APES Module 1 Questions and Answers

APES Module 1 Questions and Answers What is fracking? process used to extract oil and gas How does the process of fracking work? uses high pressure fluids to force open cracks in rocks underground, allowing for extraction from places that were previously difficult to get to. Advantages of fracking 1. large quantities of natural gas available for low price 2. Produces less air pollutants than coal Disadvantages of fracking 1. large amounts of water used 2. chemical contamination of underground water What does the debate about fracking demonstrate about the problems environmental science addresses? demonstrates that human activities perceived as harmless are harmful, and the difficulty of finding answers to many environmental questions What is the importance of studying systems in ES? focuses on the interaction of systems and their effect on each other Why does the blending of many different disciplines present challenges to environmental scientists? takes knowledge from many different backgrounds to understand Why does the blending of many different disciplines present opportunities to environmental scientists? one can be involved in environmental science in any way that interests them How have tool use and social cooperation enabled humans to alter their environment more than other species? humans convert nature land to places for humans to live and alter the chemistry of the air, pushing animals out of their habitats How did early Homo sapiens impact their environment when they entered a new area? What does this show? Homo sapiens hunted animals to extinction, shows that humans have had a direct impact on the environment for many years 5 major ways humans altered the environment in the last 10,000 years 1. Native Americans' hunting method created the Great Plains ecosystem 2. increase in Earth's average temperature 3. Urbanization forces animals out of habitats and adaptation 4. Overhunting of species 5. So far in history, technological development has led to both increased human well-being and increased environmental disruption. Why has this been the case? advances in technology - greater standard of living for humans - increased population - greater range of impact on the environment