ESCI 101 exam 2 WWU

water conflict in middle east

-dry climate

-3 river basins

-water supply already short

-pop. is expected to double in 25 years

uneven distribution

-40% of world pop. experiences chronic water shortages

-canda = 5% of world pop = 20% of freshwater

-china = 21% of world pop = 7% of freshwater

groundwater

water that fills the cracks and spaces in underground soil and rock layers

Aquifer

An underground formation that contains groundwater

Ogallala Aquifer

Largest aquifer in North America.

watersheds

a collection basin, its the lowest point so all water flows to the watersheds

lake whatcom

small mouth basin, has collected mercury,

sources are atmospheric

georgia pacific made toilet paper, solid waste, post point waste treatment plant

water pollution

consider form of pollutant

- chemical or physical

-typical concentrations

-where is it coming from

mechanism of action 1. enviormental 2. health

types of water pollution

Infectious agents (pathogens), oxygen demanding wastes (sewage), organic chemicals (oils), sediments, thermal pollution (factories heating water), biotic invasions (invasive species, hydrologic alterations, inorganic chemicals (heavy metals and household cleaners).

nitrogen cycle

-78% of N2 is in our atmosphere

-nitrogen fixation = bacteria exist that can convert nitrogen into something plants can use (legumes)

-we rely on plants to convert it into organic nitrogen

Haber process

-industrial nitrogen fixation

-takes alot of energy (high pressure high temp, enzymes)

-invented for bombs but is used for fertilizer

-in 100 years we doubled the rate this process happens naturally

CONs

-a lot of pollution

-expensive to filter N out of water

-increased crop yields

-reduction of biodiversity

-eutrophication = excess nutrient discharge into aquatic systems

-lack of o2 killing everything

-we are fertilizing the lakes

Eutrophic lakes

mucky, sediment, leaches, smells bad

Dentrification

loss of nitrogen from bacteria

Nitrification

oxidation of salts to nitrites and the further oxidation of nitrites to nitrates

point vs. non point pollution

Point = identifiable source

- factory

-mines

-oil tankers

-sewage plants

Non-point =agricultural sources

-atmosphere deposition

-golf courses

-urban runoff

-logged forests

clean water act 1972

goal= to maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of nations waters (drinkable + swim-able)

303d list

has states identify where pollution is

NPDES permitting

national pollution discharge elimination system

-prohibits discharge of pollutants w/out permit

-issued by EPA or state

TMDL program

"Total maximum daily load" plan

-dicates allowable pollutant loading to bring lake whatcom back to "national state"

-set by department of ecology

-happened because the lake has downgraded to mesotrophic

BHAM wastewater treatment

primary = screening - filtration to remove particles

secondary = organic matter is removed-promotes bacteria growth

tertiary = removes inorganic phosphorus

the green revolution

- made by norman borlaug

-heavy fertilizing to increase food production

cons to green revolution

- more pesticides

-takes 5.5 tons of fossil fuel to produce 1.1 tons of fertilizer

-replaced traditional agricultural/farming

the ideal pesticide

-kills only target pests

-breaks down quickly

-doesn't cause generic resistance in target organisms

case for pesticides

-save human lives (malaria)

-increase food production, lower food costs

-health risks insignificant compared to benefits

case against pesticides

-genetic resistance

-kills natural pest/creates new ones

-they don't stay put

-harms wildlife (20% of bee pop.)

Genetic Resistance

some of pests arent dying due to the pesticides (they're resistant) so they stay alive then pass their resistant genes on so it gets harder + harder to kill pests

Carcinogens

substances that cause cancer

mutagens

chemical substance that causes genetic mutation

Teratogens

agents that cause malformation of an embryo

Bioaccumulation

the accumulation of substances (chemicals) in an organism (EX. mercury)

Biomagnification

the concentration of toxins in an organism as a result of its ingesting other plants or animals in which the toxins are more widely disbursed.

mercury in canned tuna

the cheaper tuna cans have mercury

Scientific Method

formalized way for having plausible explanation/ and a tested hypothesis

-you cant say something is just a "theory"

GM crop

Genetically modified crop that contains a gene from other species