ENV Science Midterm questions

Water bodies downstream are deprived of their source of water, leading to declining lake levels and affecting fish and other wildlife populations.

To remove large particles via filtration.

Water diversion.

It can ruin water supplies.

To increase the amount of dissolved oxygen in wastewater.

It can cause water tables to be lowered.

Evapotranspiration is the process of plants giving off water, and it is an important part of the hydrologic cycle as it helps to recycle water back into the atmosphere.

Runoff is surface water that moves across the surface of the land and enters streams and rivers, contributing to the hydrologic cycle by flowing into bodies of water and eventually evaporating back into the atmosphere.

An aquifer is an underground layer of gravel, sand, or permeable rock that holds groundwater, and it is recharged by rainfall and percolation.

An unconfined aquifer is usually near the land's surface, with the water table as its upper boundary, whereas a confined aquifer is bounded on top and bottom by layers impermeable to water, with water stored under high pressure.

Porosity is a measure of the size and number of spaces in the substrate, and it is important in the context of groundwater as it affects the storage and flow of water in aquifers.

The vadose zone, or zone of aeration, is the area above the water table unsaturated with water, and it is dependent on the level of the water table.

Industrial solvents, weed killers, refrigerants, and percholate (rocket fuel component)

Because as long as water is seen as a limitless and inexpensive resource, few conservation measures will be taken.

Setting quotas on water use enforced by higher prices for larger users.

A program modeled after the Energy STAR program.

Physical losses of water.

As high as 20%; these losses contribute to water scarcity and increased costs of distribution and treatment.

Potable water is unpolluted fresh water, suitable for drinking.

Water is a simple molecule consisting of one oxygen atom bonded to two different hydrogen atoms.

10%

between 5 and 10 million deaths occur each year from water-related

cholera, malaria, dengue fever, and dysentery.

97% of all the Earth’s water is found in oceans. 3% is freshwater

underground water

Evaporation, Transpiration, Condensation, Precipitation, Runoff

the process of plants giving off water

surface water that moves across the surface of the land and enters streams and rivers.

is water that fills spaces in the substrate.

an underground layer of gravel, sand, or permeable rock that holds groundwater that can be extracted by wells.

aquifer that is usually near the lands surface. The water in these aquifers is at atmospheric pressure and is recharged by rainfall and percolation.

(zone of aeration) is the area above the water table unsaturated with water

is bounded on top and bottom by layers impermeable to water. Water in these aquifers is stored under high pressure and recharged by rain and surface water from a geologic recharge zone.

An impervious confining layer is called an aquiclude. A permeable confining layer is called an aquitard

If trends continue 1.8 billion people will have a water scarcity by 2025, and 2/3 of the world’s populations could suffer water stress.

in the developed world losses may be as high as 20%. Poorer countries may lose over 50%

surface/flood, spray, trickle, sub-Irrigation

Industrial water use accounts for nearly 50% of all water withdrawal in U.S., 75% in Canada, and 23% worldwide.

90%

seeks to protect U.S. waters from pollution. Setting water quality standards for surface water. Limiting effluent discharges into the water.

In-stream water use makes use of water in its channels and basins.

is the amount of oxygen required to decay a certain amount of organic matter.

all available oxygen will be used up

Eutrophication is excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants due to added nutrients.

A point source is a source of pollution readily located and identified while Nonpoint sources are more difficult to identify and control.

Waste from homes consists primarily of organic matter from garbage, food preparation, cleaning of clothes and dishes, and human waste.

1994

occurs when industry withdraws water from a source, uses it for cooling purposes, and returns heated water to its original source.

Large, shallow cooling ponds, Cooling towers, Dry Towers

the deep water horizon

42 million liters

water supply for human and industrial needs, wastewater collection and treatment, storm water collection and management

Water diversion is the process of transferring water from one area to another.

water bodies downstream are deprived of their source of water. Lake levels decline, affecting fish and other wildlife populations

Inflow, preliminary, primary, secondary, water recycling & disposal

removes large particles via filtration and then pumps remaining water into settling ponds and lakes.

is a biological process that usually follows primary treatment.

an increase in salinity caused by growing salt concentrations in soil. As plants extract water from the ground, the salts present in all natural waters become concentrated.

