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Earth And Environmental Science > Environment Basics > Flashcards

Environment Basics Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

What is the Environment? – The surroundings in which an organism lives

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including both natural and human-made factors.

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2
Q

What is Ecology? – The study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.

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3
Q

What is an Ecosystem? – A biological community of interacting organisms and their environment.

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4
Q

What is Biodiversity? – The variety of life forms in a habitat or on Earth

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including species

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5
Q

What is a Habitat? – The natural environment in which a species lives.

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6
Q

What is a Niche? – The role or function of an organism within an ecosystem.

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7
Q

What is Sustainability? – The ability to maintain ecological balance without depleting resources.

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8
Q

What is Environmental Degradation? – The decline of the environment through resource depletion

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pollution

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9
Q

What is Conservation? – The protection and preservation of natural resources and ecosystems.

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10
Q

What is Renewable Energy? – Energy from sources that are naturally replenished

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such as wind

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11
Q

What is Non-Renewable Energy? – Energy from sources that cannot be replaced once depleted

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like fossil fuels.

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12
Q

What is Climate Change? – Long-term changes in temperature

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precipitation

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13
Q

What is Global Warming? – The increase in Earth’s average temperature due to greenhouse gases.

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14
Q

What are Greenhouse Gases? – Gases that trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere

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such as CO2

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15
Q

What is the Greenhouse Effect? – The trapping of heat in Earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases.

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16
Q

What is the Carbon Footprint? – The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities.

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17
Q

What is Deforestation? – The large-scale removal of forests

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often for agriculture or development.

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18
Q

What is Desertification? – The process of fertile land turning into desert due to drought or human activity.

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19
Q

What is Soil Erosion? – The removal of topsoil by wind or water

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reducing soil fertility.

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20
Q

What is Overfishing? – Catching fish faster than they can reproduce

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leading to population decline.

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21
Q

What is Pollution? – The introduction of harmful substances into the environment.

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22
Q

What is Air Pollution? – Harmful substances in the air

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such as chemicals and particulate matter.

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23
Q

What is Water Pollution? – Contamination of water bodies with harmful substances.

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24
Q

What is Land Pollution? – The contamination of land with waste or chemicals.

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25
Q

What is Plastic Pollution? – The accumulation of plastic waste in the environment

A

especially oceans.

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26
Q

What is Noise Pollution? – Harmful levels of noise from sources like transportation and industry.

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27
Q

What is Light Pollution? – Excessive artificial light disrupting ecosystems and human health.

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28
Q

What is Eutrophication? – Water body enrichment with nutrients

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causing excessive algae growth.

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29
Q

What is the Ozone Layer? – A layer of ozone that absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

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30
Q

What is the Hole in the Ozone Layer? – Thinning of the ozone layer

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mainly caused by human-made chemicals.

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31
Q

What is Biodiversity Loss? – The decline or extinction of species and ecosystems.

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32
Q

What is the Endangered Species Act? – A law protecting species at risk of extinction in the U.S.

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33
Q

What is Habitat Fragmentation? – The breaking up of habitats into smaller

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isolated patches.

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34
Q

What is an Invasive Species? – Non-native species that harm local ecosystems.

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35
Q

What is an Ecological Footprint? – A measure of human demand on Earth’s ecosystems.

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36
Q

What is Reforestation? – Planting trees in areas that have been deforested.

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37
Q

What is Afforestation? – Planting trees in areas that were not previously forested.

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38
Q

What is Sustainable Agriculture? – Farming that maintains environmental health and conserves resources.

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39
Q

What is Organic Farming? – Farming that avoids synthetic chemicals

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using natural methods instead.

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40
Q

What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)? – Using biological

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mechanical

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41
Q

What is the Precautionary Principle? – Taking action to prevent harm when there is uncertainty about environmental risks.

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42
Q

What is Greenwashing? – False claims by companies about being environmentally friendly to attract consumers.

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43
Q

What is the Circular Economy? – An economic model focused on reusing

A

recycling

44
Q

What is Sustainability Reporting? – Reporting on a company’s environmental

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social

45
Q

What is the Paris Agreement? – A global treaty to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

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46
Q

What is the Kyoto Protocol? – A treaty committing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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47
Q

What is Carbon Credit? – A permit allowing the holder to emit a certain amount of CO2.

A
48
Q

What is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)? – Evaluating the potential environmental effects of a proposed project.

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49
Q

What is a Renewable Resource? – A resource that can naturally be replenished

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such as wind or solar energy.

50
Q

What is a Non-Renewable Resource? – A resource that cannot be replenished on a human timescale

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like fossil fuels.

51
Q

What is Biomass? – Organic material used as fuel

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like plants or animal waste.

52
Q

What is Wind Energy? – Energy harnessed from wind using turbines.

