Unit 5 - Everything Else Additional Review Questions - How would you answer the following?

One negative human health effect of urbanization is increased disease.  When people live in closer proximity, there is a higher chance of transmission of disease.

One negative health effect of urbanization is increased respiratory issues from air pollution.  Specifically, urban areas have higher amounts of PM from vehicles and construction.  Also, there can be higher levels of CO and NOx from vehicles, both of which are respiratory irritants. 

People in urban environments tend to drive less leading to less CO₂ emissions and less GHG emissions. This in turn reduces the risks from global warming and climate change.

People in urban environments tend to use mass transit or walk more leading to less CO₂ emissions….. [same as above]

Option 1.  One solution would be more permeable pavement so the infiltration rate increases and the runoff rate decreases.

Option 2.  One solution would be to increase the number of rain gardens in the urban areas.  The more rain gardens (and unpaved space in general) will increase infiltration and reduce runoff.

Option 3.  Build parks or rezone land to be parks.  Maybe some abandoned buildings could be replaced with green space (parks).

Option 1.  Increased infiltration will recharge the aquifer.  If the city is near the coastline, it could reduce the chances of saltwater intrusion and subsidence.

Option 2.  [the answer above would work or…]  Rain gardens can improve the appeal of the urban area and give a better sense of place to residents.  In addition, plants can purify air (reduce PM, NOx), provide a cooling effect, sequester carbon, and could even be used to grow some fruits and vegetables.

Option 3.  Answers to Options 1 and 2 would work….or    Parks can be a place for people to meet, picnic, play sports, and enjoy the outside.  These all improve the living conditions in cities.

Urban sprawl tends to increase the miles driven by people to get to work or other places.  This will increase CO2 emissions which will lead to global warming and climate change.

Urban sprawl requires trees to be cut down to build houses, roads, and other structures.  This leads to habitat loss and loss of biodiversity.   OR  This leads to reduced carbon sequestration which in turn leads to more CO2 in the atmosphere, global warming, and climate change.     OR this leads to more runoff and less infiltration.  Local waterways can have greater sediments leading to increased turbidity and decreased photosynthesis and contaminants that harm fish and other wildlife.   OR  The increased runoff can lead to increased eutrophication in local waterways.   OR   People tend to have bigger houses which leads to higher energy consumptions → global warming.

You could describe (1) how zoning could restrict urban sprawl.  OR  (2) Build up, not out, to maintain more natural space.  OR  (3)  Mixed land use which reduces the need for people to drive in suburban areas.  OR  (4)  Add more mass transit.  OR (5)  Invest in the urban areas to make them more desirable to live in.

Think about the Ecological Footprint Survey.  Anything along the lines of:

• Less meat-intensive diet

• Consume less energy (be specific about how you would do this)

• Drive less

• Smaller house

• Buy less

• Recycle/Reuse

• Reduce Waste

Sediments increase the turbidity of water.  In other words, it makes the water more cloudy and murky.  This reduces photosynthesis and decreases productivity.  High turbidity also affects the visibility of fish and other organisms which can affect feeding, mating, and other behaviors.  Higher sediments can also clog the gills of fish, killing them.

The mining company is trying to reduce the environmental damage from acid mine runoff.  By spreading lime, they are neutralizing any acid that forms from the interaction of water with pyrite or other minerals.  In addition, they are trying to cover the tailings with clay to create an impermeable layer.  That way, water can not infiltrate into the tailings, reducing the formation of acid mine runoff.

The tragedy of the commons is the concept that, if many people all have access to a common resource, such as the ocean or land or groundwater or the atmosphere, they will tend to overuse it and may end up destroying its value altogether. 

Fines.  Usage Fees.  Taxes.  

Saltwater intrusion from the increased use of groundwater for drinking water or nearby irrigation.  Saltwater intrusion reduces the quality and usefulness of the groundwater.  It would be more expensive to treat for drinking water and saltwater leads to salinization of soil which kills plants.

It is called the “Heat Island Effect”.  It is from the buildings and structure absorbing more heat (lower albedo).  The buildings hold that heat and even overnight temperatures are much higher in urban areas.

Parks.  Green Spaces.  Green Roofs.  Painting dark surfaces a lighter color.  Anything to increase albedo.

carbon sequestration (storing carbon dioxide), water filtration, air purification, regulating climate, providing food, timber for building materials, habitat for wildlife, recreation opportunities, soil conservation, and maintaining biodiversity

Forests are critical for carbon sequestration.  Trees take carbon dioxide out of the air and turn it into biomass.  Carbon sequestration reduces the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and reduces global warming.

Acid mine runoff can decrease the pH in local streams and rivers.  This can take the organisms in that waterway out of their range of tolerance.

Deforestation can cause the temperature of streams to go up.   This can take the organisms in that stream out of their range of tolerance.

Clearcutting results in habitat loss and a loss in biodiversity.

Urban sprawl results in habitat loss and a loss in biodiversity.

In order to reduce your carbon footprint and ecological footprint, you should decrease meat consumption.  Meat, particularly beef, contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions like methane from cows.  

Building up and not out, can preserve natural spaces.  The more natural spaces, the more habitat, primary productivity, and biodiversity.  

Urban areas have a large amount of impermeable surfaces.  Impermeable surfaces prevent infiltration (and recharge of aquifers).  Instead, the runoff goes into local waterways where it can increase turbidity, cause eutrophication, and increase levels of pesticides and other chemicals that can kill organisms.