AICE Environmental Management ultimate study guide

LIC

Low income country; GNI<1036

MIC

Middle income country; GNI = 1036

HIC

High income country; GNI>12535

sustainability

meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

condensation

gas to liquid

precipitation

any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface

interception

Water being prevented from reaching the surface by trees or grass

infiltration

the process of water soaking into the soil

surface run-off

water that does not infiltrate, runs on the surface

through-flow

movement of water laterally through soil

ground water flow

movement of water within an aquifer

transpiration

evaporative loss of water through stomata

evaporation

liquid to gas

biome

large area categorized by a distinct climate and biomass(plants and animals in a given area)

ecosystem

a community of living things interacting with each other and abiotic factors

population

a group of organisms of the same species populating a given area

community

assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area

habitat

a natural region where a specific organism can be found

niche

an organism's role in an ecosystem

biotic

Describes living factors in the environment.

abiotic

describes nonliving factors in the enviorment

chlorophyll

a green pigment that is used by a plant to capture photon energy

aerobic respiration

A form of cellular respiration that requires oxygen in order to generate energy. Equation: c6h1206 + 6o2 > 6h20 + 6co2 + ATP energy

producer

An organism that can make its own food (autotroph)

primary consumer

an organism in the energy pyramid that obtains it's energy by consuming a producer

secondary consumer

an organism in the energy pyramid that obtains it's energy by consuming a primary consumer

tertiary consumer

an organism in the energy pyramid that obtains it's energy by consuming a secondary consumer

decomposer

An organism in the energy pyramid that breaks down wastes and dead organisms

trophic level

each step in an energy pyramid

reliability

the ability to obtain the same result each time a measurement method is carried out

bias

systematic deviation between data interpretation and accurate description

geospatial systems

models showing information in relation to the Earth

satellite sensors

obtain data from orbit: infrared images, storm wind speed, and chemical composition

radio tracking

allows data to be collected from an animal by placing VHF radio on or within the animal

computer modeling

allows data to be collected by using simulations. Allow multiple scenarios to be studied with smaller expense

crowd sourcing

gathering information through surveys and focus groups

sweep nets

the researcher swings a net side to side to collect arthropods from grassy/bushy areas.

beating trays

researcher collects a sample by beating a tree branch and holding a tray under to collect falling insects

light traps

used to collect nocturnal arthropods like moths. Light attracts the insect and causes them to get trapped on a sheet. Effective in dark areas

kick sampling

researcher disturbs the bottom of a body of water using their hands or feet. invertebrates may be released and captured in a net. inexpensive

pitfall traps

placed in the ground by the researcher to collect crawling animals to assess species abundance and biodiversity. Simple and inexpensive

anti-natalist

anti-brith. Concerned with limiting population growth

pronatalist

pro-birth. Concerned with increasing population size

dependency ratio

non-working population:working. Equation = non-working / working x 100

simpson's index

a method to estimate biodiversity.

lincoln index

a method to estimate population size of a given sample.

total fertility rate

The average number of children born to a woman during her childbearing years.

Productivity

rate of biomass production in an ecosystem

Biomass

amount of living material (kg/km²)

Tundra

Biome that is cold, low precipitation, large quantities of ice, thin soil layer, little plant growth

Primary succession

establishment of an ecosystem where there was none before

Pioneer species

First species to colonize an area, don't require much water

Ecological Climax

Ecosystem stabilizes and growth stops

secondary succession

reestablishment of a damaged ecosystem in an area where the soil was left intact

climax community

A community that no longer goes through succession

Plagio climax

a community that climaxed due to human influence

Rule of 10%

Only 10% of energy is available to above trophic levels

The International Whaling Commission (IWC)

Conserves whale stocks, regulates commercial whaling and scientific research on whales

The European Union Common Fisheries Policy

establishes sustainable fish practices to preserve fish stocks

The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)

establishes sustainable and legal harvesting of tropical timber and manages its trade

Reduced Impact Logging (RIL)

implementation of harvesting operations to minimize impacts on forests and soil.

