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Envir. Final
Ch. 9-15
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Greenhouse effect | High frequency waves penetrate the atmosphere. Rays get reflected and turn into low frequency and that cant pass back through so they get trapped and reflect back as heat. |
Relation between global temperature change and concentration of CO2 | CO2 concentration & temperature are correlated. We have always seen fluctuations but never at this rate. CO2 levels are increasing by 0.5% a year. This rate of change is unprecidented. Shows presence of human activity. |
Various evidences of global warming: Sea level increase | Surface temp is rising. Sea level is rising. Northern hemisphere snow cover is declining. As temp goes up - water temp goes up - volume of water goes up - meliting ice, oceans & poles increases water volume. |
Acceleration of global warming: Arctic feedback loop | Warming-> Decreased ice/snow extent forests migrate north-> decreased reflectivity. Measured in Sept. whenice is the least. Ice is the best reflector, water is the best absorber of heat. Replacing our best reflector w/the best absorber. -->More melting |
Impact of global warming | Suffering polar bears. Shismaref, AK land is melting away. Storm surges show effect of sea level rise by 15-20cm. Glaciers are retreating. Stonger storms Disruption of the ocean currents & Gulf Stream. |
Ozone depletion | Located in the stratosphere traps 97-99% of farmful high frequency UVA & UVB light. Production of CFC depletes the ozone layer. An ozone hole in S.pole allows UV light to penetrate. CFC has declined in all countries but increased in France & India. |
Air pollution issues | Acid Rain Particulates CFC's (green house gas used for refrigeration) |
Effects of indoor and outdoor air pollution | Very bad for lungs. Kills vegetation. Corrodes marble. Destroys ozone layer. |
Acid rain | pH of rain water is very low(lower than 6or7) Buring of coal(carbon+sulfer) combinged with oxygen you get sulfurous & sulfuric acid. Sulfer in the air=acid in the rain. Kills lungs, vegatation, corrodes marble, problem for shelled organisms. |
Clean Air Act | 1963 & 1970 - primary & secondary standards for abmient air quality. "Clean skies" - controversial grandfathering policies(if you started a business before the Act, you were exempt). Individual states-additional pollution control plans. |
Trends in developing and developed countries; implications | Deaths from air pollution are the highest in developing countries. Huge impact on their environment to make cheap products. |
Air pollution control measures | "Dilution is the solution to pollution". Air filters, scrubbers, catalytic converters, synthetic trees to capture CO2, houseplants to capture VOC's & clean air legeslation. |
Timeline 1997 | More than 160 nations meet in Kyoto, Japan to negotiate binding limitations on greenhouse gasses, setting LEGALLY BINDING EMISSIONS CUTS for industrialized nations to be met by 2010. |
Berkeley group’s evidence | The group found that weather stations are giving a true picture of global warming. Their own findings closely mirrors the records of global land temperature of existing findings. Same results from many different data show that the data is RELIABLE. |
Manipulation of climate change data | Skeptics take long term data set & show the reverse trend by choosing the start & end point. If you only look at part of the data that the temp trends go down to discredit that global temp.is rising. Realists look at long term trend that show increase. |
How does reflection on the surface of Earth change the nature of sunlight? | It increased the amount of heat that is reflected back. |
Explain the positive feedback loops of polar ice melting? | Warming--> Decreased ice/snow extent forests migrate north--> decreased reflectivity. Measured in Sept. whenice is the least. Ice is the best reflector, water is the best absorber of heat. Replacing our best reflector w/the best absorber. -->More melting |
Explain the positive feedback loops of permafrost melting? | High temp-->permafrost thaw-->CO2 & methane releaed into atmosphere-->even higher temp. Decomposition cant occur in permafrost. When it metls, organic matter decomposes w/out oxygen producing methane which is 25-35x more efficient at capturing heat. |
How are polar bears impacted by global warming? | Less & thinner sea ice & smaller blocks of ice. Dont get enough nutrition for their high calorie need. Have to swim longer using more energy when they fall through the ice. Pollution & over-hunting. |
What is happening to people of Shishmaref, Alaska? | Town was built on ice & their land is melting away. Big waves are washing away the land as well. |
How does global warming impact storms? | When the sea surface temperature increases, the intensity of storms increase. Many ways of collecting data is showing similar finding of all storm intensities rising. |
What will be the impact on Europe if the Gulf Stream is interrupted by melting glaciers? | The surface temperature of the Western North Atlantic will get cooler. Disruption of the Gulf stream can result in frozen temperatures in Europe. They need warm gulf stream currents. |
Why is the ozone hole over the South Pole? | There is a storm that sends CFC's and ozone damaging gasses up into the stratosphere. Extreme cold, a freezing vortex wind, frozen stratospheric clouds and 6-month darkness over Antarctica all provide ideal conditions for chlorine to break from the CFCs |
