Environmental Science: Variables, Resources, Climate Change, and Pollution

What is an independent variable?

The variable that is changed or controlled in an experiment.

What is a dependent variable?

The variable that is measured in an experiment.

What is a controlled variable?

A variable that is kept constant to ensure a fair test.

What is an experimental group?

The group in an experiment that receives the treatment.

What is a control group?

The group in an experiment that does not receive the treatment.

What is percent change?

Percent change = (final - initial) / initial x 100.

What is the tragedy of the commons?

When people overuse a shared resource for personal benefit.

How do greenhouse gases connect to the tragedy of the commons?

The atmosphere is a shared resource that gets overused, leading to climate change.

What are the three pillars of sustainability?

Environmental, economic, and social.

What is sustainability?

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.

What is the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources?

Renewable resources can be replaced naturally over a short period; nonrenewable resources cannot.

What are fossil fuels?

Energy sources formed from ancient plants and animals, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

How do fossil fuels contribute to global climate change?

Burning fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases, trapping heat and causing global warming.

How is energy obtained from nuclear power?

By splitting atoms (fission), producing radioactive waste but low greenhouse gas emissions.

How is energy obtained from biomass?

By burning organic material; it's renewable but can produce pollution.

How is electricity generated from solar energy?

From sunlight hitting solar panels; it's clean but intermittent and requires space.

How is electricity generated from hydroelectric power?

From flowing water turning turbines; it's clean but can disrupt ecosystems.

How is electricity generated from geothermal energy?

From heat inside the Earth; it has low emissions but is location-limited.

How is energy obtained from hydrogen fuel cells?

From hydrogen reacting with oxygen; it produces clean water but is expensive.

How is electricity generated from wind energy?

From wind turning turbines; it's clean but depends on wind and can affect wildlife.

What is energy conservation?

Using less energy by reducing waste.

What is increasing energy efficiency?

Using technology to achieve the same output with less energy.

What causes stratospheric ozone depletion?

Natural causes include sunlight and volcanic eruptions; human-made chemicals like CFCs destroy ozone.

What was the Montreal Protocol?

An international agreement to phase out ozone-depleting substances.

What are the five major greenhouse gases?

Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and chlorofluorocarbons.

What is GWP?

Global warming potential, a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere.

Why is carbon dioxide the most concerning greenhouse gas?

Because it stays in the atmosphere for a long time.

Why are we not as concerned about water vapor as a greenhouse gas?

Because it is very short-lived.

How does climate change affect human health?

Warmer temperatures expand disease vectors, and rising sea levels contaminate drinking water.

What are the effects of climate change on permafrost?

Thawing releases methane and CO2, destabilizing land.

What are the effects of climate change on glaciers?

Melting reduces freshwater supplies and raises sea levels.

What are the effects of climate change on soil?

Increased erosion, drying, and loss of nutrients reduce soil fertility.

What are the effects of climate change on biodiversity?

Species loss, habitat shifts, drought, and extreme heat cause people to relocate.

What are the effects of climate change on extreme weather?

Increased frequency and intensity of heat waves, hurricanes, floods, droughts, and wildfires.

What are the layers of the atmosphere?

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere.

What is mining?

The process of extracting valuable minerals or metals from the earth.

What is ore?

Rock that contains a useful amount of valuable mineral that can be extracted.

What is overburden?

The soil and rock covering an ore deposit that must be removed before mining.

What are tailings?

The waste material left over after mining.

What are the effects of mining?

Habitat destruction, water pollution, soil erosion, and air pollution.

What is ecological footprint?

A measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems.

What are sources of nitrogen oxides?

Cars, trucks, power plants, and burning fossil fuels.

What are health impacts of nitrogen oxides?

Irritates lungs and worsens asthma.

What are sources of particulate matter?

Smoke, dust, factories, and vehicles.

What are health impacts of particulate matter?

Lung and heart problems and worsens asthma.

What are sources of sulfur dioxide?

Coal power plants, industrial processes, and volcanoes.

What are health impacts of sulfur dioxide?

Irritates lungs and worsens asthma.

What are sources of volatile organic compounds?

Paints, cleaning products, fuels, and industrial emissions.

What are health impacts of volatile organic compounds?

