Page 64 - Environment: The Science Behind the Stories

• Volcanoes arise from heating by magma at rifts, subduction • Tsunamis can flood coastlines and cause immense damage.
zones, and hotspots. (pp. 58–60) Early warning systems will be key in minimizing future
losses. (pp. 60–61)
• Landslides and other forms of mass wasting can occur on
small or large scales; damage can be minimized by under- • We often worsen impacts from natural hazards, but we can
standing their risks. (p. 60) reduce them through better land use practices. (p. 61)

Testing Your Comprehension

1. Explain the law of conservation of matter. What 7. Name the primary layers that make up our planet. Which
implication(s) does this law have for our environment? portions does the lithosphere include?
2. How does an ion differ from an isotope? Now differentiate 8. Describe what occurs at a divergent plate boundary. What
among an atom, a molecule, and a compound. happens at a transform plate boundary? Compare and
3. Describe two major forms of energy, and give examples contrast the types of processes that can occur at a conver-
of each. gent plate boundary.
4. Compare and contrast the first and second laws of 9. Name the three main types of rocks, and describe how
thermodynamics. each type may be converted to the others via the rock
cycle.
5. Describe the three major sources of energy that power
Earth’s environmental systems. 10. What causes earthquakes? What are tsunamis, and what
causes them? How does a Hawaiian volcano such as
6. Briefly explain the overall processes of photosynthesis Kilauea differ from a volcano in the Cascades of North
and cellular respiration. Include a brief explanation of America such as Mount St. Helens?
autotrophs and heterotrophs in your answer.

Seeking Solutions CHAPTER 2 • Earth’s Physi cal

1. Think of an example of an environmental problem not environmental system of such fundamental importance as
mentioned in this chapter that a good knowledge of plate tectonics?
chemistry might help us solve. How could chemistry help 5. For each of the following “natural hazards,” describe one
us address the problem? thing that can be done to minimize or mitigate its impact
2. Think about the ways we harness and use energy sources on our lives and property: (a) earthquakes, (b) landslides,
in our society—both renewable sources such as geother- (c) flooding
mal energy and nonrenewable sources such as coal, oil, and 6. THINK IT THROUGH You live in a coastal community in
natural gas. What implications does the first law of thermo- a geologically active region prone to earthquakes, and
dynamics have for our energy usage? How is the second you sit on the board of your regional electric utility.
law of thermodynamics relevant to our use of energy? The utility is considering constructing a nuclear power
3. Referring to the chemical reactions for photosynthesis plant 10 miles up the coast from your town. Some of s yst E m s: m att E r, En E rgy, and
and respiration, provide an argument for why increasing your fellow citizens are supportive of the project, as
amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to it will bring employment to the region and provide a
global climate change (Chapter 18) might potentially carbon-free source of electricity. However, some local
increase amounts of oxygen in the atmosphere. Now give residents fear a repeat of the events of 2011 in north-
an argument for why increasing amounts of carbon diox- eastern Japan if there should be a significant earth-
ide might potentially decrease amounts of atmospheric quake along one of the onshore or offshore faults. As
oxygen. What would you need to know to determine a member of the utility board, what specific informa-
which of these two outcomes might occur? tion would you insist on obtaining from geologists and gE ology
4. Describe how plate tectonics accounts for the formation other scientists before you cast your vote on the pro-
of (a) mountains, (b) volcanoes, and (c) earthquakes. Why ject? What assurances from scientific research would
do you think it took so long for scientists to discover an you feel you need before voting in favor of the project?
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