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Final exam preparations

Terms in this set (41)

What is the most significant long term impact of mountaintop mining on human health in surrounding communities?
High levels of salts and toxic metals in runoff flowing through waste rock in valleys.


Injuries from airborne debris that results from the explosives used to blow up the mountainside. These injuries cause long-term disbilities in the people in surrounding communities, similar to those found in communities after a war.
Black lung, lung cancer and COPD from years of exposure to coal dust that is generated in the mining operations.
Water-borne diseases that are associated with increased flooding. This risk is exacerbated with the removal of stable rock formations that had directed water toward natural recharge points. The unstable overburden rock can shift, causing the flow of water to change to unpredicatble paths. The removal of trees from the deforetation practices of mining also increases such risk, since the infiltration capacity of large forested areas is lost.
High levels of salts and toxic metals in runoff flowing through waste rock in valleys.
Economies and societies depend on nature and our environment in which ways?
All of the ways that are listed are ways in which economies and societies depend on nature and our environment.
Excellent! We do, indeed, depend on all of the listed ways in which nature and a healthy environment provide for us.
Clean water, air and contaminant-free soil.
Nutrient-rich soil to grow & raise healthy food.
Abundant trees & plants to use for building & manufactured items like clothing.
Natural areas to enjoy.
all of the ways
All of the following are external costs that are imposed upon societies by traditional methods of economic growth (invisible hand economics from the section, "How Sustainable is Economic Growth?") except:
Taxes imposed upon industries for the extraction of resources now provide benefits to future generations.
Physical health problems, stress, anxiety or other medical conditions caused by air or water pollution, exposure to toxic chemicals, or other environmental impacts.
Degradation of scenery and harm to the enjoyment of one's physical surroundings.
Declines in abundance of - or loss of access to - nautral resources that provide wealth or sustenance to a community.
Loss of monetary value caused by pollution or resource depletion.
Taxes imposed upon industries for the extraction of resources now provide benefits to future generations.
Which of the following is true about the monetary value of ecosystem goods and services?
All of the listed answers are true.
Great!
They are worth more than $148 trillion dollars each year.
They are worth more than the global annual monetary value of goods and services created by all of the people on the planet.
They are worth 100 times more than the value of the land and ocean if exploited for direct use.
All of the listed answers are true.
The most widely used indicator of economic progress is currently the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This indicator provides a true quantification of progress of a country, as it includes a valuation of the preservation of ecosystem services and quality of life, as well as the monetary value of produced goods and services.
True /False
False
Which of the following economic indicators does not encompass Full Cost Accounting (aka "True Cost Accounting"). This is a form of accounting that encompasses all costs and benefits, for example the quantification of well-being indicators.
GDP
Correct. This measure of progress includes only the monetary value of produced goods and services only. It does not include a valuation of the preservation of ecosystem services or quality of life.
GPI
HDI
HPI
GDP
Which of the following statements about the role of science in public policy development is true?
Both of the listed asnswers are true.
Absolutely correct!
The role of science is crucial to public policy development. The most effective policy is based on taxpayer-funded science. However, this can be suppressed or distorted for political ends. When this happens, society is harmed.
The role of science is crucial to public policy development. A nation's strength depends on it committment to science and their funding of scientific research. This enables policymakers to respond with remedies that better protect the public and environment.
Both is right
Sustainable development occurs when economic, environmental and social goals overlap.
True

False
True
What is the primary reason fracking contributes to Earthquakes?
The continued pumping of wastewater into rock formations causes the water pressure in the pores of the rocks to build up, causing the rocks to expand. These expanding rock layers push against existing faults in the Earth's crust, lubricating them and causing them to slip and produce Earthquakes.

The boring through the uppermost crust of the lithosphere creates a new geological fault line. When the fracking water is injected into the subterranian rock layers, the pressurized water gravitates toward the new fault line and causes it to "blow", leading to an Earthquake.

The pumping of the injection well wastewater used for fracking dissolves the rock layers, causing the bedrock to erode. This, in turn, creates an empty space underground and there is nothing to hold up the upper layers of rock. Thus, the upper mantle caves in, similar to asinkhole, causing an Earthquake.

