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Questions and Answers
What is the primary effect of thermal pollution on aquatic ecosystems?
What is the primary effect of thermal pollution on aquatic ecosystems?
- Increased evaporation
- Lowering the water table
- Causing a large increase in plant productivity
- Depleting dissolved oxygen (correct)
Why can lawns in urban and suburban areas be a major source of non-point water pollution?
Why can lawns in urban and suburban areas be a major source of non-point water pollution?
- Native plants and grasses
- Hypoxic techniques
- Water-intolerant plants
- Nitrogen-enriched fertilizers (correct)
What was a key reason why federal laws limiting pollution of rivers and streams did not prevent the Cuyahoga River pollution and fires?
What was a key reason why federal laws limiting pollution of rivers and streams did not prevent the Cuyahoga River pollution and fires?
- Industries were repeatedly fined but continued to ignore laws
- No environmental monitoring agencies or federal regulations existed at that time (correct)
- Federal laws did not apply to this river as it shared a watershed with Canada
- Government agents were overwhelmed and could not detect the pollution
What term applies to the practice of classifying areas for different types of development and land use?
What term applies to the practice of classifying areas for different types of development and land use?
What tends to happen in a sustainable city?
What tends to happen in a sustainable city?
Which of the following can we do to help prevent suburban sprawl?
Which of the following can we do to help prevent suburban sprawl?
What must be included in any consideration of the true costs of urban sprawl?
What must be included in any consideration of the true costs of urban sprawl?
What is encouraged by living in suburban communities?
What is encouraged by living in suburban communities?
Which urban planning strategy involves establishing limits to urban expansion?
Which urban planning strategy involves establishing limits to urban expansion?
What is a characteristic of ethanol made from corn?
What is a characteristic of ethanol made from corn?
In what way do run-of-the-river hydroelectric systems differ from large dams?
In what way do run-of-the-river hydroelectric systems differ from large dams?
What strongly influences the amount of energy generated from hydropower?
What strongly influences the amount of energy generated from hydropower?
Which energy source has the highest energy return on energy investment (EROEI) ratio?
Which energy source has the highest energy return on energy investment (EROEI) ratio?
Ethanol made from corn yields much more energy than is required to produce it. What does this imply?
Ethanol made from corn yields much more energy than is required to produce it. What does this imply?
Where are spent fuel rods currently stored?
Where are spent fuel rods currently stored?
What is a significant environmental impact of cattle CAFO operations?
What is a significant environmental impact of cattle CAFO operations?
What is the primary reason for acid mine drainage?
What is the primary reason for acid mine drainage?
What environmental impact is associated with mountaintop removal mining in the southern Appalachian Mountains?
What environmental impact is associated with mountaintop removal mining in the southern Appalachian Mountains?
What mining method involves digging tunnels or shafts into the Earth to reach buried ore deposits?
What mining method involves digging tunnels or shafts into the Earth to reach buried ore deposits?
How does the use of coal contribute to acid precipitation?
How does the use of coal contribute to acid precipitation?
What is a major issue related to hydroelectric energy production near old mine sites?
What is a major issue related to hydroelectric energy production near old mine sites?
What is the main environmental concern associated with burning coal, according to the text?
What is the main environmental concern associated with burning coal, according to the text?
Which type of coal has the highest energy content?
Which type of coal has the highest energy content?
What are the environmental drawbacks to coal mining mentioned in the text?
What are the environmental drawbacks to coal mining mentioned in the text?
What fossil fuel does peat eventually turn into?
What fossil fuel does peat eventually turn into?
Which type of pollution is NOT mentioned as a result of burning coal to generate electricity?
Which type of pollution is NOT mentioned as a result of burning coal to generate electricity?
Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel?
Which of the following is NOT a fossil fuel?
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Study Notes
Sustainable City
- A sustainable city tends to increase local self-sufficiency and promote walkability.
- Zoning laws are used to classify areas for different types of development and land use.
- To prevent suburban sprawl, strategies can be employed such as:
- Building up rather than building out
- Maintaining open and agricultural land near urban areas
- Establishing urban growth boundaries
- Implementing plans to develop under-used or unused areas within urban areas
Urban Sprawl
- Urban sprawl can be prevented by considering the true costs of urban sprawl, including:
- Increased use of fossil fuels
- Urban sprawl is discouraged by establishing urban growth boundaries.
Mining
- Acid mine drainage is caused by the exposure of sulfide-bearing minerals to air and water.
- Mountaintop removal mining can destroy hundreds of miles of streams and freshwater systems.
- Subsurface mining involves digging tunnels or shafts into the Earth to reach buried ore deposits.
Energy
- Ethanol made from corn can:
- Result in higher food prices for corn and corn products
- Not produce greenhouse gases when burned
- Hydroelectric systems:
- Run-of-river hydroelectric systems do not block all of the water flow but direct some water through a turbine.
- The amount of energy generated from hydropower is strongly influenced by the volume of water released from the reservoir.
- The highest energy return on energy investment (EROEI) ratio is found in hydroelectric energy.
Environmental Pollution
- Thermal pollution can deplete dissolved oxygen in aquatic ecosystems.
- Lawns in urban and suburban areas can be a major source of non-point water pollution.
- Native plants and grasses can help prevent pollution in nearby water sources by filtering out contaminants.
Fossil Fuels
- Coal:
- Has the highest energy content in the form of anthracite
- Can cause acid precipitation through the emission of sulfur dioxide and other gases
- Can lead to environmental drawbacks such as water and soil contamination, damage to streams and forests, and release of toxic ash
- Peat is a type of fossil fuel that can turn into coal when burned.
- Environmentalists are concerned about the amount of carbon dioxide released from burning coal because it is a significant greenhouse gas.
Biodiesel Production
- Certain types of crops can generate the most oil per acre in biodiesel production.
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