Chapter 5 Questions Due for Homework Points: # 4, 9, 18, 23, 30, 31, 35, 36 and on notebook paper, not directly on these handouts

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1 Study Outline: Chapters 5, 6, & 9 Environmental Science AP Instructor: Ben Smith Biogeochemical Cycles: Global Recycling Program Ch. 5 Chapter 5 Questions Due for Homework Points: # 4, 9, 18, 23, 30, 31, 35, 36 Please note that Homework Question-Sets such as the eight assigned questions above and the two Qs for Ch. 6 and the six Qs for Ch. 9, should be done in complete sentences (unless otherwise stated), and on notebook paper, not directly on these handouts. Thanks. 1. Describe/characterize each of the following: (a) Lithosphere (b) Hydrosphere (c) Atmosphere (Troposphere, Stratosphere) (d) Ecosphere/Biosphere (e) Cryosphere 2. Distinguish between open and closed systems: Identify four biogeochemical cycles: 3. Biogeochemical Cycles: (a) Major types of: Atmospheric, Sedimentary, Hydrologic (b) Specific chemical cycles: N, C, H2O, P, S 4. Why is it necessary that biogeochemical cycles exist? Explain: Hydrologic Cycle: 5. Briefly describe the seven main processes involved in the hydrologic cycle: Evaporation, Transpiration, Condensation, Precipitation, Infiltration, Percolation, Surface Runoff 6. Name the two driving forces behind the water cycle: 7. Relate precipitation and condensation nuclei: 8. Relate the following terms: groundwater, aquifer, and water table: 9. Describe three significant anthropogenic interventions in the hydrologic cycle: 10. Why is the water cycle vital to the biosphere?(describe three specific functions performed by or made possible by water.) 11. Absolute and Relative Humidity 12. Condensation Nuclei 13. Dew Point Carbon Cycle: 14. Provide three specific ways in which carbon is essential for biota to function: 15. Carbon dioxide comprises approximately what percent of tropospheric gases? 16. How is this relative amount(%) of CO2 so important in contributing to the earth s natural thermostat? (e.g., relative to the amount of water vapor in the troposphere.) 17. Identify the two processes which have the greatest influence on tropospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide on a monthly or yearly basis. Explain: 18. Name the two largest sinks(storage areas) for carbon; briefly explain how these areas have become such substantial carbon sinks. 19. Though you may have commented on this above, relate new carbon stores to the formation of old carbon stores. Page 1 of 3 Chapter 5 Biogeochemical Cycles

2 20. Carbon Cycle: Carbon Dioxide, Glucose, Calcium Carbonate, Carbonate ions, Bicarbonate ions, Calcium ions 21. Global Warming 22. Discuss how oceans play a major role in regulating CO2 levels in the troposhpere. Include in your discussion the formation of the following ions or compounds: CO3 2-, HCO3 -, Ca 2+, CaCO3 23. Describe the two major human interventions in the carbon cycle: 24. Discuss three specific ramifications of increased tropospheric temperature as a result of an increase in tropospheric CO2 concentration. 25. Duke s F.A.C.E. Project: be familiar w/ (as well as other similar experiments): 26. Comment on the type of feedback loop(s) (the relationship) that would likely be involved in a scenario in which tropospheric concentrations of CO2 increase and the amount of snowpack and glacier size/area. 27. The Missing Sink :?? 28. The Carbon-Silicate Cycle: Nitrogen Cycle: 29. Why is the nitrogen cycle significant to biota? 30. Identify the two major ways that nitrogen is fixed ; 31. Describe what takes place in each of the following processes or steps of the N-Cycle: (include a description of the events and chemical transformations occurring in each step:) (a) Nitrogen Fixation: (b) Nitrification: (c) Assimilation: (d) Ammonification: (e) Denitrification: Nitrogen Cycle: N-Fixation (Cyanobacteria and Rhizobium) Nitrification Assimilation Ammonification Denitrification 32. Identify the major sinks for nitrogen: 33. Describe five anthropogenic interventions in the nitrogen cycle 33. Acid Deposition: Nitric Acid (HNO3) Phosphorus Cycle: 34. How, specifically, is phosphorus important to biota? 35. Explain why phosphorus cycles relatively slowly: 36. Identify the largest sinks for phosphorus: 37. Phosphorus is typically found in what ionic form? 38. Explain why the addition of phosphate compounds to aquatic areas typically has a dramatic effect on biological productivity. Page 2 of 3 Chapter 5 Biogeochemical Cycles

