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EVPP 111 Final Review
Final Review for EVPP
156
Environmental Studies
Undergraduate 3
05/15/2011

Additional Environmental Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
The total fertility rate (TFR) for human population is affected by
Definition

availability of family planning services

cultural and religious traditions

governmental policies

marriage age

Term
The current population of the earth is approximately
Definition
6.7 billion
Term
Zero Population Growth (ZPG) means that
Definition
Poeple will be born, will die, and will come and go but the size of the population will remain stable because the number of people leaving the population through death and emigration
Term
I=P x A x T
Definition
Environmental Impact = Number of People (P) x Affluence per person (A) x environmental effects of technologies (T)
Term
Consider a country with a stable population and no changes in technology. If that country undergoesa DECREASE in the affluence of each individual, the environmental impact oul be expected to...
Definition
decrease
Term
Consider a country with no changes in technology r affluence of each individual. If that country has an INCREASE in population, the environmental impact would be expected to...
Definition
increase
Term
Consider country A with a female literacy rate of 83% and country B with a female literacy rate of 56%. All else being equal, which country would most likely have a HIGHER TFR (total fertility rate)?
Definition
Country B
Term
Consider country C in which the average age at which women marry is 23 years and country D in which the average at which women mary is 28 years. All else being equal, which country would most likely have a LOWER TFR?
Definition
Country D
Term
Birthrates and death rates stabilize at lower levels, leading to a stable, but larger population during which stage of the demographic transition?
Definition
Post-Industrial
Term
Birthrates remain high but death rates begin to decline, leading to an overall increase in population during which stage of demographic transition?
Definition
Transitional
Term
In 1950, Country X had a population of 1,500,000. By 1967, Country X's population has increased to 3,000,000. Coutnry Y had a population of 650,000 in 1973. In 1988, its population was 1,300,000. Which country had the fastest doubling of its population during the periods indicated?
Definition
Country Y
Term
What correctly gives the formula for determining population change
Definition
(births + immigrations) - (deaths + immigrations) = population change
Term
The total fertility rate (TFR) is
Definition
average number of children per woman for a country
Term
NOT a condition believed to be in place when today's developed countries went through the demographic transition
Definition
World population was larger than it is now
Term
Two types of "overpopulation" were discussed. Human (people) overpopulation
Definition

is a common problem in developing countries

 

AND

 

occurs when too many people consume few resources per person

Term
Two types of "overpopulation" were discussed. "Consumption overpopulation..."
Definition

is a common problem in highly developed countries

 

AND

 

occurs when each individual in a population consumes too large a share of the resources

Term
The world's most abundant fossil fuel is
Definition
coal
Term
What fuel was primarily formed from the remains of ancient terrestrial plants in the great carboniferous forests and swamps
Definition
coal
Term
what is NOT true about the formation of oil and natural gas
Definition
the cap rock (or trap) is a coarse grained, porous rock in which the oil and natural gas accumulates in the pores
Term
Subsurface mining of coal ______________
Definition
results in less disturbance of the land then surface mining of coal
Term
The mining and/or burning of coal produces and/or contributes to
Definition

acide deposition

increased carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere

land disturbance

acid mine drainage

 

(all of the above)

Term
In __________________, huge amounts of earth are removed by heavy machinery in order to expose and extract the coal
Definition
surface mining
Term
Accurate description of primary extraction of oil
Definition
Primary extraction removes about 1/3 of the total oil deposit below ground
Term
Approaches mentioned in class to a "cleaner" fuel
Definition

1.Washing coal pre-combution to remove some impurities.

2. Using fluidized bed technology during combustion to get more thorough combustion at lower temperatures.

3. Using scrubbers post combustion to remove certain substances from the emissions.

4. Converting coal to methane, a cleaner burning fuel, and capturing the carbon dioxide that would be emitted.

(all the above)

