AS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Transcription

1 Please write clearly in block capitals. Centre number Candidate number Surname Forename(s) Candidate signature AS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Unit 2 The Physical Environment Wednesday 24 May 2017 Afternoon Time allowed: 1 hour 30 minutes Materials You will need no other materials. You may use a calculator. For Examiner s Use Examiner s Initials Instructions Use black ink or black ball-point pen. Fill in the es at the top of this page. Answer all questions. You must answer the questions in the spaces provided. outside the around each page or on blank pages. Do all rough work in this book. Cross through any work you do not want to be marked. Information The marks for questions are shown in brackets. The maximum mark for this paper is 90. Two of these marks are for the Quality of Written Communication. You will be marked on your ability to: use good English organise information clearly use specialist vocabulary where appropriate. Question 9(c) should be answered in continuous prose. Quality of Written Communication will be assessed in this answer. Question TOTAL Mark (JUN17ENVS201) HB/222018/Jun17/E6 ENVS2

2 2 There are no questions printed on this page DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE ANSWER IN THE SPACES PROVIDED (02)

3 3 Answer all questions in the spaces provided. 1 Table 1 shows details of some processes used to produce potable water. Complete Table 1. [5 marks] Table 1 Name of process Purpose Principles Separation of freshwater from saline water Seawater is forced through a partially permeable membrane under high pressure Fluoridation Addition of sodium fluoride Screening Removal of large floating objects Metal grills trap floating objects Removal of pesticides Pesticide molecules adsorbed onto granules Sedimentation Removal of suspended solids The water is static so solids can sink Ozonation Ozone is bubbled into the water Flocculation A flocculant, eg alum, is added to the water 5 Turn over for the next question Turn over U (03)

4 4 2 Figure 1 shows how atmospheric temperature changes up to an altitude of 60 km. 60 Figure 1 50 Stratopause Altitude/km Stratosphere Tropopause Troposphere Temperature/ C 2 (a) Explain the trends of temperature change with altitude in: 2 (a) (i) the stratosphere 2 (a) (ii) the troposphere. (04)

5 5 2 (b) Describe two negative feedback mechanisms that resist increases in atmospheric temperature. [4 marks] 2 (c) Explain why there is very little water vapour in the stratosphere. 10 Turn over for the next question Turn over U (05)

6 6 3 Figure 2 shows an open-cast mine. Figure 2 3 (a) Mine drainage water can alter the ph of the rivers into which the water is discharged. Describe one method that can be used to measure the ph of mine drainage water. (06)

7 7 3 (b) Outline two other environmental problems for local rivers, which may be caused by mine drainage water, and suggest how the mine drainage water may be treated to control each problem. [4 marks] Problem 1 Method to control problem 1 Problem 2 Method to control problem 2 3 (c) Describe methods that may be used to reduce the environmental problems caused by the solid wastes produced by mining. [4 marks] 10 Turn over for the next question Turn over U (07)

8 8 4 Figure 3 shows the hydrological cycle in a state of dynamic equilibrium. Figure Atmosphere A 11 Land ice Oceans Biosphere 1 21 Liquid freshwater Groundwater B Key 50 Annual water movement /10 3 km 3 yr Volume of water in reservoir /10 3 km 3 4 (a) (i) Calculate the values for A and B in Figure 3. A 10 3 km 3 yr 1 B 10 3 km 3 yr 1 (08)

9 9 4 (a) (ii) The residence time (RT) may be calculated using the formula: RT = Volume of water in reservoir Annual rate of inflow or outflow Use the formula to estimate the RTs for water in land ice and for water in the biosphere. RT for land ice years RT for the biosphere days 4 (b) Describe two environmental problems caused by the overexploitation of aquifers. [4 marks] (c) Suggest how the residence time of water in land ice is affected by human activities. 10 Turn over U (09)

10 10 5 Figure 4 shows the changes in the mass of a soil sample as its water and organic matter composition were analysed. Figure 4 Sample collection Storage period 1 Heating period 1 50 Storage period 2 Heating period Mass/g Soil mass results in order of measurement from start of heating (10)

