Mining
What are some human effects that come about from mining?
Lung disease, cancers, occupational hazards
What is the largest source of freshwater in the US?
a) surface water
b) ground water
Bonus Question: What is the greatest source of surface water in the US? What is one of the top three largest rivers by volume? (The Nile, the Congo, the Mississippi, the Yellow River, the Volga)
Surface Water
The Great Lakes
The Congo
The Three Gorges Dam in China, increases acidity in surrounding waters, led to the extinction of the Chinese River Dolphin
Name one industrial use of water.
To cool down machinery, used in processes to refine metals, make paper etc
One example of subsurface mining is
a) dredging
b) strip mining
c) long-wall mining
B-strip mining
Which of the following statements is false?
a) recharging of water is a slow process
b) the water table moves up and down in dry weather
c) water in a confined aquifer is under pressure
d) groundwater is stationary and does not move
d
Which is NOT true of levees?
a) they limit the benefits of floodplains
b) they are very similar in function to dikes
c) they can lead to increasing flooding downstream.
d) they discourage the use of floodplains
e) they increase sediment deposition in the ocean
d-they discourage the use of floodplains.
Which of the following methods of agricultural irrigation results in the loss of the least amount of water by evaporation?
a) conventional center-pivot irrigation
b) drip irrigation
c) laser-level irrigation
d) flood irrigation
e) gravity-flow irrigation
drip irrigation
What are some environmental harms of mining? List 2 specific types of mining and the unique problems that come with it.
Subsurface mining: acid mine drainage contaminates the water that percolates through tailings
Surface mining: alters and destroys habitats where surface mining occurs
Mountaintop mining: changes the physical geography of a mountain, acid mine draining goes into rivers and affects water quality
As urbanization increases and natural soil surfaces are covered, the groundwater supply is reduced due to
a) increased evaporation and transpiration
b) decreased surface runoff
c) confinement of aquifers
d) loss of recharge area
e) capping of artesian wells
Loss of recharge area
Economic benefits of building large dams include which of the following:
-storage of water for agriculture and domestic use
-controlling floods upstream
-production of renewable energy
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 2 and 3 only
e) 1, 2, and 3
1 and 3 only. (Storage of water for agriculture and domestic use and production of renewable energy)
How much water goes toward the generation of electricity in the US?
a) 30%
b) 40%
c) 50%
d) 60%
e) none of the above.
c) 50%
The Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977:
a) protects workers from the hazards of subsurface and surface mining.
b) mandates that the land be minimally disturbed during the mining process
c) requires that mined land be fully restored to its original condition
d) mandates the type of minerals that can be safely mined
e) regulates all mining practices that can impact the environment
b) mandates that the land be minimally disturbed during the mining process.
The Colorado River provides all of the following EXCEPT
a) 12 million kilowatts of electricity annually
b) whitewater rafting and recreational opportunities
c) sustainable water supply for an ever increasing population
d) irrigation for the vegetables grown in California's Imperial Valley
C
Which of the following statements about the Aral Sea is false?
a) water has been diverted from the Aral Sea and two rivers have been replenishing its water
b) the volume of the Aral Sea has dropped 76%
c) salinity levels have risen
d) native fish species have disappeared
A
The issue of water ownership is complicated by:
- the irregularity of precipitation
-the distance rivers can travel
-the increased demand for water
a) 1 and 2
b) 1 and 3
c) 2 and 3
d) 3
e) 1, 2, and 3
e) 1, 2, and 3
a) open-mit mining
b) mountaintop removal
c) placer mining
d) subsurface mining
e) strip mining
What are some human and ecological impacts associated with droughts?
Destroys crops, kills cattle, results in hunger and starvation, affects soil fertility, increases erosion, makes land impermeable to rainfall.
Compare and contrast reverse osmosis with distillation. Describe the process for both.
Reverse osmosis uses pressure to push water through a chamber. The water goes through a semipermeable membrane where mostly fresh water flows out of the chamber. Distillation heats up salt water until salt precipitates and fresh water evaporates. The freshwater is condensed and flows out of the chamber. Distillation requires a lot of energy and is more expensive. Both need to dispose salty brine.
Which of the following is NOT a likely consequence of the free-market system of water distribution:
a) the free-market system will encourage more efficient use of water
b) the free-market system will encourage illegal diversion of water processes
c) the price of water for homeowners will go down
d) the free market system will encourage the development of desalination technologies
e) farmers will begin planting crops that are more water efficient.
c) the price of water for homeowners will go down.