Term
Which energy source is used to produce a majority of electricity in the U.S. and world?
Definition
Coal
Term
The largest consumer of oil is _______________. Whereas the largest producer of oil is _________________.
Definition
United States .......... Saudi Arabia
Term
The fossil fuel that is naturally the "cleanest" to burn is
Definition
natural gas
Term
Gas created at shallow depths by the anaerobic decomposition or organic matter by bacteria is called
Definition
Biogenic gas
Term
Deposits of moist sand and oil (bitumen) are called
Definition
Oil sands
Term
The fossil fuel that is naturally the "dirtiest" to burn is
Definition
coal
Term
Which country has the highest per-capita energy consumption
Definition
U.S.
Term
The world's dominant enery source for the past ~40 years has been
Definition
oil
Term
What is considered a NONrenewable resource
Definition
Coal
Term
The amount of a ____________ changes only by the amount that is used each year whereas the amount of a ____________ changes as technology advances
Definition
resource ........reserve
Term
Exposure to high heat and pressure during formation produces coal that has characteristics of: dry, very compact, high heating value and NOT
Definition
wet
Term
Lignite forms under conditions of relatively low heat and pressure. As a result, one would expect is to exhibit what?
Definition

soft

high moisture content

brownish color

Term
Negative environmental impacts from the production and use of oil may occur due to:
Definition

Subsidence of land

Pollution of surface and groundwater

Loss, disruption, damage to ecosystems

Leaks and spills from pipes, storage tanks, transport vehicles

 

(all the above)

Term
What is a demographic transition
Definition
A model of economic and cultural change used to explain the decling death rates and birth rates that occurred in developed nations as those nations experienced industrialization
Term
The relationship between population growth and per capita national income ___________________
Definition
is such that as per capita national income increases, growth rate decreases
Term
How does the burning of coal contribute to acid rain
Definition
Burning coal produces emissions containing sulfur and nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide which combine with moisture in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and carbonic acid
Term
Net energy expresses the difference between energy returned and energy invested. When comparing energy sources it is useful to use a ratio called the EROI. Assume that you have been researching existing and new energy sources and have determined their EROIs. Based only on the EROI, which would be most desirable?
Definition
10:1
Term
What is "Hubbert's Peak"?
Definition
A prediction, based on rates of extraction and new discovery, of when a country's or global oil production will be at a maximum and then start to fall
Term
Ocean energy sources that can be used to generate electricity include
Definition
wave energy and tide energy
Term
what is NOT true about the potential problems associated with using ocean energy
Definition
It can produce greenhouse gases
Term
the creation of a reservoir (behind a hydroelectric dam) causes many types of environmental and social damage EXCEPT
Definition
production of relatively clean, renewable energy
Term
Hydroelectric power plants do not release CO2 directly into the atmosphere but CO2 and other greenhouse gases can be released from the reservoirs behind dams when
Definition
organic material submerged when the reservoir formed undergoes decay
Term
Using hydropower to generate electricity has many advantages. What is NOT an advantage of hydropower?
Definition
Hydropower dams can disrupt the migration of migratory fish
Term
True or False: Pumped storage is an example of the "impoundment" approach to taking advantage of hydropower?
Definition
True
Term
Of the renewable/alternative sources of energy, which currently produces the largest percent of the United State's electricity?
Definition
Hydropower
Term
What is NOT TRUE concerning the combustion of biomass for energy production
Definition
does not produce any greenhouse gases
Term
what is NOT considered a strategy for conserving energy in homes and buildings
Definition
increase the use of incadenscent light bulbs
Term
True of False: Even if the electricity for electric cars comes from burning fossil fuels, the electric cars are still more energy-efficient than gasoline-powered cars
Definition
True
Term
Devices that convert solar energy directly into electricity are called
Definition
Photovoltaic cells
Term
One way to get hydrogen for a hydrogen fuel cell is via this reaction: 2H20 --> 2H2 --> O2 . In addition to water, what is required to make this reaction happen?
Definition
Electricity
Term
The energy-efficient fo buildings can be improved by: use of energy-efficient appliances, use of energy-efficient fluorescent light bulbs, use of energy-efficient windows, fixing air leaks and NOT
Definition
use of less-efficient insulation
Term
If one were to create electricity to run your appliances, which form of solar energy should they use
Definition
Photovoltaic cells
Term
What is NOT a source of biomass for fuel
Definition
Wind
Term
Renewable/alternative energy sources do not include
Definition
fossil fuels
Term
In class we identified four of the least energy-efficient devices. What is not one of them?
Definition
Fluorescent light bulb
Term
Theodore Roosevelt made many contributions to environmentalism. What is NOT one of his contributions?
Definition
He wrote, "Silent Spring"
Term
______________ founded the Sierra Club
Definition
John Muir
Term
________________ was not only the first national park in the United States, it was also the first national park in the world.
Definition
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Term
According to the conservation ethic:
Definition
national resources should be put to use but man has a responsibility to manage wisely
Term
______________is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws
Definition
Environmental Justice
Term
The publication of __________________________ by Rachel Carson was a landmark environmental event of the 1960's
Definition
Silent Spring
Term
Who helped raise public awareness of the environment through his paintings of wildlife in natural positions and settings
Definition
John Audobon
Term
What is NOT a true statement about the consequences associated with the use of geothermal energy
Definition
Geothermal technologies receive little attention because the amount of energy potentially available from this source is very small and would only meet our energy needs for a very short period of time
Term
Geothermal can be used for heating space, producing electricity, and producing high-temperature heat for industry but NOT
Definition
liquid transportation fuel
Term
The majority of the United State's geothermal energy is currently produced in what state?
Definition
California
Term
Methods of using geothermal energy
Definition

