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Flashcards in Midterm Review Questions Deck (65)
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1
Q
  1. What is REDD? How was this influential in reducing deforestation in Brazil?
A

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. Norway gave Brazil 1 billion to stop deforestation of the Amazon. Deforestation decreased by 67%, protected area now 50% of forest, indigenous groups control 20%, enforcement of logging laws with jail time, education to make soy and beef more productive, exposés on soybean and beef industries, social programs to lift 10 million out of poverty.

2
Q
  1. What is ITTA and TFAP? Name one feature that is shared between these initiatives and one feature unique for each initiative.
A

International Tropical Timber Agreement and Tropical Forestry Action Plan. Both want forest restoration, ITTA wants greater law enforcement, TFAP believes poverty is the root cause.

3
Q
  1. Describe one initiative in the video examining value of tropical forests.
A

Canopy Capital, a private equity firm, is attempting to evaluate resources, develop a market for them, identify resources.

4
Q
  1. Define desertification
A

“land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities.”

Many definitions include loss of primary productivity due to unsustainable use of soil, water, vegetation.

5
Q
  1. Why does desertification not include hyper arid locations?
A

Because they are very desert-like already, and offer few resources to humans.

6
Q
  1. What is the aridity index?
A

A numerical measurement of annual precipitation to evapotranspiration.

7
Q
  1. Name three regions where there is substantial desertification occurring.
A

Desert margins of North and Southern Africa, Great Plains and pampas of Americas, Australian Outback.

8
Q
  1. What is causing drought conditions in the Sahel?
A

There isn’t one concrete cause. The area is reliant on tropical storms and the West African Monsoon for precipitation. Land mismanagement, such as excessive logging, grazing, and over-cultivation may play a part. Climate change, particularly the warming of the Pacific Ocean.

9
Q
  1. What are the direct causes of desertification?
A

Intensive grazing, over-cultivation, over-exploitation of vegetation, salinization.

10
Q
  1. Describe two results of intensive grazing.
A

A decrease in vegetation cover can cause soil erosion by water or wind as the soil has no cover and isn’t bound to plants. The encroachment of unpalatable or noxious shrubs due to decreased competition.

11
Q
  1. How does overuse of vegetation result in desertification?
A

Clearing vegetation beyond its natural ability to regenerate can lead to desertification as the soil loses its cover. The soil also loses nutrient input from decomposing leaves. In Ethiopia, fewer trees has led to people using manure as a fuel, which would otherwise give nutrients to the soil.

12
Q
  1. Identify two activities that result in salinization
A

Poor irrigation techniques, such as overwatering, poor drainage, and water leakage from supply canals.

13
Q
  1. Name four ecosystems that are part of a coastal zone.
A

Seagrass beds, mangroves, estuaries, coral

14
Q
  1. Which coastal zone allows innocent passage of foreign vessels?
A

Territorial waters (12 nautical miles from low tide point on the coast)

15
Q
  1. Name three ecosystem services provided by coastal zones and three human uses of coastal zones.
A

They protect shorelines (wave break, prevent erosion), purify water and remove waste products, provide food, shelter, and nursery areas for many fish species.

16
Q
  1. Describe three types of development that negatively impact coastal zones.
A

Coastal ports are a source of air and water pollution and can bring in invasive species. Dredging destroys ocean floor. Removal of beach sand to create beaches elsewhere, use in concrete, landfill. Housing development.

17
Q
  1. What is eutrophication? What causes it?
A

A body of water accumulates high concentrations of nutrients, usually nitrates and phosphates, which result in overgrowth of algae that, when being decomposed by bacteria, deplete the surrounding water of oxygen and cause a dead zone.

18
Q
  1. What type of coastal system did the city of Waikiki replace?
A

A mangrove forest.

19
Q
  1. Describe five causes of coral reef decline.
A

Over collecting of specimens, such as for aquariums or calcium supplements. Using poisons and explosives to fish on reefs. Ocean acidification due to increased CO2, coral bleaching as a result of temperature change, acidity, sedimentation, increased UV exposure, recreational use.

