APES Definitions Word Scramble

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Term	Definition
First Law of Thermodynamics	Energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another
Second Law of Thermodynamics	When energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy (usually heat)
Ionizing radiation	Radiation with enough energy to free electrons from atoms forming ions, may cause cancer (ex. gamma, X-rays, UV)
High Quality Energy	Organized & concentrates, can perform useful work (ex. fossil fuels & nuclear)
Low Quality Energy	Disorganized, dispersed (ex. heat in ocean or air/wind, solar)
Natural radioactive decay	Unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha & beta particles (ex. Radon)
Half-life	The time it takes for 1/2 of the mass of a radioisotope to decay. A radioactive isotope must be stored for approximately 10 half-lives until it decays to a safe level
Nuclear Fission	Nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons
Nuclear Fusion	2 isotopes of light elements (H) forced together at high temperatures till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus. Happens in the Sun, very difficult to accomplish on Earth, prohibitively expensive
Ore	A rock that contains a large enough concentration of a mineral making it profitable to mine
Mineral Reserve	Identified deposits currently profitable to extract
Surface mining	Cheaper, can remove more minerals, less hazardous to workers
Humus	Organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms
Leaching	Removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards through soil
Loam	Perfect agricultural soil with equal portions of sand, silt, and clay
Soil Conservation Methods	Conservation tillage, crop rotation, contour plowing, organic fertilizers
Hydrologic Cycle Components	Evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration
Aquifer	Any water-bearing layer in the ground
Cone of Depression	Lowering of the water table around a pumping well
Salt Water Intrusion	Near the coast, overpumping of groundwater causes saltwater to move into the aquifer
ENSO	El Nino Southern Oscillation, trade winds weaken & warm surface water moves toward South America. Diminished fisheries off South America, drought in western Pacific, increased precipitation in southwestern North America, fewer Atlantic hurricanes
La Nina	"Normal" year, easterly trade winds and ocean currents pool warm water in the western Pacific, allowing upwelling of nutrient rich water off the West coast of South America
Nitrogen Fixation	because atmospheric N cannot be used directly by plants, it must first be converted into ammonia by bacteria
Ammonification	Decomposers convert organic waste into ammonia
Nitrification	Ammonia is converted to nitrate ions (NO3-)
Assimilation	Inorganic N is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids & proteins
Denitrification	Bacteria convert ammonia back into N
Phosphorus	Does not exist as a gas; released by weathering of phosphate rocks, it is a major limiting factor for plant growth. Phosphorus cycle is slow, and not atmospheric
Photosynthesis	Plants convert CO2 (atmospheric C) into complex carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6)
Aerobic Respiration	Oxygen consuming producers, consumers & decomposers break down complex organic compounds & convert C back into CO2
Largest reservoirs of Carbon	(1) carbonate rocks (2) oceans
Biotic/Abiotic	Living & nonliving components of an ecosystem
Producer/Autotroph	Organisms that make their own food; photosynthetic life
Trophic Levels	Producers - Primary Consumer - Secondary Consumer - Tertiary Consumer - Decomposers
Energy Flow through Food Webs	10% of the usable energy is transferred to the next trophic level. Reason: usable energy lost as heat (2nd law), not all biomass is digested & absorbed, predators expend energy to catch prey
Primary succession	Development of communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life (ex. lava)
Secondary succession	Life progresses where soil remains (ex. clear-cut forest, old farm)
Mutualism	Symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit
Commensalism	Symbiotic relationship where one organism benefits and the other is unaffected
Parasitism	Relationship in which one organism (the parasite) obtains nutrients at the expense of the host
Carrying Capacity	The number of individuals that can be sustained in an area
r-strategist	Reproductive strategy in which organisms reproduce early, bear many small, unprotected offspring (ex. insects, mice)
K-strategist	Reproductive strategy in which organisms reproduce late, bear few, cared for offspring (ex. humans, elephants)
Natural Selection	Organisms that possess favorable adaptations pass them onto the next generation
Thomas Malthus	"Human population cannot continue to increase. Consequences will be war, famine, and pestilence."
Doubling Time	(Rule of 70) equals 70 divided by percent growth rate (ex. a population growing at 5% annually doubles in 70/5 = 14 years)
Replacement Level Fertility	The number of children a couple must have to replace themselves (2.1 more developed, 2.7 less)
Demographic Transition Model	Preindustrial stage, transitional stage, industrial stage, postindustrial stage
Preindustrial stage	Birth & death rates high, population grows slowly, infant mortality high
Transitional stage	Death rate (infant mortality) lower, birth rates remain high, better health care, population grows fast
Industrial stage	Decline in birth rate, population growth slows
Postindustrial stage	Low birth & death rates
Age Structure Diagrams	Broad base - rapid growth; narrow base - negative growth; uniform shape - zero growth
Most Populous Nations	(1) China (2) India
Low Status of Women	Most important factor keeping population growth rates high
Methods to Decrease Birth Rates	Family planning, contraception, economic rewards, and penalties
Composition of Water on Earth	97.5% seawater, 2.5% freshwater
Soil Salinization	In arid regions, water evaporates leaving salts behind (ex. Fertile Crescent, southwestern US)
Point Source	From specific location such as pipe or smokestack
Non-Point Source	From over an area such as agricultural (farm) runoff, traffic
BOD	Biological Oxygen Demand, amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down organic materials
Eutrophication	Rapid algal growth caused by an excess of nitrogen & phosphorus
Hypoxia	When aquatic plants die, the BOD rises as aerobic decomposers break down the plants, the DO drops & the water cannot support life
Primary Air Pollutants	Produced by humans & nature (CO, CO2, SO2, NO, hydrocarbons, particulates)
Secondary Air Pollutants	Formed by reaction of primary pollutants
Particulate Matter	Sources include burning fossil fuels and car exhaust. Effects include reduced visibility, respiratory irritation. Methods of reduction include filtering, electrostatic precipitators, alternative energy.
