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Questions and Answers
What is a consequence of fire suppression in forests?
What is a consequence of fire suppression in forests?
What is one of the purposes of prescribed burns?
What is one of the purposes of prescribed burns?
What defines an 'impervious surface'?
What defines an 'impervious surface'?
What does 'maximum sustainable yield' refer to?
What does 'maximum sustainable yield' refer to?
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How can urban sprawl negatively impact the environment?
How can urban sprawl negatively impact the environment?
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What is the primary environmental impact of mining on biodiversity?
What is the primary environmental impact of mining on biodiversity?
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What is the term for the soil and rock that is removed during mining operations?
What is the term for the soil and rock that is removed during mining operations?
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Which of the following is a consequence of subsurface mining compared to surface mining?
Which of the following is a consequence of subsurface mining compared to surface mining?
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What effect does mining have on air quality according to its operations?
What effect does mining have on air quality according to its operations?
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What are tailings in the context of mining?
What are tailings in the context of mining?
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Which chemical reaction serves as a basis for acid mine drainage?
Which chemical reaction serves as a basis for acid mine drainage?
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How does acid mine drainage negatively affect streams?
How does acid mine drainage negatively affect streams?
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Which solution is effective in preventing acid mine drainage?
Which solution is effective in preventing acid mine drainage?
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What is phytoremediation?
What is phytoremediation?
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Which of the following is a benefit of clear-cutting?
Which of the following is a benefit of clear-cutting?
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How does clear-cutting impact the global climate?
How does clear-cutting impact the global climate?
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What effect does clear-cutting have on local stream and soil temperatures?
What effect does clear-cutting have on local stream and soil temperatures?
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What is one major consequence of clear-cutting on the water cycle?
What is one major consequence of clear-cutting on the water cycle?
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Which of the following describes selective cutting?
Which of the following describes selective cutting?
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Why is selective cutting considered more sustainable than clear-cutting?
Why is selective cutting considered more sustainable than clear-cutting?
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How does clear-cutting affect soil erosion rates?
How does clear-cutting affect soil erosion rates?
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Study Notes
Mining and Forestry Quiz Review
- Quiz Scope: Covers the first three topics in the unit outline. Refer to the course outline for details on topics not included.
- Supplementary Resources: AP Daily videos, textbook chapters (23 - Mining and 12 - Forests), and class Pear Decks are recommended for further review.
Ore Depletion and Access
- Ore Depletion: As more accessible ores are mined, operations move to lower-grade ores.
- Waste and Pollution: Accessing lower-grade ores requires increased resource use, leading to increased waste and pollution.
Overburden and Tailings
- Overburden: The excess soil and rock removed during mining.
- Tailings: Waste and impurities removed during ore refinement, typically stored in large ponds or impoundments.
Surface vs. Subsurface Mining
- Reclamation: Restoring a surface-mined area to resemble its original habitat.
- Subsurface Mining Drawbacks: More dangerous than surface mining, and can lead to sinkholes and changes in land topography.
Mining Impacts on Habitats and Biodiversity
- Ecosystem Destruction: Strip mining, mountaintop removal, and open-pit mining destroy habitats, removing vegetation and topsoil.
- Biodiversity Reduction: No habitat means wildlife cannot survive. Mining greatly reduces biodiversity.
Mining and Air Quality and Greenhouse Gases
- Air Quality Impacts: Mining activities (dust) decrease air quality.
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Removing overburden releases previously trapped gases like methane, increasing greenhouse gas emissions
Acid Mine Drainage
- Chemical Reaction: Pyrite reacts with oxygen and water to produce sulfuric acid and iron hydroxide. Oxygen is essential.
- Stream Health Impacts: Acid mine drainage increases stream acidity, strips away heavy metals (like lead & mercury), and decreases stream water clarity (turbidity).
Acid Mine Drainage Remediation
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Solutions: Several solutions exist, including:
- Allowing oxygen into abandoned mines
- Adding lime to the soil to neutralize acidity
- Adding pyrite to the soil
Phytoremediation
- Definition: Using plants to remove toxins and pollutants from soil.
Forest Benefits
- Resource Provision: Forests provide lumber, food, and support ecotourism.
- Environmental Benefits: Forests support biodiversity, regulate water cycles, and remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
Clear-Cutting
- Definition: Removing all trees from a given area.
- Benefits: More cost-effective and simple to implement, providing space for crops or housing.
Clear-Cutting Impacts
- Global Warming: Cutting down trees reduces CO2 absorption leading to increased global warming.
- Local Stream/Soil Temperature: Removing trees increases stream and soil temperatures.
- Water Cycle: Disrupts the natural water cycle by removing trees that contribute to water usage during photosynthesis.
- Soil Erosion: Loss of tree roots increases rates of soil erosion.
- Turbidity and Dissolved Oxygen: Increased soil erosion increases turbidity and decreases dissolved oxygen in streams due to decreased photosynthesis.
Selective Cutting
- Definition: Cutting only selected trees in a forest.
- Sustainability: Less disruptive to the forest ecosystem, maintaining more biodiversity and ecosystem functions than clear-cutting.
Fire Suppression
- Consequences: Suppressing natural fires can lead to catastrophic fires later on because the build-up of dry, flammable material.
- Fire Benefits: Naturally occurring fires help remove debris and invasive species.
Prescribed Burns
- Definition: Controlled forest fires.
- Benefits: Help forests and humans by removing potential fire risks & mimicking natural fire cycles for benefits.
Urban Sprawl Drawbacks
- Increased CO2 Emissions: Increased commuting due to spread-out development.
- Biodiversity Loss: Loss of natural habitats for organisms.
Impermeable Surfaces
- Definition: Surfaces that do not allow water to seep into the ground.
- Problems: Water runs off, carrying pollutants and contaminants into waterways.
Urban Runoff Prevention
- Permeable Surfaces: Surfaces that allow water to be absorbed.
- Green Spaces: Landscapes that encourage water absorption and reduce runoff.
Sustainability
- Definition: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Maximum Sustainable Yield
- Definition: The largest sustainable harvest from a population or species.
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Description
This quiz review covers the initial topics related to mining and forestry, including ore depletion, overburden, and methods of mining. It is designed to aid understanding of key concepts and their environmental implications. Recommended resources include AP Daily videos and relevant textbook chapters.