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53
Q

What is Solar Energy? – Energy captured from sunlight

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typically using solar panels.

54
Q

What is Hydropower? – Energy generated from the movement of water

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usually through dams.

55
Q

What is Geothermal Energy? – Energy derived from the heat beneath Earth’s surface.

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56
Q

What is Tidal Energy? – Energy generated from tidal movements in oceans.

A
57
Q

What is Nuclear Energy? – Energy from splitting atomic nuclei

A

often used for electricity generation.

58
Q

What is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)? – A technology to capture CO2 emissions and store them underground.

A
59
Q

What is the Tragedy of the Commons? – When individuals overuse shared resources

A

leading to their depletion.

60
Q

What is the Anthropocene? – The current geological age viewed as the period when human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment.

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61
Q

What is Ecotourism? – Tourism that focuses on preserving the environment and supporting local communities.

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62
Q

What is a Green Building? – A building designed to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability.

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63
Q

What is a Carbon Sink? – A natural system that absorbs more CO2 than it releases

A

such as forests or oceans.

64
Q

What is Climate Adaptation? – Adjusting practices and systems to reduce the impacts of climate change.

A
65
Q

What is Climate Mitigation? – Efforts to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate change.

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66
Q

What is the Environmental Kuznets Curve? – A theory that suggests environmental degradation rises and then falls as economic development progresses.

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67
Q

What is Habitat Restoration? – The process of returning degraded ecosystems to a more natural state.

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68
Q

What is an Ecological Reserve? – A protected area set aside to conserve biodiversity.

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69
Q

What is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)? – An international agreement aimed at conserving biodiversity.

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70
Q

What is Ocean Acidification? – The decrease in ocean pH due to increased CO2 absorption.

A
71
Q

What is a Sustainable City? – A city designed with minimal environmental impact

A

using renewable resources and green infrastructure.

72
Q

What is a Carbon Tax? – A tax on fossil fuels based on their carbon content to reduce emissions.

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73
Q

What is Cap and Trade? – A system where emissions limits are set

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and companies can trade allowances to meet these limits.

74
Q

What is Ecological Restoration? – Restoring degraded ecosystems to their natural state.

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75
Q

What is Land Use Planning? – Managing land to balance development with environmental conservation.

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76
Q

What is Circular Economy? – A model where products and resources are reused

A

reduced

77
Q

What is Carbon Neutrality? – Balancing the amount of CO2 emitted with an equivalent amount of CO2 removed or offset.

A
78
Q

What is Environmental Justice? – Ensuring fair treatment of all people in environmental decision-making

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regardless of race or income.

79
Q

What is Environmental Education? – Teaching people about environmental issues and how to protect the environment.

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80
Q

What is Climate Resilience? – The ability to adapt to and recover from the effects of climate change.

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81
Q

What is an Environmental Hazard? – A potential source of harm to the environment or human health.

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82
Q

What is a Greenhouse Gas Inventory? – A record of the greenhouse gases emitted by an organization or region.

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83
Q

What is Energy Efficiency? – Using less energy to accomplish the same task.

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84
Q

What is Renewable Resource? – A resource that is naturally replenished

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like sunlight or wind.

85
Q

What is Carbon Trading? – A system where companies can buy and sell carbon credits to offset emissions.

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86
Q

What is Climate Justice? – A concept linking human rights to climate change action.

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87
Q

What is the Polluter Pays Principle? – The idea that those responsible for pollution should bear the costs of cleaning it up.

A
88
Q

What is Overconsumption? – Using resources faster than they can be replenished

A

leading to environmental harm.

89
Q

What is the Food Chain? – A series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.

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90
Q

What is a Biodegradable Material? – A material that can be broken down by natural processes.

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91
Q

What is Green Infrastructure? – Natural or semi-natural systems used to manage stormwater and improve urban ecosystems.

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92
Q

What is Sustainable Transport? – Transport methods with minimal environmental impact

A

such as electric vehicles or public transit.

93
Q

What is a Carbon Tax? – A tax on carbon emissions to encourage businesses and individuals to reduce their carbon footprint.

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94
Q

What is an Environmental Audit? – A process to evaluate and assess an organization’s environmental performance.

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95
Q

What is Energy Conservation? – Reducing energy consumption through more efficient use of resources.

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96
Q

What is the Global Footprint Network? – An organization that measures humanity’s demand on Earth’s ecosystems.

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97
Q

What is a Natural Resource? – Materials or substances found in nature that are used by humans

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like water

98
Q

What is Eco-Friendly? – Products or actions that are not harmful to the environment.

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99
Q

What is Carbon Offset? – A reduction in emissions of CO2 or other greenhouse gases to compensate for emissions produced elsewhere.

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100
Q

What is a Pollutant? – A substance that contaminates the environment and harms ecosystems or human health.

A

Earth And Environmental Science (2 decks)

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