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110 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Weather occurs |
over the short term at a particular time at a particular place in the troposphere |
|
All physical forms of water (solid, liquid, and gas) make up the |
hydrosphere |
|
Increased greenhouse gases originate from |
burning fossil fuels agriculture use of CFCs deforestation |
|
The asthenosphere is a very important zone within Earth’s upper mantle. |
True |
|
The two most important factors in climate are |
temperature and precipitation |
|
The theory of plate tectonics holds that the outer rigid layer of Earth is broken into about a dozen major segments called shields |
False |
|
Name the hot, weak layer found in the upper mantle. |
asthenosphere |
|
According to the theory of plate tectonics, plates interact mainly ____ |
along plate boundaries |
|
The term greenhouse effect |
describes the trapping of heat energy in the troposphere by certain gaseous molecules. |
|
Earth’s rigid outer layer is called: |
lithosphere |
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Most divergent boundaries are located: |
along oceanic ridges |
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There are a total of________ prevailing winds (or separate belts of moving air). |
six |
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Whenever a slab of oceanic lithosphere converges with a slab of continental lithosphere __ |
the oceanic lithosphere descends into the asthenosphere |
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At divergent plate boundaries _______. |
new lithosphere is forming |
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Which of the following statements about the atmosphere is a true statement? |
The carbon dioxide is less than 1%. |
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Who said, "Man did not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web he does to himself." |
Chief Seattle |
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Because environmental systems are so complex, scientists use which of the following to generate mathematical models? |
Computers |
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All of the following are principles of sustainable thinking EXCEPT a. Select the best solution that solves the problem immediately b. Implement systems analysis in addressing issues c. Realize everything is connected and everything is not as it seems d. Look to nature for solutions to problems |
a |
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The boxfish was inspiration for development of a ____ with a low coefficient of drag. |
car |
|
By studying the chemicals that repel ants produced by insects living in their community, a product engineer was able to develop an ant repellant. This is an example of |
biomimicry |
|
Cutting down trees in coastal forests degrades coral reefs located miles offshore. Where trees are removed, soil washes into to ocean. The cloudy water cuts off light needed by the symbiotic algae living in the coral. Sediments can bury the reef. The principle best illustrated by this example is |
Everything is connected |
|
All of the following would protect the quality of life now and for future generations EXCEPT a. Turn off lights and unplug appliances when not in use. b. Go shopping frequently to buy products on sale so that you conserve your resources. c. Begin walking and biking for short errands d. Talk to experts in various disciplines to understand environmental issues from a broad perspective |
d |
|
All of the following are TRUE of pythons EXCEPT a. They are exotic invasive species in the Everglades b. They are herbivore, consuming native plants c. They prey upon alligators d. They have caused declines in the populations of native species in the Everglades |
b |
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When you drive through the midwest you see vast fields of healthy looking crops. However, due to poor farming methods many feet of top soil has been lost in the last 150 years. Which of the following principles best describes this situation? |
Everything is not as it seems |
|
All of the following are TRUE EXCEPT a. In nature there is zero waste b. Decomposers recycle waste and dead organic material c. Sustainable solutions help preserve the diversity of life on earth. d. Sustainable solutions benefit future generations at the expense of the present quality of life. |
d |
|
Photochemical smog is formed when pollutants interact with |
sunlight |
|
Biomass burning is a(n)_________ type of emission. |
anthropogenic |
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The primary agent of transport of atmospheric pollutants is |
wind |
|
Which of the following is NOT a process influencing air pollution? a. emission source b. evaporation c. chemical d. transport e. removal |
b |
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The Clean Air Act was the first national legislation in the United States aimed at air pollution control. |
True |
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Once air pollutants have entered the atmosphere, they may be a. removed b. transported c. diluted d. transformed e. all of these |
e |
