Soil Erosion
What is strip cropping?
A "barrier method" where different crops are sown in alternate strips to slow down wind and water
What does running water/ rivers do?
It's a natural force primarily responsible for carving out deep canyons and valleys over millions of years
What is point source pollution?
This term describes pollution that enters water from a single, identifiable source, like a pipe or a drain
What is photochemical smog?
This yellowish-brown haze is formed when sunlight reacts with pollutants from car exhaust
What is the Clean Air Act?
This federal law, passed in 1970, regulates air emissions from stationary and mobile sources
What are windbreaks
This farming method involves planting rows of trees to block the wind from blowing soil away
What is deposition?
The process of wind or water dropping sediment in a new location, often forming deltas
What is Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)?
This measurement tracks the amount of oxygen required by bacteria to break down organic matter in water
What are CFCs?
The primary gas responsible for the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer, now largely banned
What is the specific goal of "Integrated Pest Management" (IPM) in sustainable agriculture?
To minimize chemical pesticide use by using biological controls and mechanical trapping first.
What is no-till farming?
A method where farmers leave old crop stalks in the field to cover the soil rather than plowing them under
What is frost wedging?
This specific type of physical weathering occurs when water enters rock cracks, freezes, and expands
What are algal blooms?
Excessive nitrogen and phosphorus in water can lead to these, which deplete oxygen levels.
What is the chemical difference between "good" ozone in the stratosphere and "bad" ozone in the troposphere?
Stratospheric ozone blocks UV rays; tropospheric ozone is a respiratory irritant and a component of smog.
Why is "sustainability" more about the future than it is about the present?
It’s the idea of using what we need today without "stealing" those resources from our grandkids.
What is gully erosion?
The most severe form of water erosion that creates deep, wide channels that cannot be removed by normal tillage
What is soil creep?
The slow, downhill movement of soil and regolith caused by repeated freezing and thawing
What is the difference between point source and non-point source pollution?
Point source pollution comes from a single, specific location like a pipe or a drain, making it easy to identify. Non-point source pollution comes from many scattered sources
Detail the specific harmful effects that PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) has on human cardiovascular health.
These particles are small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs, causing inflammation and heart disease.
How does "Tragedy of the Commons" play a part in pollution.
When a resource is shared and unregulated, individuals act in self-interest and deplete it for everyone.
What is the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE)?
The mathematical formula used by environmental scientists to predict soil loss based on rainfall, soil type, and slope
What are eskers?
The name for the distinct, winding ridges of sand and gravel deposited by streams flowing under a melting glacier
What are PFAS?
These are "forever chemicals" used in non-stick coatings that are now a major concern for groundwater contamination
Explain the process of "acid deposition" and its specific impact on the nutrient cycle of forest soils.
It leaches essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium out of the soil and releases toxic aluminum
Explain the difference between "Conservation" and "Preservation" using a analogy.
Conservation is using a forest wisely (like logging carefully); Preservation is "hands-off" and leaving it untouched.