Natural Resources
What is the difference between a renewable and a nonrenewable resource?
A renewable resource is a natural resource that can be replaced at the same rate that it is used and a nonrenewable resource is a natural resource that is being used up faster than it can replaced.
What is land degradation?
The point that human activity and natural processes damage land to the point that it can no longer support local ecosystems.
What is water pollution?
Water pollution is when waste or other materials is out into water which threatens the organisms that live in or use it.
Why is the atmosphere important?
It gives organisms air to breathe
It absorbs harmful radiation (keeps the bad gases out of Earth’s atmosphere)
It keeps Earth warm (it keeps the good gases in Earth’s atmosphere)
Greenhouse effect
What is conservation? Give an example.
The wise use of natural resources
What is Geothermal energy?
Advantage?
Disadvantage?
Heat from within the earth to generate electricity or heat our homes and buildings
Advantage: Renewable, heat pump can be done anywhere
Disadvantage: Not everyone has a "hot spot"
What are three different types of land use? Give an example of each.
Recreational, Residential, Industrial, Transport, Agricultural
Descrive three types of water pollution
Chemical Pollution, Thermal Pollution, Biological Pollution, and sediment
What causes acid precipitation?
Gas pollutants
What is sustainability
Making sure the resource will be around for future generations
What is the difference between Biomass Fuel and Fossil Fuels
What is the similarity
Biomass and FF both come from things that were living (plants and animals)
Difference is FF were ancient plants and animals nonrenewable and biomass is current living plants and animals renewable
What is the difference between desertification and deforestation?
Desertification is the process where land becomes more desert-like and and unable to support life, while deforestation is when trees and other vegetation are removed from an area.
What is pH?
A measure of how much acid is in the water
Explain how ozone can be good and bad
Good when it is in the stratosphere and protects us from UV radiation
Bad when it is in the troposphere as a major chemical in smog
What are three ways that we can improve water quality and usage?
What is fission? Renewable or Nonrenewable?
Splitting of a uranium atom
Nonrenewable
How are two ways that humans affect land and soil? Explain what each one means.
Urban Sprawl, Land Pollution and Nutrient Depletion, Desertification, Deforestation
Give an example of ocean pollution
oil spills
Dumping trash
What is the greenhouse effect?
When certain gases (carbon dioxide and water vapor) absorb and reradiate heat.
How can we preserve land resources? Give three examples and give examples.
Preservation, Reforestation, Reclamation, Reducing Urban Sprawl, Recycling, Soil Conservation
Give one disadvantage and one advantage to wind energy
Advantage: Renewable, cheap when running
Disadvantage: needs strong, reliable winds, nimby,
hurts birds
What is erosion and why is it bad for the environment if it happens a lot?
When water, air, or other natural processes carry soil from one place to another. This can make healthy soil, dry and lose nutrients.
Point source pollution can be traced back to one specific cause. Nonpoint source pollution comes from many small sources.
What are two (for each) human and natural sources of air pollution?
Human- car exhaust, dry cleaners, factories
Natural- wildfires, dust storms, volcanic eruptions
How can we reduce air pollution? Give examples with your answer.
Energy Conservation, Technology, and Laws