Nitrogen Oxides	(NOx) Major source is auto exhaust. Primary and secondary effects include acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog and ozone. Reduced using catalytic converters
Ozone	Secondary pollutant. Causes respiratory irritation and plant damage. Reduced by reducing NO emissions and VOCs
Sulfur Oxides	(SOx) Primary source is coal burning. Primary and secondary effects include acid deposition, respiratory irritation, plant damage. Reduction methods include: scrubbers, burn low sulfur fuel
Carbon Oxides	(CO2 and CO) Sources include burning fossil fuels, incomplete combustion. Effects: CO binds to hemoglobin reducing blood's ability to carry O; CO2 contributes to global warming. Reduction accomplished by catalytic converters, oxygenated fuel, mass transit
Industrial Smog	Found in cities that burn large amounts of coal
Photochemical Smog	Formed by chemical reactions involving sunlight (NO, VOC, O)
Acid Deposition	Caused by sulfuric and nitric acids resulting in lowered pH of surface waters
Greenhouse Gases	Most significatn: H2O, CO2, O3, methane (CH4), CFCs. Trap outgoing infrared energy (heat) causing earth to warm
Greenhouse Effect	A vital process, required for life to exist on Earth. If accelerated, bad, leads to global warming
Effects of Global Warming	Rising sea level (due to thermal expansion not melting ice), extreme weather, droughts (famine), and extinctions
Ozone Depletion	Caused by CFCs, methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, halon, methyl bromide all of which attack stratospheric ozone
Effects of Ozone Depletion	Increased UV, skin cancer, cataracts, and decreased plant growth
Municipal Solid Waste	Is mostly paper and mostly put into landfills
Sanitary Landfill	Problems include leachate, which is solved using a liner with a collection system; methane gas, which may be collected and burned and the volume of garbage, which may be compacted and/or reduced
Incineration	Advantages - volume of waste reduced by 90% and waste heat can be used. Disadvantages - toxic emissions (polyvinyl chloride, dioxin), scrubbers and electrostatic precipitators needed, ash disposal
Best Solution for Waste Problem	Reduce the amount of waste at the source
Keystone Species	Species whose role in an ecosystem is more important than others
Indicator Species	Species that serve as early warnings that an ecosystem is being damaged
Major Insecticide Groups	Chlorinated hydrocarbons - ex. DDT; organophosphates - ex. malathion; carbamates - ex. aldicarb
Pesticide Pros	Saves lives from insect transmitted disease, increases food supply, and increases profits for farmers
Pesticide Cons	Genetic resistance, ecosystem imbalance, pesticide treadmill, persistence, bioaccumulation, and biological magnification
Natural Pest Control	Better agricultural practices, genetically resistant plants, natural enemies, and biopesticides, sex attractants
Electricity Generation	Steam, from water boiled by fossil fuels or nuclear energy, or falling water is used to turn a generator
Petroleum Formation	Microscopic aquatic organisms in sediments converted by heat & pressure into a mixture of hydrocarbons
Petroleum Pros	Cheap, easily transported, high-quality energy
Petroleum Cons	Reserves depleted soon, pollution during drilling, transport and refining, burning makes CO2
Coal Formation	Peat, lignite, bituminous coal, anthracite coal
Nuclear Reactor	Consists of a core, control rods, moderator, steam generator, turbine, containment building
Alternate Energy Sources	Wind, solar, waves, biomass, geothermal, fuel cells
LD-50	The amount of a chemical that kills 50% of the animals in a test populations
Mutagen	Causes hereditary changes
Teratogen	Causes fetus deformities
Carcinogen	Causes cancer
Multiple Use Public Lands	National Forest & National Resource Lands
Moderately Restricted Use Public Lands	National Wildlife Refuges
Restricted Use Public Lands	National Parks, National Wilderness Preservation System
Volcanoes and Earthquakes	Occur at tectonic plate boundaries; divergent - spreading (ex. mid-ocean ridges); convergent - (ex. trenches); transform fault, sliding - (ex. San Andreas)
Mineral Deposits	Most abundant at convergent plate boundaries

Created by: mwells8