Term
why anthropogenic changes are so much more devastating than natural
changes |
|
Definition
| anthropogenic changes take place over shorter periods of times, nature cannot clean up our mess, human changes tend to be local and global, nature cannot prevent our changes |
|
|
Term
| the 4 components of Earth’s systems |
|
Definition
| Hydrosphere(Earth's water), Lithosphere(crust and top part of mantle), Biosphere(flora and fauna), atmosphere(gas that surrounds Earth) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, internally ordered structure, definite chemical composition. |
|
|
Term
| how are minerals classified |
|
Definition
| mineral cleavage, hardness, mineral color, mineral streak, composition, |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| coarse grained, slow cooling in the crust over a long time |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| fine grained, cooled above ground over a short period of time |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| coarse and fine grains, slowing cooling followed by fast cooling |
|
|
Term
| Hazards of shield volcanoes |
|
Definition
| least viscous magma, so flows are a problem |
|
|
Term
| Hazards of composite and rhyolitic volcanoes |
|
Definition
| magma is more felsic, so eruptions can be more explosive because of the build up of magma, pyroclastic bombs, lahars, and whatnot |
|
|
Term
| where most volcanic activity is located |
|
Definition
| Most volcanoes are located in the ring of fire, which is a giant ring of underwater volcanoes in the pacific ocean. |
|
|
Term
| what hot spots are and how they differ from traditional volcanoes |
|
Definition
| Hotspots are simply abnormally hot parts of the Earth's mantle. While underwater volcanoes will be formed over subduction zones, hotspots are not. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| physical weathering, transportation(particles), deposition, lithification |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| chemical weathering, transportation(atoms), deposition, precipitation |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| rocks that precipitated through biological processes then lithified |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| rocks made exclusively from organic material |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the processes that breakup and corrode solid rock, eventually turning it |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| physical wear and tear on the rock |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| water chemically reactions with minerals and breaks them down |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Water strips out anions and cations, transports them, then deposits them |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| reactions in which an element loses electrons |
|
|
Term
| what variable interact to create driving and resisting forces on a slope and those variables affect slope stability |
|
Definition
| Slope angle, climate, vegetation, role of water |
|
|
Term
| ways to minimize, eliminate, or protect against problems associated with mass wasting |
|
Definition
- Drainage control
- Grading
- Slope supports
- Terracing
- Keep people informed
- Identify possible areas of mass wasting
- Generate hazard maps |
|
|
Term
| the reasons why the study of soil is an important aspect of environmental analysis |
|
Definition
| land use planning, waste disposal problems, evaluate natural hazards |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Solid Earth material that may be altered by physical, chemical, and biological processes such that it can support rooted plant life |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Solid Earth materials that can be removed without blasting |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| - Sinking or Settling of Earth Materials |
|
|
Term
| Causes of ground subsidence |
|
Definition
| soil problems, withdrawal of fluids from earth, mining, karst topography |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| covers large areas of continental crust, subduction zones |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| occurs typically around intrusive igneous rocks as a result of the temperature increase caused by the intrusion of magma into cooler country rock. |
|
|
Term
| the evidence that led to the idea that the continents are in motion |
|
Definition
| dove-tailing outlines of South America's east coast and Africa's west coast, and from the matching of the rock formations along these edges. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Spreading Boundary - Mid-ocean ridge - Ridge - as the sea floor spreads, new magma rises up and cools in the ocean, forming new crust |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Convergent Margin - Subduction Zone - Consuming Boundary - Trench - volcanism occurs when a plate is subducted |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the highest amplitude of an earthquake wave produced during an earthquake |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| People's interpretation of how intense the earthquake was. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| How much energy was expended by the Earthquake |
