Studied by 133 people
Ionizing Radiation
enough energy to dislodge or free electrons from atoms, forming ions: capable of causing cancer (gamma, X-rays, UV)
High Quality Energy
organized and concentrated: can perform useful work (fossil fuels and nuclear energy)
Low Quality Energy
disorganized, dispersed (heat in ocean or air, wind or solar)
First Law of Thermodynamics:
energy is neither created or destroyed, but may be converted from on form to another (Law of Conservation of Energy)
Second Law of Thermodynamics
when energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is ALWAYS degraded into lower quality energy, usually heat.
Natural Radioactive Decay
unstable radioactive decay releasing gamma rays, alpha particles, and beta particles. (ex. Radon)
Half-Life
the time it takes for ½ the mass of a radioactive isotope to decay.
Estimate of how long a radioactive isotope must be stored until it decays to a safe level
A radioactive isotope must be stored for approximately 10 half-lives until it decays to a safe level.
Nuclear Fission
nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons
Nuclear Fusion:
two isotopes of light elements (H) forced together at high temperatures till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus (He). Process is expensive; break-even point has not yet been reached. Happens in the Sun.
Ore
a rock that contains a large enough concentration of a mineral making it profitable to mine.
Mineral Reserve
identified deposits currently profitable to extract.
Best Solution To Energy Shortage
conservation, increase efficiency, explore alternative energy options.
Organic Fertilizer
slow-acting and long lasting because the organic remains need time to be deposited.
Surface Mining
cheaper and can remove more minerals, less hazardous to workers
Humus
organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms.
Leaching
removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards
Illuviation
deposit of leached material in lower soil layers (B Horizons)
Loam
perfect agricultural soil with optimal portions of sand, silt, clay (40%, 40%, 20%)
Soil Conservation Methods
conservation tillage, crop rotation, contour plowing, organic fertilizers.
Soil Salinization
in arid regions, water evaporates leaving salts behind. (ex: Fertile Cresent in southwestern US)
Conservation
allowing the use of resources in a responsible manner.
Preservation
setting aside areas and protecting them from human activities.
Water Logging
water completely saturates soil and starves plant roots of oxygen, rots roots.
Hydrologic Cycle Components
evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, perception and infiltration.
Watershed
all of the land that drains into a body of water
Aquifer
underground layers of porous rock allow water to move slowly
Cone of Depression
lowering of the water table around a pumping well
Salt Water Intrusion:
near the coast, overpumping of groundwater causes saltwater to move into the aquifer.
ENSO: El Nino Southern Oscillation
See-Sawing of air pressure over the South Pacific
During an El Nino year
trade winds weaken and warm water sloshed back towards South America.Diminished fisheries off South America, drought in western Pacific, increased precipitation in southwestern North America, fewer Atlantic hurricanes
Effects of El Nino
Upwelling decreases disrupting food chains; Northern US has mild winters and Sothwest US has increased rainfall, less Atlantic Hurricanes
La Nina
Normal" year, easterly trade winds and ocean current pool warm water in the western Pacific, allowing upwelling of nutrient rich water off the West Coast of South America
Nitrogen Fixation
because atmospheric nitrogen cannot be used directly by plants, it first must be converted into ammonia by bacteria
Ammonificum
decomposers convert organic waste to ammonia
Nitrification
ammonia is concerted to Nitrate ion (NO-1)
Assimilation
inorganic N in converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids and proteins.
Deniitrification
bacteria convert nitrate (NO3)-1 and nitrite (NO2)-1 back into N2 gas.
Phosphorous does not circulate as easily as nitrogen because
it does not exist as a gas, but is released by weathering of phosphate (PO4)-3 rocks.
Phosphorous Cycle is: (speed-wise)
a slow cycle and not atmospheric
Phosphorous is a major limiting nutrient
in the growth of plants
How phosphorous is added to aquatic ecosystems
runoff of animal wastes, fertilizer, discharge of sewage.
Sustainability
the ability to meet the current needs of humanity with compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
Photosynthesis
plants convert CO2 (atmospheric carbon) into complex carbohydrates (sugars) (glucose C6H12O6)
Aerobic Respiration
Oxygen (O2) consuming producers, consumers and decomposers break down complex organic compounds and convert Carbon (C ) back into CO2
Largest Reservoirs of Carbon (C)
carbonate (CO3)2- rocks first, oceans second.
Biotic
the living component of an ecosystem
Abiotic
non-living component of an ecosystem
Producer/Autotroph
organisms that make their own food—photosynthetic or chemosynthetic life
Trophic Levels
producers→ primary consumer→secondary consumer→tertiary consumer
Energy Flow in Food Webs
only 10% of the usable energy is transferred to the next trophic level: REASON: because usable energy is lost as heat. (Second law of thermodynamics): not all biomass is digested and absorbed; predators expend energy to catch prey
Succession
in ecology, the gradual colonization of a habitat after an environmental disturbance (ex fire, flood), usually by a series of species
Primary Succession
development of communities in a lifeless area not recently inhabited by life (ex. retreating glacier) or those in which the soil profile is completely destroyed (lava flows): begin with lichen action
Secondary Succession
life progresses where soil remains (clear cut forest, vacant lot, old farm or fire)
Climax Community
the stable, final community that develops from ecological succession
Symbiosis
occurs when members of two different species live in close physical contact with each other.
Mutualism
symbiotic relationship where both organisms benefit
Commensalism
symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other organism is unaffected.
Parasitism
relationship in which one organism (the parasite) obtains nutrients at the expense of the host.
