APES Review (part 1)

62964579	Ionizing radiation	enough energy to dislodge electrons from atoms, forming ions; capable of causing cancer (gamma, X-rays, UV)
62964580	High Quality Energy	organized & concentrated; can perform useful work (fossil fuel & nuclear)
62964581	Low Quality Energy	disorganized, dispersed (heat in ocean or air wind, solar)
62964582	First Law of Thermodynamics	energy is neither created nor destroyed, but may be converted from one form to another (Law of Conservation of Energy)
62964583	Second Law of Thermodynamics	when energy is changed from one form to another, some useful energy is always degraded into lower quality energy, usually heat
62964584	Natural radioactive decay	unstable radioisotopes decay releasing gamma rays, alpha particles, and beta particles
62964585	Half-life	the time it takes for 1/2 the mass of a radioisotope to decay
62964586	Estimate of how long a radioactive isotope must be stored until it decays to a safe level	approximately 10 half-lives
62964587	Nuclear Fission	nuclei of isotopes split apart when struck by neutrons
62964588	Nuclear Fusion	two isotopes of light elements (H) forced together at high temperatures till they fuse to form a heavier nucleus (He). Process is expensive; break-even point not reached yet
62964589	Ore	a rock that contains a large enough concentration of a mineral making it profitable to mine
62964590	Organic fertilizer	slow-acting & long-lasting because the organic remains need time to be decomposed
62964591	Best solutions to energy shortage	conservation, increase efficiency, explore alternative energy options
62964592	Surface mining	cheaper and can remove more minerals; less hazardous to workers
62964593	Humus	organic, dark material remaining after decomposition by microorganisms
62964594	Leaching	removal of dissolved materials from soil by water moving downwards
62964595	Illuviation	deposit of leached material in lower soil layers (B horizon)
62964596	Loam	perfect agricultural soil with optimal portions of sand, silt, clay (40%, 40%, 20%)
62964597	Conservation	allowing the use of resources in a responsible manner
62964598	Preservation	setting aside areas and protecting them from human activities
62964599	Parts of the hydrologic cycle	evaporation, transpiration, runoff, condensation, precipitation, infiltration
62964600	Aquifer	any water-bearing layer in the ground
62964601	Cone of depression	lowering of the water table around a pumping well
62964602	Salt water intrusion	near the coast, over-pumping of groundwater causes saltwater to move into the aquifer
62964603	ENSO	El Ñino Southern Oscillation, see-sawing of air pressure over the S. Pacific
62964604	During an El Nino year	trade winds weaken & warm water sloshed back to SA
62964605	During a non El Nino year	easterly trade winds and ocean currents pool warm water in the western Pacific, allowing upwelling of nutrient rich water off the west coast of South America
62964606	Effects of El Ñino	upwelling decreases disrupting food chains; N U.S. has mild winters, SW U.S. has increased rainfall, less Atlantic hurricanes
62964607	Nitrogen fixing	because atmospheric N2 cannot be used directly by plants it must first be converted into ammonia (NH3) by bacteria (rhizobium)
62964608	Ammonification	decomposers convert organic waste into ammonia
62964609	Nitrification	ammonia (NH3) is converted to nitrate ions (NO3)-
62964610	Assimilation	inorganic nitrogen is converted into organic molecules such as DNA/amino acids & proteins
62964611	Denitrification	bacteria convert nitrate (NO3)- and nitrite (NO2)- back into N2 gas
62964612	Phosphorus does not circulate as easily as nitrogen because	it does not exist as a gas, but is released by weathering of phosphate (PO4)3- rocks
62964613	Sustainability	the ability to meet the current needs of humanity without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
62964614	How excess phosphorus is added to aquatic ecosystems	runoff of animal wastes, fertilizer, discharge of sewage
62964615	Photosynthesis	plants convert atmospheric carbon (CO2) into complex carbohydrates (glucose C6H12O6)
62964616	Aerobic respiration	O2-consuming producers, consumers & decomposers break down complex organic compounds & convert C back into CO2
62964617	Largest reservoirs of C	carbonate (CO3)2- rocks first, oceans second
62964618	Biotic and abiotic	living and nonliving components of an ecosystem
62964619	Producer/Autotroph	photosynthetic or chemosynthetic life
62964620	Fecal coliform/Enterococcus bacteria	indicator of sewage contamination
62964621	Energy flow in food webs	only 10% of the usable energy is transferred because usable energy lost as heat (second law); not all biomass is digested and absorbed; predators expend energy to catch prey
62964622	Chlorine	good=disinfection of water; bad=forms trihalomethanes
62964623	Primary succession	development of communities in a lifeless area not previously inhabited by life or those in which the soil profile is totally destroyed (lava flows); beings with lichen action
62964624	Secondary succession	life progresses where soil remains (clear-cut forest, fire)
62964625	Cogeneration	using waste heat to make electricity
62964626	Mutualism	symbiotic relationship where both partners benefit
62964627	Commensalism	symbiotic relationship where one partner benefits & the other is unaffected
62964628	Parasitism	relationship in which one partner obtains nutrients at the expense of the host
62964629	Biome	large distinct terrestrial region having similar climate, soil, plants & animals
62964630	Carrying capacity	the number of individuals that can be sustained in an area
62964631	R strategist	reproduce early in life; many small unprotected offspring
62964632	K strategist	reproduce late in life; few offspring; care for offspring
62964633	Positive feedback	when a change in some condition triggers a response that intensifies the changing condition (warmer Earth - snow melts - less sunlight is reflected & more is absorbed, therefore warmer earth)
62964634	Negative feedback	when a changing in some condition triggers a response that counteracts the changed condition (warmer earth - more ocean evaporation - more stratus clouds - less sunlight reaches the ground - therefore cooler Earth)
62964635	Malthus	said human population cannot continue to increase exponentially; consequences will be war, famine & disease
62964636	Doubling time	rule of 70; 70 divided by the percent growth rate
62964637	Replacement level fertility	the number of children a couple must have to replace themselves (2.1 in developed countries)
62964638	World Population	6.7 billion
62964639	U.S. Population	305 million
62964640	Preindustrial stage	(demographic transition) birth & death rates high, population grows slowly, infant mortality high
62964641	Transitional stage	(demographic transition) death rate lower, better health care, population grows fast
62964642	Industrial stage	(demographic transition) decline in birth rate, population growth slows
62964643	Postindustrial stage	(demographic transition) low birth & death rates
62964644	Age structure diagrams	broad base=rapid growth; narrow base=negative growth; uniform shape=zero growth
62964645	First, second and third most population countries	China, India, U.S.
62964646	Most important thing affecting population growth	low status of women
62964647	ways to decrease birth rate	family planning, contraception, economic rewards and penalties
62964648	Percent water on earth by type	97.5% seawater, 2.5% freshwater
62964649	Salinization of soil	in arid regions, water evaporates leaving salts behind
62964650	Ways to conserve water	agriculture=drip/trickle irrigation; industry=recycling; home=use gray water, repair leaks, low flow fixtures
62964651	Point vs. non point sources	Point, from specific location such as a pipe. Non-point, from over an area such as runoff
62964652	BOD	biological oxygen demand, amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic decomposers to break down organic materials
62964653	Eutrophication	rapid algal growth caused by an excess of nitrates (NO3)- and phosphates (PO4)3- in water