APES Unit 6-9 Final Review

U6) What are solutions to the health problems of burning biomass?

cleaner-burning stoves and fuels, improving ventilation, and switching to alternative energy sources.

U6) How is crude oil refined?

Crude oil is refined by heating it to high temperatures and separating it into different components based on their boiling points through a process called fractional distillation.

U6) How can atmospheric carbon dioxide be reduced?

increasing energy efficiency, using renewable energy sources, and implementing carbon capture and storage technology.

U6) What is cogeneration?

Cogeneration, also known as combined heat and power, is a process in which a single energy source is used to generate both electricity and heat for a facility.

U6) What makes a resource renewable?

A resource is considered renewable if it can be replenished at a rate equal to or greater than its rate of use.

U6) What makes a resource nonrenewable?

A resource is considered nonrenewable if it is finite and cannot be replenished at a rate that meets its rate of use.

U6) Explain the rock layers necessary around oil and natural gas deposits.

Oil and natural gas deposits typically form in sedimentary rock layers that have been subjected to heat and pressure over long periods of time, creating underground reservoirs.

U6) What are the down-sides of solar panels?

Downsides of solar panels include their high cost, the need for large amounts of space, intermittency issues, and the environmental impacts of production.

U6) What solutions are there to the environmental problems that dams can cause?

Solutions to the environmental problems that dams can cause include designing and operating dams to minimize impacts on ecosystems, restoring and protecting affected habitats, and removing obsolete dams.

U6) How does geothermal energy work?

Geothermal energy works by using heat from the Earth's interior to generate electricity or provide heat for buildings through the use of geothermal power plants or heat pumps.

U6) How do hydrogen fuel cells work?

Hydrogen fuel cells work by combining hydrogen and oxygen to produce electricity and water, with the only byproduct being water vapor.

U6) What are the pros and cons of wind energy/wind farms?

Pros of wind energy/wind farms include their renewable nature, low greenhouse gas emissions, and their ability to provide electricity to remote areas. Cons include their intermittency, impact on wildlife, and visual impacts.

U7) What are all of the pollutants emitted from coal-burning power plants?

Pollutants emitted from coal-burning power plants include sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and mercury.

U7) Explain the complete formation of ground level ozone.

Ground-level ozone forms when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds react in the presence of sunlight and heat, creating a harmful air pollutant.

U7) Explain the causes of NO pollution.

NO pollution is caused by the combustion of fossil fuels and biomass, and is a major contributor to the formation of ozone and acid rain.

U7) Explain how thermal inversion is different from normal air conditions.

Thermal inversion is different from normal air conditions because it traps pollutants close to the ground, causing them to accumulate and create high levels of air pollution.

U7) Describe the natural carbon cycle.

The natural carbon cycle is the process by which carbon moves through the Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land, and is regulated by natural processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, and decomposition.

U7) How does radon enter houses?

Radon enters houses through cracks in the foundation or walls, and can accumulate to dangerous levels if not properly ventilated.

U7) How do catalytic converters work?

Catalytic converters work by converting harmful pollutants in vehicle exhaust, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons, into less harmful substances before they are released into the atmosphere.

U7) What is the Clean Air Act?

The Clean Air Act is a federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources, and sets standards for air quality.

U7) How does acid deposition form?

Acid deposition forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water vapor in the atmosphere, creating acidic compounds that can fall back to the Earth as rain, snow, or other forms of precipitation.

U7) What are the effects of noise pollution?

The effects of noise pollution can include hearing loss, sleep disturbances, increased stress levels, and negative impacts on wildlife and ecosystems.

U8) What is point source pollution?

Point source pollution is the discharge of pollutants from a single identifiable source such as a factory or sewage treatment plant.

U8) What is nonpoint source pollution?

Nonpoint source pollution refers to the diffuse pollution that comes from multiple sources, such as agricultural runoff or stormwater.

U8) Explain how endocrine disruptors work.

Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with the endocrine system and can cause reproductive problems, developmental issues, and other health problems.

U8) What are the effects of eutrophication?

Eutrophication is the process by which excess nutrients, often from fertilizers or sewage, enter a body of water and cause an overgrowth of algae, which can deplete the water of oxygen and harm aquatic life.

U8) What are the effects of thermal pollution?

Thermal pollution occurs when a power plant or other industrial facility releases hot water into a body of water, which can cause changes in temperature that harm aquatic life.

U8) How are POPS, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification related?

POPS, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification are all related to the buildup of toxic chemicals in the food chain, where persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulate in organisms, causing bioaccumulation, and biomagnification causes the toxins to become more concentrated as they move up the food chain.

U8) What are the disadvantages of sanitary landfills?

Sanitary landfills have disadvantages, such as producing methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and the potential for groundwater contamination from leachate.

U8) What can cause infectious diseases to spread?

Infectious diseases can spread through vectors, such as mosquitoes or ticks, contaminated water or food, and direct contact with an infected person.

U9) What are the effects of ozone layer depletion?

Ozone layer depletion can lead to increased levels of ultraviolet radiation, which can cause skin cancer, cataracts, and other health problems.

U9) What is the benefit of the ozone layer?

The ozone layer benefits us by blocking harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

U9) What are the pros and cons of hydrofluorocarbons?

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are a type of greenhouse gas that has a high global warming potential but are used as refrigerants as an alternative to ozone-depleting substances.

U9) Rank the greenhouse gasses by global warming potential.

HFCs, CFCs, ozone, nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide

U9) Explain the feedback loops related to climate change.

Feedback loops related to climate change include positive feedback loops, where changes amplify the initial effects, such as melting Arctic sea ice, and negative feedback loops, which help to stabilize the climate, such as increased plant growth absorbing more carbon dioxide.

U9) What are some of the effects of climate change?

Effects of climate change include rising sea levels, more frequent and severe weather events, and changes in ecosystems and wildlife distributions.

U9) How can methane be produced?

Methane can be produced naturally from sources like wetlands or from human activities like agriculture and waste management.

U9) What are the effects of ocean warming?

Ocean warming can cause coral bleaching, changes in ocean currents, and a decrease in oxygen levels, harming marine life.

U9) What causes ocean acidification?

Ocean acidification occurs when the pH of the ocean decreases due to increased carbon dioxide levels, which can harm marine life, especially organisms with shells or skeletons.

U9) What are the effects of ocean acidification?

Invasive species do well in new environments because they often lack natural predators or diseases, and can outcompete native species for resources.

U9) Why do invasive species do well in new environments?

Factors that contribute to species becoming endangered include habitat destruction, pollution, overexploitation, and climate change.

U9) What can put a species at risk of becoming endangered?

Loss of biodiversity is caused by a combination of factors, including habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, overexploitation, and invasive species.

U9) What are the factors that are contributing to loss of biodiversity?

Solutions to help with biodiversity loss include habitat preservation, restoration, and protection, sustainable resource use, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.