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Environmental Science #1 > Principles Of Sustainable Lifestyles > Flashcards

Principles Of Sustainable Lifestyles Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the most widely accepted definition for sustainability?

A

sustainable development meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

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2
Q

What were past human impacts on the environment?

A

Had some impact but environment was given chance to recover

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3
Q

What does current population growth and demand not allow environments t do?

A

Recover

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4
Q

What 2 factors affect sustainability?

A

Total population taking part in the action
Regularity of that action

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5
Q

What are negative feedback loops?

A

Where the feedback mechanism restores the change back to its original state (resists change)

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6
Q

What are some examples of negative feedback loops?

A

Increased low level cloud
Hydrological cycle (precipitation cooling)
Photosynthesis
Homeostatic population regulation

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7
Q

How is increased low level cloud a negative feedback loop?

A

Higher temperatures trigger increased amounts of evaporation, increased condensation, clouds form.
Thick clouds can block solar radiation as they have a higher albedo than the earths surface on average
Helps cool climate

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8
Q

How is the hydrological cycle a negative feedback loop?

A

Increased temperature leads to increased evaporation which leads to increased precipitation (causes cooling)

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9
Q

How can increased atmospheric CO2 create a negative feedback loop?

A

Increased photosynthesis removing carbon from the atmosphere which is sequestered in plant tissue therefore less carbon exists in the atmosphere slowing rate of warming

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10
Q

Who created the Homeostatic population regulation theory?

A

Malthus

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11
Q

How does the Homeostatic population regulation theory work?

A

Population increase will mean there aren’t enough resources to support population causing population decline

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12
Q

How can the Malthus theory be applied to animals?

A

Density dependent factors

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13
Q

What are density dependent factors?

A

direct result of a species population size and usually arise because the population of the species has to compete for the same resources in a limited geographical niche

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14
Q

What are 2 examples of density dependent factors?

A

Disease
Food availability

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15
Q

How is food a density dependent factor?

A

Minimum amount of food needed for survival
May have to intra or interspecific competition
Food will become limited as population reaches certain size increasing death rate until food supply sustainable

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16
Q

What will there always be as food supply fluctuates in ecosystems?

A

A lag time between increased prey and increased predator populations

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17
Q

How is disease a density dependent factor?

A

Disease can spread rapidly across densely populated areas especially across members of the same species

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18
Q

What are positive feedback loops?

A

Type of feedback loop that does not restore the original state

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19
Q

What is permafrost?

A

soil that is saturated with water and permanently frozen

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20
Q

Where can you find permafrost?

A

Tundra environments in Siberia, Greenland, Alaska and Canada

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21
Q

How much of the earth is permafrost?

A

10%

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22
Q

How is climate change creating a positive feedback loop with permafrost?

A

Permafrost is melting this means DOM trapped in soil is in anaerobic conditions meaning methane is produced causing further warming

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23
Q

How is a feedback loop being created from ocean acidification?

A

More carbon is being absorbed into oceans because of anthropogenic sources, this creates carbonic acid that causes corals to die meaning less carbon can be sequestered in calcium carbonate increasing formation of carbonic acid

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24
Q

How much of the worlds carbon is stored in the oceans?

A

50%

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25
Q

How is reduced albedo creating a positive feedback loop?

A

Warming climate causing ice and snow to melt, reducing albedo, meaning more is absorbed by darken land and ocean causing further warming, speeding up melting

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26
Q

How is methane hydrate formed?

A

Methane produced by microbe breakdown in anaerobic environment, under high pressure and cold temperatures a solid is formed

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27
Q

How is melting methane hydrate creating a positive feedback loop?

A

As oceans warm up methane hydrate may melt releasing methane gas into the atmosphere enhancing the warming

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28
Q

What is peat?

A

Carbon rich soil formed in wet environments

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29
Q

How is peat part of a positive feedback loop?

A

Warming climate dries out peat
Increasing risk of fire
Lots of carbon released causing further warming

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30
Q

How are forest fires creating a positive feedback loops?

A

climate warms
Shifting rain patterns
Forests dry out
Prone to catching fire and releasing carbon

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31
Q

How much carbon does 1 tree store

A

1 tonne

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32
Q

How do increased cirrus clouds create a positive feedback loop?

A

Warmer air holds more moisture (7-10%)
This forms clouds
Clouds prevent heat leaving Earth

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33
Q

How does more rapid soil decomposition create a positive feedback loop?

A

If temperature of a cooler area warms the rate of decomposition may suddenly increase this process releases carbon dioxide (once organic level stabilised so will decomposition)

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34
Q

What are tipping points?

