Chapter 01 Flashcards
Tragedy of the Commons by Garrett Hardin
Individual interest increases as population increases. Demand for a resource(s) increases, also. Once resource(s) supply is overwhelmed, every individual who continues to consume resource(s) harms others who can no longer enjoy the benefits.
Earth (6)
- 4.6 byo
- ideal distance to sun = habitable temperature
- sun = stable star
- planet size = perfect for gravity keeping atmosphere
- hydrosphere, water cycle; water is in all phases of matter
- carbon cycle
Early life (3)
- unicellular life = 3.5 bya (cyanobacteria)
- hominids = 7 my
- home sapiens = 200 kya
Early ancestors
Lived off land, aware & respectful of environment
Began to modify environment, populations rapidly increased
Industrial Revolution
Caused us to disconnect from our environment
- late 1700’s, started in Britain
- less family farms
- more industrial activities
Love Canal
Niagara Falls, NY
- William Love - canal dug in 1890’s
- Hooker Chemical - bought in 1940’s
- Dumped 22k tons of waste
- Sold to school for $1 in ‘53
- Contamination detected in ‘76
- CERCLA superfund est. ‘80 = money for hazardous waste cleanup & seek out responsible parties
Environmental Geology
- Land Use Plans
- Zoning Maps
- Environmental Impact Statements
- EPA est. ‘70
Environmental problems (2)
Hazards & resources
Superposition
Any sequence of sedimentary rocks which has not been disturbed: the oldest strata lie at the bottom and the youngest at the top.
Cross-cutting
Establishing relative time by examining faults, intrusions, etc.
Pre-cambrian time
4.6 bya - 540 mya
Carboniferous period
350 - 290 mya
Cretaceous extinction
65 mya
Uranium-238
Decays to Lead-206
Half-life: 4.6 by
Memory tip: U-238 & Pb-206 both have even numbers
Uranium-235
Decays to Lead-207
Half-life: 713 my
Memory tip: U-235 & Pb-207 both have odd numbers
Carbon-14
Decays to Nitrogen-14
Half-life: 5730 years
Environmental Risk Prevention
Risk management
- retaining walls
- dams/levees
- building codes for earthquake zones
- land use planning & rezoning
Earth’s systems science (4 systems)
Interrelated processes/subsystems in a constant state of change.
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Biosphere
Geosphere
Causes of population growth
Took making, fire
Agriculture, animal domestication
Early cities, improved food & water
Industrial Revolution, medical advances
Population growth?
Exponential
Food production growth?
Linear, however, has kept up with demand
Environmental risk
The chance that some natural process or event will produce negative consequences for an individual or society as a whole.
Sustainability
When a system or process can be maintained for an indefinite period of time.
Ecological footprint
The amount of biologically productive land/sea area needed to support the lifestyle of humans.
Averages:
6 acres/human
24 acres/American
Consumption rates of (a) N. America & Europe, and (b) global average
N. America/Europe = 4 billion
Global average = 9 billion
