AP environmental science unit 6

• energy conservation can be achieved through the use of more efficient appliances, turning off lights when not needed, using natural light instead of artificial lighting, etc.
• fossil fuels are non-renewable because it takes millions of years to form them from organic matter
• non-renewable resources are finite and cannot be replenished at the same rate they're being used up
• renewable energy sources are those that will never run out
• global warming occurs when greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun within earth's atmosphere causing an increase in global temperatures
• renewable resources are those that will never run out because they replenish themselves naturally over time
• ozone depletion can lead to skin cancer, cataracts, respiratory problems, and damage to plants
• the ozone hole is caused by chlorofluorocarbons (cfc's) which are used as refrigerants, propellents, solvents, and foam insulation
• the first step to reducing greenhouse gases is to reduce energy consumption
• the three types of fossil fuels are coal, oil, and gas
• coal is formed by the accumulation of plant material that has been buried under layers of sediment over time
• the three types of renewable energy sources are solar power, wind power, and hydroelectricity
• oil is formed from the remains of marine organisms such as plankton and algae that have been compressed and heated over time
• the sun is an example of renewable energy source
• wind power is another example of renewable energy source
• hydroelectricity is generated by harnessing the kinetic energy of falling water
• hydroelectricity is generated by water flowing over turbines which turn generators
• wind turbines generate electricity by converting the kinetic energy of moving air into mechanical energy that turns an electric generator
• greenhouse effect is the process by which certain atmospheric gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide) absorb longwave radiation emitted by the earth's surface and reemit some of this energy back towards the earth
• the carbon cycle is the movement of carbon between living organisms and their environment
• the ozone layer is located in the stratosphere about 10 miles above the surface of the earth
• carbon dioxide is released into the air by burning fossil fuels or deforestation
• the ozone hole is a region where there has been a significant depletion of stratospheric ozone over Antarctica during the spring months
• ozone layer is a thin layer of gas high above the earth's surface that contains large amounts of oxygen molecules
• greenhouse effect refers to the trapping of solar radiation by certain atmospheric gases which causes the temperature on earth to rise
• greenhouse effect refers to the natural process by which certain atmospheric gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide) absorb long wave radiation emitted by the earth's surface and reradiate some of this energy back towards the earth
• energy conservation involves using less energy without sacrificing quality or quantity of service
• conservation means doing more with less
• greenhouse effect refers to the natural process whereby certain atmospheric gases absorb longwave radiation emitted by the earth's surface and reemit it back towards the ground
• coal is formed from plant remains buried deep underground under high pressure and temperature
• carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with something or someone
• oil forms from the decayed bodies of marine organisms
• acid rain is caused by sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides reacting with water droplets in clouds forming acidic precipitation
• alternative fuels include ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen fuel cells, and solar power
• gas is made up mostly of methane
• deforestation is the clearing of forests on a large scale
• oil is formed from the remains of marine organisms such as plankton and algae
• hydroelectricity uses water to turn turbines which generate electricity
• wind power uses windmills or wind turbines to convert kinetic energy into electrical energy
• gas is formed when organic matter decomposes without being covered with sediments