|
|
Term
| the factors that determine the amount of shaking during an earthquake |
|
Definition
- Earthquake Magnitude
- Distance from Epicenter
- Depth of focus
- Local Soil and Rock Conditions
- Duration of shaking |
|
|
Term
| secondary effects of earthquakes |
|
Definition
| - Liquifaction, Landslides, Fires, Disease, and Tsunami’s |
|
|
Term
| - Know preventative measures to reduce earthquake damage |
|
Definition
- Don't build irregularly shaped structures
- Build on sediment that is both hard and permeable
- Retrofit old buildings
- Educated the public
- Build tall and flexible buildings to reduce damage from high frequency waves, and build short and rigid buildings to reduce damage from low frequency |
|
|
Term
| - Know the difference between a Tsunami and a regular wave |
|
Definition
| A regular wave is cause by wind while a tsunami is caused by are caused by ground displacement. Tsunami's tend to be significantly larger |
|
|
Term
| the best ways to prevent loss of life in the event a Tsunami strikes |
|
Definition
- Structural control
- Tsunami run-up maps
- Land use
- Educate the public and develop a "Tsunami ready status" |
|
|
Term
| what defines a “healthy Earth” and what role biodiversity plays in maintaining Earth’s health |
|
Definition
- Moves nutrients from places they are not needed to places they should be
- Eliminates waste
- Has stable temp., atm., and oceanic comp that does not fluctuate wildly
- Capable of responding to disturbances in ways that minimize their consequences
- Biota are instrumental in the regulation of Earth’s systems
- The more regulated the Earth, the more diverse the biology
- For most communities, diversity increases from the poles to the tropics, and the highly diverse communities exist within 10-20 degree of the equator |
|
|
Term
| natural factors of flooding |
|
Definition
• 1. Total amount and distribution of precipitation in the drainage basin
• 2. The rate at which precipitation infiltrates rock or soil
• 3. Topography
• 4. Some floods result from rapid melting of ice and snow in the Spring
• 5. Vegetation may reduce flood hazards in several ways |
|
|
Term
| anthropogenic flood factors |
|
Definition
• Inappropriate land use
• Urbanization |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Floods that affect only small localized areas |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Floods that affect large stream systems and large drainage basins |
|
|
Term
| techniques that have been used for flood control, as well as their success rate and environmental consequences |
|
Definition
• Physical Barriers
• Retention Ponds
• Channelization
• Channel Restoration – an alternative
• Floodplain Regulation- best way |
|
|
Term
| the role of littoral transport in building and eroding the coast |
|
Definition
• Input = sand supplied from rivers and transported down the beach by littoral transport
• Output = Sand removed from the beach by littoral transport or storms |
|
|
Term
| the consequences of this NATURAL process on coastal development |
|
Definition
• Engineering structres fail
• Beach Nourishment |
|
|
Term
| the hazards created by hurricanes and the best way to prevent death in the event a storm strikes |
|
Definition
• High Winds
• Flooding from excess precipitation
• Storm Surge à Most lethal
• Building regulations is how you solve it |
|
|
Term
| the relationship between groundwater and surface water |
|
Definition
| • Major source of groundwater is precipitation that infiltrates the surface of the land and moves through underground soil and rock |
|
|
Term
| • Know the consequences to the aquifer of over withdrawal of groundwater |
|
Definition
• Salt Water Intrusion
• Flow Reversal
• Land Subsidence
• Drying up the Streams |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Water that is used, but not withdrawn from its source
• This diversion of waters has adversely affected ecosystems, especially in fisheries in some of the northern California Rivers |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Water is removed or diverted from its source |
|
|
Term
| the trends in water use and the most effective ways to improve water conservation |
|
Definition
• Surface water withdrawals far exceed groundwater withdrawals
• Saw an increase in water withdrawals till 1980… then a decline even though the population is continuing to climb
• Irrigation and thermoelectric power industry are the primary consumers of water
• Public use of water in both urban and rural sectors has increased
• Use of water by agriculture and irrigation leveled off in 1980 and has slightly decreased since then
• Water used for thermoelectric power increased dramatically from 1960 – 1980 as numerous power plants began operating; usage has since decreased b/c more efficient use of water