1. making use of the stable ground temperatures to heat or cool the interiors of buildings

2. using steam, produced by pumping water from the surface into cracks in hot-rocks below the surface, to turn a turbine to generate electricity

3. making direct use of hot water, to heat water or space, from hot springs near the surface

Term
The amount of solar energy hitting the earth from any particular location depends on
Definition

the amount of cloud cover

the distance the location is from the equator

the time of day

the season of the year

 

(all the above)

Term
Converting solar energy DIRECTLY into electricity requires
Definition
Photovoltaic Cells (or photovoltaics)
Term
what would NOT correctly complete this statement, "Difficulties or concerns associated with the use of/reliance on solar energy include that..."
Definition
using it will upset the energy balance of nature
Term
The use of overhangs that block sunlight from entering a building in the summer but allowit to enter in the winter is an example of
Definition
Passive Solar Heating/Lighting
Term
Solar parabolic trough power generation is an example of what solar energy utilization method?
Definition

Solar Concentration (concentrated solar power)/solar thermal

 

Term
Wind is considered an indirect form of solar energy because...
Definition
Uneven heating of the earth by the sun results in differences in atmospheric temperatures and pressures which in turn cause wind
Term
What does NOT apply to wind power
Definition
causes no noise
Term
True of False: Using wind to generate electricity has a lower EROI than when using nuclear energy or coal to generate electricity
Definition
False
Term
Bat deaths associated with wind turbines are believed to be caused by ____________________ rather than by impacting the blades
Definition
drops in air pressure near the blades that leads to the explosion of the bats' delicate lungs
Term
"Wind Turbine Syndrome" is a name that some researchers are using to refer to the collection of symptoms that some people who live near wind turbines are claiming to be suffering from as a result of the wind turbines. These symptoms DO NOT include
Definition
Bright light from the solar concentration mirrors
Term
What renewable/alternative energy source is currently the fastest growing
Definition
Wind
Term

Which of the following is NOT a water pollution category:

Municipal

Industrial

Agricultural

Groundwater

Domestic

 

Definition
Agricultural
Term
Conventional wastewater treatment (primary and secondary treatment) does NOT remove what pollutant from wastewater?
Definition
Phosphorus
Term
What are NON-CONSUMPTIVE uses of water?
Definition

Using water to generate power at a hydroelectric plant along a river

 

Using waterways for commercial navigation

Term
What are potential sources for groundwater pollution
Definition

Runoff from animal feed-lots

Poorly designed and maintained septic systems

Application of fertilizers to agricultural lands

Leaks from underground storage tanks containing gasoline and other hazardous substances

 

(all the above)

Term
Renewable fossil fuels include all of the following except: Fossil Fuels, Geothermal, Sun, Wind, Biomass
Definition
Fossil Fuels
Term
The amount of solar energy hitting the earth depends on
Definition

the amount of cloud cover, the distance an area of the earth is from the equator, the time of day, the season of the year

 

(all the above)

Term
What does NOT complete this statement, "Difficulties with solar energy include..."
Definition
"using it will upset the energy balanceof nature"
Term
Approximately ____ percent ofthe earth's surface is covered by water yet the total amount of freshwater available for human use is approximately ______ percent.
Definition
75% ........ <1%
Term
Most freshwater is present in the form
Definition
ice caps and glaciers
Term
The upper limit of an unconfined aquifier of water is termed the
Definition
water table
Term
What accounts for the major consumptive use of water in most parts of the world
Definition
agriculture (irrigation)
Term
What is NOT one of the 4 board use categories for water
Definition
Nuclear Energy
Term
What are the 4 braoad use categories for water
Definition

