Environmental Science Exam 2 Study Guide PDF

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Name: Aaron Gerber

Prof. Martin 4/23/2020

ENVS 131 Exam 3 – TAKE HOME (54 points total)

I. Compare and Contrast (5 points each; 20 points total): Explain how the two ideas/concepts/terms/people/events are related/similar but also how they differ. 1) biomagnification / bioaccumulation Answer: The main similarity between bioaccumulation and biomagnification is that both concepts have to do with environmental health and pollutants in the body over time. The differences are that biomagnification is looking at the pollutants with “hosts” across different species. For instance, the plankton are eating sediment with toxins, then the fish are eating a lot of plankton with the toxins, then the seals are eating the fish with the toxins and so on. Bioaccumulation looks at a single organism over time. As they grow older, they consume more and more of the toxin. 2) residence time / half life Answer: Residence time and half-life are similar in the sense that they both have to do with toxins in the environment. Residence time is different because the concept describes the length of time a toxin will spend in a specific location. For instance, the toxin might start in the air, and then move to the ocean taking a week, but it takes a much longer time to move into the liquid mantle. Half-life describes how long it takes for half of a toxin to be degraded into a less toxic version of itself. 3) photovoltaic solar power / concentrating solar power Answer: Photovoltaic and concentrating solar both eventually produce energy. Photovoltaic solar power creates the electricity by taking the sunlight and converting it straight to electricity. Concentrating solar power creates electricity by concentrating the solar rays which eventually creates heat, which can then be turned into electricity. 4) adaptation to climate change / mitigation of climate change Answer: Adaption and mitigation of climate change are similar in that both concepts have to do with minimizing the effects of climate change. However, adaption to climate change is changing our lives in order to reduce the effects of climate change. This could mean taking shorter showers. The mitigation of climate change is attempting to reduce/eliminate the causes of climate change. An example of this would be taxing companies that produce large amounts of greenhouse gases.

Name: Aaron Gerber

Prof. Martin 4/23/2020

II. Longer Answer (varies; 34 points total): Using complete sentences, provide a complete but concise answer to the following questions in the space provided on this document. 1) The World Health Organization (WHO) keeps track of global mortality. Below are two graphs from a recent report that show the causes of death in Niger (right) and the United States (left). The report was focused on non-communicable diseases (things like cardiovascular disease and cancers; abbreviated NCDs in the graphs). Examine the graphs and answer the following questions.

United States

Niger

a) Describe two difference you notice between these two graphs? (4 points) Answer: The largest difference is that the percent of communicable diseases in the US is about 12x less than the percent in Niger. The second difference is that Niger has a lot fewer cases of cancer than the US. b) Choose one of the differences you described above and describe what environmental hazards could be contributing to the difference you observe. (4 points) Answer: The first difference is the difference in communicable diseases. To my understanding, communicable diseases are easily spread in areas that are not clean, and in areas where people do not have means to keep themselves and their property clean and healthy. People in the US have the means as one of the wealthiest countries in the world, while people in Niger (a poorer country) don’t have the means to keep clean. The second difference is that Niger has a lot less cancer than people in the US. The first idea that came to my mind when trying to figure out the difference is that Niger is not a developed country, especially in comparison to the US. With this said, we have plenty of chemicals and radiation in the atmosphere that could cause cancer. Another thought is that Americans all have cell phones, tablets, and computers, and are fairly reckless when it comes to managing the amounts of radiation that is emitted from these devices. While obviously not as influential to the cancer differential, it could be an aspect of it.

Name: Aaron Gerber

Prof. Martin 4/23/2020

c) Considering the environmental hazard(s) you described earlier, what should public officials focus on changing to decrease the threat of that environmental hazard? (4 points) Answer: First to deal with the lack of hygiene in Niger that is spreading the communicable diseases, it would be very helpful to send Niger hygienic supplies so that people are able to stay healthier. Also, creating clean drinking water in poorer countries could also reduce communicable diseases. To reduce cancer in the US, taking toxic chemical emission or make laws prohibiting housing within a specific distance from a factory emitting harmful chemicals and radiation would help lower these numbers. 2) a) Explain the Greenhouse Effect. (4 points) Answer: The Greenhouse effect is that there is incoming solar radiation heading towards the earth’s surface. This solar radiation becomes infrared through organisms and then turns into heat. Instead of leaving the earth, the heat bounces off the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere which eventually increases the amount of heat. b) What are the benefits and the dangers of the Greenhouse Effect? (4 points) Answer: The main benefit of the Greenhouse Effect is that the Greenhouse Effect is responsible for creating warms for the Earth. But the danger is that if it becomes too strong, we could see (and are seeing) climate change. 3) Listen to this NPR story and answer the following questions. a) What are the two sectors that California is focusing on to address climate change. (2 points) Answer: transportation and electricity [cutting coal] b) The commentary from Javier Castellanos in the story highlights some tension between the different aspects of sustainability (economic opportunity, environmental health, and the equitable access to both). Explain how California’s policies are meeting some, but not all aspects of sustainability (6 points). Answer: First they talk about reducing energy produced through coal and replacing it with wind and solar energy. While this does create much less emission, it is not as reliable. While California does have its winds, and definitely has its sun, these weather patterns are very unpredictable. For instance, recently, California has been having year-round, sporadic rain, something very new to the California climate. So, while this is environmentally friendly, it might not be sustainable. Secondly, the article mentions increasing the number of zero

Name: Aaron Gerber

Prof. Martin 4/23/2020

emission cars. For consumers, the benefits do not last a very long time, and in terms of sustainability, it creates other problems. In California, getting a zeroemission car grants you a carpool lane sticker allowing you to go into the carpool lane whenever you choose. But these stickers only last for a specific number of years making the incentive less influential. Secondly, while there will be less emission in the air, there is still going to be the need to create an increased amount of electricity to charge all of these cars, making it not entirely sustainable as well. 4) Explain two strategies you can adopt to reduce the waste stream. Include the specific waste item you usually produce that would be removed from the waste stream. (6 points) Answer: The first strategy I would implement to reduce the waste stream would be to make sure all of my recyclables, actually end up in the recycling container. For instance, when cooking mac and cheese with tuna (from a container), there are parts that end up in the trash and parts that should end up in the recycling. When I am lazy, occasionally I will throw it all in the garbage, but now I will be more conscience and make sure everything goes in its proper place. Secondly, my sister just got a worm composter and we have been putting some of our food waste in there. So, instead of throwing out bananas, apples, etc., we can give the “garbage” to the worms....