Science: 12.2 Global Change

Has a pH level of 0.5 or less (is rain)

acid rain

What is anthropogenic global warming mean?

global warming is caused by human activites

How does acid rain affect forests based on NAPAP studies

forest death ≠ pH levels = forest ecology is complex and not solely affected by acid rain

Clean Air Act in relation to acid rain

funded too address acid rain

Methods to reduce sulfur dioxide emmisions

washing coal, using low sulfur coal, using scrubbers in industrial exhausts

removes gases and particles from industrial exhausts

scrubber systems

a way to increase the pH of water; used to purify highly acidic soil

agricultural lime

Supposed impact of CFC on ozone layer vs natural cycle

CFC believed to cause ozone depletion; natural + solar cycles also believed to disrupt/influence ozone levels

Main source of sulfur dioxides

hot springs, volcanic eruptions, burning coal

Primary cause of acid depostition

primarily caused by interactions between water vapour and sulfur dioxide + nitrogen oxides

Contributors to carbon dioxide emissions

mostly natural processes (young trees, ocean plankton, coral, natural chemical processes)

Best chemical for fighting fires

halons

Called for 50% reduction in CFC’s by 1990; later amended for the elimination of CFC production by 2000 (2010 for developing nations)

Montreal Protocol

CFC replacements

HCFC and HFC

period of time where average global temperature was warmer than the present

Medieval Climate Optimum

Dropping of global temperature in 1300s until the 1850s

Little Ice Age

a study published in 1974 that suggested halogen compounds caused ozone depletion

Rowland-Molina Hypothesis

units that measure ozone levels

Dobson Units

Studied the effects of acid rain and was formed based on predictions of acid rain effects

NAPAP (National Acid Prevention Assessment Program)

Discovered the thinning in the ozone layer

Dr. Gordon Dobson

What causes the thinning of ozone layer

polar vortex (caused by an Antarctic high altitude weather phenomenon); North Region = no thinning because no polar vortex

process of quickly and safely returning wastewater to the environment

water reclamation

Natural processes that recycle minerals and other nutrients in the environment

biogeochemical cycles

water pollutant that enters water in one specific place

point source pollutant

Gas responsible for global warming

carbon dioxide

place where solid waste is collected and stored

landfill

primary pollutant reacts to produce another pollutant

secondary pollutant

solid waste

garbage

caused by humans

anthropogenic

energy obtained from plant and animal products

biomass energy

atom of one element with a large nucleus breaks into two atoms of elements with smaller muclei

nuclear fission

place where reclaimed water is discharged

outfall

Atom core

nucleus

biofuels that come from biomass (kitchen or agricultural waste, manure and sewage)

biogas

What makes non point source pollutants harder to control compared to point source pollutants?

source is hard to trace

One common drawback of wind and solar energy

not constant sources

What have scientists found about Earth’s long term temperature trends?

average temperature tends to fluctuate

studying the interactions of the physical world

environmental science

biotic vs abiotic

biotic: living; abiotic: non living

preservationists vs conservationists vs pantheism

preservationists: believe humans are just passing through

conservationists: advocates a wise use of natural resources

pantheism: idea is nature is above God

managing nature for God as caretakers

stewardship

any harmful substance released into air soil or water

pollution

What can pollutants contaminate and how?

atmospheric water vapour; rain down into rivers and oceans which seeps into the soil

generates energy/heat from burning of waste

waste to energy incinerator

gases produced or converted to power incinerators

syngas

comes directly from a source

primary pollutant

smog and air pollution their most dangerous levels

temperature inversion

multiple sources and harder to control

non point source pollutant

example of non point source pollutant

agricultural runoff; brings dirt, debris and possible chemicals from large area to stream or river; enters through the riverbank

three basic water pollutants

pathogens, macroscopic, chemicals

measured using coliform bacteria

pathogens

their presence in water indicates contamination by humans and animals

pathogens

floating items (pollution)

macroscopic

naturally occurring material mankind can use

natural resources

what are two types of natural resources

non renewable; renewable

seeking to preserve current lifestyle while preserving resources for the next generation

sustainability development

develops new methods if conservation; field covers areas like recycling and water purification

environmental science

non renewable resources found in the earth and are believed to be remnants of living things; includes coal, natural gas and petroleum

fossil fuels

called crude oil; dark oily liquid fossil fuel

petroleum

refining crude oil by separating compounds (gasoline, kerosene, propane)

functional distillation

mixture of water, chemical, and particles like sand/gravel that are injected into the bedrock to crack fuel containing strata

hydraulic fracking

Problems with hydraulic fracking?

highly controversial; scientists concerned chemicals involved may contaminate/pollute ground/drinking water in the ground; concerned may cause earthquakes

energy generated via sun, wind, water

renewable energy

energy obtained from plant and animal products

biomass energy

is a biofuel used for centuries

wood gas

one of the best know fossil fuels; derives from corn, graine, or agricultural waste

ethanol

biofuel that consists mostly of methane; derived from biomass (kitchen or agricultural waste, manure, sewage)

biogas

energy that comes from the sun

solar energy

electric power from wind

wind power

generates electric wind power

wind turbine/aerogenerator

electricity provided by running water

hydroelectric power

electricity generate by reactions involving nucleus

nuclear power

contains 2 types of atomic particles: proton and uncharged neutron

nucleus

atoms of two elements with smaller nuclei combine with 1 element with a larger nucleus

nuclear fussion

produces more fissionable fuel than it uses

breeder reactor

Biomass vs biofuel vs biogas

Biomass: energy obtained from plant and animal product (kitchen or agricultural waste, manure, sewage)

Biofuel: derived from biomass

Biogas: a biofuel that consists primarily of methane