Groundwater mining is removing water from an aquifer faster than it can be replenished. Extended periods of mining can lead to Land settling, lowering of the water table, Saltwater intrusion into wells near coastal areas.

The Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary became the first UAE wetland listed by Ramsar as a site of international importance in 2007.

since the 1970's

where the natural water supply is well below the water demand.

by desalinating sea water and brackish groundwater

National Strategy for Preservation of Water Resources.

it is composed of 78.1% Nitrogen, and 20.9% oxygen

argon, carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor

it is held by the pull of earths gravitational force

Troposphere

Thermosphere

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere

air pollution is the presence of toxic chemicals or compounds in the air, at levels that pose a health risk

7 Million deaths annually

20-30%

A primary pollutant is an air pollutant emitted directly from a source, while a secondary pollutant is not directly emitted as such but forms when other pollutants (primary) react in the atmosphere

Carbon monoxide, Volatile organic compounds, Particulate matter, Sulfur dioxide, Oxides of nitrogen

Nitrogen dioxide, Ozone, Sulfur dioxide, Particulate matter, Carbon monoxide, and Lead

Hazardous air pollutants

comes from burning coal and oil, and smelting metals and other industrial processes

Volcanos

particulate matter is any solid particles or liquid droplets that are small enough to stay suspended in the air

are construction, forest fires, volcanoes, and tobacco smoke

Leaded gas, leaded paint, metal processing, and waste incineration

Car exhaust, and coal burning

Incomplete combustion of fuels , automobile emissions, electricity generation, industrial process

Industrial processes, car exhaust, and certain plants

irritate the respiratory system irritate the nose and throat and when it reacts with the atmosphere it forms sulfuric acid, which creates acid rain

can get into your respiratory system and aggravate it and sometimes even damage it and the smaller the particulate the more dangerous it is because it can get deeper into the lung tissue and damage the tissue

can cause mental retardation, blindness, and partial paralysis

irritates the respiratory system can aggravate asthma and other breathing problems

gets into your blood and it impairs hemoglobin’s ability to carry oxygen to your cells, so your cells die of lack of oxygen

they can cause cancer, immune system damage, even blood disorders.

dangerous man-made chemical compounds that can cause harm to human health or damage the environment purposely or accidentally released in the air

Pesticides, Benzene, gasoline, and some consumer products such as glues and cleaners

released from dry cleaning establishment

Chemical and petroleum industries

It can create nitric acid and sulfuric acid. These lead to acid rain

The tropospheric ozone is the bad zone due to being formed from the reaction of nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds

The stratosphere is the good ozone, due to it protecting us from damaging UV rays.

the mixture of pollutants, with secondary air pollutants being invovled in its creation

forms from the interaction of nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen monoxide, and volatile organic compounds with sunlight in a warm environment.

ozone, peroxyacetyl nitrates (PAN) and aldehydes.

Ozone, and peroxyacetyl nitrates (Pan)

three oxygen atoms bonded to one another (O3)

burning of fuel in vehicles and industrial processes producing nitrogen monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. Sunlight and warm temperatures are important to support the chemical reactions involved

Cities with warm climates and lots of sunlight

when warm air becomes sandwiched between two layers of cold air and acts like a lid on a valley.

warm air cannot rise, causing smog

the accumulation of potential acid-forming particles on a surface. commonly referred to as acid rain

Vegetation, volcanoes, lightning

Burning of coal and use of the internal combustion engine produces molecules that forms acids in the atmosphere

structures, terrestrial ecosystems, and aquatic ecosystems

1985, the area was called the ozone hole

The Montreal Protocol, was an international treaty established in 1988.

limited production of chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) and halon (used in fire extinguishers), and called for CFC"S to be reeduced by 50% by 2000. Ultimately all production was stopped

compounds that release chlorine atoms which can lead to the destruction of ozone.

it takes 10 to 20 years for it to reach and remains for up to 120 years iin the stratopshere and ozone

from 1980-1985

2000

Clean Air Act of 1970

Environmental Protection Agency

Placing controls on the emissions from motor vehicles, control of the release of nitrogen oxides which are technical and expensive, and setting limits and allowing electric utilities to decide which options are the best for them (energy star)

1. Industries required to obtain permits to release materials into air
2. new/existing sources of air pollution subject to national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS)
3. Power plants allowed to sell their sulfur dioxide release permits to other companies.

