BASIC ENV MIDTERM COMPILATION PDF

CHAPTER 1: INTORUCTION DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENT* Physical factors of the surroundings of the human beings including land, water, atmosphere, climate, sound, odor, taste, the biological factors of animals and plants and the social factor of aesthetics. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES...

CHAPTER 1: INTORUCTION DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENT* Physical factors of the surroundings of the human beings including land, water, atmosphere, climate, sound, odor, taste, the biological factors of animals and plants and the social factor of aesthetics. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES BEFORE UN CONFERENCE PEA-SOUP FOG DISRUPT MINAMATA DISEASE London, 1962 Minamata Japan, Air pollution Mercury pollution 750 killed 2265 killed UN CONFERENCE ON THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT* 1969: 1968: UN general assembly approved 1970: 06/1972: Sweden propose UN- resolution 2398 to officially start conference to ECOSOC the conference Maurice Strong UN conference on (human environment choosen as secretary human UN secretary-general asked for interaction) general of the environment held reports to guide what conference by Sweden in ECOSOC approved resolution goverment and international Stockholm (11 1346 organization should do about days) evironment issue Stockholm declaration: 26 environmental and development principle Action plan: 190 recommendations for addressing global environmental issues Resolution: Cooperation and action to address international environmental problems ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT IN MALAYSIA* Division of Environment (BAS) Environmental Quality Act was established on 15 BAS was moved to Ministry of approved by government as a September 1975 under the Science, Technology and law on 14 March 1974 and Ministry of Local Government Environment on March 1976. enforced on 15 April 1975 and Environment JAS was moved to the Ministry BAS upgraded to Department of Natural Resources and of Environment (JAS) on 1 Environment on April 2006 September 1983. OUR COMMON FUTURE ALSO KNOWN AS BRUNDTLAND REPORT (UNITED NATIONS WORLD COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (WCED) - 1987)* Chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland (former prime minister of Norway) Based on the spirit of the 1972 Stockholm Conference by incorporating environmental issues into political and economic development Importance of poverty reduction, gender equity, and wealth redistribution for environmental sustainability while acknowledging limits to economic growth MANDATES OF OUR COMMON FUTURE Reassessing environment and development issues to propose actionable solutions Strengthening international cooperation and proposing new forms of collaboration Raising awareness and fostering commitment among individuals, organizations, businesses, and governments CHAPTER 2: WATER WATER PROPERTIES Exist in liquid, gas and solid boiling point-373.15K (100c), melting / freezing point-273.15K (0c) Density: high when hot, low when cold (max at 277K), water also expand when it cools down below 277K High surface tension due to hydrogen bonding: enhance circulation of water in plants, soil and blood stream, allow insect to float High specific heat capacity: help cold blooded aquatic organism to maintain their body temperature (absorb a lot heat before temperature change) Transparency to permit light penetration in stream and lake which vital for sustenance of aquatic organism Low viscosity allowing water to flow easily for water transportation THERMAL STRATIFICATION (LAKE) Epilimnion Metalimnion Hypolimnion (always 277K)  SPRING: surface layer warm and cools, lake nearly reach uniform temperature vertical mixing occur which distributes dioxygen and nutrient throughout water SUMMER: surface ;ayer of WINTER: low temerature but only water warmed by solar surface area freeze radiation,denser liquid at the bottom FALL: surface layer warm and cools, lake nearlyreach uniform temperaturevertical mixing occur which distributes dioxygen and nutrient throughout water WATER CYCLE 1. Evaporation 2. Transpiration 3. Condensation 4. Precipitation 5. Collection Undesirable pollutant may be transported throughout this cycle (acid rain) 1. Toxic substance evaporated 2. Acid rain containing H2SO4 3. Acid rain water absorbed by soil and carried to lake or ocean 4. Sulfur will be deposited as sediment CHAPTER 3: ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE ATMOSPHERIC STRUCTURE Controlled by temperature profile Thermosphere - up to 700km Mesosphere (meteor burns) - 90km Stratosphere (ozone layer) - 50km Troposphere (cloud & commercial plane) - 10km TEMPERATURE PROFILE TEMPERATURE INVERSION (unstable atmospheric) DAY TIME (sun warms the ground) NIGHT TIME (ground cools) - Warm air rises because its density is CLEAR SKY AND NO WIND - Air near ground lower than cold air cools faster - Warm air become 'cap' that - Air layer mix normally - Warm air remains trap cools air below it above - Plume of fog, pollution and haze trapped untill the suns heats ground in morning. ADIABATIC Process where the is no heat transfer in or out of a system POLLUTION Air pollution involves contaminants in the air harmful to life and