconnections between various components Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following fields is NOT directly mentioned as being part of the interdisciplinary study of environmental science?

Biochemistry Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary way that water reenters the ocean in the water cycle?

Through surface runoff and groundwater flow Signup and view all the answers

In the carbon cycle, what process converts carbon dioxide gas into organic carbon?

Photosynthesis Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the most common elements associated with organic molecules?

Calcium Signup and view all the answers

What process is responsible for the long-term storage of organic carbon in the carbon cycle?

Fossilization Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following biogeochemical cycles is NOT mentioned in the text?

Iron cycle Signup and view all the answers

What process is responsible for converting nitrogen gas into a form that can be used by living organisms?

Nitrogen fixation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of acid rain according to the text?

Rainwater falling to the ground through sulfur dioxide gas Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary environmental impact of acid rain according to the text?

Lowering the pH of lakes, thus killing many of the resident plants and animals Signup and view all the answers

What is the impact of acid rain on the man-made environment according to the text?

Acid rain causes the chemical degradation of buildings. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the rock cycle and the geologic environment?

The rock cycle is a process that constantly transforms the geologic environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary message conveyed by the last paragraph of the text?

The geologic environment is complex and constantly changing. Signup and view all the answers