AP Environmental Science Unit 5

how much water do north americans use each day (domestically)?

approximately 100 gallons

what is the majority of domestic water used for?

solvents to carry waste

what is the number one water user in your house?

toilets

rank in order (most to least) of consumption: agriculture, domestic, industrial

agriculture, industrial, domestic

if the water cycle purifies water, why are we worried about water quality?

we are polluting it faster than it is naturally being purified

why are periodic floodings important for soil?

it reduces the salinity of soil

what happens to the salinity of the soil as water evaporates?

the salinity of the soil increases

why are farmers worried about increased salinity levels in their soil?

it harms their crops which means they produce less money per acre

what are ways we can reduce domestic water usage?

low flow toilets, low flow shower-heads, xeriscape

what are two benefits of dams?

generates electricity and prevents seasonal flooding

why will a city be hotter than an agricultural field?

there are more darker surfaces in a city meaning less light is reflected due to a lower albedo

what are 6 tests (abiotic) we can perform on water?

pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, phosphates, nitrates, turbidity

who was john wesley powell?

the last american explorer who set off down the colorado river (only had one arm)

what happened to the goldfish as the temperature increased? discuss another consequence of this result.

the goldfish had a faster breathing rate so it used more energy to breath

what type of relationship between BOD and DO?

BOD increase, DO decreases

what is the largest non point source of water discharge?

agricultural runoff

what result would you expect for an LC-50 if you were to conduct a bioassay of NH3 on amore complex organism?

the LC-50 concentration would be higher since the organism is bigger and more complex

what is happening to the moisture content in soil as the global temperature increases? what is happening to the salinity?

moisture content decreases in the soil and salinity increases as global temperatures increase

what is the importance of a control?

it provides a baseline for our experiment

you have been drinking water with small amounts of arsenic daily for 96 years. what type of chemical exposure have you been experiencing?

chronic exposure

your college roommate pressures you to try heroin. you overdose and die. what type of chemical exposure have you been experiencing?

acute exposure

where do the majority of humans get their water?

groundwater

what do endocrine disruptors do?

causes hormone imbalances and you make the opposite hormone

what do high levels of fecal coliform bacteria indicate?

the water is contaminated with human waste

explain how water and nutrients are cycled in a lake

fall and spring turnovers occur where temperature differences in water create mixing which causes the colder, more denser water to sink and the nutrients from the bottom to the surface for plants

logging increases sediment runoff into a stream. what does this do to turbidity? what does this do to the fish?

turbidity increase and DO decreases due to an increase in water temperature

what is the intention of the clean water act?

regulates discharges of point source pollutants into the water to make it swimmable and fishable

what are two disadvantages of creating dams?

blocks fish migration and causes upstream flooding

who regulates the clean water act?

EPA

who regulates the endangered species act?

fish and wildlife service and national marine fisheries service

what is an aquifer?

ab underground cavern where water goes between rocks

how do lawns impact the enviornment?

uses a lot of water to maintain and fertilizer and pesticide runoff

explain one anthropogenic consequence of water diversion from the lake

the lake will shrink which causes the lake to be saltier and it causes particulates in our air

what water treatment stage adds oxygen to decompose organic matter?

secondary

which water treatment stage filters large particles through a screen?

primary

which water treatment stage can remove nitrates and phosphates?

tertiary

what would be the most successful measure to stimulate water conservation?

raising the rates of using water 

what is an indicator species and give an example?

native species that lives in a habitat that indicates changes of the habitat (ex: fish)

what is the word to describe land that sinks?

land subsidence

what will wastewater treatment plants of tomorrow need to remove?

endocrine disruptors, microplastics, and pharmaceuticals

what is one problem a farmer is facing and provide a realistic solution for this problem?

problem: increased soil salinity, solution: buy water to flood soil to flush the salts out

what are two ways roseville can reduce its water use as it grow?

xeriscapes and low flow shower-heads