• Since 1980, industry has used significantly less fresh water… due to improved technologies and increased water recycling
• . Improved agricultural irrigation could reduce water withdrawals by 20 – 30% |
|
|
Term
| the major types of water pollution, their causes, consequences, and methods of cleaning up contaminated water |
|
Definition
• Oxygen Demanding Waste
• Thermal Pollution
• Nutrients
• Physical Isolation
• Dredging
• Chemical treatment
• Pathogenic Organisms
• Oil
• Toxic Substances
• Sediment |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| • Water that is used for industrial or municipal purposes is often degraded by a variety of contaminants including oxygen demanding materials, bacteria, nutrients, salts, suspended solids and other chemicals |
|
|
Term
| ways the sludge can dealt with |
|
Definition
• Incineration
• Burying it in landfills
• Dumping it in the ocean
• Using it for soil reclamation |
|
|
Term
| the various aspects of daily life that get affected by air pollution |
|
Definition
• People/animals and plants
• Human Artifacts
• Aesthetic Effects |
|
|
Term
| the numerous sources of air pollution and the primary pollutants they produce |
|
Definition
• Stationary Sources
• Mobile Sources
• Carbon Monoxide
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)
• Nitrous Oxides (NOx)
• Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) |
|
|
Term
| the two types of smog and what causes each |
|
Definition
• Sulfurous Smog
• Primarily produced by burning coal or oil at large power plants
• Photochenical Smog
• Primarily from automobile use |
|
|
Term
| why air pollution is not evenly distributed around the globe, but is concentrated and therefore a local scale issue |
|
Definition
| • Air pollution is not distribute normally throughout the world… it is concentrated in and around urban areas, compliments of automobiles and heavy industry |
|
|
Term
| the 3 main strategies for controlling air pollution |
|
Definition
• A. Control of Particulates
• B. Control of Automobile Pollution
• C. Control of SO2 |
|
|
Term
| the role of the ozone layer in protecting biology |
|
Definition
| • Protects from harmful UV rays |
|
|
Term
| the main ozone destroying compounds and the sources of each |
|
Definition
| • Ozone-depleting substances began being released on a large scale when mass production of CFCs for refrigeration began in the 1930s. |
|
|
Term
| • Be familiar with current and expected future condition of the ozone layer and why |
|
Definition
• Since 1987, more than 150 countries have signed an international agreement, the Montreal Protocol, which called for a phased reduction in the release of CFCs such that the yearly amount added to the atmosphere in 1999 would be half that of 1986.
• Modifications of that treaty called for a complete ban on CFCs which began in January 1996.
• Ozone depletion is not an irreversible problem and it appears that the achievements of the Montreal Protocol will result in the eventual recovery of the ozone layer. Even with this ban in effect, chlorine from CFCs will continue to accumulate in the atmosphere for another decade but… it is expected that the first signs of ozone recovery will be noticed in ten to fifteen years. Total recovery may occur as early as 2050, but could be delayed as long as 2100.
• More globally, ozone depletion is expected to remain a fact of life for several decades to come, but thanks to the research that led to early recognition of the problem and steps that have been taken to address it, the potential consequences are much less severe than they otherwise would have been. |
|
|
Term
| what the greenhouse effect is and what role it plays in regulating Earth’s systems |
|
Definition
| • Trapping of heat in the atm by “greenhouse gases” |
|
|
Term
| why a greenhouse gas is called a greenhouse gas, and how it behaves differently than other gases |
|
Definition
| the sunlight (emitted as visible light) comes through the atm virtually unimpeded, whereas the IR radiation reflected back from Earth gets absorbed by the green house gasses and in affect, warms our planet |
|
|
Term
| factors that are thought to contribute to Earth’s inherently unstable climate |
|
Definition
1. Milankovitch Cycles
• 2. Ocean Conveyor Belt
• 3. Solar Variation
• 4. Volcanic Eruptions
• 5. Us |
|
|
Term
| the anthropogenic contribution to Earth’s climate change and why this latest warning trend is so much more concerning than anything we have seen previously |
|
Definition
| present warming greatly exceeds natural variability and clearly demonstrates that anthropogenic activities are significantly contributing to this latest spell of global warming |
|
|
Term
| the consequences of continued uncontrolled global warning |
|
Definition
• Natural Disasters
• Rearrangement of the biosphere |
|
|
Term
| the 3 major types of mining, when we would use which, and the major environmental consequences associated with each technique |
