2009 Ap Environmental Science Frq

1.

a. One problem that is caused by fertilizers is the pollution of the groundwater and surface water. As a result, it decreases the dissolved oxygen in the water and aquatic animals die.

b. Nitrogen oxide is nitrogen containing primary pollutant. It is caused by the combustion in vehicular engines and the burning of fossil fuels. Councilman Budd was wrong because he blamed the release of the photochemical smog on the nitrogen containing primary pollutant, but the pollutant does not emit the air pollutants responsible for the formation of the smog

c.

i. Ozone is a secondary pollutant that is formed in the reaction with O2 and O

ii. One human effect of ozone is that it causes respiratory problems

iii. One environmental effect is that it increases global warming because it can act like a greenhouse gas.

d. The chemical transformation of the nitrogen-cycle is when nitrogen is converted to ammonia, ammonium, or nitrate. This is very important to the ecosystem because it converts atmospheric nitrogen into terrestrial nitrogen

2.

a. Methane can be turned to produce steam. The high pressure steam turns a turbine to rotate coils in a magnetic field (generator) to produce electric current.

b. Two environmental benefits that may result from the insulation of an anaerobic methane digester are using methane for the production of electricity decreases the amount of methane released to the atmosphere.

Methane is a greenhouse gas that contributes global warming. Reducing the amount of methane released seduces the impact on global warming. Using the manure will reduce the amount of organic waste in rivers, lakes, and streams. This will prevent the death of the aquatic organism in the lakes from oxygen depletion.

c.

i. 500 cows x 3.0 Kwh/cows/day x 365 days/year = 547, 500 Kwh/year

ii. 547,500 Kwh x $.1/kwh= $54,750/ year or $55,000 the farmer would save

iii. $400,000/$55,000= 7.2 years= 7 years

d. 3.0 kwh/...