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Acid rain reduces the pH of aquatic environments and makes them uninhabitable. Which of the following is a primary pollutant that contributes to acid rain? |
nitrogen oxides |
|
The _____ directs the Environmental Protection Agency is directed to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) limiting major air pollutants to levels that will protect public health. |
The Clean Air ACT |
|
Nitrous oxides in the atmosphere have been reduced through the treatment of vehicle exhaust with |
catalytic converters |
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Acid rain damage to forests can result in all of the following except: |
increased transpiration |
|
Designing products using nature as a model is termed |
biomimicry |
|
Which of the following results when forests are protected? a. Preserves biodiversity b. Counteracts global warming c. Prevents soil erosion d. All of the above |
d |
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Which of the following is/are TRUE? a. There are invasive plants as well as animals b. Invasive exotic species are degrading Earth's ecosystems and jeopardizing a sustainable future c. Invasive exotic species upset the community balance d. All of the above |
d |
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Buying a front loading clothes washer that costs more than a top loader, but saves on electricity, water, and detergent with every load is a good example of applying which principle of sustainable thinking? |
Choose solutions that are best in the long run |
|
The wet deposition of secondary pollutants onto the Earth's surface is called |
acid rain |
|
"Compounds which are pollutants in their original state" defines |
primary pollutants |
|
The atmospheric gas that filters out harmful UV radiation is |
ozone |
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Each of the following is one of the five groups of primary outdoor pollutants except |
oxygen gas |
|
Warm air trapped between two layers of cooler air |
is a temperature inversion |
|
The phase out of chlorofluorcarbons and other ozone depleting chemicals was a stipulation of |
The Montreal protocol |
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Which of the following is NOT an effect of acid rain? a. building corrosion b. reduced egg laying c. reduced fish catch d. plant damage e. increased soil nutrients |
e |
|
Much progress has been made in removing major pollutants from the atmosphere but two remain problematic. These are |
ozone and particulates |
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When comparing industrial smog and photochemical smog, which of the following statements is not true? |
Industrial smog is brown smog. |
|
Sources of carbon monoxide (CO) include all of the following except |
respiration |
|
Rock strata or sediments that readily transmit groundwater. Porous and usually water saturated. |
Aquifer |
|
Most of the water withdrawn from aquifers in the U.S and worldwide is used for |
agricultural |
|
As ice sheets get larger or more glaciers form, sea level |
drops |
|
Each water molecule is capable of forming __________ hydrogen bonds. |
4 |
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Which of the following term(s) describes what happens to the water table when groundwater is withdrawn faster than it is recharged. |
drawdown |
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In the United States, more groundwater is used for this purpose than for any other. |
irrigation |
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Any water drawn from below the water table is: |
groundwater |
|
Ninety percent of southern Florida obtains its drinking water from |
Biscayne aquifer |
|
Caves most commonly form in areas rich in: |
limestone |
|
Identify the choice below that describes the drainage basin for surface water. |
watershed |
|
Stalagmites |
grow up from the floor of a cavern. |
|
The formation of ice during colder weather helps to temper the seasonal transition from Fall to Winter. This is mainly because |
the formation of hydrogen bonds releases heat. |
|
Which one of the following is NOT a geological role of groundwater? a. maintain stream flow b. formation of caverns c. development of sinkholes d. deposition of gravels |
d |
|
An artesian well requires |
an aquitard above it and below it. an inclined aquifer so that one end can receive water. |
|
Which one of the following factors does NOT favor increased infiltration? a. porous and sandy soil b. gentle rainfall c. saturated ground d. gently slope |
c |
|
Which two processes release water vapor directly to the atmosphere? |
evaporation and transpiration |
|
A hole dug into the zone of saturation is called a ______. |
well |
|
A measure of a material’s ability to transmit water through interconnected pores spaces. |
Permeability |
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The percentage of the total volume of rock or sediment that consists of pore spaces is: |
porosity |
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The term ________ applies to any situation in which groundwater under pressure rises on its own above the level of the aquifer. |
artesian |
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The average south Floridian uses approximately_______ time(s) more water than the national average. |
two |
|
Soil subsidence is primarily a result of |