20
Q
  1. Describe the symbiotic relationship of coral.
A

Via photosynthesis, the algae create oxygen and carbohydrates which the coral need, while the coral supplies CO2 and protection.

21
Q
  1. How has overfishing in Jamaica caused declines in coral reefs?
A

An absence of fish to eat fast-growing algae has allowed the algae to overgrow and replace (a phase-shift) the coral.

22
Q
  1. Where are most mangrove forests located?
A

Southeast Asia

23
Q
  1. Describe how the Sundarbans are being successfully managed.
A

New areas are planted to sustainably harvest fuelwood an increase coastal protection. The forest is divided into compartments, which are harvested until a quota has been reached, then they move on to another compartment. Large trees are only removed if it doesn’t contribute to canopy loss.

24
Q
  1. What are the goals of integrated coastal management?
A

The planning process must be continuous and adaptable. Stakeholders and regulators must reach a consensus on the best mix of conservation, resource use, and economic development.

25
Q
  1. Name two ways that urbanization impacts water.
A

Changing the surface water flows on, such as concrete – it’s impervious and changes the volume, frequency, and timing of floods. Can lower water quality by increasing sediment, heavy metals, hydrocarbons, nutrients, and bacteria.

26
Q
  1. Name one way the Jumana River is impacted by urbanization.
A

Incredibly high concentrations of coliforms from raw sewage input: 24 million per 100ml after leaving New Delhi. WHO recommends 10 per 100.

27
Q
  1. What is thermokarst? How does urbanization exacerbate this process?
A

Thermokarst occurs when permafrost melts. The ground then settles, leaving pits or uneven ground. Infrastructure on top of these is often damaged or destabilized. Heat from buildings can often cause it, which is why some buildings are on stilts in these regions.

28
Q
  1. Why is groundwater difficult to clean if it becomes polluted?
A

It is difficult and costly to access, and it moves very slowly, so dissipates slowly.

29
Q
  1. What is one result of overusing groundwater?
A

Land subsidence: the land, now without groundwater, sinks (several meters in extreme cases).

30
Q
  1. How is Israel dealing with their overuse of groundwater?
A

They’re injecting fresh water into it.

31
Q
  1. Name four major air pollutants.
A

Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, particulates, lead, volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

32
Q
  1. What is the main reason for higher air pollution in developing nations compared to developed nations?
A

They will use the cheapest (often the most polluting) fuel sources. They will have weak regulations to attract business investment.

33
Q
  1. What region of the world has the highest deaths due to urban air pollution?
A

Asia and Southeast Asia.

34
Q
  1. Define primary production. What is the difference between net and gross production?
A

The amount of organic matter produced by plants. GPP is the total amount of glucose produced via photosynthesis, NPP is GPP - R (respiration).

35
Q
  1. What factors control the global distribution of net primary production.
A

Nutrient availability, temperature and precipitation, amount of solar radiation.

36
Q
  1. Describe how the following terms are related to or influence net primary production: upwellings, photosynthesis, respiration, trophic levels
A

Upwellings are areas in the ocean that have a high NPP. Nutrient rich matter from the ocean floor come to the surface. photosynthesis is how plants capture solar energy and turn it into net primary production. Some glucose is used to supply energy for cellular processes (respiration). Energy is transferred from producers to consumers by trophics levels: sun - plant - mouse - hawk etc.

37
Q
  1. Describe three ways in which humans utilize npp.
A

Used for food, fuel, clothing, housing, etc. We can reduce NPP by paving over shit, burning forests, etc.

38
Q
  1. Describe one common characteristic shared by the chaparral, savannah, and temperate grassland biomes
A

Dry summers?

39
Q
  1. Rank the following biomes from lowest to highest productivity: desert, tropical rainforest, boreal forest, temperate forest, tundra, savannah.
A

Desert

Tundra

Temperate Grassland

Chaparral

Savanna

Boreal

Temperate Forest

Tropical Rainforest

40
Q
  1. For each of the following biogeochemical cycles, describe one major storage reservoir: carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, water.
A

Carbon - Medium term: forests and ocean

Nitrogen: the atmosphere

Phosphorus: Rock and sediment

Water: ocean, ground water.