A

Unusual events that overwhelm the ability of negative feedback mechanisms to recreate the equilibrium

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35
Q

How can human activities lead to tipping points being reached?

A

Global climate change- increase in the rate of natural processes may become self-sustaining due to human activities

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36
Q

What natural processes may be increased by human activities meaning tipping points are reached?

A

Forest fires
Methane hydrate releases
Permafrost melting

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37
Q

Why are diverse systems more likely to be resistant to change?

A

Because so many ecological niches are available the loss of one wont have a drain effect on total ecosystem function

38
Q

What habitats are high diversity high resilience systems?

A

Coral reefs
Tropical rainforests

39
Q

What do human activities do to diverse systems?

A

Often produce less diverse systems

40
Q

What is an example of humans reducing the diversity of an area?

A

Agroecosystems which focus on production of a limited range of food species with little attempt to maintain other species that help maintain ecological stability and productivity

41
Q

What type of energy is used in natural processes?

A

Low energy density renewable resources

42
Q

What are some examples of natural processes driven by solar energy?

A

Hydrological cycle
Carbon cycle
Nitrogen cycle
Atmospheric circulation
Thermohaline circulation

43
Q

What type of energy are human activities driven by?

A

Non-renewables Such as fossil fuels
Some development of renewables

44
Q

Do natural processes tend to need high or low temperatures?

A

Low compared to human activities

45
Q

What are some natural processes driven by low temperatures?

A

Production of carbohydrates by photosynthesis
Decomposition
Nitrogen fixation

46
Q

What are present in natural processes which mean high temps are not needed?

A

Enzymes reduce activation energy so high temps not needed

47
Q

What are some human activities that require a high temperature?

A

Many manufacturing processes
Haber process (fertilisers)
Incineration of wastes

48
Q

How are materials cycled through natural processes?

A

Processes often linked with the waste of one process being the raw materials for other processes

49
Q

What type of system is human material usage?

A

Linear which leads to resource depletion and waste generation

50
Q

Why are fossil fuels not sustainable?

A

Reliance on non renewable energy sources
Inefficient use when renewable resources available

51
Q

How do humans waste mineral resources?

A

Dispersal after use
Mixture of materials making separation difficult

52
Q

What is the main difference between natural and human material usage?

A

Natural waste products are either non-toxic or do not build up to cause toxicity

53
Q

What are the 10 principles of circular economy?

A

Cycling of materials
Energy derived from renewable sources
Human activities should support ecosystems
Diverse systems are more resistant to change
Connected systems
Design of products for extended use
Design of products for end of life reuse
Separation of technical and biological materials
Optimum production rather than maximum production
Technologies to design new products and improve system effectiveness

54
Q

Why is cycling materials a principle of circular economy?

A

Biogeochemical cycles involve interconnected physical and biological processes where each process uses the waste products of a previous processes meaning there is no depletion or build up of materials

55
Q

How is energy being derived from renewable sources part of the circular economy?

A

Almost all natural processes are driven by renewable energy resources especially solar

56
Q

What is circular economy?

A

Analysis of human activities and an assessment of how using the principles of natural systems would create more sustainable lifestyles

57
Q

Why is human activities supporting ecosystems part of the circular economy?

A

Human survival relies on the service provided by the natural ecosystem so it’s important humans don’t damage them

58
Q

Why is diverse ecosystems being more resilient to change part of circular economy?

A

Each component of a diverse ecosystem is likely to be less relatively important so impact of loss is smaller

59
Q

Why is the connection of systems part of circular economy?

A

Natural systems are usually connected where waste f=products from one process fuel another

60
Q

Why is design of products for extended use part of circular economy?

A

Long life products reduces opportunities for material to be lost

61
Q

Why is end of life reuse art of circular economy?

A

Reusing or recycling materials often easier if items designed so materials can be identified, separated and then re-used

62
Q

Why is separation of biological and technical materials part of circular economies?

A

Material such as metals are plastics require different processing methods

63
Q

Why is optimum production not maximum required for circular economy?

A

Natural systems often over produce so surplus supports processes whole system relies upon in contrast to agriculture which aim to maximise crop yield

64
Q

What sort of processes will overproduced materials be used for in nature?

A

Pollinators
Seed dispersal
Mycorrhizal fungi
Decomposers

65
Q

Why is technologies to design new products and improve system effectiveness part of circular economy?

A

Improved designs can increase efficiency of energy use reduce material use and enable dismantling for reuse

66
Q

What human activities can conservation of biodiversity be incorporated into?

A

Urban development
Agriculture
Forestry
Fishery management
Mineral exploitation
Waste management

67
Q

How can urban developments be designed to conserve biodiversity?