How do these work: Catalytic converters, scrubbers, air filters | CC-convert harmful pollutants into less harmful emissions before they ever leave the car's exhaust system. Scrubbers-mist or shower of water or basic substance to neutralize the substance to remove sulfur. Air filters-remove some particulates in the air. |
What was different about the Berkeley group compared to previous studies? | The Berkeley group found about 40,000 weather stations around the world whose output has been recorded and stored in digital form. It developed a new way of analyzing the data to plot the global temperature trend over land since 1800 |
How are long term temperature data manipulated by people who are determined to deny that global warming is real? | Skeptics take long term data set & show the reverse trend by choosing the start & end point. If you only look at part of the data that the temp trends go down to discredit that global temp.is rising. Realists look at long term trend that show increase. |
Water compartments | 1/4 of the world's population depends on groundwater to satisfy basic needs. 20% of the water in the US comes from groundwater. Saltwater=97.5% freshwater=2.5%(Glaciers=1.97%, groundwater=0.5%, lakes rivers & soil=0.03% & atmosphere=0.001%) |
Desalination | Removing salt from water. Fossil fuel intensive, energy intensive, costly, greenhouse gas emissions & increased salinity in nearby areas. |
Groundwater | Transpiration from plant surfaces. Precipitation. Evaporation from land & water surfaces. Runoff. Infiltration. Water table. groundwater. |
Zone of aeration | Soil particles, pore space(air) & moisture. |
Zone of saturation | At the very top is where the water table begins. An indication of where the water is. |
Confined and unconfined aquifer | Large body of ground water. Unconfined aquifers are very vulnerable to pollution on the surface. Confined aquifers are much less vulnerable and lay between impermeable rock layers. |
Human impact on aquifers | In the 1950s before it was pumped it was 100ft deep. Today there is about 50ft left. Most of the use is for growing corn & soybean for feeding cattle. Ogalala aquifer-rain recharges ground water & we're draining at a rate higher than the recharge rate. |
Freshwater shortage | About 25% of the world's people lack adequate clean drinking water. About 50% lack adequate sanitation. |
Gates Foundation – reinventing toilet | Gates foundation funds "toilet reinvention" project. Aim is to encourage sanitation in places w/out sewer systems. New toilets may generate electricity & recycle water from human waste. |
Subsidence, sinkhole | Subsidence-water table gets pumped and goes down and the ground collapses. If a lot of subsidence occurs, it becomes a sinkhole. |
Saltwater intrusion | With the withdrawal of groundwater, salt water comes in. The intrusion of salt water into aquifers & well water is a problem facing all coastal areas of the US. Along the coast, saline water extends inland underneath the non-saline groundwater. |
Water use in the US | Toilets=31% Baths=2% Showers=19% Clothes washers=25% Dishwashers=2% |
Domestic conservation; comparison of US and European water use | Per capita residential water use is more than 4 times as high as in England & 5 times as high as in Germany. Many societies could save as much as half of current domestic water usage w/out great sacrifice or serious change in lifestyle. |
Point & non-point sources of pollution | Point sources = Know the source and easier to monitor & regulate like factories. Non-point = Do not necessarily know the source like farms, crops & animal waste. |
Infectious agents | Main source of waterborne pathogens is untreated & improperly treated human & animal waste. (1.5 million American/year). E.COLI IS THE MAJOR COLIFORM BACTERIUM SPECIES. |
Oxygen demanding waste | Biochemical oxygen demand-amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by aquatic microorganisms in respiration & chemical reactions that require oxygen. |
BOD impact on streams | In a 1 time event(oil spill), dissolved oxygen declines & BOD rises in the decomposition & septic zones DO level 0-2. Recovery zone DO level 2-5 DO goes up & BOD goes down. Clean zone back to normal DO level 5-10. |
Oligotrophic & eutrophic lake | Oli-DO up, BOD down, clear healthy water. Eu-true food, high levels of dissolved nitrogen & phosphorous(agricultural runoff & animal waste), DO concentration down BOD up. Looks cloudy, murky, low quality water. Unhealthy ecosystem. |
Nutrient pollution | Nitrogen runoff from the enormous Mississippi watershed runs down the river to the Gulf of Mexico. |
Dead zone | Excessive nutrient pollution where fish die in massive numbers. |
Inorganic pollution | Metals(mercury, lead, cadmium & nickel) Nonmetallic salts, acids & bases. |
Organic pollution | Oil spills. Pesticides & pharmaceuticals & plastics. |
Thermal pollution | W/increased temp., organisms lose their capacity to function physically. Higher temp. water has less dissolved oxygen. Animals cant get oxygen. |
Clean Water Act 1972 | Goal-return all US surface waters to "fishable & swimmable" conditions. Point sources-discharge permits & best practical control tech required. SET 0 DISCHARGE FOR 126 PRIORITY TOXIC POLLUTANTS. Animal waste & fracking related exemptions. |
