exam 1 Flashcards
applied science
take what we learn to solve problems and inform our actions and behaviors
empirical science
investigates the natural world through systematic observations and experimentation
natural capital
the world’s stocks of natural resources and environmental features which include geology, soil, air, water, and all living things, was created to emphasize the importance of conservation and sustainable management of natural resources in the global economy
natural interest
the yearly increase of the world’s stock of natural resources, take from only interest because it’s added annually
correlation
shows that two things can occur at the same time but does not exclude all other variables, action A does not necessarily cause outcome B
causation
can show that one factor directly causes another, action A causes outcome B
carbon dioxide
a major greenhouse gas found in the atmosphere, absorbs and radiates heat, the addition of more CO2 to the atmosphere causes global temperatures to rise, leading to global warming
true cost
seeks to determine the true cost of a good or service by including the cost of negative externalities, such as pollution, and the negative effects it has on people and the environment
tragedy of the commons
individuals who share a resource generally operate out of self-interest, causing the resource to eventually become depleted
wicked problems
every solution involves some kind of trade-off
peer review
a process whereby researchers submit a report of their work to outside experts who evaluate the study’s design and results to determine whether it is of a high enough quality to publish
scientific theory
a widely accepted explanation that has been extensively and rigorously tested, continual support of evidence
credibility
free from bias, backed by evidence that is written by trustworthy authors
six steps to the scientific method
- observe, 2. question, 3. hypothesize, 4. experiment, 5. analyze, 6. conclude
positive and negative feedback loops
a positive feedback loop occurs to increase the change or output
A negative feedback loop occurs to reduce the change or output
species adaptations to climate change
species with better adaptations to move are going to be able to adapt more easily to the effects of climate change, ex.) birds, deer vs turtles, river fish
fracking
injecting water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure breaks up surrounding rock layers and then releases trapped gasses, releases dangerous chemicals into the atmosphere, contaminated waters
mountaintop removal
removal of the tops of mountains with dynamite and earth-moving machines, called draglines, to reach coal seams, the waste rock—the remains of the mountains—is piled into neighboring hollows in towering earthen dams called valley fills
coal ash
contains contaminants like mercury, cadmium, and arsenic, without proper management, these contaminants can pollute waterways, groundwater, drinking water, and the air
EROEI
energy return on energy investment, allows us to compare the amount of energy we get from any individual source to the amount we must expend to obtain, process, and ship it
solar energy
energy harvested from the sun in the form of heat or light, most abundant sustainable energy source
wind energy
wind turbines, large or small, work by the same principle: spinning blades turn a shaft inside a generator that produces electricity
alterative energy
energy other than fossil fuels, no one alternative that will solve our energy needs
renewable energy
comes from unlimited, naturally replenished resources, such as the sun, tides, includes wind, solar, hydro, biomass
biomass energy
energy from living organisms, renewable organic material that comes from plants and animals, contains stored chemical energy from the sun that is produced by plants through photosynthesis, can be burned directly for heat or converted to liquid and gaseous fuels through various processes
adaptation
the act of changing a behavior to make it suitable for a new purpose or situation, what we will have to do to adapt to climate change
mitigation
the action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something, what we will have to change to slow down climate change
crop growth trade offs
must sequester the carbon burning or it will not be carbon neutral, may require the use of fertilizers of pesticides
