2. Energy and the Environment
What fossil fuel is formed from ancient sea creatures?
Oil (and natural gas)
What is the term for water stored in porous underground rock layers?
Aquifer
Which gas is most associated with the anthropogenic greenhouse effect?
Carbon dioxide (CO₂).
What term describes the number of people living per square kilometer?
Population density
What is deforestation?
The removal of large areas of forest.
Name two renewable sources of energy.
Any two of the following: solar, wind, geothermal, tidal, hydroelectric, biofuels
Which two methods are commonly used to remove salt from seawater?
Distillation and reverse osmosis.
Name two human activities that increase atmospheric methane levels.
Livestock farming and landfill decomposition.
Name one reason population growth can put pressure on water resources.
Increased domestic water demand (e.g., for drinking, sanitation).
Name one reason rainforests are cleared by humans.
Agriculture (e.g., cattle ranching, plantations).
What are two environmental disadvantages of using biofuels?
Land needed for crops may reduce food production; can reduce biodiversity.
Name one physical and one economic reason a country might experience water scarcity.
Physical: desert climate;
Economic: lack of infrastructure.
What is acid rain and what causes it? (Give specific molecules that cause acid rain)
Rainfall that is acidic due to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from burning fossil fuels.
Why might birth rates remain high in LEDCs? Give two reasons.
Lack of access to contraception; cultural preference for large families.
What are two consequences of disrupting a natural ecosystem?
Loss of biodiversity; soil erosion.
A rural area is trying to choose between wind power and hydroelectric power. List two advantages and one disadvantage of each option.
Wind: Advantages: no emissions, renewable. Disadvantage: weather-dependent.
Hydro: Advantages: renewable, consistent output. Disadvantage: may flood ecosystems.
A coastal city relies on desalination plants but experiences frequent power outages. What are two likely consequences for water availability and public health?
Reduced clean water supply; risk of waterborne diseases due to use of untreated water.
An imaginary city called Greentown notices a rise in asthma cases. Nearby, there’s a coal power plant and heavy traffic. What are two likely contributors to the health issue? (Give specific pollutants)
Air pollution from SO₂ and NOx from the coal plant; particulate matter from vehicle emissions.
In a case study, the nation of Aridia has a rapidly growing population and high unemployment. What are two likely environmental consequences?
Deforestation for housing/farming; pollution from overcrowded settlements.
The Great Barrier Reef has seen a decline in fish populations and algae overgrowth. Suggest two likely causes and one solution.
Pollution from farming (eutrophication); overfishing. Solution: marine protected areas.
Explain how increased energy demand in MEDCs leads to higher fossil fuel consumption and describe two consequences for the environment.
Increased demand leads to more burning of fossil fuels for electricity and transport; this releases CO₂ contributing to global warming and causes air pollution (e.g., smog, acid rain).
Describe how poor agricultural practices can lead to water pollution and explain one strategy to reduce this impact.
Overuse of fertilizers leads to nutrient runoff, causing eutrophication in nearby lakes. A strategy like buffer zones or controlled fertilizer application can reduce this.
Explain the enhanced greenhouse effect and describe two likely global impacts it can have.
Extra greenhouse gases trap more heat in the atmosphere, causing global warming. Impacts: rising sea levels, extreme weather patterns.
Explain how urbanisation affects the environment, referring to air, land, and water.
Urbanisation increases vehicle emissions (air pollution), leads to more solid waste (land pollution), and increases sewage discharge (water pollution).
Describe how human activities have altered ecosystems in two different biomes (e.g., rainforest and ocean), and explain the consequences.
Rainforest: logging leads to habitat loss and CO₂ increase. Ocean: overfishing reduces biodiversity and disrupts food chains.