A

Designs and management of gardens, parks, public green spaces and buildings can provide opportunities for wildlife

68
Q

How can circular economy be applied to agriculture?

A

Agri-environmental schemes which can optimise yields while benefitting wildlife

69
Q

What are some examples of things included in agri-environmental schemes that conserve biodiversity?

A

Infilling gaps in hedges to increase heir value as biological corridors
Careful timing of mowing meadows to conserve wild flowers
Beetle bank to provide habitats for pest predators

70
Q

How can circular economy be applied to forestry?

A

Forestry management that incorporates mixed-species forests of indigenous trees often increase the wildlife value

71
Q

How can circular economy be applied to fishery management?

A

Improved fishing methods can exploit fish populations sustainably while reducing bycatch and environmental damage

72
Q

How can circular economy be applied to mineral exploitation?

A

Mining always causes habitat damage, but good management can minimise the impact and site restoration after mine closure can produce valuable land, including wildlife habitats

73
Q

How can circular economy be applied to waste management?

A

Pollutants are wastes for which a new or good disposal method was not found
Good waste waste management reduces pollution including that which is harmful to wildlife

74
Q

What are some examples of circular economy being applied to urban development?

A

Wetland habitat created in old industrial coolant lagoon
Car park surface that retains vegetation and allows rainwater infiltration

75
Q

How can circular economy be applied to water supply and biodiversity conservation?

A

Good management of water catchments, aquifers and water conservation reduces impact of water use on wildlife

76
Q

How can circular economy be applied to mineral resource management and biodiversity conservation?

A

Increasing reserves by exploiting low grade ore using low temp process
Extend product lifespan through better design
No planned obsolescence
Replaceable parts
Good spare parts supply
Reduce unnecessary use

77
Q

What ways can waste management be reduced? (6 R’s)

A

Repair
re-use
re-purpose
refurbish
recycle
Re-design

78
Q

What are some examples of pollution control by non-release?

A

Industrial synergy
Better designs
Change from internal combustion to fuel cells
Change from flue gas desulfurization to fuel desulphurisation

79
Q

How can circular economy be applied to energy supply?

A

Use of renewable energy
Development of low temperature manufacturing processes
Develop tech which makes using renewables easier (storage and energy density)

80
Q

How can circular economy be applied to food production and biodiversity conservation?

A

inclusion of natural processes in nutrient supply pest control and soil maintenance

81
Q

How can circular economy be applied to diverse systems and biodiversity conservation?

A

diverse technical systems are usually more stable like diverse ecosystems

82
Q

What is an example of diverse systems?

A

Society that uses a range of renewable energy resources rather then relying on one

83
Q

What do many countries want to do for the environment?

A

Protect the environment
Create more sustainable lifestyles
Support the circular economy

84
Q

What is the problem with initiating the circular economy?

A

The cost of implementing such schemes may put companies at an economic disadvantage compared with countries that do not support such initiatives

85
Q

How can the integration of circular economy be made less disadvantageous?

A

By using a more even approach which can be achieved if groups of countries use a common approach such as the UN or EU

86
Q

Why might a common grouped approach to circular economy be more successful?

A

There may be better coordination and monitoring of activities than in a individual country
Where there is no external regulatory structure
Allows those who are protecting the environment to support those who are less successful

87
Q

What areas did the EU decide to focus on for moving towards a circular economy?

A

Conservation of biodiversity
Waste management and pollution control
Water
Energy
Design of manufactured appliances

88
Q

What ways did the EU want to conserve biodiversity to support a circular economy?

A

Better protection for ecosystems (birds, habitats marine environment)
Development of green infrastructure
Better management of fish stock
More sustainable forestry and agriculture
Better control of introduced species

89
Q

What ways did the EU plan to change waste management and pollution control to support a circular economy?

A

Better control of urban waste water
Minimal landfill use
More recycling of electrical appliances and used batteries
Control industrial emissions
Greater use of compost for fertiliser
Reduce food waste
Reduce packaging use (increase recycling)

90
Q

What does the EU want to introduce with water to support a circular economy?

A

Better management of water resources
More reuse of water

91
Q

What does the EU want to introduce with energy to support a circular economy?

A

More biofuel use and other renewables for transport
Improved efficiency of freezers and fridges
Use waste for energy generation
Use renewable energy resources

92
Q

What does the EU want to do with the design of manufactured appliances to support a circular economy?

A

Improved design for easier repair and life extension
Improved design for easier recycling or reuse
Reduce use of toxic material for electronics and vehicles
More recycled materials used in road and building construction
Easier battery replacement
vehicle manufacture for recycling or using recyclables

Environmental Science #1 (90 decks)

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