Environment Unit Test

8/6/2019 Environment Unit Test

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Syed Kamran

Gordon Gra don

Environment Unit Test


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11-06-05

Syed Kamran Course Central 2

ENVIRONMENT UNIT TEST

Unit Notes

WATERWater is the most crucial elements for human survival, it is considered more valuable

then gold in some nations, and however in Canada it is readily available from our taps.

Canadians are second largest users of water in the world, under the United States.

Hydrologic CycleWater is in constant motion around our blue

planet. It evaporates our lakes and oceans and

turns into an invisible gas in our atmosphere called

water vapour. This water vapour condenses and

turns into clouds, once the clouds become heavyenough they precipitate in various forms such as

hail, rain, snow or sleet depending on the

temperature. Once the water hits the surface of the

earth it either runs-off into lakes and oceans, or

seeps deep within the ground and becomes ground water. Plants use up some of

this groundwater that is close to their roots, and release it via their leaves in a

process called transpiration.

Lakes and WetlandsLakes and Wetlands account for a large portion of Canada fresh surface

water. Our lakes were gouged out by ice glaciers and are fed by rivers and springs.

Wetlands are another word for swamps, marshes and bogs, which all provide

freshwater.

Rivers and Drainage BasinsCanadas water drains from five drainage basins, which are separated by

watersheds (areas of high land). The water that flows through a drainage basin is

called the discharge rate.

1. Pacific Ocean2. Hudson Bay3. Arctic Ocean4. Atlantic Ocean5. Gulf of Mexico

GroundwaterWater that seeps deep enough into the ground enters the water table.

Groundwater levels fluctuate less than surface water and impurities are filtered by

the soil.


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WATER USESWater use is classified in two different forms, instream use, and withdrawal use.

Instream Use: Water is used without removing it from a water body (i.e.fishing, hydroelectric power generation)

Withdrawal Use: Water is used by removing it from the water body (i.e.manufacturing, and agriculture)

WATER ISSUES

PollutionThere are three main types of pollution, physical, biological and chemical.

Physical: Visible pollution such as garbage gabs, and other plastics. Biological: Bacteria and virus that enters bodies of water by sewage. (20%

of Canadian cities dont treat their sewage)

Chemical: Most harmful, yet not visible and odourless, comes frompesticides and herbicides.

Loss of WetlandsCanadian Wetlands are disappearing at alarming rates to agriculture and

housing. This results in the water table being lowered and animal habitats lost.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTIf we continually waste fresh water, one of the most precious resources, which we

have. It will result in mass amount of problems for our future generations. We must all learn

how to proper manage our fresh water consumption.

ACID PRECIPITATION

FormationAcid precipitation is formed by sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide being

released into the atmosphere. In the atmosphere they mix with water vapour and

form nitric and sulphuric acid, and precipitate to the earth.

Effects of Acid Precipitation

Aquatic Life and Terrestrial Life are affected by acid precipitation. In lakesand river acid precipitation causes acid shock killing fish eggs. In addition acid

precipitation removes a protective layer of plants making them susceptible to viruses.

Controlling Acid PrecipitationYou can reduce sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide by reducing the amount of

energy you use with your home, in addition to reducing your driving.


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CLIMATE CHANGE

Greenhouse EffectThe greenhouse effect, based on

its name is an effect is similar to the

events in a greenhouse. When sunlighthits the glass windows of a greenhouse it

is converted to heat energy. This heat

energy remains inside the greenhouse

and cannot escape, due to the glass. A

similar situation occurs in our

atmosphere, except instead of glass we

have greenhouse gasses that trap the

suns heat in the earth. The main

greenhouse gases are Carbon Dioxide, methane, ozone, nitrous oxide, and

water vapour.

Carbon CycleCarbon is cycled through the lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and

biosphere. It is transferred from the atmosphere to carbon sinks (i.e trees, other

things that absorb carbon), and is released back into the environment by carbon

sources.