Captive breeding

capturing and organism and having it reproduce under protective conditions until population size is large enough to release

Habitat conservation and creation

a) designate areas as protected ¨wilderness¨

b) rewilding - large scale restoration, reintroducing predators or keystone species

Extracted reserves

public, tropical areas set aside for ecological development by residents

Overexploitation

harvesting a resource quicker than they replenish

National parks

protect ecosystems from humans via conservation zones

Nature reserves

similar to national parks, just smaller

Rain forest deforestation is due to...

agricultural expansion, extraction of precious metals, fuel wood and timber collection

Impacts of rain forest deforestation include...

Disrupts water cycle, decreases co2 sequestration, decreases biodiversity, increases surface temperature

Impacts of precious metal extraction include...

erosion, sink holes, deforestation , soil and water contamination

Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998

Allows LICs to relieve debt to US by conserving tropical rainforests

Antarctic Treaty of 1959

Designates Antarctica as a natural reserve. Has 50 countries agreeing to use Antarctica for peaceful purposes only, allow freedom of scientific investigation, freely exchange scientific findings

Impacts of tourism in Antarctica include...

Accidentally bringing invasive species, birds abandoning their nest when tourists approach, tourists trample paths and release of waste in coastal waters

Factors discouraging exploration in Antarctica include...

inhospitable territory, expensive, resistance from conservation orgs, minerals found easier in other places

Antarctic Conservation Act (ACA)

bans removing flora and fauna, discharging waste, entering ASPAS or introducing species into Antarctica.

-applies to all US citizens and vessels leaving the US

International Association Antarctic Tourism Operators (IAATO)

-limits size of ships in waters of Antarctica

-limits number of people landing

-makes tourists clean equipment and clothing before leaving

-prohibit removal of native items

Impacts of research stations in Antarctica include...

-melt ice to provide fresh water

-produce waste water

-use fuels (contribute to air pollution)

-produce magnetic field that affect wildlife

Examples of Renewable Energy Resources include...

1. Biofuels- wood, ethanol, biogas

2. Geothermal Energy- convert underground heat into electricity

3. hydroelectric dams- convert flowing water into electricity

4. Tidal wave Energy- convert ocean waves into electricity

5. Solar- convert sunlight into electricity

6. Wind- convert wind into electricity

Examples of Non-Renewable Energy Resources include...

1. Fossil Fuels- convert ancient organic matter into electricity

2. Coal- convert ancient trees into electricity

3. Natural gas- microorganisms producing CH4

4. Uranium- from nuclear fission power plants

Energy security

the environmentally sustainable energy from reliable sources at affordable prices

Long-term energy

security is providing energy in line with economic developments and environmental needs

Short-term energy

promptly providing energy via systems that react to sudden changes in supply-demand needs

Causes of energy insecurity include...

1. FF depletion- when FF are used more frequently that they are renewed

-oil depletion in 30 years

-natural gas depletion in 40 years

-coal depletion in 70 years

2. Inequality in global energy resources

3. Population Growth- placing a larger demand on finite resources

4. CC influence national policies- warmer climate = higher demand to cool homes

5. Natural Disasters- hurricanes and earthquakes can disrupt supply

ex: hurricane rita and katrina damaged many oil platforms and pipelines

6. Piracy and terrorism- disrupt energy supplies moving through the Gulf of Mexico.

Impacts of Energy Insecurity include...

1. Disrupted supply of energy to population- Which increases cost of both energy and industrial goods

2. Unemployment and economic recession

3. Price Setting-higher prices which can lead to energy poverty (classification given to households using more than 10% of income for energy needs)

4. Increased reliance on imported sources of energy

5. Civil disruption and conflict- ex: Iran and Iraq war (1980). Protests over rising prices

Strategies to manage energy insecurity include...

1. Increasing energy efficiency- use energy efficient lighting, programmable thermostats, blowdown control systems, heat recovery systems

2. Develop alternative energy sources- wave energy, solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy

3. Reduce reliance on fossil fuels- use more renewable energy resources. ex: nuclear power

4. Investing in biofuel

5. Rationing Energy- ex: china has begun limiting electricity use for some factories and homes

Food security

everybody in the population having reliable and long-term physical, social and economic access to food

Causes of food insecurity include...

