PDS AP Environmental Science 5th Period 2010-11

Hydrogen Energy is created by passing Hydrogen through a membrane which separates the protons and electrons. In this process, the electrons are diverted to create electricity and H2O is given off as a byproduct. As a fuel source, Hydrogen is clean, with practically no pollutants released, it is efficient, can be up to 90% efficient if heat is harvested, and is safe, when kept in high pressure environments provides no risks.

Here is a quick video on how the fuel cell works http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/environment/energy-environment/fuel-cells.html

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Currently, scientists are researching how to harvest Hydrogen from algae. If this process is perfected, Hydrogen fuel cells would be a fully renewable energy source.

http://www.biodieselmagazine.com/articles/4268/harvesting-hydrogen-from-algae

Alright so I am confused on what the GPP is. According to our graph on the carbon cycle, GPP appears to be simply respiration from the vegetation, but when I looked up the definition I got confused. In addition, I also do not know what NPP is. The book says that it is GPP minus respiration, so what is left?

I’m afraid I do not quite understand Stabilizing Selection. Can someone explaine to me how itermediate traits are changing but the status quo is still maintained?

According to the diagram, the only way carbon is released from the sedimentary rock is through volcanic and hydrothermal emissions. Why does the diagram not include uplift or erosion? Are they not important in the cycle?

In class Friday we discussed the Water Cycle. We began by going over the main reservoirs, the unique properties, and the human impacts. The three major reservoirs are 1. Oceans 2. Ice caps and glaciers 3. Ground Water (which is water that is underground stored in aquifers). The unique properties for the Water Cycle that we discussed were that it is driven by the sun and gravity and that it connects all cycles and spheres. The first human impact we discussed was damning the rivers. This creates a reservoir which increases evaporation, but also decreases the supply down stream. The second human impact that we looked at was the use of wells. By pumping the groundwater, the water supply in the aquifer is unnaturally decreased. The third impact we looked at was deforestation. By removing plants the amount of transpiration, or loss of water from the leaves, decreases which will decrease precipitation. Finally, paving urban roads decreases infiltration, or gravity pulling water through air gaps in the rock returning to aquifers, which increases runoff.

Beginning with the groundwater, water runs into oceans, is extracted by humans, and is taken up by land plants. The water on the surface from oceans, lakes, and rivers and also the water from the transpiring plants are evaporated into the atmosphere. Once in the atmosphere the water condenses, and then precipitates back down into the oceans, lakes, rivers, and onto the soil. Water from the precipitation causes runoff into the rivers and oceans. The water that hits the soil, or from melting Ice caps, glaciers, and snowfields can infiltrate back into the aquifers where the groundwater is stored in a process called “Recharge.”

If you are having any difficulty understanding Infiltration, here are some links that show porostityhttp://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module06/Porosity.htm and as you scroll right on the link also explains how aquifers work. Another fun video that summarizes the Water Cycle and also addresses human impacts can be watched here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2jPsfy2iq8. As for transpiration and a practice quiz on the Hydrologic cycle click here http://techalive.mtu.edu/meec/module01/Transpiration.htm. The only equation we discussed in class was H2O + CO2=H2CO3 which is the equation for acid rain. The water mixes with the Carbon dioxide to form Carbonic Acid. If you have any questions just let me know!

I understand that the Hadley Cells are in the tropics, Ferrel Cells are in the temperate regions, and the Polar cells are in the polar regions, but what other differences exist between the different types of cells? Since the hot air is always rising what effect does the direction of air flow in these convection cells have on precipitation?

Ok this probably isn’t going to be on the test tomorrow, but I am curious of how the Lichen manages to arrive on say an isnland of volcanic rock. Are the spores able to drift that far from the next island?

I don’t really understand what the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis is. I couldn’t find it in the text but I remember from class that it is related to succession. Anyone care to clearify?

Hello everyone, I am struggling to understand exactly what the Activists stood for. Would the Activists fall more closely into the Romantics, Conservationism, or Environmentalism movements and why?

The most impacting environmental issue in the world today is solid waste. It is dumped into the ocean and littered on the road leading to many environmental problems. The reason this issue is more impacting then others is because it is relatively unknown. Although many people becoming aware of of conserving energy and the damage of fossil fuels, most people still do not understand the colossal amount of damage the waste is doing. If we continue at our current rate and do not  improve recycling habits, we will run out of space for trash and pollute our water sources.