Ch. 1-12 Select Questions (Statements & Essays)
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| 621119223 | Statements San Andreas Fault in California is a | transform plate boundary | |
| 621119224 | During Photosynthesis, Plants consume | CO2 and water | |
| 621119225 | The force driving plate tectonics is | the heat in deep layers of the earth | |
| 621119226 | The undersea earthquakes and volcanic explosions produce | tsunamis | |
| 621119227 | Parasites | feed on and harm their hosts | |
| 621119228 | An example of green masking is | biodegradable | |
| 621119229 | Essays Homeowners are discussing with their architect the possibility of using either active or passive solar design to reduce their heating and/or cooling costs. Compare these two techniques. | Restatement: Active versus passive solar design. Active Solar System: • Collectors that collect and absorb solar radiation. Optimum collector orienta¬tion is true south (the highest apparent point in the sky that the sun reaches during the day-not necessarily magnetic south). Collector orientation may deviate up to 20° from true south without significantly reducing the perform¬ance of the system. Collectors should be tilted at an angle equal to latitude plus 15° for optimum performance. A collector receives the most solar radiation between 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. Trees, buildings, hills, or other obstructions that shade collectors reduce their ability to collect solar radiation. Even partial shading will reduce heat output. • Electric fans or pumps to transfer and distribute the solar heat in a fluid (liquid or air) from the collectors. • Storage system to provide heat when the sun is not shining. • May be more Bexible than a passive system in terms of location and installation. • Usually most economical to design active system to provide 40 - 80% of the home's heating needs. • Liquid systems heat water or an antifreeze solution in a hydronic collector, whereas air systems heat air in an air collector. • Liquid solar collectors are most appropriate for central heating. They are the same as those used in solar domestic water heating systems. Flat-plate collectors are the most common, but evacuated tube and concentrating collectors are also available. In the collector, a heat transfer or working Buid such as water, antifreeze (usually nontoxic propylene glycol), or other type ofliquid absorbs the solar heat. At the appropriate time, a controller operates a circulating pump to move the Buid through the collector. The liquid Bows rapidly through the collec¬tors, so its temperature increases only 10-20°F (5.6-11 °C) as it moves through the collector. The liquid Bows to either a storage tank or a heat exchanger for immediate use. Other system components include piping, pumps, valves, an expansion tank, a heat exchanger, a storage tank, and controls. • Air collectors produce heat earlier and later in the day than liquid systems. Therefore, air systems may produce more usable energy over a heating season than a liquid system of the same size. Also, unlike liquid systems, air systems do not freeze, and minor leaks in the collector or distribution ducts will not cause problems. Air collectors can be installed on a roof or an exterior (south-facing) wall for heating one or more rooms. These systems are easier and less expensive to install than a central heating system. They do not have a dedicated storage system or extensive ductwork. The Boors, walls, and furniture will absorb some of the solar heat, which will help keep the room warm for a few hours after sunset. Masonry walls and tile Boors will provide more thermal mass and thus provide heat for longer periods. A well-insulated house will make a solar room air heater more effective. Factory-built collectors and do-it-yourself for on-site installation are available. The collector has an airtight and insulated metal or wood frame and a black metal plate for absorbing heat with glazing in front of it. Solar radiation heats the plate that, in turn, heats the air in the collector. An electrically powered fan or blower pulls air from the room through the collector and blows it into the room(s). Roof-mounted collectors require ducts for supply¬ing air from the room(s) to the collector and for distribution of the warm air into the room(s). Wall-mounted collectors are placed directly on a south-facing wall. Holes are cut through the wall for the collector air inlet and outlets. Simple win¬dow box collectors fit in an existing window opening. They can be active (using a fan) or passive. A bafRe or damper keeps the room air from Bowing back into the panel (reverse thermosiphoning) when the sun is not shining. These systems pro¬vide only a small amount of heat, since the collector area is relatively small. •Local covenants may restrict options. For example, homeowner associations may not allow installation of solar collectors on certain parts of the house. Passive Solar Design •Basic idea of passive solar design is to allow daylight, heat, and airflow into a building only when beneficial. The objectives are to control the entrance of sunlight and air Bows into the building at appropriate times and to store and distribute the heat and cool air so it is available when needed. •Four basic approaches to passive systems: First, direct gain-solar energy is transmitted through south-facing glazing. Works best when the south window area is double-glazed and the building has considerable thermal mass in the form of concrete Boors and masonry walls insulated on the outside. Second, indirect gain-a storage mass collects and stores heat directly from the sun and then transfers heat to the living space. The sun's rays do not travel through the occupied space to reach the storage mass. Third, isolated gain-passive solar concept, solar collection and storage are thermally isolated from the occupied areas of the building. This allows the collector and storage to function inde¬pendently of the building. Fourth, remote collection-includes a collector space, which intercedes between the direct sun and the living space and is dis¬tinct from the