EVR2001 Exam 1 Actual set with Questions
and correct/verified Answers
Definition of science - ANSWER-body of knowledge + method of acquiring knowledge ab the world
around us
Definition of environmental science - ANSWER-interdisciplinary + combines all sciences w social sciences
and humanities / INTEGRATIVE
Scales of Environmental Science - ANSWER-spatial (size), temporal (time), taxonomic (kingdoms n stuff)
Emergent properties - ANSWER--properties not present in molecules that make up living things
-traits of the group that are not in the individual (ants)
Environmentalist study... - ANSWER--cross-scalar interactions
6 examples of environmentalists practices - ANSWER--field work
-lab work
-data analysis
-writing academic papers
-organizing events
-presenting at conferences (think Flory)
What are the 10 major environmental issues? - ANSWER--habitat conversion/land degradation
-biodiversity loss
-poverty/starvation/inequality
-anthropogenic climate change (human caused)
-pollution (water, air, and solid waste)
-soil degradation
-freshwater depletion
-loss of ecosystem services
I=PxAxT^x - ANSWER-I = environmental impact
P = population
A = affluence
T = technology
null hypothesis - ANSWER-no relationship
alternate hypothesis - ANSWER-a relationship
The sun provides earth with ?% of its energy - ANSWER-99.7%
The other .03% of earth's energy budget comes from ... - ANSWER-the hot interior
energy ____________, matter _____________ - ANSWER-flows, cycles
the first law of thermodynamics - ANSWER-ENERGY CANNOT B CREATED OR DESTROYED
second law of thermodynamics - ANSWER-as energy is converted/transferred, entropy increased and
energy becomes less useful
, definition of entropy - ANSWER-measure of how dispersed energy is w/in a system and the loss of
energy's usefulness
What energy does earth intercept? - ANSWER-solar energy
Earth's four spheres of matter - ANSWER-lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere
In what form does energy return to space from earth? - ANSWER-infrared heat radiation
when plates drift apart and form mid-ocean ridges - ANSWER-divergent
when plates collide and create a mountain uplift - ANSWER-convergent
when plates move past each other - ANSWER-transform
parts of the rock cycle - ANSWER-sediments, sedimentary, metamorphic, magma, igneous
What is the basic principle of the nitrogen cycle? - ANSWER-nitrogen fixation: converting atmospheric
nitrogen (N2) into useful forms for life like nitrate (NO3-) or ammonium (NH4+)
What performs nitrogen fixation? - ANSWER--nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules of legumes
-cyanobacteria
-lightning
How does nitrate convert back to atmospheric nitrogen? - ANSWER-denitrifying bacteria
What cycle consists of the often "limiting factor" for plant growth? - ANSWER-phosphorous
Nature of the Phosphorous cycle - ANSWER--no gaseous phase
-fast terrestrial sub cycle
-fast aquatic sub cycle
-slow geological sub cycle
Process by which carbon is fixated into useful forms? - ANSWER-photosynthesis (into sugar)
what are fossil fuels? - ANSWER-fossilized biomass (hydrocarbons)
list two greenhouse gasses - ANSWER-carbon and methane
human impacts on biogeochemical cycles - ANSWER--increased fertilizers
-excessive phosphate mining
-human nitrogen fixation exceeds natural rate
-eutrophication: nutrient enrichment of water bodies causes too much algae growth/less sunlight, other
organisms can't survive
Numbers on fertilizer bag meaning - ANSWER-nitrogen, phosphate, potassium
Japan vs Haiti earthquakes big picture - ANSWER-Poverty, poor development planning (including
degradation of natural ecosystems), and poor governance make people more vulnerable to natural
disasters, and increase the severity of disaster impacts.
