Exam 1
What type of plate boundary forms when two oceanic plates move towards one another?
Convergent subduction zone
What field studies the impacts of toxic substances on humans and the environment?
Toxicology
Energy that is not derived from fossil fuels but also isn't considered fully renewable such as nuclear energy are considered
alternative energies
A grouping of solar panels into a larger structure is called a
Solar Array
What is urbanization?
The transition from open or farm lands into a city where lots of people live close together.
What type of rock forms from the burial and subsequent increase in heat and pressure (but does not melt).
Metamorphic rocks
What are the names for the inside curve of a river and the outside curve of a river? (correctly identify which is which)
Inside curve of a river experiences deposition and is a point bar. Outside curve is a cutbank and experiences erosion.
How has climate change impacted weather patterns?
More severe weather is occurring more frequently.
The change in temperature from the core of the earth to the surface is called the
Geothermal Gradient
What is new urbanism?
A belief and intentional design of cities to be walkable, having safe paths for walking and bikes, having jobs, homes, and stores all close enough to use without cars.
Which of the 5 "spheres" includes all animals, plants, microbes, etc.
Biosphere
The layer of our atmosphere that contains the ozone and increases in temperature with an increase in altitude is the
What is the most strict environmental agreement to date?
Paris Agreement
What is the difference between onshore and offshore wind energy? Be specific.
Offshore has larger wind turbines so can generate more electricity. It can be harder to build offshore turbines. Onshore wind turbines can still be fairly large but are generally easier to build and maintain.
What are some of the categories buildings are judged on for LEED Certification?
Water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, sustainable sites, innovations in operations and regional priority,
What is the difference between a positive and negative feedback loop? Provide an example of each.
Positive pushes toward extremes i.e. albedo and ice melting with climate change.
Negative tries to preserve equilibrium i.e. when we shiver when it is cold.
Compare and contrast confined and unconfined aquifers.
Describe how acid mine drainage (AMD) forms.
After mining breaks up the rock into smaller pieces with greater surface area, water that fills the mine dissolves minerals and toxicants which are then transported into surface and groundwater.
Explain how multiple forms of renewable energy can be used together to be more efficient. Be specific.
Why are cities considered heat islands?
The asphalt and cement traps heat (albedo effect), water doesn't pool and evaporate to cool the air, plants don't cool the air, buildings physically block the air, more emissions and heat pollution are generated by people.
Compare and contrast environmental science, geology, and environmental studies.
environmental geology focuses on the science of the whole world and how animals, plants, rocks, atmosphere etc. interact. Environmental studies is similar but focuses more on the humanities side of these issues. Geology focuses on the interactions of rocks/sediments/the Earth.
How does socioeconomic status affect how people experience environmental hazards?
What are proxy indicators? How are they used?
Something such as ice cores which tell us about past conditions (such as amount of CO2) which we use to create models of what the environment will look like in the future.
What are three reasons that renewable energy may be disliked by the public or may still be bad for the environment.
Not in my backyard, noise, flooding, difficult to collect materials, frequent disposal of solar panels, bird kills from wind turbines, location limited for many resources.
How does transportation impact a city including the physical and mental health of residents?
Public transport reduces traffic and emissions, makes cities more accessible, having options for walking and biking improves physical and mental health, easy transportation makes lives easier and less stressful.