Fracking uses a lot of heavy equipment that creates significant vibrational stress on the fragile rock layers in which oil and natural gas are found. After time, the continued streaa on these layers causes them to collapse, causing Earthquakes.
The continued pumping of wastewater into rock formations causes the water pressure in the pores of the rocks to build up, causing the rocks to expand. These expanding rock layers push against existing faults in the Earth's crust, lubricating them and causing them to slip and produce Earthquakes.
A key factor that we can manage with regard to effectively reducing impacts of natural disasters includes:
Correct! All of the factors listed are key factors Absolutely! We must consider all of these to be able to effectively manage natural disasters because natural systems are powerful. We cannot "beat" Mother Nature, we must learn to live "with nature".
Proximity of population centers to high risk areas
Utilizing engineering solutions to prevent orreduce risk instead of increasing it.
Develop policies to promote building in tune with nature, not against it.
Reduce risk of Climate Change
all of the factors
What is the most significant risk to waterways that acid mine drainage from strip mining presents?
Correct! Sulfuric acid formed when the sulfide in the rock combines with oxygen and rainwater leaches metals from the rocks which are toxic to organisms. Great!
Acid used to extract metal from the rock washes into strams and waterways. The very low pH of the water causes corrosive conditions in the aquatic environments.
The acid in the runoff is toxic to aquatic organisms and can cause health impacts.
The debris in the acid mine drainage clogs waterways and impacts the flow of the water toward aquifer recharge points.
Sulfuric acid formed when the sulfide in the rock combines with oxygen and rainwater leaches metals from the rocks which are toxic to organisms.
What are the three metals in the United Stated with the highest recycling rates?
Gold, iron & steel, tungsten and lead
Surface water flow enhances exiting water sources with the infusion of clean, fresh water.
true or false
True
All of the following are unfavorable contaminants that may be in surface water, except _______________.
Nutrients that wash over land as part of the biogeochemical cycles.

Waste and bacteria.
Leaching of heavy metals and inorganic elements that are deposited on or in the ground.
Hydrocarbons from VOCs, pesticides or chlorinated solvents deposited on or in the ground.
Re-distribution of air pollutants.
Nutrients that wash over land as part of the biogeochemical cycles.
Half of the world's major rivers remain seriously depleted and polluted.
True
False
True
Water pollution can easily be detected by physical examination.
True
False
False
Which of the following would not be considered a point source of pollution?
Farm
an oil tanker
an animal feedlot
a municipal wastewater treatment plant
Farm
Which of the following would not be considered a non-point source of pollution?
an oil tanker
a construction site
a abandoned mine
a farm
oil Tanker
in our modern day and age, biological pollution by pathogens in water supplies have been virtually eradicated.
True
False
False
Clear-cutting, mining and clearing land for development have all helped nourish downriver areas as the sediments that run into rivers provides favorable outcomes.
True
False
False
Groundwater pollution is much easier to remediate than surface water pollution because the pollutants are more contained.
True
False
False
EPA's Drinking Water Quality Standards require treatment for all know chemicals of concern to our health that could be in the water supply.
True
False
False
The air pollutant that can cause fatigue, headaches, heart and nervous system damage, and even death due it's property of inhibiting oxygen uptake in the blood is _____.
Nitrogen oxides.
Carbon dioxide
Sulfur dioxide
Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide
The pollutant(s) that is/are instrumental in the development of photochemical smog is/are
Carbon dioxide
Soot and sulfur dioxide
Nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide and VOCs
Stratospheric ozone
Nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxide and VOCs
The air pollutant generated from combustion that contributes to respiratory and coronary disease, and can even lead to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease because it can cross the blood-brain barrier is
PM 2.5
Nitrogen oxides
Carbon monoxide
Smog
PM 2.5
The type of chemical that causes depletion of the protective ozone layer for the Earth.
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Particulate matter
Chlorofluorocarbons
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
Chlorofluorocarbons
The pollutant(s) that contribute to acid deposition is/are
Lead, mercury and other heavy metal fumes
Sulfur compounds and nitrogen oxides
Troposhperic ozone
Particulate matter
Sulfur compounds and nitrogen oxides
The relative ability of a greenhouse gas molecule to contribute to warming is called
Global warming potential
Although it is a natural component of the atmosphere and not the most potent (highest relative heat-trapping ability) greenhouse gas, ___________ is still a significant contributor to the global warming potential because it is the main anthropogenic greenhouse produced and it is emitted into the atmosphere such large quantities that the concentration of it are significantly higher than normal. It also is the gas with the greatest radiative forcing potential to warm the atmosphere.
C02
In addition to contributing to the destruction of the protective Stratospheric ozone layer over the Antarctic, __________ is the most potent greenhouse gas because it has the highest relative heat-trapping ability and the longest residence time in the atmosphere.
hydrochlorflourocarbon HFC-23
In the United States, the fossil fuels oil, coal, and natural gas supply ___ of the energy demand, or consumption.
81%
The world's most abundant, cheapest form of fossil fuel is
Coal
What air pollutant(s) is/are released from the combustion of natural gas in energy production?
Carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas
In the United States, renewable energy sources currently account for ____ % of electricity generation.
15.4
What is the highest potential renewable energy source for Florida, based on the regional geographical and climatic factors on which these types of energy depend?
Solar
According to the graph above (Fig 17.5), how has the amount of landfilled waste changed since 1985?
It has basically remained steady, despite a growth of the population by more than 35%, due to recycling, composting and combustion
Approximately ________% of all U.S. residents are served by curbside recycling programs, and the part of the U.S. waste stream that is recycled (not including composting) is currently about ________%.
70; 25
The largest portion of industrial waste is
waste water
Life-cycle analysis ____
examines the life of products to increase efficiency
Which of the following represent the categories of hazardous waste?
ignitable, corrosive, reactive, and toxic
In the United States, which of the following produce(s) the largest amount of unregulated hazardous waste?
Households
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