|
Definition
| Underground, Open Pit, and Strip Mining |
|
|
Term
| types of materials we want to mine |
|
Definition
• Metal – Opaque, shiny, smooth solids that can conduct electricity because their atoms are held together by metallic bonds
• Ore – a rock in which a valuable or useful metal is present in sufficiently high concentrations to make it economically worth mining |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| • To create this supply, ~ 18 billion tons of material must be mined each year… 14 billion of which will go to waste |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Value of the mineral or metal extracted
• 2. Concentration in a particular deposit
• 3. Source rock containing the material |
|
|
Term
| o Distribution of deposits |
|
Definition
| • Ore deposits are formed under very specific circumstances… so it should come as no surprise that the known economic mineral deposits are very unevenly distributed throughout the world |
|
|
Term
| the methods of solid waste disposal and the advantages and disadvantages of each |
|
Definition
• Composting
• Incineration
• Open Dump
• Sanitary Landfill |
|
|
Term
| the criteria for site selection of a sanitary landfill |
|
Definition
• Any rock that would make a good aquifer will make a lousy landfill
• 2. Any area with standing water (swamps) make poor sites
• 3. Anywhere frequently inundated by wind and water (floodplains and coasts) are poor sites
• 4. Any material with a high hydrologic conductivity or a high water table is a poor site
• 5. In hilly areas, the best sites are at the high points of the hills where surface water is at a minimum
• 6. Pits and flat areas made of a material with low hydraulic conductivity make good sites |
|
|
Term
| the various federal legislation that now regulates hazardous waste management |
|
Definition
• Landfills are not sited in certain areas, including floodplains, wetlands, unstable land, and earthquake fault zones. They are not sited near airports because birds attracted to landfill sites present a hazard to aircraft
• Landfill instruction must include liners and leachate collection system
• Operators of landfills must monitor groundwater for specific toxic chemicals
• Operators of landfills must meet financial assurance criteria. This is met through posting bonds or insurance to ensure that monitoring of the landfill continues for 30yrs after closure |
|
|
Term
| the alternatives to land disposal |
|
Definition
• Source reduction: Change manufacturing processes to ones that reduce the amount of waste
• Recycling and resource recovery: Retrieve and reuse chemicals that can be successfully recovered for future use
• Treatment: Hazardous chemical waste can be treated by a variety of processes to change the physical or chemical composition of the waste in such a way as to reduce its toxic or hazardous characteristics |
|
|
Term
| the various reasons why coal and oil are so problematic to the environment |
|
Definition
• Mining Mess (Development of oil rigs, transportation, waste disposal, and leakage)
• Severe air pollution results from the burning of oil
• Puts tons of CO2 into the atm |
|
|
Term
| the reasons we need to move away from coal and the reasons we need to move away from oil (the reasons for each are very different) |
|
Definition
• We need to transition from oil and coal to natural gas
• Need major educations program that inform people and governments of the pollution and depletion problems associated with fossil fuel use
• Between the mining, transportation, processing and use of fossil fuels, we are creating tremendous amounts of air and water pollution, as well as ruining vast amounts of wilderness
• Because fossil fuels are non-renewable and we are consuming them faster than they can be replaced, they are not a sustainable resource |
|
|
Term
| the benefits and problems associated with the various alternative energy solutions we discussed in class |
|
Definition
• Nonrenewable – Energy sources where we use up more source material than can be replaced in the same amount of time (ex: nuclear power and geothermal energy)
• Renewable – Source material is replaced as we use it and therefore is available in the same quantities all the time, despite how much we harvest (Solar power, hydropower, wind power, hydrogen, and energy derived from biomass)
• Nuclear Energy
• Sustainable
• Can blow up
• Geothermal Energy
• No extensive transportation of materials or refining, and there is also very little air pollutant created
• Waste water must be disposed of
• Can cause ground subsidence through removal of fluids as well as heat, which will cause the rocks to cool and contract
• May adversely affect the geysers
• Solar Energy
• Renewable
• Requires lots of space
• Hydro Power
• Wind Power
• Biomass Fuel
• Increased use of fertilizer to keep up with demand
• Sky rocketing food prices because there is not enough supply for both food and energy
• Hydrogen |
|
|
