Waste Management and Life Cycle Assessment

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Questions and Answers

What effect does warming have on the ocean's ability to reflect heat?

It has no significant effect on heat reflection.

It leads the ocean to absorb heat. (correct)

It causes the ocean to reflect more heat.

It promotes a decrease in ocean temperature.

How does increased warming affect the ice and snow cover on Earth's surface?

It decreases ice and snow cover, reducing reflectivity. (correct)

It increases both ice and snow cover.

It enhances the reflectivity of the surface.

It has no impact on ice and snow cover.

What role does water vapor play in the atmosphere as a result of ocean warming?

It acts as a greenhouse gas. (correct)

It disperses heat rapidly.

It decreases atmospheric pressure.

It acts as a cooling agent.

Which factor influences seasonal temperature contrasts on Earth?

The tilt of Earth’s axis. Signup and view all the answers

What would happen to Earth's temperature if its surface suddenly turned white?

The temperature would decrease because less insolation would be absorbed. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs)?

They involve raising large numbers of animals in confinement. Signup and view all the answers

Which nutrient is cattle primarily able to convert through their digestive system?

Cellulose Signup and view all the answers

What impact do animal wastes have on the environment?

They can carry microorganisms that contaminate water sources. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major disadvantage of aquaculture compared to open-water fishing?

It can weaken the genetic traits of wild fish. Signup and view all the answers

How do government crop subsidies affect CAFOs?

They reduce operating costs by about 7% to 10%. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'bycatch' in the context of fishing practices?

Non-food species accidentally captured during fishing. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary use of Zilmac in livestock production?

To boost muscle growth before slaughter. Signup and view all the answers

What does organic dust consist of in livestock operations?

A mixture of various organic materials including animal wastes and pesticide residues. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components constitutes the largest percentage of municipal solid waste by weight?

Paper and paperboard Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary distinction between primary recycling and secondary recycling?

Primary recycling produces the same product from waste, while secondary recycling produces a different product. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'design for recovery' refer to?

A method to standardize manufacturing for efficient recycling. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about recycling rates is true?

Recycling rates indicate the proportion of waste processed into new products. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'conspicuous consumption'?

Buying expensive goods to project status or identity. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes secondary recycling?

Converting waste into a different type of product. Signup and view all the answers

What implication does the label 'recyclable' have about a product?

The product can be recycled, but may not actually be recycled. Signup and view all the answers

Which method is part of the 'reduce, reuse, recycle' hierarchy?

Reuse before recycling. Signup and view all the answers

What is agrobiodiversity primarily concerned with?

The variety and variability of genetic material in life forms used for agriculture Signup and view all the answers

How does monoculture affect agricultural resilience?

It creates vulnerability to pests and diseases Signup and view all the answers

What consequence did the Green Revolution primarily bring about?

Focused production on a narrow range of grains Signup and view all the answers

What is a major environmental concern associated with the excessive use of nitrogen fertilizers?

Acidification of soil and degradation of organic matter Signup and view all the answers

What is leaching in terms of irrigation practices?

Water moving mineral elements deeper beyond plant roots Signup and view all the answers

What is one effect of desertification as a result of agricultural practices?

Loss of more than 10% of land productivity Signup and view all the answers

What happens during subsidence when an aquifer dries up?

The land settles as water-filled spaces collapse Signup and view all the answers

How does glyphosate function in agriculture?

It allows for freeness in herbicide application on resistant crops Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily responsible for bending global airflow and creating trade winds?

Coriolis effect Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon significantly alters weather patterns every 2-10 years in Pacific and Atlantic coastal areas?

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Signup and view all the answers

How does the density of water affect deep ocean currents?

Colder, more saline water is denser Signup and view all the answers

What is a result of thermal expansion in the oceans?

Increased sea level Signup and view all the answers

What gas is considered to be even more potent than methane (CH4) in terms of heat capture?

Nitrous oxide (N2O) Signup and view all the answers

What effect is resulting from the ocean absorbing carbon dioxide?

