Exam #1 Flashcards
Scientific Evidence
Information that is based in the scientific process.
Alternative Facts
Untruths told often in opposition of scientific evidence.
Natural Resources
Materials or substances that occur in nature that can be used for economic gain.
Environmental Policy
The commitment of organizations to the laws, regulations and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental issues.
Environmental Management
Often used in relation to improving environmental conditions or trying to stop them from getting worse
Conservation
Often used in relation to maintaining the “natural state” of the environment
Restoration
Often used when attempting to return a damaged area to its natural state
Economic Valuation
Assigning some sort of monetary value to parts of the environment
Urbanization
The movement of people from countryside to towns and cities.
Emission
The production or discharge of something, especially gas or radiation.
Carbon Footprint
The total amount of greenhouse gasses produced to support human activity
Biotic
Living
Biota
A living thing
Biodiversity
The range of living things in an area (number of different species present)
Environment
The natural world as a whole or in a particular geographic area
Ecology
The study of complex interactions between organisms and their environment
Applied Ecology
The study of ecology for the purpose of understanding human impacts on the environment
Ecosystem
The biotic and abiotic part of an area functioning as one system
Ecoregion
Major large-scale ecosystems resulting from predictable patterns of climate influenced by latitude, global position, and altitude
Physical Environment
Anything used as a physical structure or any non living thing in an area
Climate
A combination of temperature, moisture, precipitation, and air/water currents of a given location
Regional Climates
Driven by massive circulation patterns of air and ocean currents
Microclimate
Smaller areas within regional climate that are influenced by proximity to water bodies and geographic features
Weather
Air motion driven by unequal heating
Photosynthesis
Using light to produce energy from carbon dioxide and water
Atmosphere
A layer of gasses surrounding the earth held in place by gravity.
Solar Radiation
Energy radiated from the sun and hits the surface of our planet as thermal energy
Terrestrial Radiate
Energy emitted within our atmosphere
Soil
A mix of organic and inorganic material capable of supporting life
Wilting Point
There is a low amount of water that sticks too well to the soil particles, and plants can’t use it
Field Capacity
There is too much water in the soil and it sinks due to the weight
Concentration of Dissolved Oxygen
Temperature (Direct)
Pressure (Altitude, depth) (Direct)
Salinity (Inverse: increase of salinity, less dissolved oxygen)
Photosynthesis (Direct)
Concentration of Carbon Dioxide
Temperature (Direct)
Pressure (Direct)
Salinity (Inverse)
Depth (Direct)
Nutrient
Compounds organisms need to survive
Nutrient Limitation
Supply is lower than need
