(Science) Section 1 - Vocabulary Flashcards
Environmental Science (definition)
The study of the impacts of human activities on environmental systems.
Science Based Discipline (definition)
Based on the scientific method
Science Based Discipline (example)
Environmental Science
Biotic Factor (definition)
A living thing in the environment
Abiotic Factor (definition)
A nonliving thing in the environment
Environment (definition)
Sum of conditions, abiotic, and bioticfactors around an organism.
System (definition)
Based on the natural environment, biotic, abiotic components which interact.
System (examples)
Atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, geosphere
Environmental Indicators (definition)
Simple measures to tell us what’s going on with the environment
Environmental Indicators (examples)
Greenhouse gas levels, pollution levels, etc
Biological diversity (definition)
Diversity of genes, species, habitats, and ecosystems on Earth.
“Quiet Periods” (definition)
Time periods with no massive environmental or biological upheaval.
“Background” rate (definition)
Rate of extinction was before people played a role.
Mass extinction (definition)
When species vanish much faster than they are replaced.
What does the rate of extinction tell us?
- If the biological diversity is decreasing.
- The state of the air, water, and land.
Species (definition)
Group of organisms distinct from other groups in morphology (body type), physiology (functions and mechanisms), or biochemical properties (chemical processes occurring in living beings).
How many known species are on Earth?
1.8 million
How many total species could there be on Earth?
18 million
Around ___% that have lived on Earth are now extinct
99.9
What was the background rate found to be?
10,000 extinctions every 100 years
Human activity causes how many extinctions per year?
40,000
Endangered species (definition)
Very few of that species exist in the world
Endangered species (examples)
Bengal tiger, snow leopard, etc.
Keystone species (definition)
An organism that helps define an entire ecosystem; the entire ecosystem relies on them.
What happens when a keystone species go extinct?
Many of the species dependent on them can go extinct, too.
Sample size (definition)
Number of observations or individuals included in a study or experiment.
Exponential growth (definition)
When the data on a graph rises upward over a period of time
Intensity in terms of food (definition)
How much food is grown per hectare or acre of land.
Observational experiment (definition)
Type of study in which individuals are observed or certain outcomes are measured. NO treatment is imposed
Manipulation experiment (definition)
Process of intentional change of testing variables - change the independent variable to see the effect on the dependent variable
Treatment IS imposed
Theory (definition)
Broad explanation of an aspect of the natural world that can incorporate laws, hypotheses and facts.
Control group (definition)
Group in the experiment which a variable is not being tested (test subject that does not receive any treatment)
Experimental group (definition)
Group in an experiment that receives the variable being tested.
In November of 2022, what was the global human population?
8 billion people.
What is the growth rate of the global human population?
1 million new people every 4 days.
Until what decade was the human population growing exponentially?
1960s
When and where will the human population level off?
Year 2150 (population growth will slow down) & somewhere between 8-12 billion people
How do we sustain our population growth?
Produce more of finite resources like food, energy, and water.
Finite resources (meaning)
Things that will only last for a limited amount of time.
Environmental indicator (meaning)
Tell-tale signs that let us know how our world is doing.
How is grain an environmental indicator?
Increase or decrease in the amount of grain grown worldwide shows quality of land & climatic conditions
Yield from a given area (definition)
Tons of grain per unit area of land
High-intensity agricultural practices lead to (3 things) …
The land becomes degrades via:
Soil erosion
Runoff of fertilizers and animal wastes into waterways
Buildup of pesticides
If a sources is finishing off quickly, what does that mean?
We can’t keep using it the way how we are using it now (not sustainable)
What is an indicator of pollution?
Amount of lead (in the atmosphere, water, soils, and plants and animals)
Sustainable use of a resource (definition).
When current consumption allows a sufficient supply of that resource for future generations
What 2 factors affect the amount of resources a person consumes?
Place they live (developed/not developed countries)
What they do
What 4 factors regulate the temperature of the Earth?
Solar radiation
Absorbed solar heat from the Earth
Surface area of ice caps/ocean
Concentration of certain gases around Earth
Greenhouse gases (definition)
Gases that trap heat around the Earth (warms the atmosphere)
What is the #1 human activity that produces carbon dioxide?
Combustion (burning) fossil fuels
Have global temperatures been rising lately?
Yes
What does “Pb” stand for?
Lead (the metal)
Is lead safe for animals and plants?
No (it is toxic)
The global production of lead has (increased or decreased)?
Increased
Changing how we refined lead led to …?
More lead is released in the atmosphere
Before 1975, lead was an additive to …?
Gasoline & cars
Starting 1975, clean air legislation was passed so…
There were no more lead in gasoline, causing a big decrease in emissions
Houses built before … had high concentrations of lead.
1960s
How can water be polluted with lead?
Through presence of lead pipes and corroding plumbing materials (especially if the water is highly acidic)
Scientific method (definition)
A way to explore the natural world and draw conclusions, inferences, and predictions.
Scientific method (step 1)
Observe and ask questions about the natural world
Scientific method (step 2)
Create a hypothesis based on what you see and think
Scientific method (step 3)
Based on current information, make a general prediction on whether the hypothesis is correct or incorrect
Scientific method (step 4)
Test the hypothesis with an experiment
Scientific method (step 5)
Accept, revise, or reject the hypothesis
Scientific method (step 6)
Report your findings to others
Scientific method (step 7)
Replicate the experiment
What does the repetition of an experiment do?
It validates the results (more people will accept it)
Why is confusion and disagreement a GOOD thing in science?
Without these things, we wouldn’t have solid proof
Sample size (definition)
The number of units in your study/experiment (ex. students, adults, trees, cars, etc.)
Why are large sample size important?
So we can get accurate and precise results (ex. testing paint on 100 cars is better than testing on 1 car)
What is the largest environmental system that we know of?
The Earth
System dynamics (definition)
The interactions of systems and parts within systems
What do ALL environmental systems involve?
The exchange of matter (materials) or energy.
What are some materials involved in environmental systems?
Water (most important one!), fossil fuels, chemicals, and gases.
Open system (defintion)
Allows both matter and energy to enter and leave.
Closed system (definition)
Only allows energy to transfer in and out, not matter.
Open system vs closed system (definitions)
An open system interacts with its environment, while a closed system does not.
What are some ways humans affect environmental systems?
Actions, such as…
Economics
Social structures and institutions
Law & policy
Environmental advocacy
