Exam 3 Questions

Eutrophication

overgrowth of algae in lakes + coastal waters

elevated levels of nitrogen phosphorus

point source

industrial wastewater from pipe

• Discrete location, non point is distributed through landscape

Artesian well

groundwater well where water flows to surface without pumping due to pressure

vadose zone

unsaturated

groundwater zone

saturated

saltwater intrusion

overpumping of groundwater in coastal watersheds

cuyahoga river

caught on fire from industrial pollution

2 factors that influence a watershed’s vulnerability to acidification from acid rain

Watershed size and underlying geology

surface water and ground water

interconnected system

Sanitary sewer pipes

placed underneath and near stream channels so that sewage can travel by gravity to a wastewater treatment plant

reserve

concentration of minerals that could now be legally mined at a profit

kimberlite pipes

source of diamonds

placer deposits of gold

expected in low velocity zones

Why is cyanide heap leaching used to extract gold from some deposits?

than other methods

surface mines

cheaper

smelter emissions

often cause acid mine drainage

sulfur dioxide

acid rain NOT acid drainage

iron is used

Iron and steel are valuable and widely used

weathering processes are responsible for

alimunum/bauxite

 concentration factor of a metal

a measure of its concentration necessary for profitable mining

Fossil fuels

originate primarily from decaying plants/vegetation and C-H bonds

sun

ultimate source of energy in fossil fuels

coal type

based on carbon percentage, volatile content, heat value

Coal usage is likely to increase

 it’s abundant in relation to oil and gas (not renewable resource)

Which of the following contains significant oil concentrations?

300 million year old rocks that accumulated in a subsiding sedimentary basin

Methane hydrates

are abundant in cold and deep water so they’re viable

Acid rain results from

fossil fuel consumption

fossil fuel burning releases

nitrogen sulfur oxides

Stream restoration strategies

use oxbow wetlands and floodplains to restore

Floodplain reconnection involves

dissipate erosive force and slow and infiltrate water

Stream restoration strategies are used to

Protect infrastructure, store, purify

Evaporite deposits

from through desiccation of marine __ and lakes

Mountain top mining

typically impacts headwater streams through valley fills

cause respiratory problems

acid mine drainage

results from oxidation of sulfide

geology can impact

neutralization

resource and reserve difference

that certainty to be mined

ore

The value is dictated (largely) by abundance in nature, societal

importance, and difficulty to extract

given current trends, peak oil production is

in 21st century

atmospheric deposition

wet and dry

best way to protect mineral resources

reduce use

removing nitrogen phosphorus

advanced treatment

groundwater depletion is accomplished by

pumping recharge

acid mine drainage is a problem

acidic water can dissolve and mobilize hazardous materials