Environmental science unit 2

corrosion

chemical erosion (dissolving)

corrasion

mechanical erosion (abrasion)

industrial smog

results in acid rain/ greenhouse gas emissions

photochemical smog

chemical reactions occurring in polluted air through the action of sunlight on pollutant gases to produce new compounds/ gases

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

agency determining criteria pollutants

criteria polliutants

items posing great threats to health and welfare (carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, lead

Clean Air Act of 1970

beginning of first wave of strict policies that actually worked to address air pollution; standards, emission limits, funding research, enabled citizens to sue violators

health impacts of climate change

increase of weather-related mortality, increase/ re-emergence of infectious diseases, increase in respiratory illnesses, increase in radiation damage

agricultural impacts of climate change

lower crop yields leading to food shortages, increase in irrigation demands

forest impacts of climate change

change in forest composition, shift in geographic range of forests, decrease in forest health and productivity

water resource impacts of climate change

changes in supply, decrease in quality, increased competition for clean water, SW USA will suffer

impact of climate change on coastal areas

increased erosion on beaches, increased flooding on coastal lands, increased costs to defend coastal communities, probable increase in storm intensity

species and natural area impacts of climate change

shift in ecological zones, loss of habitat and species diversity

Antarctica and Greenland ice caps

make up 96% of all glacial ice; more sensitive to global warming

astronomical theories for climate change

Milankovitch cycles (axial wobble, variation of tilt, variation of orbit)

Atmospheric theories of climate change

greenhouse effect (CO2, suspended dust, ozone, water vapor)

geophysical theories for climate change

continental drift and polar wandering (both very long-term processes)

land/ water theories of climate change

ocean currents, sea to air heat transfer forms NADW

Glaciological theories of climate change

surging glaciers move into oceans and valleys, and melt

glacial retreat

englacial/ subglacial drainage, acceleration of ice flow and floods