Domestic

Agricultural 

Industrial

In-Stream

 

Term
What is NOT a water pollutant category
Definition
Phosphorus
Term
Water pollutant categories
Definition

Toxic Chemicals

Dissolved Organic Matter

Nutrients

Physical Particles

 

Term
What does NOT apply to wind power
Definition
Causes no noise
Term

NOT true about the consequences associated with the use of geothermal energy

 

Definition
Geothermal technologies receive little attention because the amount of energy available from this source is very small and would meet our needs for a very short period of time
Term
what is NOT considered a strategy for conserving energy in homes and buildings
Definition
Increase the use of incandescent light bulbs
Term
__________ is a pollutant in the lower atmosphere that resultsfrom human activities but is a natural and beneficial gas in the stratosphere that prevents much of the solar ultraviolet radiation from penetrating to the earth's surface
Definition
Ozones
Term
Chemical formula for ozone
Definition
O3
Term
The use of overhans that block sunlight in summer but allow the sunlight in winter to warm up the building is an example of
Definition
passive solar heating/lighting
Term
The "ozone hole" originally was used to refer to the large area over _______________ in which there is a very significant seasonal thinning of ozone in the stratosphere
Definition
Antarctica
Term
True of False: Ozone constantly forms, breaks down, and reforms in the stratosphere in a series of natural reactions involving molecular oxygen and ultraviolet light that occur in the stratosphere
Definition
True
Term
Chloroflurocarbons were initially considered "dream chemicals" because of all of the following characteristics: chemically stable, nonflammable, nontoxic, odorless EXCEPT:
Definition
Long lag time between their release at ground level and their arrival in the stratosphere
Term
No new commercial nuclear reactors have been built in the United States in a number of years. This is because...
Definition
There is negative public and political sentiment and uncertainty over reactor safety
Term
_____________ occurs when neutrons impact and split the nuclei of certain atoms
Definition
Nuclear Fission
Term
What is NOT a concern associated with nuclear energy
Definition
Low cost of building nuclear power plants
Term
True of False: Despite the nuclearscares at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, nuclear power plant building projects increased by 200% over what was projected during the 1980's
Definition
False
Term
True of False: The United States Department of Energy oversaw the production of nuclear weapons in such a way that there is little, if any, residual radioactive waste that now needs to be disposed of in the nuclear laboratories
Definition
False
Term
True of False: In a nuclear reactor, the control rods are made from fissionable material and they increase the speed of the reaction
Definition
False
Term
What is NOT one of the primary air pollutants
Definition
Ozone
Term
Primary air pollutants
Definition

Volatile Organic Compounds

Carbon Monoxide

Sulfur Dioxide

Nitrogen Oxides

Term
what DOES NOT result in the production of particulates
Definition
interaction of CFCs with ultraviolet radiation
Term
What processes result in the production of particulates
Definition

Farming

Construction

Volcanoes

Desertification

Term

Which of the following is NOT a greenhouse gas?

 

Carbon Dioxide

Sulfur Dioxide

Methane

Chlorofluorocarbons

Nitrous Oxide

 

Definition
Sulfur Dioxide
Term
What activity is responsible for the largest percentage of human-made carbon dioxide emissions 
Definition
Burning Fossil Fuels
Term
Nuclear fusion
Definition
is the process in which 2 lightweight atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy
Term
The period of time required for one-half of a radioactive substance to decompose (change into a different material) is known as its...
Definition
half-life
Term
The greatest problem with the use of nuclear power (to generate electricity) is its production of
Definition
Radiation that is released into the surrounding region
Term

Air pollution results in all of the followin except:

 

damage to structures

damage to ecosystems

reduced value of aesthetic scenery

improved water quality

human health effects

Definition
improved water quality
Term

All of the following are factors that contribute to extremely poor air quality in megacities of developing countries except:

 

extremely small human populations

heavy use of open fires

large numbers of poorly maintained autombiles

poor regulated industrial plants

large human populations

Definition
extremely small human populations
Term
what greenhouse gas is more abundant in the atmosphere
Definition
Carbon Dioxide
Term
What greenhouse gas enters the atmosphere primarily as a waste product produced by microorganisms living in rice fields, wetlands, and the guts of termites
Definition
methane
Term
The difference between primary and secondary air pollutants is that primary air pollutants
Definition
enter the atmosphere directly, whereas secondary pollutants result from the interaction of primary pollutants in the atmosphereinthe presence of sunlight
Term

The creation of a reservoir (behind a hydroelectric dam) causes significant environmental and social damage EXCEPT:


Definition
loss of farmland
Term

Which of the following names the form of energy that can be succesfully used in buildings, is relatively cheap to construct, and simply uses the sun to heat a surface, which warms the inside of the building.


