Discuss the formation of the Gulf of Mexico dead zone. Why does this area form in the warmer months of the year?
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Dead zones are areas of the oceans and rivers (or lakes) where there is little or no available oxygen to support life. Spring rains carry agricultural and urban run-off adding extra nutrients to the warmer waters (eutrophication) stimulating algal blooms. When the algae die and fall to the sea floor, there is so much of it that oxygen is used up by the bacteria trying to decompose it. This further depletes low oxygen levels creating hypoxic (dissolved oxygen < 2.0 ppm) and anoxic (no oxygen) areas.
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As the temperature of a parcel of air increases, its ability to hold water vapor ____
a. increases b. decreases c. remains constant d. increases then decreases
Eco-labeling
A. helps environmentalists recognize each other. B. is used by governments to identify individuals who matter. C. requires disposable labels and is environmentally unsound. D. identifies products produced by environmentally sound methods. E. helps scientists identify fragile ecosystems.
An S-curve showing the growth in the percentage of adopters is useful in helping to explain
A) the spatial diffusion of an innovation. B) connectivity in topological space. C) the transferability of energy resources. D) the relationship between relative and absolute distance. E) the impact of sense of place on outsiders.
Define the following: soil-moisture storage, hygroscopic water, wilting point, capillary water, field capacity, gravitational water, soil-moisture recharge, soil porosity, and soil permeability
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