Summer Assignment Flashcards
What is fracking?
A method of oil and gas extraction that uses high-pressure fluids to force open cracks in rocks deep underground
What is the formal name for fracking?
Hydraulic Fracturing
What are some advantages of fracking?
- Natural gas (methane) burns cleaner than coal and oil
- Natural gas is now cheaper
What are some disadvantages of fracking?
- Lot of water is taken locally then some is returned to the source after being chemically treated
- Chemicals contaminate underground water
- Some natural gas gets into local drinking water
Define environment.
The sum of all living and nonliving conditions surrounding us that influence life
Define environmental science.
The field of science that looks at interactions among human systems and those found in nature
What are some variants of systems?
They can be man-made, natural, or a mixture; also they can vary greatly in size, often with smaller systems found within larger systems.
Define ecosystem.
A particular location on Earth with interacting biotic and abiotic components
Define environmentalist.
A person who participates in environmentalism, a social movement that seeks to protect the environment through lobbying, activism, and education
Define environmental studies.
The field of study that includes environmental science and additional subjects such as environmental policy, economics, literature, and ethics
How are human interactions with the environment different than other species?
Humans manipulate the systems in their environment more than any other species
List some examples of human impact on natural systems.
- Changing land use
- Changing substances around us (air, soil, water) intentionally and unintentionally
- Hunting species to extinction
- Creating the Great Plains by burning
- Influencing climate
- Altering natural habitats
What are some recent reasons for human impact on natural systems?
The developments in technology and population explosion have increased the degree of human impact
Define ecosystem services.
Processes by which life-supporting resources such as clean water, timber, fisheries, and agricultural crops are produced
Define environmental indicator.
An indicator that describes the current state of an environmental system
What are the 5 global-scale indicators?
- Biological diversity
- Food production
- Average global surface temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere
- Human population
- Resource depletion
Define biodiversity.
The diversity of life forms in an environment
Define genetic diversity.
A measure of genetic variation among individuals in a population
What is the benefit of genetic diversity?
The improved ability of a species to respond to change
Define species diversity.
The number of species in a region or in a particular type of habitat
Define species.
A group of organisms that is distinct from other groups in morphology (body form and structure), behavior, or biochemical properties
How many species have been identified on Earth?
2 million
How many species are estimated to be on Earth?
~10 million (between 5 million and 100 million)
What is the benefit of species diversity?
Better productivity and resilience of a species
Define speciation.
The evolution of new species
Define background extinction rate.
The average rate at which species become extinct over the long term
What is the estimated background extinction rate?
About 1 species in a million per year, or about 2 per year (with 2 million recognized species)
How does current extinction rate compare to background extinction rate?
It is currently much more; about 1,000 species per year
Define ecosystem diversity.
A measure of the diversity of ecosystems or habitats that exist in a given region
How is biodiversity often expressed?
In terms of land area
What is the common unit for land area?
The hectare (ha), which is 100 meters by 100 meters
What is the current trend of global food production?
It has increased but production per capita is leveling off
Define greenhouse gases.
Gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat near the surface
What allows for Earth’s relatively constant temperature?
The greenhouse gases
What is the most important greenhouse gas?
Carbon dioxide
What is the current trend of carbon dioxide concentrations and why?
It has recently risen due to fossil fuel combustion and a net loss of forests
Define anthropogenic.
Derived from human activities
What is the relationship between human population and resource availability?
As human population grows, resources become depleted
What is the main factor of consumption?
The development of the region
Define development.
Improvement in human well-being through economic advancement
Define sustainability.
Living on Earth in a way that allows humans to use their resources without depriving future generations of these resources
What occurred on Easter Island to lose civilization?
The rapid consumption of water and soil resources
Define sustainable development.
Development that balances current human well-being and economic advancement with resource management for the benefit of future generations
What are the needs of humans?
The basic needs are air, water, food, and shelter. We also need access to nature areas, beauty, and social connections to fulfill biophilia.
Define biophilia.
The love of life
Define ecological footprint.
The measure of how much an individual consumes, expressed in area of land
Define scientific method.
An objective method to explore the natural world, draw inferences from it, and predict the outcome of certain events, processes, or changes
What are the 5 steps of the scientific process?
- Observing and questioning
- Forming hypotheses
- Collecting data
- Interpreting results
- Disseminating findings
Define hypothesis.
A testable conjecture about how something works
Define null hypothesis.
A prediction that there is no difference between groups or conditions, or a statement or an idea that can be falsified
What is important during the collecting data stage?
Replication of the experiment to get a large sample size in order to improve accuracy and precision as well as decrease uncertainty
Define inductive reasoning.
The process of making general statements from specific facts or examples
Define deductive reasoning.
The process of applying general statements to specific facts or situations
Define theory.
A hypothesis that has been repeatedly tested and confirmed by multiple groups of researchers and has reached wide acceptance
Define natural law.
A theory to which there are no known exceptions and which has withstood rigorous testing
What was the hypothesis in the chlorpyrifos investigation?
The hypothesis was that chlorpyrifos causes neurological disorder and negatively affects human health. To test it, however, they used the null hypothesis.
In what is chlorpyrifos used?
Pesticides
Describe an experiment in the chlorpyrifos investigation.
A group of rats was fed chlorpyrifos, while the other group (control group) was fed normal food
What were the results of the chlorpyrifos investigation?
The null hypothesis was rejected, so the original hypothesis was confirmed
Define natural experiment.
A natural event that acts as an experimental treatment in an ecosystem
For what reason are results of a natural experiment sometimes difficult to interpret?
Many variables in a natural environment may be changed at the same time
What are 4 challenges in environmental science?
- Lack of baseline date
- Subjectivity
- Interactions
- Human well-being
Why is there a lack of baseline data in environmental science?
There is limited knowledge of the previous conditions on Earth
Why is subjectivity a challenge in environmental science?
There is no measure of environmental quality, so we have to make decisions based on our ethics and opinions
Why are interactions a challenge in environmental science?
Environmental systems are complex and intertwined, so there may be unexpected results from the interactions.
Results cannot always be applied to all other areas.
Why is human well-being a challenge in environmental science?
Human basic needs are more important than the state of the natural environment
What was Mono Lake?
A terminal lake, meaning water flows in but not out, near Los Angeles
What inhibited species diversity in Mono Lake?
Deposits of salt created a large salt concentration
Why was Mono Lake important to many species?
The algae and shrimp in the lake were used as food for birds during their migration
What happened to Owens Lake after Los Angeles decided to direct water away from it?
It dried up and now produces many dust storms
What happened to Mono Lake after Los Angeles decided to direct water away from it?
The salt concentrations built up more and killed all species living in it
What has occurred somewhat recently in Mono Lake?
It was restored water, so the species are now thriving
What are the 4 biological molecules?
Carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids
What is the First Law of Thermodynamics?
Energy can be neither created nor destroyed but can change from one form to another
What is the Second Law of Thermodynamics?
When energy is transformed, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes
Define energy efficiency.
The ratio of the amount of energy expended in the form you want to the total amount of energy that is introduced into the system
Define energy quality.
The ease with which an energy source can be used for work
Define systems analysis.
An analysis to determine inputs, outputs, and changes in a system under various conditions
Define steady state.
A state in which inputs equal outputs, so that the system is not changing over time
What is the conversion from hectares to acres?
There are 2.47 acres in 1 ha
