Mocks cramming - topic 1

Question 1

System components (4)

Answer 1

• inputs
• outputs
• flows
• stores

Question 2

The second law of thermodynamics

Answer 2

the entropy of an isolated system not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time.

Question 3

positive feedback loops

Answer 3

Change a system to a new state.
Destabilizing as they increase change.

(eg. albedo effect)

Question 4

negative feedback loops

Answer 4

Return it to its original state.
Stabilizing as they reduce change.

eg. The accelerated formation of clouds as a result of temperature increase

Question 5

Natural income

Answer 5

Natural income is the yield (amount/volume) obtained from natural resources.

This is not an amount of money.

Question 6

Natural Capital

Answer 6

Natural capital are natural resources that can supply a natural income of goods or services. (e.g., water, wood, energy)

This is not a store of money.

Question 7

Ecological Footprint

Answer 7

The impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources. (e.g., acres/person)

Question 8

Biocapacity

Answer 8

Biological capacity of an ecosystem is an estimate of its production of certain biological materials such as natural resources, and its absorption and filtering of other materials such as carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Question 9

Pollution descriptors

Answer 9

• non-point or point source,
• persistent or biodegradable,
• acute or chronic.

Question 10

DDT

Answer 10

• a persistent organic pollutant (POP). Once sprayed in an ecosystem it is absorbed by the soil. Due to the fact that DDT is a POP it is not broken down.
• an organochloride insecticide that is colourless, tasteless and odourless
• It was found to be a highly effective in controlling malaria and typhus during World War II and it was made available for agricultural purposes after the war.

Question 11

Ecocentric EVS

Answer 11

• Integrates social, spiritual and environmental dimensions into an holistic ideal.
• Ecology and nature are central to humanity
• Emphasises a less materialistic approach to life with greater self-sufficiency of societies.
• prioritises biorights (a matter of morals)

Question 12

Technocentric EVS

Answer 12

• argues that technological developments can provide solutions to environmental problems.
• Scientific research is encouraged in order to form policies and to understand how systems can be controlled, manipulated or changed to solve resource depletion.
• A pro-growth agenda is deemed necessary for society’s improvement.

Question 13

Anthropocentric

Answer 13

• humans must sustainably manage the global system.
  ^taxes, environmental regulation and legislation.
• Debate would be encouraged to reach a consensual, pragmatic approach to solving environmental problems.

Question 14

intrinsic value

Answer 14

nature has value in its own right, independent of human uses

Question 15

4 spheres

Answer 15

lithosphere: the rocks and minerals that form the solid body of the Earth

atmosphere: the layer of air surrounding the Earth’s surface

hydrosphere: water on and near the Earth’s surface

biosphere/ecosphere: the layer of living organisms of which humans are part

Question 16

open system

Answer 16

An open system exchanges matter and energy with its surroundings (for example, an ecosystem).

Question 17

closed system

Answer 17

A closed system exchanges energy but not matter

Question 18

Application of 2nd law of thermodynamics

Answer 18

Entropy is a measure of disorder of a system and it refers to the spreading out or dispersal of energy.

More entropy = less order.

Over time, all differences in energy in the universe will be evened out until nothing can change.

Energy conversions are never 100% efficient.

When energy is used to do work, some energy is always dissipated (lost to the environment) as waste heat.

So as energy is dispersed to the environment, there will always be a reduction in the amount of energy passed on to the next trophic level.

Question 19

steady-state equilibrium

Answer 19

there are no long-term changes, but there may be small fluctuations in the short term, e.g., in response to weather changes, and the system will return to its previous equilibrium condition following the removal of the disturbance.

Question 20

tipping point

Answer 20

a critical threshold within a system

If a tipping point is reached, any further small change in the system will have significant knock-on effects and cause the system to move away from its average state (away from the equilibrium)

Question 21

1st law of thermodynamics

Answer 21

energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be converted from one form to another

Question 22

negative feedback loop example

Answer 22

• The accelerated formation of clouds as a result of temperature increase

Question 23

positive feedback loop example

Answer 23

albedo effect

1. rising temperatures
2. ice melts
3. lower albedo
4. less light/heat reflected
5. rising temperatures

Question 24

sustainability

Answer 24

the use and management of resources that allows full natural replacement of the resources exploited and full recovery of the ecosystems affected by their extraction and use.

Question 25

ecosystem goods

Answer 25

They are physical items, e.g. timber, fibre, food, minerals.

can be renewable or non-renewable

Question 26

ecosystem services

Answer 26

life-supporting services such as water replenishment, flood and erosion protection.

Question 27

biocapacity

Answer 27

biological capacity of an area/region/country to generate the resources and absorb the wastes of a given population.

Question 28

Environmental impact assessments (EIA)

Answer 28

a report prepared before a development project to change the use of land. For example, to plant a forest or convert fields to a golf course.

Question 29

mitigation

Answer 29

reduction of negative impacts

the process by which project proponents apply measures to avoid, minimize, or compensate for the adverse effects and environmental impacts resulting from their projects.

Question 30

pollution definition

Answer 30

the addition of a substance or an agent to an environment through human activity, at a rate greater than that at which it can be rendered harmless by the environment

Question 31

pollution descriptors (4x2)

Answer 31

non-point / point source,
persistent / biodegradable,
acute / chronic

primary (active on emission) / secondary (arising from primary pollutants undergoing physical or chemical change).