41
Q
  1. Describe one way that humans are impacting each of the following biogeochemical cycles: sulphur, nitrogen, carbon.
A

Sulfur: put sulfur in the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels

Nitrogen: put nitrogen into water bodies by fertilizer run-off

Carbon: removing forests and burning fossil fuels.

42
Q
  1. Which biogeochemical cycle cannot exist without the presence of organisms? Explain.
A

Nitrogen: bacteria within the soil fix nitrogen or denitrifye it, putting it back in the atmosphere.

43
Q
  1. What is the difference between a natural resource and negative resource?
A

A resource is useful to use, a negative resource is perceived as detrimental to use.

44
Q
  1. Describe the four categories of resources and give one example for each.
A

Continuous resources: never runs out - solar, wind, tidal

Renewable: can regenerate if harvesting doesn’t exceed regenerative capacity or no permanent degradation - Trees, fish

Non-renewable: finite quantity and location - fossil fuels, ground water

Extrinsic: aspects of the human species which are renewable - people, skills, knowledge.

45
Q
  1. Describe how Yemen illustrates the effect of declining population on environmental degradation.
A

If a declining population leads to reduced knowledge, environmentally friendly practices may be abandoned, such as switching from terraced farmed to capture water, to depletion of ground water.

46
Q
  1. Give three reasons for the rapid expansion of the suburbs in the 1950’s.
A

Higher social status, detatched housing, private land ownership, parking space.

47
Q
  1. Name the five global regions where most of the human population is located. Give one characteristic that is shared among these regions
A
East Asia (mostly China)
South Asia (mostly India)
Southeast Asia 
Western Europe
North Africa

all have access to ocean, fertile soil, temperate climate.

48
Q
  1. There are three ways to quantify population density. Name these methods and explain the usefulness of one of these methods.
A

Arithmetic density: humans/land area

Physiological density: humans/arable land (high number means high pressure on land)

Agricultural density: farmers per area of land (indicates economic conditions in a country, its technology.

49
Q
  1. Define natural increase rate.
A

The crude birth rate mines the crude death rate

50
Q
  1. Describe (or draw) the pattern of birth rate and death rate through the stages of the demographic transition model. Give one reason to explain why each curve is shaped the way it is.
A

Shows transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country develops from pre-industrial to industrialized economy.

High birth and death rates show a flat line as kids are needed for farming, thought they die early. No family planning, disease, famine, medical knowledge.

The birth rate remains high, but the death rate drops rapidly due to improvements in medical care, water sanitation. Overall population rapidly increases.

The birth rate drops, the death rates falls slower. Improved medical care and diet, less labour intensive work, fewer children needed. Population increasing, but slower

Birth rate and death rate low. Population remains stable or slow increase. Family planning, good health care, improved status for women, marrying later.

51
Q
  1. Compare and contrast the expansionist worldview to the Malthusian worldview.
A

Expansionist world view - associated with Age of Enlightenment (16-1700’s) – humans can understand the world if free to use logic and evidence, science and economic expansion can enable humans to overcome resource scarcity, technology can help overcome resource scarcity through technical innovations. “Don’t worry, we can figure out a way through a dilemma

52
Q
  1. It is said that our sociocultural organization is unbalanced and this leads to environmental degradation. What evidence do we see of this? Discuss.
A

The divide between the rich and the poor is growing. Few wealthy individuals have great power, wealthy over-consume resources, poor are accused of misusing resources, wealthy nations have more choices, poorer nations have few choices, poor often victims of environmental issues.

53
Q
  1. Define tragedy of the commons.
A

The tragedy of the commons is an economic theory of a situation within a shared-resource system where individual users acting independently and rationally according to their own self-interest behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting that resource.

