Environmental Science Exam Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts discussed in the environmental science lecture notes.

Ocean Acidification

The decrease in pH levels of ocean waters due to absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Cultural Eutrophication

The enrichment of water bodies with nutrients, leading to excessive growth of algae and decreased oxygen levels.

Photochemical Smog

Air pollution that results from the interaction of sunlight with pollutants such as volatile organic compounds and nitrogen oxides.

Formaldehyde

A colorless, flammable gas used in building materials and household products, known to cause health issues.

Lead

A toxic metal found in old plumbing and some ceramic glazes, harmful to human health.

Mercury Bioaccumulation

The process by which mercury accumulates in organisms, particularly in fish, leading to increased concentrations higher up the food chain.

Carbon Monoxide

A colorless, odorless gas produced by burning fossil fuels that can impair oxygen transport in the bloodstream.

Disinfection Methods

Processes such as chlorination or UV irradiation applied to water to kill pathogenic organisms.

Tertiary Treatment

The final stage in wastewater treatment that includes disinfection to remove remaining pathogens.

Ozone Layer

A region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemicals that can interfere with endocrine (hormonal) systems, potentially leading to developmental disorders.

Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

The reduction of ozone layer levels due to human-made chemicals like CFCs, resulting in increased UV exposure.

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Pollution that does not originate from a single discrete source, such as runoff from agricultural fields.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

A measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specified time compared to carbon dioxide.

Thermal Pollution

The degradation of water quality by changing its temperature, often caused by industrial discharges.

Acid Rain

Precipitation that has been made acidic due to atmospheric pollution, particularly from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.