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ESS > T1 (Foundations) Definitions > Flashcards

T1 (Foundations) Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Environmental Value System (EVS)

A

A set of paradigms that shape the way an individual or group of people perceive and evaluate environmental issues

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2
Q

Ecocentric

A

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

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3
Q

Anthropocentric

A

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.

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4
Q

Technocentric

A

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.

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5
Q

Deep Ecologist

A

Believe nature should be left alone

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6
Q

Self-reliance Soft Ecologists

A

(Part way between ecocentrism and anthropocentrism) - Believe there is room for some development

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7
Q

System

A

A set of interrelated parts and the connection between them that unites them to form a complex whole

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8
Q

Open System

A

exchanges matter and energy with its surroundings

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9
Q

Closed System

A

exchanges energy but no matter with its surroundings

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10
Q

Isolated System

A

exchanges neither energy nor matter with its surroundings

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11
Q

Transfers

A

Move energy or matter from one place to another without changing it in anyway

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12
Q

Transformations

A

Move energy and matter but in the process of doing so there is a change of state or form

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13
Q

First Law of Thermodynamics

A

Energy can neither be created nor destroyed

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14
Q

Entropy

A

A measure of the amount of disorder in a system

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15
Q

Second Law of Thermodynamics

A

The entropy of a system increases over time

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16
Q

Negative Feedback

A

Promotes stability in a system as it reverses the change and returns the system to the original state of equilibrium

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17
Q

Positive Feedback

A

Amplifies the change in the system and keeps it going in the same direction

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18
Q

Tipping Point

A

The minimum amount of change within a system that will destabilize
it, causing it to reach a new equilibrium or stable state

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19
Q

Biosphere

A

The part of the Earth inhabited by organisms that extends from upper parts of the atmosphere to deep in the Earth’s crust

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20
Q

Model

A

A simplified description designed to show the structure or workings of an object, system or concept

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21
Q

Steady-state equilibrium

A

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

22
Q

Stable Equilibrium

A

The condition of a system in which there is a tendency for it to return to the previous equilibrium following disturbance

23
Q

Feedback

A

The return of part of the output from a system as an input

24
Q

Natural Capital

A

Natural resources that produce sustainable natural income of goods and services

25
Q

Natural Income

A

The yield from natural capital

26
Q

Sustainability

A

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

27
Q

Sustainable Development

A

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

28
Q

EIA and its stages

A 
Environmental Impact Assessment:
Scoping
Baseline Study
Predicting and Assessing Effects
Mitigation
The Environmental Statement
29
Q

Ecological Footprints

A

Represent the hypothetical area of land required by a society, group, or individual to fulfil all their resource needs and assimilation of wastes

30
Q

MA

A

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

31
Q

Pollution

A

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

32
Q

Point source pollution

A

A single identifiable source of pollution

33
Q

Non point source pollution

A

Pollution from diffuse sources

34
Q

An organic pollutant

A

Something that is or was living

35
Q

An inorganic pollutant

A

Non-living and generally does not contain carbon

36
Q

Persistent pollutants

A

Do not breakdown easily and the most dangerous ones are the persistent organic pollutants (POP’s)

37
Q

Biodegradable pollutants

A

Substances that will breakdown or decompose due to the action of microorganisms

38
Q

Acute pollution

A

Occurs suddenly and in large quantities over a short period of time

39
Q

Chronic pollution

A

The persistent long-term release of a pollutant at low concentrations

40
Q

Primary pollutants

A

Released into the environment directly from a source in the form they are produced

41
Q

Secondary pollutants

A

Form when primary pollutants react with the environment and other pollutants

42
Q

Air pollution

A

The introduction of harmful materials into the atmosphere

43
Q

Water pollution

A

Generally occurs when pollutants are introduced into a body of water without having the harmful substances removed

44
Q

Land pollution

A

The result of human misuse of land resources

45
Q

Light pollution

A

Caused by poor use of lighting in towns and cities

46
Q

Noise pollution

A

The presence of loud sounds that can be harmful

47
Q

Thermal pollution

A

Changes the temperature in an area, usually with a rise in temperature of water or air

48
Q

Visual pollution

A

Only really an issue to humans as it is anything intrusive and ugly that detracts from the natural beauty of an area

49
Q

DDT

A

A synthetic pesticide with a controversial history. DDT exemplifies a conflict between the utility of a pollutant and its effect on the environment.

50
Q

Bioaccumulation

A

The retention or build-up

of non-biodegradable or slowly biodegradable chemicals in the body

51
Q

Biomagnification

A

The process whereby

the concentration of a chemical increases at each trophic level

ESS (16 decks)

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