Haiti cleanup time vs Japan cleanup time? - ANSWER-H: half way done in 3 years
J: done in 6 months
Haiti earthquake duration, magnitude, tsunami details, death toll, and population density - ANSWER--35
seconds
-7.0
-localized tsunami
and correct/verified Answers
Definition of science - ANSWER-body of knowledge + method of acquiring knowledge ab the world
around us
Definition of environmental science - ANSWER-interdisciplinary + combines all sciences w social sciences
and humanities / INTEGRATIVE
Scales of Environmental Science - ANSWER-spatial (size), temporal (time), taxonomic (kingdoms n stuff)
Emergent properties - ANSWER--properties not present in molecules that make up living things
-traits of the group that are not in the individual (ants)
Environmentalist study... - ANSWER--cross-scalar interactions
6 examples of environmentalists practices - ANSWER--field work
-lab work
-data analysis
-writing academic papers
-organizing events
-presenting at conferences (think Flory)
What are the 10 major environmental issues? - ANSWER--habitat conversion/land degradation
-biodiversity loss
-poverty/starvation/inequality
-anthropogenic climate change (human caused)
-pollution (water, air, and solid waste)
-soil degradation
-freshwater depletion
-loss of ecosystem services
I=PxAxT^x - ANSWER-I = environmental impact
P = population
A = affluence
T = technology
null hypothesis - ANSWER-no relationship
alternate hypothesis - ANSWER-a relationship
The sun provides earth with ?% of its energy - ANSWER-99.7%
The other .03% of earth's energy budget comes from ... - ANSWER-the hot interior
energy ____________, matter _____________ - ANSWER-flows, cycles
the first law of thermodynamics - ANSWER-ENERGY CANNOT B CREATED OR DESTROYED
second law of thermodynamics - ANSWER-as energy is converted/transferred, entropy increased and
energy becomes less useful
, definition of entropy - ANSWER-measure of how dispersed energy is w/in a system and the loss of
energy's usefulness
What energy does earth intercept? - ANSWER-solar energy
Earth's four spheres of matter - ANSWER-lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere
In what form does energy return to space from earth? - ANSWER-infrared heat radiation
when plates drift apart and form mid-ocean ridges - ANSWER-divergent
when plates collide and create a mountain uplift - ANSWER-convergent
when plates move past each other - ANSWER-transform
parts of the rock cycle - ANSWER-sediments, sedimentary, metamorphic, magma, igneous
What is the basic principle of the nitrogen cycle? - ANSWER-nitrogen fixation: converting atmospheric
nitrogen (N2) into useful forms for life like nitrate (NO3-) or ammonium (NH4+)
What performs nitrogen fixation? - ANSWER--nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root nodules of legumes
-cyanobacteria
-lightning
How does nitrate convert back to atmospheric nitrogen? - ANSWER-denitrifying bacteria
What cycle consists of the often "limiting factor" for plant growth? - ANSWER-phosphorous
Nature of the Phosphorous cycle - ANSWER--no gaseous phase
-fast terrestrial sub cycle
-fast aquatic sub cycle
-slow geological sub cycle
Process by which carbon is fixated into useful forms? - ANSWER-photosynthesis (into sugar)
what are fossil fuels? - ANSWER-fossilized biomass (hydrocarbons)
list two greenhouse gasses - ANSWER-carbon and methane
human impacts on biogeochemical cycles - ANSWER--increased fertilizers
-excessive phosphate mining
-human nitrogen fixation exceeds natural rate
-eutrophication: nutrient enrichment of water bodies causes too much algae growth/less sunlight, other
organisms can't survive
Numbers on fertilizer bag meaning - ANSWER-nitrogen, phosphate, potassium
Japan vs Haiti earthquakes big picture - ANSWER-Poverty, poor development planning (including
degradation of natural ecosystems), and poor governance make people more vulnerable to natural
disasters, and increase the severity of disaster impacts.
Haiti cleanup time vs Japan cleanup time? - ANSWER-H: half way done in 3 years
J: done in 6 months
Haiti earthquake duration, magnitude, tsunami details, death toll, and population density - ANSWER--35
seconds
-7.0
-localized tsunami
