Pollution

Explain the process of Eutrophication 

- Fertilizer runs off from agricultural fields -> 
- Limiting Resource in abundance leads to algae blooms ->
- Algae blocks out sunlight killing plants ->
- Plants and Algae die ->
- Decomposers begin using all dissolved oxygen ->
- Fish and other animals can't survive in low oxygen environments,  potentially leading to an ecological dead zone. 

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Match Practice Test Progress & Stats

Term	Definition
Explain the process of Eutrophication	- Fertilizer runs off from agricultural fields -> - Limiting Resource in abundance leads to algae blooms -> - Algae blocks out sunlight killing plants -> - Plants and Algae die -> - Decomposers begin using all dissolved oxygen -> - Fish and other animals can't survive in low oxygen environments, potentially leading to an ecological dead zone.
What is one way humans can reduce Eutrophication?	Using Riparian buffers (plants and shrubbery along canals) to catch and use nutrients before they enter water sources.
Explain the process of acid rain formation.	Burning of fossil fuels releases nitric oxide and sulfur oxide into the atmosphere -> - reacts with water vapor forming strong nitric and sulfur acids -> - returns to earth as acid deposition (rain or settling) - lowers the ph of soil (plants have a specific ph they tolerate in ecological tolerance)
What is one way humans can reduce acid rain formation?	Cars release NOx, adding catalytic converters can reduce amount of nitric oxide in the atmosphere (Bonus Question: What two compounds are released from fossil fuels that form acid rain?)
Explain the process of Ozone depletion.	CFCs (chlorine containing molecules) are released via aeresols and other pollutants -> - Ultraviolet radiation breaks CFCs into chlorine containing molecules -> -Chlorine binds with one oxygen molecule breaking apart the ozone molecule (O3) -> Keeps occurring until chlorine combines with another chlorine atom.
What is one way humans have reduced ozone depletion?	Montreal protocal banned CFC containing compounds allowing the ozone layer to gradually recover.
Explain the process of photochemical smog formation?	NOx & VOCs get released from fossil fuels -> - React with sunlight -> - Create tropospheric ozone (damaging to lungs)
Explain the process of common (industrial) smog formation?	SO2 gets trapped in lower atm from burning coal (doesn't rely on sunlight)
What is one way humans can reduce photochemical smog formation?	Cars and trucks are major producers of nitrogen oxides and VOCs -> Increased public transportation can reduce use of personal transportation, reducing the amount of NOx and VOCs in the atmosphere
Give two different types of water pollution and explain them.	Sediment pollution: Sediment runs off from erosion and clouds water, reducing photosynthesis. Pathogen pollution: Pollution from disease causing organisms like bacteria (often from wastewater)
Explain the difference between point source and non-point source pollution. Give examples of both.	Point source pollution is pollution where you can trace pollution back to a specific source (pipe, oil spill) Non point source pollution is pollution where the pollution is coming from many places (rainfall causing nutrient runoff)