Ocean acidification Signup and view all the answers

Which oceanic feature affects the upper layers of ocean water and is influenced by atmospheric movements?

Surface currents Signup and view all the answers

What does the process of phenology study?

Seasonal timing of biological activities Signup and view all the answers

What is hindcasting used for in scientific studies?

Verify the accuracy of models with historical data Signup and view all the answers

Which ocean gyre is located in the southern hemisphere?

South Atlantic Gyre Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following methods promotes healthy soil?

Planting a cover crop at the end of the growing season Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic feature of the lithosphere?

It consists of the crust and the very top of the mantle. Signup and view all the answers

What type of plate boundary occurs when tectonic plates collide?

Convergent boundary Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes erosion?

It involves the transportation of weathered rock particles. Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of lithification in sedimentary rock formation?

The cementing together of sediment due to pressure and temperature. Signup and view all the answers

What is metamorphism in geological terms?

The change of one rock type into another under extreme conditions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a fault?

A fracture along which there is movement of rock masses. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of weathering involves physical processes rather than chemical?

Weathering occurring from extreme temperature changes. Signup and view all the answers

What type of rock is produced from the cooling of molten rock?

Igneous rock Signup and view all the answers

Which process leads to the formation of volcanic mountains?

Collision at convergent plate boundaries. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs at a divergent plate boundary?

Plates spread apart, creating new crust. Signup and view all the answers

Which mineral change is primarily caused by chemical weathering?

Rusting of iron due to oxidation. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of igneous rocks?

Always found beneath the Earth's surface. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Waste

Open dumps, like the Payatas Dump in the Philippines, expose residents to polluting gases (carbon dioxide and methane) released by anaerobic bacteria decomposing waste. This process is called volatilization.
In the United States, waste disposal strategies prioritize isolation. Sanitary landfills replace open dumps and capture leachate (liquid) and air pollutants, reducing environmental damage.

Waste Stream

The waste stream is a continuous flow of materials moving from upstream (extraction, production, and distribution) to downstream (disposal or recycling).
Municipal solid waste (MSW) is the waste from households and businesses.
MSW generation in the US has nearly doubled since 1960.

Life Cycle Assessment

Life cycle assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impact of a product throughout its lifecycle (from creation to disposal).
LCA also considers impacts beyond solid waste, including air pollution, greenhouse gases, water use and pollution, and environmental health effects.
The "cradle to grave" approach considers all the waste and impacts from manufacturing to disposal.

Waste Disposal Outcomes

Products of landfilling waste include leachate, methane, and carbon dioxide.
Open dumps are unprotected landfills that pose environmental and health risks, with associated problems like litter, vermin, water pollution, and possibly hazardous materials.
Dumping waste into oceans creates open dump conditions.

Waste Treatment

Geologial disposal injects waste deep into the Earth, primarily for industrial liquid wastes.
Containment buildings isolate waste.
Incineration is controlled combustion, reducing volume but releasing greenhouse gases and certain air pollutants. Waste-to-energy facilities use the heat from incineration to generate electricity.
Bioreactor landfills use water and air to speed up waste decomposition.
Remediation technologies convert hazardous waste into less hazardous materials.

Waste Management Strategies

Isolation - segregation of waste from humans.
Sanitary landfills use liners and caps.
Geologic disposal injects waste deep underground.
Waste-to-energy facilities convert waste into electricity.
Bioreactor landfills use water and air for faster decomposition.

Waste Recycling

Recycling diverts materials by processing them into new products.
Primary recycling processes materials back into their original product type. Aluminum cans recycled into new cans.
Secondary recycling transforms materials into different new products (downcycling). PET bottles into fleece products.
Recycling rates vary among different waste types.
Recycling guidelines standardize material manufacture for effective recycling.

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Description

This quiz covers critical aspects of waste management, including the environmental impacts of open dumps and the importance of sanitary landfills. It also explores the waste stream concept and life cycle assessment (LCA), highlighting the sustainability of products from production to disposal.