#AP Environmental Science: Major Environmental Disasters - The Night Before Guide

Hey there, future AP Environmental Science superstar! 🌟 Feeling a little overwhelmed? Don't worry, we've got you covered. This guide is designed to help you quickly review the major environmental disasters you need to know for the exam. Let's make sure you're feeling confident and ready to ace it!

#Why These Disasters Matter

• Exam Relevance: The AP exam often includes multiple-choice questions (MCQs) and free-response questions (FRQs) that directly or indirectly test your understanding of environmental disasters.
• No Official List: The College Board doesn't provide a specific list, but these disasters are referenced in key concepts.
• FRQ Prep: Understanding these disasters and their solutions will be a huge help for the "Propose an Environmental Solution" FRQ. This is a high-value topic since it combines multiple units into one.

#Major Environmental Disasters You Need to Know

Here's the list we've compiled for you. Focus on these 10 disasters:

1. Chernobyl, Ukraine (Unit 6)
2. Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania (Unit 6)
3. Fukushima, Japan (Unit 6)
4. Kuwaiti Oil Fire, Kuwait (Unit 6)
5. Exxon Valdez, Alaska (Unit 6)
6. Great Smog, London (Unit 7)
7. Bhopal, India (Unit 8)
8. Love Canal, New York (Unit 8)
9. Minamata Bay, Japan (Unit 8)
10. Great Barrier Reef Bleaching, Australia (Unit 9)

#Unit 6 - Energy Resources - Disasters

#Chernobyl, Ukraine

#What Happened?

• Date: 1986
• Location: Chernobyl, Ukraine (formerly USSR)
• Cause: A safety check led to a power surge, causing a reactor rupture and explosion. The roof blew off, releasing a radioactive cloud. ☢️
• Impact: High rates of cancer and birth defects in the surrounding area. High radiation levels persist, making the area uninhabitable.
• Radiation Spread: The radioactive cloud drifted westward across Eastern and Western Europe.
• Reactor Sealing: Reactor Number 4 was sealed with a concrete wall to prevent further radiation spread.

#How Could We Have Fixed It?

• Solution: Implement strict safety regulations and frequent government inspections for nuclear power plants.

#Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania

#What Happened?

• Date: March 28, 1979
• Location: Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, USA
• Cause: A partial nuclear meltdown due to a feed pump fail...