Biomes
large distinct terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants and animals
Carrying Capacity
the number of individuals the can be sustained in an area
R strategist
reproductive strategy in which organisms reproduce early; bear many small; unprotected offspring (ex. insects, mice)
K strategist
reproduce late in life; few offspring; care for offspring
Positive Feedback
when a change in some conditions triggers a response that intensifies the changing condition (warmer Earth—snow melts—less sunlight is reflected and more is absorbed, therefore a warmer Earth)
Negative Feedback
when a change in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition (warmer Earth—more ocean evaporation—more stratus clouds—less sunlight reaches the ground—therefore a cooler Earth)
Natural Selection
organisms that possess favorable adaptations (traits) and pass them onto the next generation. These organisms have higher reproductive success.
Exotic Species/Invasive Species
non-Native species to an area; often thrive and disrupt the ecosystem balance; examples African Honeybee; Fire Ant, Zebra Mussel, Purple Loosestrife.
Doubling Time: (Rule of 70):
doubling time equals 70 divided by the percent growth rate. For example, if a population is growing at 5% annually, it doubles in 14 years; 70/5 -14 years.the number of children a couple must have to replace themselves (averages 2.1 in developed nations, 2.7 in less developed nations)
Replacement Level Fertility
the number of children a couple must have to replace themselves (averages 2.1 in developed nations, 2.7 in less developed nations)
World Population
7.5 Billion
U. S. Population
321 Million
Preindustrial Stage
birth and death rates high, population grows slowly, infant mortality high
Transitional Stage
death rate (infant mortality) lower, birth rates remain high, better health care, population grows fast
Industrial Stage
decline in birth rate, population growth slows
Postindustrial state
low birth rate and low death rate
Age Structure Diagram
broad base→ rapid growth; narrow base→ negative growth; uniform shape→ zero growth
Top Four Most Populated Nations
China; 2) India; 3) U.S. and ) Indonesia
Most Important Thing Affecting Population Growth
low status of women
Methods or Ways to Decrease Birth Rate
family planning; contraception, economic rewards and penalties
Composition of Water on Earth
97.5% Seawater; 2.5% freshwater
Ways to conserve water
drip/trickle irrigation; Industry: recycling; Home: use gray water, repair leaks, low flow fixtures, different types of yard (zeroscape not planting Kentucky Blue grass), time of day watering...
Gray Water
Any wastewater from a house EXCEPT TOILIET WATER; (dish water, shower water...) this water can be used for irrigation water...
Aquaculture
farming aquatic species, commonly salmon, shrimp, tilapia, oysters
Point Source
source from specific location such as pipe or smokestack
Non-point Source: (Area/Dispersed Source)
source spread over an area such as agricultural/feedlot runoff, urban runoff, and traffic runoff
Primary Sewage Treatment
first step of sewage treatment; eliminates most particulate material from raw sewage using grates, screens, and gravity (settling).
Secondary Sewage Treatment
second step of sewage treatment; bacteria breakdown organic waste; aeration accelerates the process.
BOD: (Biological Oxygen Demand)
amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down organic materials
Eutrophication
rapid algal growth (algal bloom) caused by an excess of nitrogen and phosphorous, blocks sunlight, causing the death/decomposition of aquatic plants, decreasing dissolved oxygen (DO), suffocating fish. The rapid growth is caused by an excess nitrates (NO3)-1, and phosphates (PO4)3- in water.
Hypoxia
water with very low dissolved oxygen levels, the end result is eutrophication. The BOD rises as aerobic decomposers breakdown the plants , the dissolved oxygen (DO) drops and the water cannot support life.
Fecal coliform (Enterrococus bacteria
Coccus (round shaped bacteria); indicator of sewage contamination (Happens over the summer at Chatfield or Cherry Creek Reservoir once in a while.)
Chlorine
Good: disinfection of water; Bad: forms trihalomethanes (this group of compounds are byproducts of chlorination and are known carcinogens)
Minamata Disease
(1932-1968 Japan) mental impairments caused by methylmercury (CH3Hg)+1 poisoning
CAFÉ standards
Corporate Average Fuel Economy : standards enacted into law in 1975, established fuel efficiency standards for passenger cars and light trucks. The fuel economy ratings fro a manufacture's entire line of passenger cars must currently average at least 27.6 mpg for the manufacturer to comply with the standard.
Primary Air Pollutants
produced by human and nature (CO, CO2, SOx NOx,hydrocarbons, particulates)
Secondary Pollutants
formed by reaction of primary pollutants.
Particulate Matter
a. Source: burning fossil fuels and diesel exhaust
b. Effects: reduces visibility and respiratory irritation
c. Reduction: filtering, electrostatic precipitators, alternative energy
Nitrogen Oxides: (NOx)
a. Source : auto exhaust
b. Effects: acidification of lakes, respiratory irritation, leads to smog and ozone
c. Equation For Acid Formation: NO + O2 🡪 NO2 + H2O 🡪 HNO3
d. Reduction: Catalytic Converter
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
a. Source: combustion of fossil fuels
b. Effects: greenhouse gas—contributes to global warming
c. Reduction: accomplished by increased fuel efficiency (gas mileage) mass transit (reduction)
Sulfur Oxides: (SOx)
a. Source: coal burning
b. Effects: acid deposition, respiratory irritation, damages plants
c. Equation for acid formation: SO2 +O2🡪 SO3 + H2O 🡪 H2SO4
d. Reduction: scrubbers, burn low sulfur fuels
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