3 39. Comment on how human activities have influenced the phosphorus cycle regarding each of the following: (a) Mining phosphate rock: (b) Deforestation(especially tropical): (c) Animal wastes from Livestock Feedlots: (d) Commercial phosphate Fertilizers in Agricultural areas: (e) Discharge of Municipal Sewage/Wastewater Treatment Facilities: Sulfur Cycle: 40. How, specifically, is sulfur significant to biota? 41. Identify the two largest storage areas for sulfur: 42. Comment on a major natural source of each of the following sulfur compounds: (a) H2S (b) SO2 (c) SO4 2- (d) CH3SCH3 (dimethyl sulfide, or DMS) 43. How can fluctuating DMS emissions affect cloud cover in a given region? 44. Illustrate the chemical transformations(reactions) which occur when SO2 reacts with O2 and H2O in the troposphere to eventually become sulfuric acid: 45. Identify the three major human activities influencing the sulfur cycle: 46. Sulfur Cycle: associated acid deposition (SO2 + O2 SO3 + H2O H2SO4) The Rock Cycle: 47. Describe the forces and processes involved in the rock cycle. 48. The three rock types/categories and an example of each 49. Mechanical and Chemical Weathering: briefly describe 50. Plate Tectonics: brief description Dartmouth.edu cartoon Environmental scientists discussing carbon dynamics over shade-grown, fair-trade coffee in Pb-free ceramic carbon-compound logo mugs made by former students using 100% post-consumer recycled materials. Page 3 of 3 Chapter 5 Biogeochemical Cycles

4 Ecosystems and Ecosystem Management: Chapter 6 Environmental Science AP Instructor: Ben Smith Chapter 6 Questions Due: 2, Identify the five major levels of organization of matter within the field of ecology: 2. Describe three fundamental characteristics of ecosystems. 3. What are the two basic principles of Ecosystem Sustainability? Hints are certainly not needed, but just for the record: (a) Energy Source = ; (b) Is Earth a Closed or an Open system for matter? Still. 4. Distinguish between the following: Population, Community, & Ecosystem: 5. What is meant by ecosystem services or ecological services? Identify seven examples: 7. Food Chains and Food Webs: 8. Trophic levels; Trophic structure 9. Keystone Species: (definition/description) 10. Comment on the efforts by men and women to replace or mimic ecological services in terms of the relative ease or difficulty in achieving similar outcomes to those delivered or accomplished by nature. 11. Describe what abiotic ecosystem components are; include three examples: 12. Identify two physical factors and two chemical factors that generally markedly influence ecosystem health/function. 13. Briefly describe the famous Hubbard Brook Ecosystem Study: 14. Ecosystem Borders: briefly comment on the significance of these areas 15. Succession: 16. Field Research, Remote Sensing, GIS, Systems Analysis 17. Ecological (Ecosystems) Services 18. What is GIS and how does it assist environmental scientists in expanding the knowledge and understanding of ecosystems? 19. Describe systems analysis: Page 1 of 1 Chapter 6 Ecosystems and Ecosystem Management

5 Biological Productivity and Energy Flow: Chapter 9 Environmental Science AP Instructor: Ben Smith Chapter 9 Questions Due: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and Laws of Thermodynamics 2. Identify and distinguish between seven types of consumers. 3. Contrast detritus feeders and decomposers: 4. Which consumer type feeds at every trophic level; Briefly explain: 5. Food Chains and Food Webs 6. Biomass 7. Ecological Efficiency 8. Ecological Pyramids: (a) Pyramid of Energy Flow (b) Pyramid of Biomass (c) Pyramid of Numbers 9. Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) 10. Net Primary Productivity (NPP) 11. Briefly describe the events which take place in/on Earth s Sun to release large amounts of energy. 12. About 34% of the solar energy reaching the troposphere is reflected: (a) how is this reflection generally accomplished? (b) What natural dynamic changes/events might increase albedo (reflectivity)? (c)what anthropogenic(human-caused) events or changes might increase albedo? (d)what anthropogenic changes or events might decrease albedo? 13. Write the chemical equation for photosynthesis: 14. Write the chemical equation for cellular respiration: 15. Compare and contrast terrestrial producers and aquatic producers: 16. What other category of producers exists besides the photosynthetic producers? Identify two locations/environments where you might find such non-photosynthetic producers. 17. What is the fundamental difference between food chains and food webs? 18. In food chains and food webs, what specifically is indicated by the arrows? 19. Identify the three basic types of Ecological Pyramids: 20. Which of these three can never appear as an inverted pyramid? (which of the three must always appear as a classic pyramid with a wide base) 21. Name the two types of ecological pyramids which may appear inverted; explain: 22. Approximately what percent of the kilocalories found in the preceding or lower trophic level actually become incorporated into the tissues of organisms in the trophic level directly above it? 23. What happens to the remainder of the kilocalories (those which do not make it into the biomass of the consumer organisms feeding on the trophic level below them.) Page 1 of 2 Chapter 9 Biological Productivity and Energy Flow

6 24. If there are 1,000,000 kilocalories in the producer level of an energy pyramid, how kilocalories will be incorporated into the bodies of the: (a) Primary Consumers? (b) Secondary Consumers? (c) Tertiary Consumers? 25. Define Gross Primary Productivity (GPP): 26. Define Net Primary Productivity (NPP): 27. Explain why GPP is always greater than NPP in a given ecosystem, biome, or aquatic life zone, or when looking at the planet as a whole. 28. Which of the two, GPP or NPP, represents the number of kilocalories that are available for use by consumers? 29. What is the upper limit determining earth s carrying capacity (K) for all consumer species? (note: Solar input is not what we are after here, although, clearly, ultraviolet light is essential in order to drive earth s systems.) 30. Identify typical units for expressing Net Primary Productivity: Page 2 of 2 Chapter 9 Biological Productivity and Energy Flow