property. PRIMARY SECONDARY Direct emission Formed by a reaction MAJOR POLLUTANT CO2, carbon monoxide, VOCs, particulate matter, toxic metals, CFCs, ammonia, radioactive pollutant PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG Formed when sunlight reacts with pollutants (nitrogen oxide, VOCs) Produced harmful chemical (secondary pollutant), ozone, PAN Causes respiratory issues and reduce visibility, harms plant GREEN HOUSE EFFECT Natural process that warms earth’s surface Greenhouse gasses: CO2, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide Advantages: without it, earth would be too cold Disadvantages: rising global temperature, rising of sea level, extreme weather patterns URBAN HEAT ISLAND Phenomenon where urban area experience higher temperature than rural areas Causes: human activities, limited airflow, heat absorbing materials Impact: health risk, environmental effect, increased in energy used DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER (act as protective shield, absorbing most sun’s harmful UV radiation) Thinning of ozone layer in stratosphere Causes: CFCs, leading to more UV exposure Impact: skin cancers, respiratory issues, cataracts ACID RAIN Acidic precipitation from sulfur and nitrogen emission Causes: human activities, volcanic eruptions, biological decay Impact: damages ecosystem, corrodes structure, harm corps, lower soil and water pH GLOBAL WARMING Increases in earth’s average temperature Causes: greenhouse gases Impact: rising sea level, extreme weather, ecosystem changes, rising desert MITIGATION EFFORT Renewable energy Advance vehicle system Personal responsibility SPOT EXAM BY PROF HARUN DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENT Environment includes physical, biological and social factors surrounding humans UN CONFERENCE ON THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT Held in Stockholm, Sweden on June 1972 Resulted in Stockholm declaration which consist of 26 principles, 109 recommendations for environmental management as the action plan and cooperation for global environmental issues as the resolution. ESTABLISHMENT OF DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT IN MALAYSIA 1974: environmental quality act passed 1975: environmental quality act enforced and division of environment formed 1983: upgraded to department of environment 2006: moved to ministry of natural resources and environment HOW DOES THE FISH ON FROZEN LAKE SURVIVE? Water maximum density is 4c This creates a liquid layer under ice which allowing the fish to alive despite surface freezing WHY DURING AUTUM, THE LEAVES FALL? Due to reduced sunlight and colder temperature The tree conserve water and energy by shedding leaves HOW DOES 4 SEASON WORKS? During spring and fall, the temperature is moderate and even distribution of sunlight During summer, the hemisphere tilted towards sun so the temperature is warmer During winter, the hemisphere tilted away from the sun so the temperature is colder DOES OZONE LAYER CONTAIN WATER? No, it only contains ozone which absorb UV radiation ILLUSTRATE TEMPERATURE PROFILE IN THE CONTEXT OF ATMOSPHERIC STRUCTURE WHERE IS OZONE LAYER LOCATED? In the stratosphere WHAT IS THE BODY AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE? Body temperature is around 37c and ambient temperature is varies based on surrounding HOW DOES FOG FORMED? Temperature inversion trap moist and cool air near the surface As the air cools to its dew points, the water vapor condenses into tiny droplets which then formed as fog This situation commonly happens in valleys or calm and clear night HOW DOES RAIN FORMED? The water vapor rises and cools The it condenses into droplet around dust particles in cloud When the droplet grows and heavy enough, it fall as rain DRAW THE TYPE OF LOWER PLUME AND NAME IT, EXPLAIN. HOW CAN PLUME FORMED? Fumigation plume occur when pollutant is trapped below warm air layer, dispersing horizontally abut remaining concentrated near the ground Trapping plumes occur when warm air above traps pollutant between cooler layer which preventing them from raising GREENHOUESE EFFECT It’s a natural process of warming the earth surface Some of the greenhouse gases includes, carbon dioxide and methane which maintaining the habitable temperature But if these effects are excessive, it can lead to global warming HAZE Haze particles get trapped in the lower atmosphere during inversion which lead to reduced visibility and poor air quality WHAT IS UHI? It’s a phenomenon when the urban area is hotter than rural areas Causes by heat absorbing material and human activities WHAT IS DEPLETION OF OZONE LAYER? It is causes by the release of CFCs and other pollutant, this can cause the increased of UV exposure which led to skin cancer and cataract WHAT HAPPEN IF WE DON’T HAVE OZONE LAYER? The UV radiation will increase which will also increase the rates of skin cancer and cataract This UV radiation can cause disruption of ecosystem and agriculture SIMILARITY AND DIFFERENTIATION OF GLOBAL WARMING AND GREENHOUESE EFFECT GLOBAL WARMING GREENHOUSE EFFECT Both involves greenhouse gases Both influence earth’s average temperature Both impact climate system Human induced process Natural process Causes earth’s temperature to rise Keeps earth’s temperature stable Disrupt climate Regulating climate