1. Foundations Flashcards
Definitions
ecosystem
a community and the physical environment with which it interacts
Social system
people, groups and institutions that work together, forming distinct patterns and relationships that define the society
Environmental value system
a view that shapes the way an individual/group perceives environmental issues
society
an arbitrary group of individuals who share some common characteristic such as geographical location, cultural background etc
intrinsic value
characteristic of a natural system that has inherent worth, irrespective of economic considerations
system
An assemblage of parts and the relationships between them, which together constitute an entity or whole
open systen
A system that exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings (eg ecosystem)
closed system
A system that exchanges only energy but not matter with its surroundings (eg earth)
isolated system
A system that doesn’t exchange matter or energy with its surroundings (eg the universe)
model
A simplified version of a system. It shows the flows and storages as well as the structure and workings.
first law of thermodynamics
energy entering a system equals energy leaving it because energy is conserved and can’t be created or destroyed.
second law of thermodynamics
energy in systems is gradually transformed into heat energy which increases disorder/entropy.
entropy
A measure of the amount of disorder, chaos or randomness in a system. The greater the disorder, the higher the level of entropy
equilibrium
A state of balance among the components of a system
steady-state equilibrium
The condition of an open system in which there are no changes over the long term, but in which there may be oscillations in the very short term.
stable equilibrium
The tendency in a system for it to return to return to a previous equilibrium condition following disturbance. This is in contrast to unstable equilibrium, which forms a new equilibrium following disturbance.
feedback
output of a system returns as an input, affecting subsequent outputs. can be positive or negative
positive feedback
Feedback that increases change. It promotes deviation away from an equilibrium.
negative feedback
Feedback that tends to counteract any deviation from equilibrium and promotes stability.
albedo
The amount of light reflected by a surface as a percentage.
tipping point
A critical threshold when even a small change can have dramatic effects and cause a disproportionately large response in the overall system
resilience
The tendency of a system to avoid tipping points and maintain stability through steady-state equilibrium.
natural capital
Natural resources that are managed to provide a sustainable natural income form goods or services
natural income
The portion of natural capital (resources) that is produced as ‘interest’. Ie: the sustainable income produced by natural capital
sustainability
The use of global resources at a rate that allows natural regeneration and minimise damage to the environment
sustainable development
development that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
environmental impact assessment
a method of detailed survey required before a major development that includes baseline study and monitoring over time
ecological footprint
area of land and water required to support a defined human population at a given standard of living
pollution
addition of a substance to an environment through human activity at a rate greater than which the environment can cope with it therefore causing a negative effect
point source pollution
release of pollutants from a single site (eg factory chimney)
non-point-source pollution
release of pollutants from numerous, widely dispersed origins (gases from car exhausts)
acute pollution
pollution producing its effects through a short, intense exposure
chronic pollution
pollution that produces its effects through low-level, long term exposure
primary pollutant
pollutant active on emission
secondary pollutant
pollutant that arises from a primary pollutant that has undergone physical or chemical change