building structure. •Collectors usually receive the most sunlight when placed onto the roof. South-¬facing walls may also work. •Passive system does not use a mechanical device to distribute solar heat from a collector. •Example of a passive system for space heating is a sunspace or solar greenhouse on the south side of the house. •Passive system is simpler in design and less expensive to build. •May not be possible depending upon location of site. For example, building an effective sunspace may not be possible due to trees, other buildings in the way, etc. •Local climate, the type and efficiency of the collector(s), and the collector area determine how much heat a solar heating system can provide. •Most building codes and mortgage lenders require a backup heating system. Supplementary or backup systems supply heat when the solar system cannot meet heating requirements. They range from a wood stove to a conventional central heating system. •Passive solar buildings use 47% less energy than conventional new buildings and 60% less than comparable older buildings. | |
| 621119230 | The homeowners wish to incorporate green design. Discuss five tech¬niques that the homeowners could adopt to make their home green. (Green does not refer to the color of the house!) | Restatement: Five techniques that the homeowners could adopt to make their home a green building. Definition: A green building focuses on a whole system perspective, including energy conservation, resource-efficient building techniques and materi¬als, indoor air quality, water conservation, and designs that minimize waste while utilizing recycled materials. Green buildings are a product of a good design that minimizes a building's energy needs while reducing construction and maintenance costs over the life cycle of a building. Techniques •Solar collectors for space heating. •Solar collectors for water heating. •Photovoltaics to supply electrical energy. •Hybrid systems that incorporate more than one power source such as wind or microhydro. •Energy-efficient appliances (energy star: http://www.energystar.gov). •Products made from environmentally attractive materials, including products that reduce materials use. For example, drywall clips that eliminate the need for corner studs, salvaged materials, recycled materials (sprayed cellulose, a recycled material, used for insulation), products made from agricultural waste, and certi¬fied wood products that carry an FSC stamp, indicating they meet the high standards set by the Forestry Stewardship Council. •Products that do not contain toxins. For example, products that substitute for polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ozone-depleting chemicals, and conventional pres¬sure-treated lumber. •Products that reduce the environmental impacts of construction, renovation, and demolition. For example, erosion control products and exterior stains with low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). •Products that reduce the environmental impacts of building operation, includ¬ing products that reduce energy and water use, reduce the need for pesticide treatments (for example, physical termite barriers), or have unusual durability or require little maintenance. •Products that contribute to a safe, healthy indoor environment, including prod¬ucts that do not release significant pollutants (for example, low-VOC paints, caulks, and adhesives), products that remove indoor pollutants (for example, certain ventilation products), and products that warn inhabitants of health haz¬ards (for example, carbon monoxide detectors and lead-paint testing kits). •Superinsulated houses are constructed to be airtight, have a higher level of insu¬lation compared with conventional houses, and have a ventilation system to control air quality. •Green landscaping - landscaping that provides shade during summer and allows sunlight to warm the house during winter (deciduous trees). Large deciduous trees planted at least 15 to 25 feet away from a house on the south and west sides provide afternoon summer shade while still allowing cooling winds to pass through the tree canopy. Yet they also permit sun to pass through bare branches for solar gain in winter. In addition, they can reduce cooling costs by shading air¬conditioning units. Finally, plants that do not require a lot of water can be used. | |
| 621119231 | Legal Notice Initial Public Offering of Common Stock The Louisiana Shrimp Company, headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, is offering 5,000,000 shares of common stock at $3.00 per share to investors for the purpose of raising capital to construct shrimp farms in Southeast Asia. Raising shrimp in controlled envi¬ronments, known as shrimp aquaculture or shrimp farms, provides needed food and employment for the local population. Excess shrimp that is raised will be sold in open trading in world markets, adding to the profitability of the operation. Shrimp farming does not negatively impact the environment since shrimp are native to the area. Shrimp also supply a valuable source of income and food supply (protein) to the local population. No guarantee of return on investment is implied. For further information on this investment opportunity, contact L. D. Breckenridge, Ltd. of Shreveport, LA. Describe any negative and/or positive environmental impacts of shrimp aquaculture Describe any parallels that have occurred in history in the develop¬ment of aquaculture Comment on the social implications of large-scale aquaculture, and suggest possible modifications that might make it more sustainable. | Aquaculture, or the raising of marine organisms in confined areas and once pro¬moted as a panacea for world hunger, has resulted in unexpected social and envi¬ronmental consequences. Aquaculture is not something new. In fact, it has existed for hundreds of years on a small-scale, local level. What once were small, family operations that supplied food for small communities of people or was sold in small, local markets and relied on the natural tidal action of water to Bush out the ponds has changed significantly due to the current large-scale operation. Most