MS MS in Environmental Science 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which greenhouse gas has the highest global warming potential (GWP) over a 100-year timeframe per unit mass among common atmospheric pollutants?
- Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) (Correct answer)
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
- Methane (CH₄)
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
Correct answer: Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆)
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF₆) has a GWP of approximately 23,500 over 100 years, making it the most potent greenhouse gas by mass among common pollutants.
Question 2: What is the term for organisms that break down dead organic matter into simpler inorganic substances?
- Decomposers (Correct answer)
- Producers
- Primary consumers
- Apex predators
Correct answer: Decomposers
Decomposers, including bacteria and fungi, break down dead organisms and waste materials into inorganic nutrients that cycle back through ecosystems.
Question 3: Which method is used to assess the total environmental impact of a product from raw material extraction to disposal?
- Life cycle assessment (LCA) (Correct answer)
- Environmental impact statement
- Risk assessment
- Ecological footprint analysis
Correct answer: Life cycle assessment (LCA)
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impacts of a product or process through all stages from cradle to grave.
Question 4: What type of biome is characterized by permafrost, low precipitation, and treeless landscape?
- Tundra (Correct answer)
- Taiga
- Grassland
- Desert
Correct answer: Tundra
Tundra is defined by permanently frozen subsoil (permafrost), extremely cold temperatures, low precipitation, and an absence of trees due to short growing seasons.
Question 5: Which water treatment process uses membranes to remove salts and dissolved solids from seawater?
- Reverse osmosis (Correct answer)
- Flocculation
- Activated sludge
- Chlorination
Correct answer: Reverse osmosis
Reverse osmosis forces water through semi-permeable membranes under pressure, removing dissolved salts, ions, and other contaminants to produce fresh water.
Question 6: What is the meaning of 'biodiversity hotspot' as defined by Conservation International?
- A region with exceptional plant endemism and significant habitat loss (Correct answer)
- Any area with more than 1,000 species
- A protected national park with high species richness
- A coral reef system with maximum marine diversity
Correct answer: A region with exceptional plant endemism and significant habitat loss
A biodiversity hotspot must contain at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species and have lost at least 70% of its original habitat, signaling high conservation urgency.
MS MS in Environmental Science 2
Which greenhouse gas has the highest global warming potential (GWP) over a 100-year timeframe per unit mass among common atmospheric pollutants?