INTRODUCTION (UNIT 1) Flashcards
What is environmental science?
1) the study of ecology as well as focusing on how humans effect the environment and ways to address environmental problems.
2) An interdisciplinary approach: involves biology, chemistry, earth science, economics, and political science.
It is not environmental activism- social movement advocating protection.
Natural resources types and examples?
Renewable natural resources: are naturally replenished over short periods of time. Ex: Sunlight and freshwater
Non-renewable resources: take a long time to replenish. Ex: topsoil and fossil fuels like natural gas oil etc
Resources must be used at a sustainable rate- one that replaces what’s used at the same rate.
Environmental scientists can help us determine how to use our resources sustainably.
Human interactions
Two major events have changed the course of history and how we interact with our natural resources.
1) agricultural Revolution: humans shifted from hunter gatherer lifestyles to living in communities, raising livestock, and planting crops.
2) Industrial Revolution: the production of machinery allowed for advances in medicine, agriculture, and other technologies.
Both events lead to increases in human life spans, health, and overall human population.
Earth science is?
Is the study of interactions between living and non living things as well as the economic and political issues that arise from using natural resources.
Increases in human population from the agricultural and industrial revolutions have made it challenging to use resources in a sustainable way.
What are some common tools used by earth scientists:
Binoculars: enables people to view faraway objects more clearly
Compass: instrument that shows the magnetic North.
Wind vane: rotates to show the direction of wind.
Anemometer: measures the speed and force of wind.
Streak plate: a piece of hard unglazed porcelain that helps identify minerals.
Constructive and destructive forces:
Constructive: forces that build up landform (volcano eruption)
Destructive: wears landforms down (weathering and erosion)
Why do earth scientists use these studies?
Earth scientists use a combination of these methods to understand geological processes, climate patterns, and environmental changes. Each method provides unique insights and contributes to a holistic understanding of earth.
How do earth scientists collect data?
Analytical study
Field study
Theoretical study
Experimental study
Modelling study
Field study?
Involves on site observation and data collection.
Involved components like geological mapping or rock or stone sampling.
Volcano expeditions to study rock formations.
Analytical study
Use tools and technology to examine large amounts of data of a variety of types to identify patterns.
Collect and analyze data to draw conclusions for problems.
Using spectrometers to analyze composition of rocks to help conserve earth.
Theoretical study?
Conduct to gain a greater understanding of earth without any practical application.
Develop concepts to explain phenomena.
Ex:observing earths tectonic plates to study its inner core.
Experimental study?
Researchers introduce an intervention in a controlled setting and study its effects.
It’s usually randomized.
Create miniature aquifers to investigate contamination.
Model study?
stimulate natural phenomena to provide info when you can’t recreate experimental conditions. For example you can model movements of glaciers to test sea level rise.
When investigating scientific issues, earth scientists utilize the following systems:
Boundaries
Inout
Outputs
Feedback loop
These systems help scientists understand the complexity and interconnectedness of natural processes
Boundaries
Outlines limits or borders that define the extent and scope of a specific geological or environmental system under study.
With the appropriate boundaries, scientists can focus on specific aspects of the system they want to study.
Inputs?
External factors or materials that enter a system and influence its behaviour, processes, or composition, like grass.
Outputs?
The results, products, or effects that are produced or released by a geological or environmental system and its surroundings.
Inputs are the factors that influence a system, while the outputs are the results or consequences of its processes.
Feedback loops?
Show how a system responds to changes.
Positive feedback amplified change, like deer population going up, while negative feedback mitigated them, decreasing populations for example, maintaining stability.
Analyzing feedback loops helps predict how a system might react to disturbances of human interventions.
Why do earth scientists utilize these systems?
Develops a comprehensive understanding of natural phenomena
Access potential impacts
Helps make informed decisions about managing earths resources and addressing environmental challenges.
What are Earth’s 5 spheres?
Lithosphere/Geosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
Atmosphere
Lithosphere/Geosphere? What are earths interior layers?
The solid shell of planet Earth.
The means the crust, plus the part of the upper mantle.
It’s the top layer of earth that consists of water and land so it is divided into oceanic and continental lithosphere.
Oceanic is found under the ocean and is associated with the oceanic crust and continental is found under land continents and is associated with the continental crust. (22 miles thick).
The lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that shift and collide to cause earthquakes in the sphere.
Examples: rocks, minerals, soil
Crust
Mantle
Outer core
Inner core
Hydrosphere
Hydro means water.
97% of water in earth is found in the oceans.
Examples: water vapour in the air, glaciers, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Biosphere?
Made up of all the living things in Earth. The living portion of the Earth or the portion of earth that can support living things.
Examples: birds, plants, forests, all ecosystems.
Atmosphere?
Gases that surrounds our planet. It keeps us warm, Ives up oxygen to breathe, and it is where our weather happens.
Examples: gases surrounding our Earth: mostly nitrogen and oxygen could also be methane and argon.
The cryosphere? Climate changes effect on ice?
Is the frozen portion of the hydrosphere. Some scientists consider it to be a separate sphere.
NASA began collecting satellite data on sea ice with dr Clair Parkinson’s in the 1960s.
On March 17, the arctic had a low sea ice extent. It’s the lowest it’s ever been in the last 4 years meaning that ice levels are decreasing.
The warm climate can melt some sea ice. Sea ice is bright so it reflects the suns rays, but if the climate melts it, the more sun rays are absorbed which is turn melts more ice and more rays heat up earth, so it accelerates temperature increases with a positive feedback loop.