aquaculture enterprises in less-developed countries today are funded by large, multinational cor¬porations with extensive distribution facilities and financial resources. Shrimp farm¬ing, as an example of aquaculture and monoculture, utilizes vast coastal areas and is often promoted and financially supported by less-developed third-world govern¬ments in lucrative contracts with these multinational corporations. The shrimp that is raised, including the species known in the United States as tiger prawns, is generally not raised to feed the people in the country in which the shrimp are raised. Instead, the shrimp are exported to countries in western Europe, the United States, and Japan, where market demand and available capital make the shrimp a readily available luxury commodity. In 1990, Asia produced close to half a million metric tons of commercially raised shrimp, which made up about 80% of the world output. The environmental cost to produce such large numbers of shrimp was almost 1 million hectares ofland that is for¬ever lost. Most of the wetlands that are used for shrimp-farming purposes were once prime wetlands consisting of mangroves and other highly productive biomes. Besides the serious environmental consequences are the disruptions to the communities of people that make their living in these highly productive biomes by fishing or operating small farms, particularly rice farming-which incidentally, increases the level of atmo¬spheric methane, a greenhouse gas. Many of these small farmers and fishermen were forced from the land that they had traditionally used and lived on for many years. This parallels in many ways the exploitation of Native Americans who were forced against their will to move to the least desirable of all lands and placed on reservations. Shrimp farms consist of very large ponds that are built near the ocean. Into these confined ponds (or tanks), which are filled with both seawater and groundwater to create an artificial brackish environment, the farmers add pesticides, antibiotics, food, and other chemicals to increase production. So much groundwater is extracted that land subsidence has been noted. Other methods used to increase shrimp production include increasing the number of shrimp in the bond (density load). Yet, as with humans, increasing density has serious drawbacks. As a response to the stress of increased density, antibiotics and pesticides are added to the water. High densities of shrimp also result in higher waste buildup in the water with con¬sequently lower oxygen levels. As a result of these factors, the water must be changed periodically. The farmers either release this large amount of contaminated water back into the sea (near the coastline where it can do the most environmental damage) or allow it to escape onto prime agricultural lands to infiltrate back into the ground and eventually the groundwater. In areas near the coastline, the shrimp farms have interfered with the daily routines of the fishing community. Furthermore, active capturing of small shrimp from native waters to "seed" the ponds decreases the amount of shrimp in the natural environment. This has serious food web consequences along with decreasing genetic variation in both natural and farm-raised shrimp. The ground that the water is discharged into increases in salin¬ity to such an extent that the productivity of rice drastically decreases. The salt that is in the water also increases salt concentrations in groundwater. Aquatic life living near where the shrimp water efBuent is discharged also suffers from added pollu¬tants, salinity tolerance, and oxygen level issues. Social disharmony is rampant where the shrimp farms have been located. One sees the parallel of this in examples that occurred in the United States Midwest region during the late 1800s and early 1900s between the farmers who wanted barbed wire and the ranchers who wanted open ranges. Recently, the productivity of shrimp farms has decreased significantly. In Taiwan, almost 100,000 metric tons of shrimp were produced in 1987. One year later, less than 50,000 metric tons were produced-primarily the result of epidemic increases in pathogenic bacteria, viruses, and protozoans. During the mid-1990s, a virus invaded the shrimp farms in India and destroyed the majority of the stock. Many less-developed countries have reexamined the issue of shrimp aquaculture. An alternative to raising shrimp or fish near the coasts may be to raise it inland, far from the coastal waters where the wild species feed and breed. Tilapia, a type of plant-eating fish, are easy to raise. They produce protein for people without using wild fish as feed. Catfish and trout are raised inland in the United States. Carp have been pond raised for centuries in China and Europe. Will the little shrimp feed the world? The answer is clear-not until the entire aquaculture industry is re-examined in terms of its effect on the environment and the lives of indigenous people it disrupts and displaces. | |
| 621119232 | Examine the age-structure diagrams of Sweden and Kenya below, and answer the following questions. Compare and contrast the two age structure diagrams in terms of two population dynamics - birth rate and death rate. | Restatement: Given two age-structure diagram, Sweden and Kenya for 2000, compare and contrast the diagram in terms of population dynamics. Age structure diagrams are basically divided into three major age categories: 1) Prereproduction (0-15 years old) 2) Reproductive (16-45 years old) 3) Postreproduction (46 years old-death) Birth Rate Sweden 1) Population has nearly equal proportions of pre-reproductive and reproductive individuals. 2) Little growth over a long period of time will produce a population with about equal numbers of people in all age groups. 3) Children not required or necessary to support parents. 4) Availability and acceptance of birth control. Kenya 1) Population had pyramid-shaped age structures, with large numbers of pre-reproductive individuals. 2) Population momentum results from large numbers of prereproductive children becoming reproductuve within short period of time. 3) High population rate due to high birth morality rates. 4) Children viewed as status symbol 5) Resistance to birth control Death Rate Sweden 1) Elderly survive longer due to advances in medical technology and availabilty. 2) Social welfare programs ensure that elderly are taken care of. Kenya 1) Elderly do not survive due to lack of available medical technology. 2) Disease (for example, malaria or AIDS) and lack of nutritious food decreases life span | |