Irritation of eyes, nose, throat, headaches, and long-term exposure can damage liver/kidneys.

What are sources of carbon dioxide?

Cars, power plants, and burning fossil fuels.

What are health impacts of carbon dioxide?

Not directly toxic in normal air but contributes to climate change.

What are sources of carbon monoxide?

Car exhaust, gas stoves, and fires.

What are health impacts of carbon monoxide?

Reduces oxygen in blood and causes dizziness and headaches.

What are sources of lead and other heavy metals?

Old paint, smelting, and batteries.

What are health impacts of lead and other heavy metals?

Damages brain and nervous system and causes kidney damage.

What is radon?

A natural radioactive gas from soil and rocks that can seep into homes.

What are health impacts of radon?

Lung cancer risk with long-term exposure.

What are sources of formaldehyde?

Building materials, furniture, pressed wood, and smoke.

What are health impacts of formaldehyde?

Irritates eyes, nose, throat and can cause cancer with long-term exposure.

What are sources of asbestos?

Old insulation, building materials, and industrial products.

What are health impacts of asbestos?

Can cause lung disease and lung cancer.

What are the primary pollutants that cause acid deposition?

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

What secondary pollutants do sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides form?

Sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

What are endocrine disruptors?

Chemicals that interfere with the body's hormones.

What are persistent organic pollutants?

Toxic chemicals that stay in the environment for a long time and accumulate in living things.

What is biomagnification?

When chemical concentrations increase as they move up the food chain.

What is municipal solid waste?

Everyday trash from homes, schools, and businesses.

What is E-waste?

Discarded electronic devices.

What are the impacts of landfills?

Leachate can contaminate soil and water, lower property values, and provide health risks for nearby communities.

What greenhouse gas is associated with landfills?

Methane.

What is incineration?

Burning waste to reduce volume and sometimes generate energy.

How are sanitary landfills designed?

Lined with clay or plastic, have a leachate collection system, and are covered daily with soil.

What is recycling?

Processing used materials to make new products.

What is composting?

Turning organic waste into nutrient-rich soil.

What is the Clean Air Act?

Law regulating air pollution to protect human health.

Why was the Clean Air Act created?

To reduce harmful air pollutants from industry.

What are health benefits of the Clean Air Act?

Fewer respiratory problems, lower asthma rates, and reduced heart disease.

Why is natural gas considered less environmentally damaging?

It produces less carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter when burned compared to coal or oil.

How do energy consumption trends differ between developed and developing nations?

Developed countries use more energy per person, while developing countries use less.

What is wood used for?

Heating, cooking, and electricity.

What is peat?

Partially decayed plant matter used for heating and electricity.

What is coal used for?

Generating electricity and in steel production.

What is methane gas used for?

Heating, cooking, electricity, and making chemicals.

What is petroleum used for?

Transportation fuels.

How are fossil fuels formed?

From organic materials under heat and pressure in specific environments.

How is electricity generated from fossil fuels?

Burning fuels releases energy that boils water into steam, spinning a turbine connected to a generator.

What are the environmental impacts of coal combustion?

Releases large amounts of CO2 and pollutants that cause climate change.

What does coal release that contributes to climate change?

Large amounts of CO2 and pollutants.

What are the effects of fracking?

Contaminates groundwater, uses large amounts of water, releases methane, and can cause earthquakes.

What is photochemical smog?

An air pollutant formed when sunlight reacts with pollutants in the atmosphere.

How do warmer temperatures affect photochemical smog?

Higher temperatures speed up chemical reactions and trap pollutants near the ground.

How can photochemical smog be reduced?

By reducing car use, limiting industrial emissions, and improving fuel efficiency.

What is the normal pattern of air temperature in the atmosphere?

Air temperature decreases with altitude.

What happens during a thermal inversion?

Warm air sits above cooler air, trapping pollutants near the surface.

What is thermal pollution?

When heated water from power plants raises the temperature of rivers or lakes.

How does thermal pollution impact aquatic ecosystems?

It reduces oxygen levels and can stress or kill aquatic life.

What does pH measure in water?

How acidic or basic the water is.

What does temperature measure in water?

How warm or cold the water is.

What does alkalinity measure in water?

Water's ability to neutralize acids.

What does turbidity measure in water?

Water clarity; high turbidity can block sunlight.