Asbestos, Formaldehyde (in many consumer products), Radon, VOC's, Carbon monoxide, Lead based paint in older homes, Particulate matter from burning material, and mold.

Smoking

exposure to environmental tobacco smoke as a result of living and working in places where people smoke.

An inert radioactive gas with a half life of 3.8 days. It is formed as a byporduct of uranium-238 decay.

Increased incidence of lung cancer

Usually diffuses up through rocks and soil and escapes harmlessly into the atmosphere, can also diffuse into groundwater.

The Bear Glacier retreated over 6 kilometers between 2012 and 2019 and has continued to retreat

1. Earrths distance from the sun
2. Changes in the energy output of the sun
3. The presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

about an 11 year cycle

Gases that allow sunlight to penetrate the atmosphere, and can absorb the sunlight's heat

the warming that occurs because of the presence of greenhouse gases

The greenhouse effect caused by the presence of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere makes the earth suitable for life, because without it, it would be freezing -18 celsius

Radiation that is emitted from the earth's surface

Greenhouse gases absorb infrared radiation that is leaving the earth's atmosphere and warm up the earths surface, which is known as the greenhouse effect

1.Carbon Dioxide 2.Methane 3.Chlorofluorocarbons 4.Nitrous oxide

Global warming relates to an average increase in the temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere, While Climate change refers to the many other changes that come about because of global warming.

Weather is short term activities such as temperature changes, rain and snow events, and winds. Climate is long term average of weather patterns, meaning if climate is changing, we should expect changes in the weather patterns also

Yes

As greenhouse gases in the atmosphere increase, the earth will get warmer and many climate changes will occur

1975

satellite photos show how snow and ice conditions change, Migration behavior of marine animals show changes in the time of migration or the route followed

Wind patterns, ocean currents, sea level measurements, frequency and strength of tropical storms

30% increase, 317ppm to 411ppm

280ppm before industiral concentration. current concentration represents an increase of 47 percent over preindustrial concentrations

ppm stand for parts per million, ppb stands for parts per billion

Methane concentration in pre-industrial times was recorded to be 700 ppb. Now its concentration in current times is recorded to be be 1,870 ppb

Nitrous oxide (N2O)

synthetic compounds that are a minor component of the greenhouse gas picture.

widely used as refrigerant gases in refrigerators and air conditioners, as cleaning solvents, as propellants in aerosol containers, and as expanders in foam products.

they are 15,000 times more efficent at slowing down heat loss than is carbon dioxide

1. Carbon Dioxide (65%)
2. Methane (17%)
3. Chlorofluorocarbons (8%)
4. Nitrous oxide (6%)

The intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

provide an assessment of the state of knowledge about climate change at regular intervals.

changes to the hydrologic cycle (water cycle), sea level, human health, survival of organisms, distribution of organisms, and use of natural resources by people.

these nations tend to depend on agriculture, which is climate-sensitive, and don't have the economic resources to adjust to global warming.

Africa. Due to poverty in Africa, it limits the adaptation capabilities

Oceans become more acidic, changes to weather and climate, disruption of the Hydrologic cycle (water cycle), changes to ecosystems, health effects, challenges to agriculture and food supply

442.3 billion in damages from 1980-1999, and 1.312 Trillion in damages from 2000-2019

from 1980-1999, 80 weather events happened. from 2000-2019, 178 weather events happened

people with heart problems are at risk because their cardiovascular system must work harder to keep the body cool during hot weather.

Poultion becomes worse, which leads to injury of lung tissue and increases the incidence of respiratory disease, asthma, and allergies

placing a tax on the amount of carbon individuals and corporations release into the atmosphere.

it addressed dealing with Chloorofluocarbons

dealing with greenhouse gases, publishing plans for reducing greenhouse gases

encourage more aggresive greenhouse gas reductions, establish how each countries NDC's will be measured

Dealing with Chlorofluorocarbons and Hydrofluorocarbons. Chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons destroy stratospheric ozone and greenhouse gases.