11 11 5 (a) Suggest suitable storage conditions for the two storage periods and explain why the mass of soil would change if these conditions were not used. [4 marks] Storage period 1 Suitable storage conditions Why the mass of soil would have changed Storage period 2 Suitable storage conditions Why the mass of soil would have changed 5 (b) Suggest a suitable temperature for heating period 1. [1 mark] 5 (c) Explain why the estimate of organic matter content would be inaccurate if the temperature was too high during heating period 2. [1 mark] 5 (d) Estimate the water content of the soil as a percentage of the original mass. Show your working. Water content = % Question 5 continues on the next page Turn over U (11)

12 12 5 (e) Figure 5 shows a soil triangle that is used in soil texture analysis. Figure 5 100% clay Clay % Clay G Silt % Sandy clay Sandy clay loam Clay loam Silty clay Silty clay loam Sandy loam Sandy silt loam Silt loam % sand Sand Loamy sand % silt Sand % (12)

13 13 Table 2 shows information about seven soil samples. Table 2 Soil sample Soil mineral composition / % Sand Silt Clay Soil A Soil B Soil C Soil D Soil E Soil F Soil G 5 (e) (i) Use information from the soil triangle in Figure 5 to complete Table 2 for Soil G. [1 mark] 5 (e) (ii) Add an X to the soil triangle in Figure 5 to represent the texture of Soil E. 5 (f) Describe how soil texture may affect the fertility of soil. [1 mark] [5 marks] 15 Turn over U (13)

14 14 There are no questions printed on this page DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE ANSWER IN THE SPACES PROVIDED (14)

15 15 6 Figure 6 shows an aquifer and associated geological structures. Figure 6 Land surface Rock P Rock Q Rock R 6 (a) Explain why rock P and rock R must have different permeabilities to allow rock Q to form an aquifer. 6 (b) Name one rock that often forms aquifers. [1 mark] 6 (c) Outline two advantages of exploiting water from aquifers rather than from rivers. 5 Turn over U (15)

16 16 7 Figure 7 shows an outline of the carbon cycle. Figure 7 Atmosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Hydrosphere Key Movement of carbon 7 (a) Outline how human activities have: 7 (a) (i) reduced the amount of carbon in soil 7 (a) (ii) increased the acidity of the sea. (16)

17 17 7 (b) Describe the strategies that are being developed to control emissions of named greenhouse gases. [6 marks] 10 Turn over for the next question Turn over U (17)

18 18 8 A geologist carried out a preliminary study to find the appropriate distance between trial drilling sites in the area of a proposed mine. Figure 8 shows the copper content of rock samples collected at different spacing intervals. 0.2 Figure 8 Copper content/ % mass Distance/m 500 Copper content/ % mass Distance/m 500 Copper content/ % mass Distance/m 500 Copper content/ % mass Distance/m 500 Copper content/ % mass Distance/m 500 (18)

19 19 8 (a) (i) Select the most appropriate distance between trial drilling sites. Tick ( ) one. [1 mark] 10 m 25 m 50 m 100 m 250 m 8 (a) (ii) Explain why this is the most appropriate distance. [1 mark] 8 (b) Outline how remote sensing may be used to detect the location of mineral deposits. [3 marks] Question 8 continues on the next page Turn over U (19)

20 20 8 (c) Suggest why a mine may not be developed, even if ore deposits above the cut-off ore grade have been found. [5 marks] 10 (20)

21 21 9 (a) Recycling used materials helps to extend the lifespan of mineral reserves. Describe why it is difficult to recycle some used materials. 9 (b) Use an example to outline how material substitution may reduce demand for a named material. [3 marks] Question 9 continues on the next page Turn over U (21)

22 22 9 (c) Describe the main geological processes that have produced mineral deposits that may be exploited. [10 marks] You should answer this question in continuous prose. Quality of Written Communication will be assessed in this answer. (22)

23 23 Extra space for Question 9(c) END OF QUESTIONS 15 (23)

24 24 There are no questions printed on this page DO NOT WRITE ON THIS PAGE ANSWER IN THE SPACES PROVIDED Copyright Information For confidentiality purposes, from the November 2015 examination series, acknowledgements of third party copyright material will be published in a separate booklet rather than including them on the examination paper or support materials. This booklet is published after each examination series and is available for free download from after the live examination series. Permission to reproduce all copyright material has been applied for. In some cases, efforts to contact copyright-holders may have been unsuccessful and AQA will be happy to rectify any omissions of acknowledgements. If you have any queries please contact the Copyright Team, AQA, Stag Hill House, Guildford, GU2 7XJ. Copyright 2017 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. (24)