T1 (Foundations) Definitions Flashcards
Environmental Value System (EVS)
A set of paradigms that shape the way an individual or group of people perceive and evaluate environmental issues
Ecocentric
Believe that there is an intrinsic value to natural resources and systems. Conservation of the environment is central and they have a holistic worldview; there should be minimal disturbances of natural processes
Anthropocentric
A human-centred worldview that believes nature is there not because it has any intrinsic value but because we can use all of its natural resources for our benefit.
Technocentric
Have absolute faith in technology and industry. Natural processes need to be understood so that they can be controlled and replaced by technology if necessary.
Deep Ecologist
Believe nature should be left alone
Self-reliance Soft Ecologists
(Part way between ecocentrism and anthropocentrism) - Believe there is room for some development
System
A set of interrelated parts and the connection between them that unites them to form a complex whole
Open System
exchanges matter and energy with its surroundings
Closed System
exchanges energy but no matter with its surroundings
Isolated System
exchanges neither energy nor matter with its surroundings
Transfers
Move energy or matter from one place to another without changing it in anyway
Transformations
Move energy and matter but in the process of doing so there is a change of state or form
First Law of Thermodynamics
Energy can neither be created nor destroyed
Entropy
A measure of the amount of disorder in a system
Second Law of Thermodynamics
The entropy of a system increases over time
Negative Feedback
Promotes stability in a system as it reverses the change and returns the system to the original state of equilibrium
Positive Feedback
Amplifies the change in the system and keeps it going in the same direction
Tipping Point
The minimum amount of change within a system that will destabilize
it, causing it to reach a new equilibrium or stable state
Biosphere
The part of the Earth inhabited by organisms that extends from upper parts of the atmosphere to deep in the Earth’s crust
Model
A simplified description designed to show the structure or workings of an object, system or concept
Steady-state equilibrium
The condition of an open system in which there are no changes over the longer term, but in which there may be oscillations in the very short term
Stable Equilibrium
The condition of a system in which there is a tendency for it to return to the previous equilibrium following disturbance
Feedback
The return of part of the output from a system as an input
Natural Capital
Natural resources that produce sustainable natural income of goods and services
Natural Income
The yield from natural capital
Sustainability
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
The use of global resources at a rate that allows natural regeneration and minimizes damage to the environment
Sustainable Development
Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
EIA and its stages
Environmental Impact Assessment: Scoping Baseline Study Predicting and Assessing Effects Mitigation The Environmental Statement
Ecological Footprints
Represent the hypothetical area of land required by a society, group, or individual to fulfil all their resource needs and assimilation of wastes
MA
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
Pollution
The addition of substances into the natural environment at a rate that is greater than that at which they can be rendered harmless and which causes adverse changes
Point source pollution
A single identifiable source of pollution
Non point source pollution
Pollution from diffuse sources
An organic pollutant
Something that is or was living
An inorganic pollutant
Non-living and generally does not contain carbon
Persistent pollutants
Do not breakdown easily and the most dangerous ones are the persistent organic pollutants (POP’s)
Biodegradable pollutants
Substances that will breakdown or decompose due to the action of microorganisms
Acute pollution
Occurs suddenly and in large quantities over a short period of time
Chronic pollution
The persistent long-term release of a pollutant at low concentrations
Primary pollutants
Released into the environment directly from a source in the form they are produced
Secondary pollutants
Form when primary pollutants react with the environment and other pollutants
Air pollution
The introduction of harmful materials into the atmosphere
Water pollution
Generally occurs when pollutants are introduced into a body of water without having the harmful substances removed
Land pollution
The result of human misuse of land resources
Light pollution
Caused by poor use of lighting in towns and cities
Noise pollution
The presence of loud sounds that can be harmful
Thermal pollution
Changes the temperature in an area, usually with a rise in temperature of water or air
Visual pollution
Only really an issue to humans as it is anything intrusive and ugly that detracts from the natural beauty of an area
DDT
A synthetic pesticide with a controversial history. DDT exemplifies a conflict between the utility of a pollutant and its effect on the environment.
Bioaccumulation
The retention or build-up
of non-biodegradable or slowly biodegradable chemicals in the body
Biomagnification
The process whereby
the concentration of a chemical increases at each trophic level