1. Population growth- more people = more demand on finite resources

2. Unsustainable production

3. Increase in homogeneity of global food sources- genetically similar crops increase risk of disease which can cause shortage

4. Price setting- High prices

5. Agricultural disease

6. Climate change- droughts, hurricanes, storms can harm crops

7. Converting crops directly into biofuels

Impacts of food insecurity include...

1. Nutritional deficiency- ex: malnutrition

2. Poverty

3. Conflict

4. Forced migration

5. Famine

Strategies to manage food insecurity include...

1. Agricultural intensification

2. Improved agricultural techniques- ex: aquaculture and hydroponics

3. Producing genetically modified crops- resistant to drought, pests, and produce a larger yield

4. Reducing crop competition- reduce weeds, fungal, and pests by use of herbicides, fungicides and insectivores

5. reduce food waste

6. Improve food transportation and distribution

7. Protecting pollination insects- ex: honeybees

The UN World Food Program (WFP)

UN agency that delivers food to the hungry poor, help farmers transport surplus food to market, acts in emergencies and supports long-term development.

Methods of waste management include...

1. Landfills-

Pros:

-Inexpensive

-keeps cities clean

-provides jobs.

Cons:

-Electronic wastes contain toxins such as mercury, cadmium and led;

-Leaks toxic material into soil and ground water

-Releases methane; produces foul odor

2. Incineration-

Pros:

-reduces volume of trash

Cons:

-significant air pollution

-mercury pollution

-noisy

3. Dispose of waste by sea- allowed with permit, but if done illegally can cause disease

4. Recycling waste

5. Exporting waste to other nations for processing

Strategies to reduce impacts of waste disposal include...

1. Reduce, reuse, recycle

2. Producing biodegradable plastics- which cant be broken down into microplastics

3. Using food waste for livestock feed

4. composting- reduces amount of solid waste and methane production at landfills

5. using waste as fuel to heat water within steam turbines to produce electricity

What percentage of Earth is covered in water?

71%. 97.5% is saltwater, 2.5% is freshwater. 68% of freshwater is in glaciers, 30% is ground water, <1% is surface water

Water security

the ability to access enough clean water to maintain adequate standards of food and goods production, proper sanitation, and health care

Causes of water insecurity include...

1. Climate change- changes in rainfall

2. Natural disasters- droughts, floods, hurricanes

3. Population growth- more people = higher demand on finite resources

3. Inefficient irrigation methods- ex: flood irrigation

4. Inequality of availability between water-rich regions and water-poor regions

Impacts of water insecurity include...

1. Lower crop yields- due to lack of water

2. live stock deaths-

3. Famine

4. Cholera (diarrheal disease)

5. Crop failure- due to lack of water

6. Conflict- ex: in darfur region of Sudan over scarce water

Strategies to manage water insecurity include...

1. Poverty reduction

2. sustainable water extraction- using gravity fed schemes, reserios, dams, piped water systems

3. Rainwater catchment- convert landscapes into sponges that retain water and relieve demand for aqifer water

4. Dam reservoirs-

Pros:

-provide source of drinking and irrigation water

-allow for flood control

-generate electricity

Cons:

-can change water properties

-block fish from moving down stream

-noisy

-produce dust during construction

-cause local climate change

-increase in CH4

5. Artesian wells- extract water from confined aquifers

6. Recycling and reusing water

7. International agreements- ex: Kenya and Ethiopia regarding lake turkana water use

8. Water related aid from non-governmental organizations- ex: Water Aid and Blood water ensure populations threatened by water insecurity have adequate, safe drinking water.

What is wet acid deposition?

Precipitation with a pH<5.6

How is sulfuric acid formed?

Fossil fuel combustion produces sulfur dioxide (SO2) which then reacts with water (H2O) and oxygen (O2) forming sulfuric acid (H2SO4)

How is nitric acid formed?

Nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (O2) react within high temperatures of vehicle engines forming nitrogen monoxide gas (NO), which then reacts with oxygen (O2) and water (H2O) to form nitric acid (HNO3)