Environmental Science

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37 Terms

1
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What percentage of Earth’s water is freshwater?

3%

2
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What is surface water?

All the body of freshwater, salt water, ice, and snow that are found above ground.

3
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What activity results in the greatest amount of freshwater used worldwide?

Used for agriculture/watering plants.

4
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What technique is used by farmers to reduce water loss?

Drip irrigation.

5
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What does industry use water for?

Energy.

6
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What is point source pollution?

Pollution discharged from a single source, such as boats, wastewater, or leaking oil tankers.

7
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What is nonpoint source pollution?

Pollution that comes from many sources rather than from a single specific site, like storm sewers near a body of water.

8
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How does the ocean get polluted?

Pollutants are often dumped directly into the ocean.

9
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Where does most ocean pollution originate?

85% comes from oil spills, toxic waste, and medical wastes.

10
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What is a watershed?

An area of land that drains into a body of water; the largest example in the U.S. is the Mississippi River.

11
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How is chlorine used in water treatment?

Used to disinfect water before returning it to streams, lakes, or oceans.

12
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How have humans inhabited deserts?

Because the water table may be hundreds of meters beneath the Earth’s surface.

13
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What are some ways to conserve water at home?

Using only the water needed, installing low-flow toilets, and watering grass at night.

14
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How can a dam create conflict between two countries?

The country downstream will get less water.

15
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What are the benefits of building a dam?

Clean energy and job creation.

16
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What are some drawbacks to building a dam?

Flooding and habitat loss.

17
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What are VOCs?

Volatile organic compounds.

18
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What part of your car reduces air pollution?

Catalytic converter.

19
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What are the two main sources of air pollution in urban areas?

Transportation and industry.

20
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What are some examples of indoor air pollution?

Carbon monoxide (CO) and VOCs.

21
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How does air pollution impact human health?

Causes diseases such as emphysema, lung cancer, and heart disease.

22
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What does asbestos do to the lungs?

Irritates and scars the lungs, causing asbestosis.

23
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What causes acid precipitation?

Pollution in the atmosphere leading to sulfuric and nitric acid in rain.

24
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What pH indicates acid precipitation?

pH below 5.

25
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What is the primary source of air pollution in the U.S.?

Vehicle emissions.

26
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What is noise pollution?

Unnecessary sound that can cause health problems such as hearing loss and high blood pressure.

27
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What type of building experiences the most indoor air pollution?

Hot buildings with little to no ventilation.

28
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How can rural areas receive acid rain?

Pollutants can affect areas that are downwind of industrial sites.

29
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What are some ways to reduce air pollution?

Car pooling and using fuel-efficient cars.

30
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What is porosity?

The percentage of the total volume of a rock or sediment that consists of open spaces.

31
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What is permeability?

The ability of a rock or sediment to let fluids pass through its open spaces or pores.

32
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What is a recharge zone?

An area where water travels downward to become part of an aquifer.

33
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What is a reservoir?

An artificial body of water that forms behind a dam for various uses.

34
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What is an aquifer?

A body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows groundwater flow.

35
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What is artificial eutrophication?

The increase of nutrients in a body of water through human activities.

36
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What is biomagnification?

The accumulation of pollutants at successive levels of the food chain.

37
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What is thermal pollution?

A temperature increase in a body of water due to human activities affecting water quality.