APES Unit 6-9 Review for 2024 Exam
Introduction
- Second night of live streams for the APES 2024 exam.
- Aim to get as much review done as possible.
- Reminders of the available study plans and resources.
Announcements
- Acknowledging donations and how they will be managed.
- Super thanks and donations will be given to a local environmental nonprofit.
- Encouragement to use the AI chatbot for questions.
Unit 6: Energy Resources
- Crude Oil & Petroleum: Derived from decaying organic matter, often in marine settings.
- Tar Sands: High-density bitumen deposits, require heating for extraction.
- Electricity Production: Burn fuel to generate steam, spin a turbine, power a generator.
- Nuclear Energy: Environmental impact from spent fuel rods, mining tailings, water use, and thermal pollution.
- Hydroelectric Dams: Provide non-emitting electricity, can serve as tourist attractions, create jobs, offer reliable power.
- Electricity Conservation: Lower thermostat, energy-efficient appliances, public transportation, and tax incentives for renewables.
Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution
- Major Air Pollutants: SO2, NOx, CO, particulate matter, tropospheric ozone, lead.
- Photochemical Smog Formation: NO2 broken down by UV light, creation of ozone (O3), role of VOCs.
- Urban Heat Island Effect: Increased temperature in urban areas due to low albedo surfaces and reduced vegetation.
Unit 8: Aquatic and Terrestrial Pollution
- Solutions to Watershed Pollution: Riparian buffers, cover crops, enhanced nutrient removal.
- Cultural Eutrophication: Nutrient runoff causes algal blooms, leading to oxygen depletion and dead zones.
- Biomagnification and Bioaccumulation: Persistent pollutants accumulate in organisms, magnify up the food chain.
Unit 9: Global Change
- Ozone Depletion: Chlorine atoms from CFCs break down ozone, cycle of destruction.
- Greenhouse Effect: Essential for life, traps heat through greenhouse gases.
- Sea Level Rise: Caused by thermal expansion and melting of glacial/ice sheets.
- Polar Amplification: Poles warm faster due to land-water distribution, feedback loops.
- Coral Bleaching: Occurs due to increased water temperatures, expulsion of algae symbiotes.
- Ocean Acidification: CO2 forms carbonic acid in oceans, reduces carbonate ions for shell-building.
- Metapopulations and Edge Effects: Habitat fragmentation affects genetic diversity, edge habitats favor different species.
Important Vocabulary
- Terms to Know: Acid deposition, scrubbers, thermal inversions, VOCs, asbestos, radon, greenhouse effect, CFCs, sea level rise, coral bleaching, ocean acidification, HIPPCO.
Final Tips
- If panicking, follow the one-day study plan.
- If fairly prepared, practice math skills and experimental design.
- If confident, write practice FRQs.
- Exam preparation involves reviewing content, practicing questions, and ensuring rest.
- Recommended study music for relaxation and focus.
The notes provide a summary of important themes from the APES units 6-9, covering key concepts and strategies for successful exam preparation.