Impact of Global WarmingThe impact of global warming, predicted by scientists is that our average

temperature would go up by 1o C to 3.5o C in 100 years. The effects on the poles

would be much greater. This would result in sea levels rising by 1m bringing many

countries under sea level. For Canada sea levels will not be much of a problemhowever we will receive more rain resultant in flooding, and have shorter winters.

What can we do?Everyone has a role in what we must do to stop global warming. For starters,

we must reduce the amount of carbon we release. In addition promote carbon sinks,

which absorb carbon dioxide from our atmosphere.

ENERGYEnergy sources are divided into to main categories:

Conventional Energy Sources (Oil, Natural Gas, Coal, Hydro, and Nuclear) Alternative Energy Sources (Solar, Wind and Biomass)


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Conventional Energy

Oil and Gas

Oil and Gas are substances that were formed millions of years ago,

and are the remains of plants and animals the sea floor, and as time passed

sedimentary rock covered them. Locating Oil and Gas is an expensive time

consuming process. Once oil and gas is found it is drilled and then recovered.

Hydro-Electricity (58%)

Hydro-Electric power can be produced any where there is a lake or

river. It has many benefits such as being cheap to operate, no air pollution,

and its renewable. However is the plants are expensive to build, and lots of

transmission lines must be built.

Thermal-Electricity (28%)

In thermal electric plants coal, or natural gas is burned to produce

steam, which turns a turbine, which causes a generator to turn. These plants

can be built anywhere so shorter transmission lines are needed, and its lessexpensive compared to nuclear and hydro. However the fuel costs are

expensive and oil and natural gas are non-renewable and release greenhouse

gases.

Nuclear-Electricity (14%)

Similar to Thermal Electricity however it uses nuclear fission to

produce steam. They can be built anywhere so less transmission lines are

required, operating costs are low, abundant supply of uranium and no air

pollution. However construction costs are very high, and waste product is

radioactive.

Alternative Energy

Solar

Solar energy is radiated energy from the sun, it is used for heating,

and producing some electricity. Photovoltaic cells are used to directly convert

sunlight into electricity. The resource is renewable and release no air

pollution, however it is expensive an inefficient.

Tidal

The moons gravity pulls up ocean waters and tides are used to

produce electricity. Totally renewable and is not harmful, however it is not

economic and efficient.

Wind

Wind energy is converted by windmills into mechanical energy, which

is converted to electricity. It is renewable, and they are many human side

effects caused by the rotation of the windmill.


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Biomass

Biomass refers to plant material or other biological material that

burned and produces steam to produce electricity. It releases the same

amount of greenhouse gases as cutting down a tree.

GeothermalThis is thermal energy from below the earths crust, which can heat

water into steam, which turns a turbine driving a generator. It releases no

emissions however is expensive to construct.

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINTAn ecological footprint is the amount of space required to support ones activities. It

is measured by converting all human activities to equivalent land area, basically the amount

land needed to support those activities.

Type of LandThere are five type of land which are classified as follows:

Energy Land: Amount of land required to eliminate the Carbon dioxidereleased by our energy use via photosynthesis.

Degraded Land: Formerly productive land that is converted to urbanarea and highways

Crop Land: Amount of land required for growing crops. Pasture Land: Amount of land required for animals grazing. Forested Land: Amount of land required for trees.

What this means?The average ecological footprint for Canadians is 4.27 ha of productive land.If everyone were to live as a Canadian we would require two additional earths.

Canadians must reduce their ecological footprint. We must start becoming more

cautious of the way we spend our resources.

How can we reduce our ecological footprint?There are two solutions to this problem, one the technical solution, and two

the behavioural solution. The technical solution is that we invest time and money

into technology, which can allow us to keep our same way of life while reducing the

impact on Earth. On the other hand the Behavioural Solution is to realize that we

must change the way we live and decide to live in a more ecologically responsiblemanner.

Environment Unit Test

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