Terms

Question 1

Environment

Answer 1

Refers to all the surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives and operates.

Such surroundings can be natural or human altered.

Eg. coasts, woodland forests, rainforest, desert, wetland, grasslands, alpine

Question 2

Biodiversity

Answer 2

Refers to the variety of living organisms, ecosystems, landscapes, and environments they form.

When an environment has a large diversity of species, it ensures a greater natural sustainability for those life forms.

An ecosystem is healthy as it can better withstand and recover quicker from natural or human made disasters.

Nowadays, biodiversity is under threat.

Question 3

Human Impact (plural)

Answer 3

• Climate change
• Greenhouse gases
• Pollution
• Land degradation
• Desertification
• Water dehydration
• Deforestation
• Alien introduction / invasive species
• Exploitation
• Loss of biodiversity / habitat loss
• Urbanisation
• Population growth
• Energy use

Question 4

EMS

Answer 4

Environmental Management System refers to the management of an organisation’s environmental programs in a comprehensive, systematic, planned and documented manner.

It includes the structure, planning and resources for developing, implementing and maintaining policy for environmental protection.

Question 5

Acid Rain

Answer 5

Any form of precipitation with high levels of nitric and sulphuric acids.

Eg. snow, fog and dry matter

Caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels. This releases sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. These gases then react w/ water, oxygen and other substances before raining down back onto the planet.
Or by volcanoes, a natural occurrence that causes acid rain.

This rain can be spread by wind. Entering water systems as runoff and sinks to ground. Acid flush can also occur, which has melted snow from acid rain run down the slopes of mountains affecting everything that comes in its way.

Impacts:

• Makes water toxic to aquatic animals
• The rest of the food chain is also affected
• Makes it hard for trees to take up water or grow leaves, this forests are affected
• Takes essential nutrients away from soil