Earth Systems
These are the 4 "spheres" of planet Earth.
- Hydrosphere
- Biosphere
- Lithosphere
- Atmosphere
What is one type of renewable energy?
Answers could include: solar, wind, hydro, biomass, and geothermal power (nuclear power is kind of on the line).
What does sustainability mean?
Maintaining / preserving Earth's resources (so we / other life forms don't run out)
What are two big environmental problems?
2) Plastic Waste / Littering
What is one realistic solution to littering?
- Fines ($$$)
- More trashcans / recycling bins in the area
- Satellite imaging to assist in directing clean-up
How does pollution affect the health of humans?
- Air Pollution: Causes asthma and other respiratory issues.
- Microplastics: Ingesting these can cause inflammation and cell damage, and may potentially increase risk for heart attack, stroke, reproductive issues, and cancer.
- Water Pollution: Can cause neurological problems, reproductive disorders, organ damage, and gastrointestinal disease. Can ingest microplastics via water pollution.
- Soil Pollution: Runoff from pesticides, waste, and general chemical contaminants can cause vomiting, fever, rashes, respiratory issues, and even liver damage, cancer, and neurological problems over time.
What landscapes / types of communities are best for wind power?
Rural (farmland).
What are two things CITIES could do to be more GREEN (environmentally-friendly)?
1) Improve public transportation (less people driving separate vehicles, means less air pollution from burning fossil fuels).
2) Install "green roofs" (Plants / gardens on top of buildings reverse urban heat and improve air quality).
What is causing climate change?
Humans burning fossil fuels.
This includes using gasoline, oil, or coal to power vehicles and buildings.
What is a trade-off when buying a car?
- Buying a car costs money ($$$).
- Driving cars harms the environment.
- You are now responsible to pay for gasoline, car insurance, highway tolls, parking, and any maintenance or damage to the vehicle.
- SIX MILLION CAR CRASHES HAPPEN ON U.S. ROADS EVERY. DANG. YEAR. Be safe out there y'all! People are crazy.
(:'
Name The 5 Major Oceans on Earth.
1) Arctic
2) Atlantic
3) Indian
4) Pacific
5) Southern
What landscapes / types of communities are best for solar power?
Urban (cities).
Why are fossil fuels an UN-SUSTAINABLE power source?
Fossil fuels (like coal, oil, and gasoline) come from literal FOSSILS (dead dinosaurs that have been compressed in the ground for millions and millions of years). So, new fossil fuels are not really an option. We only ever deplete those resources.
Explain why it would be hard to remove all the plastic from the oceans.
- Plastic is a translucent material
- Small sea creatures (like plankton, shellfish, and barnacles) could be swept up and displaced during clean-up efforts
- There are literal millions of pounds of it sitting in water all over the world
Why don't most governments fully support investing in renewable energy?
They get a lot of $moola$ from fossil fuel CEOs to keep plugging coal, oil, and gasoline to their citizens.
How does biomagnification work?
Small creatures (primary consumers) accidentally ingest pollution. Then, larger predators (secondary & tertiary consumers) eat the prey and end up ingesting even more pollution.
Why are batteries not always considered an ethical source of power?
- Pollution / Runoff from mining the metals can enter waterways - harming aquatic life forms, land animals that drink that water, and humans as well.
- Many mining companies (around the world, this is ESPECIALLY an ethical issue in Africa) utilize illegal child labor in mines to save their $$.
>:(
Why is growing food locally better for the environment than shipping food?
The trucks that are shipping the food contribute to greenhouse gas emissions / air pollution / global warming / climate change.
Having more plants in your area means better air quality, since plants' photosynthesis turns carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas) back into healthy oxygen.
Why are pregnant women told to avoid seafood?
Biomagnification causes mercury (Hg) from metal-mining runoff to reach dangerously high levels in fish and other sea creatures.
What is one new type of battery that is currently being researched to replace lithium-ion batteries?
(Li-ion batteries = coin cells)
Possible Answers:
1) Solid-state batteries
2) Sodium-ion batteries
3) Lithium-sulfur batteries
Scenario:
N2O (Nitrous Oxide) is carried from fertilized plants, to a highway by heavy rainfall. The next day, hotter temperatures cause the Nitrous Oxide to evaporate in water vapor.
QUESTION:
What key words from the scenario indicate that all 4 Earth spheres are involved?
- Hydrosphere (all water) = Rain / Water Vapor
- Biosphere (all life) = Plants
- Lithosphere (rocks & minerals) = Highway
- Atmosphere = Evaporate / Water Vapor / Higher Temperatures
ANSWER BOTH:
a) Why is solar power a good renewable energy option for Baltimore City?
AND
b) What is Baltimore City's main source of power?
a) Solar panels are easy to install on existing city structures and rooftops.
b) BGE Gas - "NATURAL" gas is a FOSSIL FUEL
:(
Why does recycling matter?
Recycling facilities can turn tossed materials into new stuff that's equally as useful.
Also, plastic takes an extremely long time to break down, so littered plastic usually gets swept by rain into our oceans, and either hurts or is eaten sea creatures.
Why do greenhouse gases cause global warming, but diatoms (like oxygen and nitrogen) do not?
Greenhouse gases (like CO2, N2O, and CH4) have more atoms in their chemical structure. Their more-complicated forms can absorb infrared (heat) energy more successfully.
Why aren't electric cars actually environmentally-friendly? (Hint: electric cars like Teslas run on giant batteries)
Most batteries are unsustainable (runoff pollution from mining the metals, child labor and unpaid workers).