Environmental Science 2

Coniferous forest

Cold winters; short mild summers; dominated by evergreen trees; Taiga; winter snow and summer rains

Tundra

Climate is so cold that soil is permanently frozen; low precipitation; mostly mosses and lichens

Polar habitat

Freezing temperatures; vert little precipitation; covered in ice

deciduous forest

Mild temperatures; regular precipitation; mostly trees

temperate grassland

Distinct seasons; low precipitation; mostly grasses with few trees

Chaparral

High temperatures; little precipitation in the summer; plant life is mostly scrub and bushes

Tropical rainforest

High temperature and precipitation; huge diversity of plant and animal species; home to 50% of Earth's species

tropical grassland

High temperatures; distinct wet season; mostly grass with few trees

Desert

High temperatures; low precipitation; very few plants or animals

The courts

make policy through interpreting legal rights and environmental justice

president

creates policy through executive orders

Interest groups

non-elected officials who try to influence government and judicial decisions

Congress

policies are designed in subcommittees based on constituents' needs

forest ecological benefits

reduce surface water runoff, develop soil and reduce severity of floods, produces oxygen while storing carbon, and aids in recharge of aquifer

forest commercial benefits

sources of secondary products like paper, provides jobs in the forest industry, sources of medicine from their plant species, and sources of primary products like lumber

Clear cutting impacts

Soil erosion and surface water runoff increase, Habitat decreases for larger mammals, Landscape is scarred, and soil is damaged by burning. forest renewal is very limited

strip cutting impacts

Erosion and surface water runoff are limited and the landscape scars are reduced

selective cutting impacts

The growth of other trees is not affected, Diversity of species is preserved, Forest renewal is possible, The use of heavy equipment can damage other trees

Shelter wood cutting impacts

Forest renewal is possible, A new generation of trees can grow under the shelter of older trees

Bureau of Land Management

concerned with land used for natural resources

U.S. Forest Service

concerned with the conservation of wildlife, watershed, and soil

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

concerned with the protection of breeding areas and endangered species

National Park Service

concerned with the protection of natural areas and historic sites

fracking

drilling process using highly pressurized fluids, such as water mixed with sand. The fluids are pushed through open cracks in the rock underground. This helps the natural gas escape to the top of the well to be collected

Drilling

There are two types of drilling: pump jacks and oil rigs. Oil rigs drill into the ocean floor for oil deposits. The pump jacks work on the land. They provided upward force and pressure to move oil up the drill shaft. Mobile offshore drilling units (MODU) dig the wells for ocean drilling. Some units also double as rigs that can capture the oil.

Fracking Air Concerns

Natural gas and methane can seep into the atmosphere and Methane is flammable and increases global warming.

Fracking Water Concerns

Chemicals added to the fracking liquid can contaminate the groundwater

Fracking Ecosystem Concerns

Loud noise can affect hunting, mating, and migration behaviors, Fracking can take billions of gallons of water from surrounding ecosystems, and Salt in the wastewater reduces soil fertility and vegetation growth.

Fracking Human Concerns

Respiratory conditions, such as asthma, can increase near fracking stations due to pollution, Noise pollution can cause headaches, change sleeping patterns, and increase anxiety, Water contamination can lead to long-term health consequences, and Injection wells can cause localized earthquakes

Drilling Air Concerns

Water vapor released can increase greenhouse gases.

Drilling Water Concerns

Oil pipelines can break and leak into water sources, Wastewater is contaminated with oil and can become sludge in landfills, and Chemicals in wastewater can contaminate groundwater.

Drilling Ecosystem Concerns

Oil pipelines can break and leak into the soil, Roadbuilding into ecosystems can cause fragmented habitats, Oil spills from oil supply ships can leak into aquatic ecosystems, Ocean drilling can affect hunting, migrating, and mating behaviors of marine mammals, and Refining oil uses millions of gallons of water pulled from surrounding ecosystems

Drilling Human Concerns

Water contamination has long-term health consequences

Mountaintop removal

The removal of the entire tops of a mountain with explosives

Placer mining

process of looking for metals or precious stones in river sediments

Open-pit mining

Creates a large hole in the ground after minerals are removed from the surface

Surface Mining Air impact

Air pollution from dust, melting ore, and gas emissions

Surface mining soil imapct

Erosion from the mining process and Toxic materials leak into the soil

Surface mining water impact

Toxic materials can leak into waterways

Surface Mining Ecosystem impacts

Reduces habitat and Causes habitat fragmentation

(sub) + Surface Mining Human impacts

Toxic chemicals can leak into drinking water, Air pollution can lead to irritation of eyes, nose, and throat, and Heavy metal exposure can cause birth defects and long-term health problems

(sub) + Surface Mining positive impacts

Jobs in the mines and Minerals used for daily products

Subsurface Mining Air Impacts

Air pollution from dust, melting ore, and gas emission

Subsurface Mining water impacts

Mine drainage of wastewater lowers the pH of groundwater

Subsurface Mining Ecosystem Impacts

Drainage kills plants and animals and Creates sediment that clouds aquatic environments

Illegal Dumping

Waste that is not accepted at sanitary landfills may be illegally disposed, causing environmental issues.

Ocean Dumping

Rather than making landfills, some countries dispose of waste by discarding it into the ocean, which in turn creates floating islands of plastics and trash. Marine wildlife is impacted when they ingest the waste or become entangled within it.

Exporting Waste

The state that exports must pay transportation and regulatory fees for moving waste from one state to another. The state that imports the waste is paid substantially, but then must deal with the waste until it has decomposed and the chemical components are rendered harmless

Cadium

Harzardous E-waste found in batteries which can cause cancer

Lead

Hazardous E-Waste found in computers which can cause brain and kidney damage

Mercury

Hazardous E-Waste that is found in electric thermostats and can cause reproductive and nervous system issues