Definition
passive solar
Term
What is considered among the least energy-efficient devices in widespread use today?
Definition
incandescent light bulb

nuclear power plants producing electricity for space heating or water heating
 
Term

What is most responsible for ozone depletion?


Definition
chloroflurocarbons
Term

What statement is false?


Definition
CFCs are heavy molecules that stay in the troposphere
Term

Increases in ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth as a result of depletion of the ozone layer will cause an increase in everything EXCEPT 


Definition
yields of food crops
Term

Chlorofluorocarbons are used for many purposes EXCEPT:


Definition
paints
Term

 

What is NOT considered an ozone-depleting compound?

Definition
carbon dioxide
Term

How do chloroflurocarbons cause the ozone layer to become depleted?

 

Definition
chlorine, released when chlorofluorocarbons breakdown in the presence of ultraviolet light, is very reactive and it reacts with ozone (O3),
eventually converting it to molecular oxygen (O2) and atomic oxygen (O)
Term
What is Love Canal
Definition

A neighborhood in Niagara Falls, New York, which became the subject of national and international attention, controversy, and eventual environmental notoriety following the discovery of 21,000 tons of toxic waste that had been buried beneath the neighborhood by Hooker Chemical

.

Term
What purpose does the Love Canal now serve
Definition
Reminder that we can't just throw things away and that wastes don't stay put
Term
CERCLA and relationship to the "super fund"
Definition

Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act

 

Created in repsonse to the Love Canal issue

 

Puts a special tax on chemical and petroleum producers

Term
Solid Waste
Definition

 

any unwanted or discarded material that isn’t liquid or gas
Term
How much of the world's solid waste is produced by the U.S.?
Definition
33%
Term

U.S. solid waste comes from what combination of sources

 

Definition

 

mining, oil and gas production, agriculture and industry, sewage sludge, municipal solid waste
Term
Municipal Solid Waste
Definition

 

from homes and businesses in or near urban areas
Term
Major Components of MSW in the U.S.
Definition
Paper and Cardboard, Yard Waste, Food Waste
Term
Hazardous waste
Definition

 

any solid or liquid material that contains one or more of 39 compounds at levels that exceed established limits

- catches fire easily
- reactive/unstable enough to explode to release toxic fumes
- capable of corroding metal containers
Term
Hazardous waste does NOT include
Definition

 

radioactive wastes,hazardous and toxic materials discarded by households, mining wastes,oil- and gas-drilling wastes,liquid wastes containing organic hydrocarbon compounds,cement kiln dust, wastes from small businesses and factories that generate less than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of hazardous waste/month
Term
______ percent of the world's hazardous waste is produced in the U.S.
Definition
75%
Term
2 methods for dealing with waste
Definition

Waste Management

Waste Prevention

Term
Aspects of Waste Management
Definition

High-waste approach

Views waste production as unavoidable

Attempts to manage waste by: burying, burning, transferring

Term
aspects of waste prevention
Definition

 

low waste approach

views waste as potential resources or harmful substances

focuses on: discouraging production, encouraging prevention

Term
How can we reduce waste and pollution
Definition

1st priority - change industrial processes, purchase different products, redesign products

 

2nd priority - reuse, repair, recycle, compost

 

Last priority - treat waste, incinerate waste, bury waste, release waste

Term
2 types of land water
Definition
Surfacewater, groundwater
Term
Types of surface water
Definition
drainage basin,watershed
Term
Types of groundwater
Definition
unconfined aquifer, confined aquifer
Term
Causes of Global Warming
Definition
Several gases in atmosphere, absorb infrared  radiation, lead to greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases
Term
Global Warming prevention strategies
Definition

cut fossil fuel use

improve energy efficiency

renewable energy/resources

reduce deforestation

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