Review for Midterm

  1. The gaseous envelope
    surrounding the Earth, held in place by gravity.
    Atmosphere
  2. When an aquifer is under pressure, a pipe drilled into the aquifer will flow without the
    use of pumps, producing a naturally flowing watersource.
    Artesian Well
  3. Groundwater resorces in some defined area
    Aquifer
  4. The concentration of toxic compounds is sequentially increased as an organism moves up the food chain. The lower forms of life may accumulate the toxic compounds into their tissues
    Bioaccumulation
  5. The tendency for top predators in a food web to have the highest residues of certain chemicals, especially organochlorines.
    Biomagnification
  6. The breakdown of organic molecules into simpler compoudns through the metabolic actions of microorganisms
    Biodegradation
  7. All life on Earth, plus their ecosystems and environments.
    Biosphere
  8. Occurs when water table in the area immediately surrounding the well is lowered
    Cone of depression
  9. Increased primary productivity of an aquatic ecosystem, resulting from nutrient inputs.
    Eutrophication
  10. The movement between, and storage of water in, various compartments of the hydrosphere.
    Hydrologic Cycle
  11. The parts of the planet
    that contain water, including the oceans, atmosphere, on land, in
    surface water bodies, underground, and in organisms.
    Hydrosphere
  12. An approximately 80-km thick region of rigid, relatively light rocks that surround Earth’s plastic mantle.
    Lithosphere
  13. The tendency to remain
    chemically unchanged in the environment.
    Persistence
  14. The exposure of organisms to chemicals or energy in quantities that exceed their tolerance, causing toxicity or other ecological damages.
    Pollution
  15. An area of land in which water can infiltrate the surface and replenish an aquifer below.
    Recharge Zone
  16. Below the water table, all pores of rocks and soil are filled with
    water.
    Saturated Zone
  17. The downward shift of a land mass due to removal of groundwater below. (a sinkhole)
    Subsidence
  18. Above the water table, pores in rocks and soil are only partially filled with water.
    Unsaturated Zone
  19. The top surface of groundwater.
    Water Table
  20. Two or more substances combined whose effect is greater than their individual effects
    Synergistic
  21. Two types of pollution sources
    • 1. Point Source
    • 2. Non Point Source
  22. A term for the 'sphere' of people on earth
    Anthrosphere
  23. Name the 5 spheres
    • Atmosphere
    • Geosphere (or Lithosphere)
    • Hydrosphere
    • Biosphere
    • Anthrosphere
  24. A poisonous compounds that is produced in anoxic conditions
    methyl mercury
Author
skinner.cindy
ID
175866
Card Set
Review for Midterm
Description
Terms for ENVS320 Environmental science/ecology
Updated