Which of the following components is a primary cause of eutrophication?a.Oil spills.b.Nutrient runoff from agriculturec.Thermal pollutiond.Industrial pollution
Question
Which of the following components is a primary cause of eutrophication?a.Oil spills.b.Nutrient runoff from agriculturec.Thermal pollutiond.Industrial pollution
Solution
The primary cause of eutrophication among the options provided is b. Nutrient runoff from agriculture.
Here's a step-by-step explanation:
-
Eutrophication is a process driven by the enrichment of water by nutrients, especially compounds of nitrogen and/or phosphorus.
-
These nutrients can come from many sources, but one of the most significant sources in many parts of the world is agricultural runoff. This runoff can contain fertilizers used in agriculture, which are rich in nitrogen and phosphorus.
-
When these nutrients reach bodies of water, they can stimulate an overgrowth of algae, a process known as an algal bloom.
-
The algal bloom can block sunlight from reaching other plants in the water, causing them to die and decompose.
-
The decomposition process consumes oxygen in the water, leading to low levels of oxygen. This condition, known as hypoxia, can kill fish and other aquatic life.
-
Therefore, nutrient runoff from agriculture is a primary cause of eutrophication.
Oil spills, thermal pollution, and industrial pollution can also harm aquatic ecosystems, but they are not the primary causes of eutrophication.
Similar Questions
What are the two main sources of nutrient inputs that contribute to eutrophication?a.Industrial waste and sewage dischargeb.Atmospheric deposition and industrial wastec.Urban runoff and groundwater seepaged.Agricultural runoff and sewage discharge
Which of the following is eutrophication?a.Hydrocarbon runoff from a refineryb.Natural nutrient enhancement of a shallow lake or estuaryc.Phosphate enrichment by fertilizersd.Sulfur discharge from an industry
Select all that applySelect all of the following that apply to eutrophication.Multiple select question.leads to algal bloomsmay result from the pollution of water by raw sewageleads to population explosions of fish speciesresults from excess nitrogen and phosphorus in runoffcannot currently be determined to be a result of fertilizer useleads to toxin release and oxygen depletion
What is eutrophication? Why is this process of environmental concern? Whichcompounds contribute substantially to eutrophication?
What are the main nutrients responsible for eutrophication?a.Magnesium and calcium.b.Carbon and oxygen.c.Iron and potassium.d.Nitrogen and phosphorus.
Upgrade your grade with Knowee
Get personalized homework help. Review tough concepts in more detail, or go deeper into your topic by exploring other relevant questions.