Environmental Science Semester 2 Study Guide
Chapter 9 Human Population
Key Terms
demography
age structure
survivorship
fertility rate
migration
life expectancy
demographic transition
Summaries
 Human population growth has accelerated in the last few centuries. The main reasons for this
growth were improvements in hygiene andincreases in food production, which accompanied the
industrial and scientific revolutions.
 Demographers try to predict population trends using data such as age structure, survivorship,
fertility rates, migration, and life expectancy.
 In the demographic transition model, countries progress through four stages of change in birth
rates, death rates, and population size.
Be able to
 Describe how the size and growth rate of the human population has changed in the last 200
years.
 Define four properties that scientists use to predict population sizes.
 Make predictions about population trends based on age structure.
 Describe the four stages of the demographic transition.
 Explain why different countries may be at different stages of the demographic transition.
Chapter 17 Energy & Fossil Fuels
Key Terms
fossil fuels
electric generator
petroleum
oil reserves
Summaries
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Most of the world’s energy needs are met by fossil fuels, which are nonrenewable resources.
Coal is abundant in North America and Asia. In the United States, coal is used primarily to
produce electricity.
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Petroleum can be refined into fuels to power vehicles and machines. Petroleum can also be
used to manufacture many other products.
Natural gas is often found above oil deposits. In general, burning natural gas releases fewer
pollutants than burning coal or oil.
The extraction, transportation, and use of fossil fuels cause many environmental problems,
including air and water pollution and habitat destruction.
Be able to
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Explain how fuels are used to generate electricity in an electric power plant.
Identify patterns of energy consumption and production in the world and in the United States.
Explain how fossil fuels form and how they are used.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of fossil-fuel use.
Chapter 18 Renewable Energy Sources
Key Terms
renewable energy
passive solar heating
active solar heating
biomass fuel
hydroelectric energy
geothermal energy
Be able to
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List six forms of renewable energy, and compare their advantages and disadvantages.
Describe the differences between passive solar heating, active solar heating, and
photovoltaic energy.
Describe the current state of wind energy technology.
Describe how hydroelectric energy, geothermal energy, and geothermal heat pumps
work.
Summaries
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Renewable energy sources are forms of energy that are constantly being formed from the sun’s
energy.
Solar energy can be used to heat a house directly or to heat another material, such as water,
which can then be used to heat a house. Solar cells can also be used to generate electricity.
Wind power is the fastest growing source of energy in the world.
Many people in developing countries get most of their energy from biomass such as fuelwood.
Hydroelectric energy is electricity generated by the energy of moving water.
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Geothermal energy, the heat within the Earth, can be used to generate electricity.
Chapter 12 Air
Key Terms
air pollution
primary pollutant
secondary pollutant
smog
temperature inversion
Summaries
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Primary pollutants are pollutants put directly in the air by human activity.
Secondary pollutants are formed when a primary pollutant comes into contact with other
primary pollutants or with naturally occurring substances and a chemical reaction takes place.
Most air pollution comes from vehicles and industry.
Air pollution that hangs over cities and reduces visibility is called smog.
Be able to
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Name five primary air pollutants, and give sources for each.
Name the two major sources of air pollution in urban areas.
Describe the way in which smog forms.
Explain the way in which a thermal inversion traps air pollution.
12.3 Acid Precipitation
Key Term
acid precipitation
Summaries
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Acid precipitation is precipitation such as rain, sleet, or snow that contains a high concentration
of acids.
Acid shock occurs when a sudden influx of acidic water enters a lake or stream and causes a
rapid change in pH that harms aquatic life.
Pollutants released in one geographical area may fall to the ground hundreds of kilometers
away as acid precipitation—sometimes in another country
Be able to
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Explain the causes of acid precipitation.
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Explain how acid precipitation affects plants, soils, and aquatic ecosystems.
Chapter 13.2 Ozone- The textbook website says Forest biome, but it is the section on ozone.
Key Terms
ozone layer
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
ozone hole
Be able to
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Explain how the ozone layer shields the Earth from much of the sun’s harmful radiation.
Explain how chlorofluorocarbons damage the ozone layer.
Explain the process by which the ozone hole forms.
Describe the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation.
Explain why the threat to the ozone layer is still continuing today.
Summaries
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The ozone layer in Earth’s stratosphere absorbs most of the ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun.
Chlorofluorocarbons are human-made chemicals that destroy ozone molecules and damage
the ozone layer.
Ozone levels measured over the polar regions have been decreasing over the past several
decades.
The thinning of the ozone layer may increase the harmful effects of ultraviolet light that
reaches Earth’s surface.
In 1997, representatives from 160 countries ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which set timetables
for reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Section 13.3
Key Terms
greenhouse gases
global warming
Kyoto Protocol
Summaries
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Gases that absorb and radiate heat in the atmosphere are called greenhouse gases. The
important greenhouse gases are water vapor, carbon dioxide, CFCs, methane, and nitrous oxide.
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The predicted increase in global temperature that occurs as a result of increasing greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere is called global warming.
Because climate patterns are complex, scientists use computer models to attempt to predict
the rate of global warming.
Global warming could produce a number of potentially serious environmental problems.
Be able to
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Explain why Earth’s atmosphere is like the glass in a greenhouse.
Explain why carbon dioxide in the atmosphere appears to be increasing.
Explain why many scientists think that the Earth’s climate may be becoming increasingly
warmer.
Describe what a warmer Earth might be like.
Chapter 11.1 Water
Key Terms
surface water
river system
watershed
groundwater
aquifer
porosity
permeability
recharge zone
Be able to
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Describe the distribution of Earth’s water resources.
Explain why fresh water is one of Earth’s limited resources.
Describe the distribution of Earth’s surface water.
Describe the relationship between groundwater and surface water in a watershed.
Section 11.3
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Compare point-source pollution and nonpoint-source pollution.