Quiz 1: Intro to Env Sci Flashcards
what factors make triple bottom line
social, economic environmental
why is it that environmental problems are not presented with solutions
-trade-offs (if we do x then y..)
-financial factors
-power
-interest
explain what disciplines of science environmental science covers
social, natural, applied sciences, and humanities
describe the term environment
living and nonliving surroundings in which organism exists
define ecosystem services
economically valuable services provided by natural systems
what % of resources are used by poorest countries (they have 80% of the world’s population)
20%
what does environmental science examine
natural world and our relationship to it
What does it mean when an environmental issue is a “wicked problem”?
involves trade-offs not everyone will be happy with
How is anthropogenic climate change different from the climate change experienced by the Greenland Vikings?
caused by human actions
What are two factors that have been suggested to account for the disappearance of the Viking settlements on Greenland?
dwindling resources and inability to adapt to changing conditions
what is the key take-home message about Easter Island
an island population must live as responsible stewards or caretakers of its resources
What evidence did scientists use in Greenland to study atmospheric conditions at the time of the Viking settlements?
air bubbles trapped in ice cores
What has resulted from converting land to agricultural, logging, mining and urban development?
habitat destruction
Historians have studied ancient civilizations, such as the Greek and Roman empires, the Vikings on Greenland and the Rapa Nui on Easter Island. What have they concluded is often a cause of the decline and collapse of these civilizations?
ongoing environmental degredation
There have been several major revolutions throughout human history including the agricultural, industrial, medical, and technological revolutions. What is a common outcome of all of these revolutions?
an increase in human carrying capacity
describe a situation that reflects tragedy of the commons
herders put too may sheep in a public field because they think “if i dont use this available resource, someone else will”
why is the open ocean considered to be an example of a shared commons
open ocean is host to international fishery
Modern fishing techniques use giant nets to harvest large numbers of fish in the short term. This may result in severely reduced populations of fish in the future. Which term best describes the above scenario?
time delay
what is an example of a nonrenewable resource
oil reserves buried below surface of ground
coal, natural gas, and oil are examples of what type of resource
non-renewable resources
define natural resources
materials and energy sources that we take from the environment
When considering the use of minerals mined from the earth, what percentage is used by the richest countries that have about 20% of the world’s population?
80%
If the Vikings had a _____ worldview, they would protect the forests and grasslands not just for the resources provided but also for the natural processes in those areas.
ecocentric
what is an example of a biocentric worldview
catching a spider in your house and releasing it outside
what does the concept of sustainable development emphasize
needs of future generations
Humans are now straining the ability of Earth’s ecosystems to sustain future generations. What term has been introduced to designate this period of exceptional human impact on the planet?
anthropocene
give an example of something that is not the goal of sustainable development plans
develop more uses for fossil fuels
describe sustainable development
involves using resources without compromising future availability
how should solutions to environmental problems be designed
with the goal of sustaining earth’s natural resources
what is one thing that can lead us towards sustainability
reducing our consumption
