Environmental Science

What percentage of Earth’s water is freshwater?

3%

What is surface water?

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

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

Used for agriculture/watering plants.

What technique is used by farmers to reduce water loss?

Drip irrigation.

What does industry use water for?

Energy.

What is point source pollution?

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

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.

How does the ocean get polluted?

Pollutants are often dumped directly into the ocean.

Where does most ocean pollution originate?

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

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.

How is chlorine used in water treatment?

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

How have humans inhabited deserts?

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

What are some ways to conserve water at home?

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

How can a dam create conflict between two countries?

The country downstream will get less water.

What are the benefits of building a dam?

Clean energy and job creation.

What are some drawbacks to building a dam?

Flooding and habitat loss.

What are VOCs?

Volatile organic compounds.

What part of your car reduces air pollution?

Catalytic converter.

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

Transportation and industry.

What are some examples of indoor air pollution?

Carbon monoxide (CO) and VOCs.

How does air pollution impact human health?

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

What does asbestos do to the lungs?

Irritates and scars the lungs, causing asbestosis.

What causes acid precipitation?

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

What pH indicates acid precipitation?

pH below 5.

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

Vehicle emissions.

What is noise pollution?

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

What type of building experiences the most indoor air pollution?

Hot buildings with little to no ventilation.

How can rural areas receive acid rain?

Pollutants can affect areas that are downwind of industrial sites.

What are some ways to reduce air pollution?

Car pooling and using fuel-efficient cars.

What is porosity?

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

What is permeability?

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

What is a recharge zone?

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

What is a reservoir?

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

What is an aquifer?

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

What is artificial eutrophication?

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

What is biomagnification?

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

What is thermal pollution?

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