| 621119233 | What factors affect birth rates and death rates? | List any four characteristics from the column labeled "Affected By." Restatement: Factors that affect both birth and death rates Birth Rate 1) Importance of children as a part of the labor force 2) Urbanization 3) Cost of raising and educating children 4) Education and employment opportunities for women 5) Infant mortality rate 6) Average age at marriage 7) Pensions 8) Abortions 9) Birth Control 10) Religious beliefs Death Rate 1) Increased food supply 2) Better nutrition 3) Improved medical and public health technology 4) Improvements in sanitation and personal hygiene 5) Safer water supplies | |
| 621119234 | Discuss methods that have been employed in another country to curb population growth | List any two sets of the six methods mentioned Restatement: Methods that have been employed by another country to curb population growth. China: Between 1958 and 1962, an estimated 30 million people died from famine in China. Since then, China has made good progress in trying to feed its people and bring its population growth under control. Much of this reduced population growth was brought about by a drop in the birth rate from 32 to 18 per 1,000 between 1972 and 1985. China instituted one of the most rigorous population control programs in the world at an estimated cost of about $1 per person. Some features of the program included: 1) Strong encouragement for couples to postpone marriage 2) Providing married couples with free access to sterilization, contraceptives, and abortion. 3) Giving couples who sign pledges to have no more than one child economic rewards such as salary bonuses, extra food, larger pensions, better housing, free medical care and school tuition for their child,and preferential treatment in employment when the child grows up. 4) Requiring those who break the pledge to return all benefits 5) Exerting pressure on women pregnant with a third child to have abortions. 6 Requiring one of the parents in a two-child family to be sterilized. | |
| 621119235 | Life on Earth has been punctuated by several mass extinctions. Humans are playing a role in another mass extinction, potentially the largest ever. As we attempt to create a sustainable future, efforts are being taken to slow the loss of endangered species. How can scientists assess the current population size of a species? Explain how tag and recapture methods could be used to estimate the number of monarch butterflies in an area too large to sample exhaustively. | One way to estimate the size of a large population is to tag and recapture individuals. This process involves catching several individuals from the population-the more the better-and marking them in some way that you can identify later. It is important for this mark not to interfere with the functioning or likelihood of survival. In the case of monarch butterflies, a small dot of nail polish applied to the top of the thorax would suffice. After marking the butterflies, you would then release them into the population and wait long enough for them to become randomly dispersed. Next, you would capture sev¬eral butterflies and count how many of them have your mark. You would repeat this procedure-releasing, waiting, and capturing the same number of butterBies until you had several pieces of data to average. Based on the average percentage of marked butterBies you captured, you can then estimate the total population size. If for example, 5% of the butterBies you capture are marked, then the number you originally marked represents about 5% of the total pop¬ulation size. | |
| 621119236 | Give one example each of a direct and an indirect threat to biodiversity. | A direct threat to biodiversity is something that affects organisms by interfer¬ing with them. For example, cars might run over them. An indirect threat to biodiversity impacts them through a chain of events. If urban development fragments the habitat of a species of large mammal, then the mobility of the animals will be decreased, limiting their access to resources and mating part¬ners. If the habitat fragmentation or loss is severe enough, extinction of the population may result. | |
| 621119237 | Explain a piece of legislation designed to preserve biodiversity | The Endangered Species Act is a piece of legislation that makes it illegal to injure, kill, or collect any species listed as threatened or endangered within the United States. This legislation also prohibits the import (for any purpose other than preservation or research) of any endangered species or any product made of endangered species. This clause is intended to keep organisms in their native habitats. | |
| 621119238 | After a population of organisms has been reduced to a small size, it has greater risk of going extinct, even if the population returns to its original size (a phenomenon sometimes referred to as the bottleneck effect). Why would the same-size population be more likely to go extinct after a population bottleneck? | When the size of a population is severely reduced, many of the genetic varia¬tions present in the original population will be lost. For example, a world pop¬ulation of 20 humans could not represent all of present human diversity. Even if the bottlenecked population reproduces enough to return to the original population size, the genetic diversity will still be limited to that of the parents since new genetic variations will arise very slowly. Thus, the population will be more vulnerable to selection pressures such as disease because the likelihood of the population having resistant individuals is much lower. This would make the population more likely to become extinct. |