54
Q
  1. Define sustainable development. What are its guiding principles?
A

Sustainable development – development that meets the needs of the present without compromising ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Guiding principles:
Basic needs of humanity must be met (food, clothing, shelter, jobs)
Continued maintenance of environmental quality and biological resources
Must integrate economic systems with ecological systems

55
Q
  1. Why is the precautionary principle important in achieving sustainable development?
A

The precautionary principle “better safe than sorry” can help society decide how to act sustainably. The goal is to prevent environmental damage rather than reacting to it, because uncertainty is unavoidable but it is no reason to avoid environmental protection. A developer must prove that they will not damage the environment before starting a project.

56
Q
  1. How is carrying capacity used to determine if resource use is sustainable?
A

Carrying capacity = population of a species that can be supported indefinitely in a habitat without permanently damaging the ecosystem upon which it is dependent. Humans can increase the carrying capacity with agriculture, industrialization, using fossil fuels, and technological advances.

57
Q
  1. What is TEEB? How does TEEB suggest that sustainable development could be achieved?
A

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity. TEEB suggests putting a value on natural materials such as air, water and trees. If everything had a value, people might think more about what we are using and how much we are wasting.

58
Q
  1. Describe one difficulty in our achieving sustainable development.
A

It will be difficult to achieve sustainable development in developing countries due to economic and financial barriers, social barriers, and political barriers ??

59
Q
  1. Which country has the highest cover of tropical forest? Which country has the highest rate of deforestation?
A

Highest cover of tropical forest – Brazil

Highest rate of deforestation - Nigeria

60
Q
  1. Name the four direct causes of global tropical deforestation. Name two root causes responsible for the direct causes.
A

Direct causes: Agriculture, logging industry, fuel wood, and cattle ranches
Root causes: Poverty, unequal land distribution, low agricultural productivity, rapid population growth, tax incentives for logging companies and ranchers or for large scale resettlement, international markets for timber products or agricultural products – used to generate national income and to repay debts

61
Q
  1. Discuss tropical deforestation in South America. Explain the relevant factors responsible for deforestation in this region.
A

Forest loss is increasing with road development. Forest loss could escalate in the Amazon due to increasingly dry conditions. There are issues with land tenure in Brazil. Colonists can gain title to land by clearing forest and placing a few cattle on land. Cattle are a low-risk investment relative to cash crops, which are subject to price swings and pest infestations. Illegal logging common because of weak law enforcement.
Land expansion for biofuel production expected in future, which will impact cerrado land. Ethanol production is forecast to increase 150% by 2017.
Brazil committed to reduce its deforestation rate 80% by 2020.

62
Q
  1. Compare and contrast the characteristics of deforestation in Africa and South East Asia.
A

Africa has the 2nd largest loss in forests. Small-scale processes, not large-scale globalized agriculture, dominate the losses. 60% of new agricultural land in 1980s and 1990s went to small-scale and subsistence farming. Nigeria has the highest deforestation rate.
Slash and burn agriculture are common, used in areas of dense vegetation, low nutrients, pest out breaks. This can cause soil erosion and permanent deforestation.

South East Asia – main causes are population pressure, logging, agricultural expansion, corruption, and fodder collection.

63
Q
  1. What factors are driving deforestation in India?
A

Commercially oriented forest use and ownership policies of British government. Rapid industrialization and urbanization demand for livestock products (milk, eggs, meat) expected to grow with an increase in income. Increasing livestock pressure on forests because of increase in demand for fodder and grazing.

64
Q
  1. Explain one way that deforestation impacts the hydrologic cycle and climate.
A

Hydrological cycle – evapotranspiration. Example: half of Amazon rainfall returns to atmosphere through evapotranspiration.

Climate – effects from carbon cycle changes, storage, flux. Changes in surface temperature from changes in surface albedo.

Deforestation causes soil degradation, which can lead to landslides, compaction (increased run off and increased soil erosion), increased flooding or drought, increased erosion and sediment into reservoirs

65
Q
  1. Describe two reasons to explain the difficulty in successful tropical forest management.
A

Remaining forests are far from government and the law.
It is more difficult to monitor remote locations.
Illegal loggers use violence. World Bank estimates that illegal logging account for half total timber supplies.