What are the pros and cons of desalination? | Can convert saltwater into freshwater. Fossil fuel & energy intensive, costly, greenhouse gas emissions, & increased salinity in nearby areas. Middle Ease & N. American regions w/ most desalination technology. |
How does pumping of groundwater effect the water table? | We are pumping at a rate that is higher than the rate of recharge. Almost have of the aquifers have been lost. |
How does salt water intrusion impact agriculture? | You can't use saltwater to grow plants, it will kill the crops. |
What is happening to the High Plains (Ogalala) Aquifer? | We are pumping water from the aquifer at an unsustainable rate. In the 1950s there was 100ft and today is is only 50 ft left. Most of the use is for growing corn & soybean for feeding cattle. |
What is the aim of the Gate’s Foundation | To encourage sanitation in places without sewer systems. About 25% of the worlds people lack adequate drinking water & about 50% lack adequate sanitation. New toilets may generate electricity, & recycle water from human waste. |
How does Salt water intrusion take place? What are the impacts? | With the withdrawal of groundwater, salt water comes in. The intrusion of salt water into aquifers & well water is a problem facing all coastal areas of the US. Along the coast, saline water extends inland underneath the non-saline groundwater. |
What is subsidence? How are sinkholes formed? | When the water table goes down from pumping, the ground collapses. The compaction of aquifer systems caused by ground-water pumpage. When a lot of subsidence happens, it becomes a sinkhole. |
What are the ways in which residential water is used? | Toilets=31% Baths=2% Showers=19% Clothes Washing=25% Dishwashers=2% |
What are impacts of BOD and COD? Know the diagram? | |
What are the steps in dead zone formation? | Sun heated freshwater runoff creates a barrier layer cutting off the saltier water below from contact with oxygen in the air. Nitrogen & Phosphorus ignite algae blooms that sink below & decompose. Starved of oxygen, fish die. Starts again in Spring. |
What are the various inorganic pollutants? | Metals(mercury, lead, cadmuim & nickel) Notmetalic salts Acids & Bases |
What are the impacts of oil spills? How long do these effects last? | Cost of a ruined ecosystem that can take generations to fix. Local people pay the price, not the oil companies. |
What should you do with your pharmaceutical products that you do not need? | Do not put them in the trash or in the toilet. Call your local pharmacy to dispose of them correctly. |
What is the state of plastic pollution? | Garbage collects along a convergence zone where cold water from the north meets cold water from the south. US trash tends to ride currents towards Asia while garbage from Asia heads toward the US. Creating a plastic garbage patch in the Pacific ocean. |
What are the consequences of thermal pollution? | W/ increased temp. organisms lose their capacity to function physically. Higher temp water has less dissolved oxygen and animals have trouble obtaining oxygen to breathe. |
What is the intended outcome of the Clean Water Act? What are the exemptions? What are the implications of these exemptions? | Goal to return US surface waters to fishable & swimmable conditions. Set zero discharge for 126 priority toxic pollutants. Exemptions for animal waste & fracking. Companies can pollute the environment w/ no consequence. |
Greenhouse Effect of photosynthesis & respiration | CO2 lets sunlight through but retains some of the heat it generates. Adding CO2 to the air increases the greenhouse effect. Photosynthesis removes CO2 from the atmosphere, decreasing the effect. |
Various greenhouse gases | 64% Carbon dioxide (CO2) 19% Methane (CH4) 11% Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) 6% Nitrous Oxide (N2O) 0.4% Sulfur hexafluoride Some water vapor |
Various evidences of global warming: Pine Beetle | When temp is warm, bores into pine bark for food/shelter. In frozen winter they dont eat into the tree. Warm periods have become longer & #of frozen days declined. Beetle eats alot more pine resulting in brown mountainsides & dead trees in CO, UT, WY |
Various evidences of global warming: Flowers | Flowers are blooming much earlier than before. |
Impact of global warming on oceans & acidification | Lower pH level in oceans making it more acidic. Overpopulation of jellyfish (excess nitrates runoff is perfect for overabundance of jellyfish) Coral reef bleaching (reefs become susceptible to increased temp & acididy and die). |
Timeline 1997 part 2 | The US senate says it wont ratify the agreement unless developing countries like China & India commit to more "meaningful participation". Though the Clinton admin signs the treaty at the convention, it doesnt bring the treaty to Senate for radification. |
Timeline 2000 | Candidate George Bush campaigns on supporting mandatory cuts in greenhouse gasses |
Timeline 2001 | President Bush appoints NJ gov. Whitman, w/a strong envir. record to head the EPA. ASKS FOR VOLUNTARY CUTS. Does not ratify Kyoto. |
Timeline 2005 | Kyoto protocol goes into effect on Feb. 16-ratified by more than 140 countries. In a speech on the floor of the US Senate, Sen James Inhofe calls global warming as "the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people" |
Timeline 2009 | The EPA on Friday April 17 formally declared carbon dioxide and 5 other heat trapping gasses to be pollutants that endanger public health & welfare. |