lowering the water table |
|
The continuous movement of water from the oceans to the atmosphere, from the atmosphere to the land, and from the land back to the sea is known as |
hydrologic cycle |
|
Stalactites |
hang from the ceiling of a cavern |
|
The most common non-point source of pollution is |
agriculture runoff |
|
Which of the following is easier to identify, monitor and regulate? |
point source pollution |
|
Below the water table, in the zone of ________, all the pore spaces in the sediments and rocks are filled with water. |
saturation |
|
About what percentage of Earth’s water is groundwater? |
0.6% |
|
The quantity of heat a liquid must absorb for 1 gram to be converted from a liquid to a gas |
heat of vaporization |
|
Which of the following is NOT a property of water? a. cohesion and high surface tension b. nonpolar c. high heat of vaporization d. expansion upon freezing e. high specific heat |
b |
|
Abyssal plains are part of the continental margin. |
False |
|
The rising of cold water from deeper layers to replace warmer surface water is called |
upwelling |
|
Gyres a. are circular or spiral ocean currents-centered around 25° to 30° north and south latitudes b. rotate clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counter c. clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere d. driven by easterly winds at low latitudes and westerly winds at high latitudes. e. all of the choice are characteristics of gyres |
e |
|
The gently sloping shallow submerged surface surrounding a continent and extending from the shoreline toward the deep ocean is termed |
continental shelf |
|
Which portion of the continental margin is steepest? |
continental slope |
|
Which of the following is NOT characteristic of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)? a. more phytoplankton therefore more photosynthesis b. more flooding c. warming of water in the tropical east Pacific d. higher water temperatures e. possible coral bleaching |
a |
|
Which of the following is not a true statement about hurricanes. a. The hurricane season is from June to September. b. Hurricanes are powered by latent heat energy released from condensation. c. Hurricanes require a constant supply of warm, humid air. d. Require at least 200 ft. depth of water at a temperature of 80 oF (26.67 oC). e. Landfall or cooler seas weaken storms. |
a |
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Which one of the following is NOT one of the three broad subdivisions of the ocean floor? a. ocean basin floor b. continental margin c. oceanic ridge d. coastal plain |
d |
|
Estuaries form when sea level ________. |
rises |
|
The ________ system is a broad, rugged, elevated feature on the ocean floor that forms a continuous belt that winds around the globe. |
mid-ocean ridge |
|
Deep-ocean trenches are associated with: |
active tectonic plate margins |
|
Which of the salts is most abundant in sea water? |
sodium chloride |
|
The producers in the ocean food chain are |
phytoplankton |
|
Which of the following increases the oceans effectiveness as a carbon sink? a. Light and nutrient in large enough quantities for primary productivity to exceed consumption. b. Dead, decomposing, matter sediments and upwelling brings the nutrients back to the surface. c. Ocean warming which releases CO2 into the atmosphere. d. Pollution reduces sunlight penetration and thus will slow down photosynthesis. e. Turbulence will have a similar effect as pollution. |
a |
|
The energy that drives surface ocean currents such as the Gulf Stream (and Florida Current, and North Atlantic Current) comes from |
prevailing winds |
|
Which of the following is critical for the ocean to act as a carbon sink? |
phytoplankton |
|
Which of the following is critical for the ocean to act as a carbon sink? |
phytoplankton |
|
The Neritic zone (province) is impacted by point and non-point source pollution. |
True |
|
Oceans a. play a major role in controlling climate by distributing solar heat b. contain a large amount of dissolved gases c. participate in biogeochemical cycles (e.g. water, nitrogen, phosphorus.) d. provide habitats for organisms e. all of the above |
e |
|
Identify the choice below that is not influenced by ocean/atmosphere interactions. |
ozone concentration |
|
Cool, salty water is most likely to form |
Density currents |
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Offshore winds are more likely responsible for which of the following? |
Upwelling |
|
Cyclone is another name for __________. |
low-pressure system |
|
Deep-ocean trenches are associated with: |
active tectonic plate margins |
|
Estuaries form when sea level ________. |
rises |
|
The ________ system is a broad, rugged, elevated feature on the ocean floor that forms a continuous belt that winds around the globe. |
mid-ocean ridge |
|
Which one of the following is NOT one of the three broad subdivisions of the ocean floor? |
coastal plain |
|
At the equator, ocean salinity is lower due to |
heavy precipitation |
|
In an El Niño year: |
Coastal upwelling in the eastern Pacific (Western South America) dwindles or stops. |
|
Which of the following is true of the North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW)? |
It is the biggest water mass in the oceans. |
|
The key factor for photosynthesis in the ocean is |
light |