Environmental Processes and Systems Quiz

Carbon dioxide is a well-known greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming.

Sunlight powers photosynthesis, the fundamental process for energy acquisition in ecosystems.

Hydropower harnesses the energy of flowing or falling water, making it a renewable energy source.

Transpiration is the release of water vapor from plant leaves into the atmosphere.

Photosynthesis is the biological process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize nutrients.

Fossil fuels primarily consist of carbon-rich compounds formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals.

Evaporation is the transformation of water from a liquid state to a gaseous state.

Air, although present in soil, is not considered a major component compared to minerals, organic matter, and water.

Sulfur dioxide emissions contribute to the formation of sulfuric acid in the atmosphere, causing acid rain.

Weathering encompasses both physical and chemical processes that break down rocks into sediment.

Percolation refers to the movement of water downwards through soil and rock layers.

CFCs are synthetic compounds widely used in refrigeration and as propellants, contributing to the greenhouse effect.

The carbon cycle describes the movement of carbon among these Earth reservoirs.

High biodiversity in an ecosystem indicates a wide variety of species present.

Nitrogen fixation is the biological and chemical process by which nitrogen gas is converted into ammonia or other molecules usable by plants.

Eutrophication leads to excessive nutrient buildup in water bodies, causing algal blooms and subsequent depletion of oxygen, resulting in hypoxic conditions.

CFCs are the primary agents responsible for ozone depletion in the stratosphere by releasing chlorine atoms that break down ozone molecules.

Biological magnification refers to the increasing concentration of certain substances, such as toxins or pollutants, as they pass up the food chain.