2008 Earth & Environmental Science Marathon

[jasonml]

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Hey everyone, over the last couple of days there's been a bit of activity in this neck of the woods, so might as well get a marathon going. This game is fun!

How To Play
The first person asks an E&ES question. The next person answers it then posts another question for the next person then so on.


Tip:
If you feel an area is your weakness then try asking a question on this area to see others responses to it which may help you in your understanding.


First question:
Identify and describe TWO challanges that organisms had to overcome to move from aquatic environments to terrestrial environments.

[4 marks]

[henry08]

Originally Posted by jasonml

First question:
Identify and describe TWO challanges that organisms had to overcome to move from aquatic environments to terrestrial environments.
[4 marks]

Off the top of my head:

Organisms in the ocean were readily able to obtain oxygen through their gills, however when they colonised the terrestrial environment, there was less oxygen available and a more efficient gas exchange organ than gills. Organisms overcame thsi by developing a primitive sac-like lung in which they could directly breathe oxygen in and out. Organisms previously relied on water for to disperse sex cells for sexual reproduction. When colonising the land, organisms at first still dispersed sex cells into water until they were able to develop internal fertilisation, removing the need for water to disperse sex cells in.

Question 2:
Justify continued research into the reliable prediction volcanic activity and earthquakes, making reference to a named case study you have studied.
[5 marks]

[jasonml]

• Both volcanic activity and earthquakes can have devistating affects upon human populations.
  
  
• Earthquakes primarily damage structures by ground movement and liquefaction, which represents a hazard to humans within or nearby the structure.
  
  
• Secondarily, earthquakes can cause tsunamis, landslides, which further represent hazards to nearby human populations (through direct contact and short term structural damage - see above)
  
  
• Volcanic activity can devistate local human populations with ash clouds, ash fallout, lahars, gas emmissions, avalanches, and dirct blasts.
  
  
• Continued research into the reliable prediction of the occurrence of these two natural disasters fosters the ability to accurately alarm and evacuate human populations that otherwise would of been decimated.
  
  
• The magnitude 9.2 undersea earthquake that triggered the "2004 Boxing Day Tsunamis" resulted with a death toll of 230 000. A large contributory factor to this high death toll is the poor warning systems in place at the time of the disaster. Should of a more reliable and accurate prediction taken place, it is likely that the number of deaths would of been greatly reduced.

sorry to do it point form, but its late at night, i'm tired. lol.





Next Question: Provide features of a selection of the human health problems that can arise from the continued introduction of new chemical pesticides into the environment.

[3 marks]

[henry08]

Originally Posted by jasonml

sorry to do it point form, but its late at night, i'm tired. lol.


[3 marks]

Lol, its not late.

I'll answer your question tomorrow.

[jasonml]

Originally Posted by henry08

Lol, its not late.

I'll answer your question tomorrow.

someone gogogogogogogogo