Final Review: Environment Flashcards
Biosphere
Zone of earth, water & air which we live
Sustainable development
Maintain economic growth w/o damaging the environment so much that is compromises the future of life
Bruntland Commission
UN commission on State of the Environment 1987-Report
Our common Future: reduce population growth & care for (non)renewable resources
Groundwater
Underground water
Aquifers
Water seeping underground thru permeable rocks; but sometimes trapped in layers of impermeable rocks
Ozone layer depletion
Ozone thinning; holes opened due to chemicals
CFC’s
Chlorofluorocarbon; 80% damage destroying ozone layer
Montreal Protocol
1987: All industrial nations agree to cut usage of chem
Global Warming
Gases in atmosphere trap heat energy
- heat waves
- glaciers melt > sea lvl rise
- Diseases
- Coral reefs lose colour
Kyoto Protocol
1997: Promised to reduce Greenhouse gas emission by 6% by 2012 -> :( not working
Greenpeace
Independent global campaign that acts to change attitudes/behavior to protect and conserve the environment
Desertification
Land turning into desert
“Silent Spring”
1962: help launch contemporary American environmental movement
Boreal forest
1/3 of the world’s Boreal forest
-Used for logging & recreation (Aboriginals worry)
Old growth forest
Great age w/o disturbance; diversity
