Chapter 1

Question 1

2 Definitions of Environmental Science
2 systems are considered

Answer 1

A) scientific study of Earth’s environment and how humans fit into it
B) Learning the value of ecosystems and the value of what they provide to humanity
Considers natural and cultural systems

Question 2

System drivers

Answer 2

Factors or processes that cause systems to either continue or change

Question 3

Transformational change

Answer 3

A shift in fundamental aspects/processes
Occurs when the drivers are altered

Question 4

Themes in environmental science (3)

Answer 4

A) Environmental quality
B) Human population and well-being
C) Natural resources

Question 5

Natural capital

Answer 5

Natural resources (fossil fuels, lumber) + ecosystem services (wetland that cleans water, trees filtering air)

Question 6

Throughput

Answer 6

the amount of resources we use and dispose of

Question 7

Ecosystem services
4 types

Answer 7

Services or resources provided by environmental systems
Provisioning resources, supporting services, regulating services, and cultural services

Question 8

Planetary boundaries

Answer 8

Thresholds of abrupt or irreversible environmental change

Question 9

Sustainability/sustainable development

Answer 9

Progress that can be sustained for many generations

Question 10

Triple bottom line

Answer 10

Flourishing environment+just society+prosperous economy
Ecology, profits, and social factors
The goal of environmental science

Question 11

Types of resources

Answer 11

A) Inexhaustible eg. oxygen
B) Renewable eg. trees
C) Nonrenewable eg. fossil fuels

Question 12

Science
What does it rest on?

Answer 12

A process for producing knowledge based on observation
Also the cumulative body of knowledge produced by scientists
Rests on the assumption that the world is knowable

Question 13

What two factors does science depend on?

Answer 13

Skepticism and reproducability

Question 14

The PRP model

Answer 14

Population Resource Pollution blames human overpopulation for all environmental issues

Question 15

Population impact model

Answer 15

The number of people is only part of the equation
population x consumption x technology = damage

Question 16

4 stages of environmental thinking

Answer 16

A) Resource conservation for optimal use (utilitarian conservation)
B) Nature preservation for moral and aesthetic reasons (nature deserves to exists
C) concern for health and ecological consequences
D) Environmental justice and citizenship

Question 17

Organization of Earth

Answer 17

1) Biosphere
2) Ecosystems
3) Communities
4) Populations
5) Organisms

Question 18

Biosphere

Answer 18

The portion of Earth where life exists
Very thin layer around the surface of the Earth

Question 19

How the biosphere is organized

Answer 19

Atmosphere (air), ecosphere (life), hydrosphere (water), and lithosphere (ground).

Question 20

Environmental science vs ecology

Answer 20

Environmental science is broader and multidisciplinary. Ecology is narrower, and falls under the umbrella of environmental science

Question 21

Environmental science vs environmentalism

Answer 21

Environmental science is the scholarly study, environmentalism is the social movement

Question 22

Environment

Answer 22

The natural world as a whole
The living and non-living things on Earth

Question 23

Features of the biosphere

Answer 23

A) Solar energy dependent
B) Self-sustaining
C) Closed to matter, open to energy
D) Balanced (inputs=outputs)

Question 24

Why are environmental solutions difficult to make?

Answer 24

A) Interdisciplinary- multiple aspects must be considered
B) Human centered- you have to convince people of the innate value of the environment
C) Humans are increasingly isolated from nature
D) Instant gratification with no regard for consequences

Question 25

Disproving the PRP model

Answer 25

A) Countries with the most humans do not use the most resources always
B) The US has around 4% of the population, but uses huge amounts of resources eg. 50% of all toxic wastes, 26% of all Co2 emissions