Terms and Definitions

Question 1

Anthropocene

Answer 1

Recent period of time (300 years) where human activity is responsible for significantly altering the Earth geologically (climate change)

Question 2

Albedo effect

Answer 2

Reflection of light off of a surface/Earth (white, light surfaces reflect light and energy, darker surfaces absorb light and energy)
ex. snow/ice = high albedo

Question 3

Biocide

Answer 3

1. Chemicals toxic to the biological life
   ex. pesticides, DDT
2. Destruction of living things

Question 4

Biophilia

Answer 4

Innate need and tendency to connect with nature

Question 5

Carbon dioxide removal

Answer 5

Technologies designed to remove/eliminate carbon dioxide from the atmosphere

• large scale
• geoengineering, climate engineering

Question 6

Carbon sink

Answer 6

Natural environment that has affinity to absorb carbon dioxide
ex. ocean, forest

Question 7

????Chain of courage

Answer 7

okay

Question 8

Common good

Answer 8

Benefits or interests of all

Question 9

Confirmation bias

Answer 9

Tendency to interpret new information to confirm one’s existing beliefs; selective?

Question 10

Dead zones

???

Answer 10

Place where life cannot exist

ex. certain parts of the ocean due to hypoxia

Question 11

Eutrophication

Answer 11

Body of water becomes excessively rich in nutrients (likely due to runoff) which causes bloom and growth of algae. Animal life declines due to oxygen loss

Question 12

Groupthink

Answer 12

Thinking and making decisions as a group, which results in lack of individual responsibility and creativity; discourages disagreement to the consensus

Question 13

Monocultures of the mind

Answer 13

Having one belief while denying and discouraging other beliefs; belief that this way of thinking is superior; no diversity in this thinking

Question 14

Nature deficit disorder

Answer 14

Humans are spending less and less time in nature and outdoors; being scared of nature?

Question 15

Nature deficit disorder

Answer 15

Humans are spending less and less time in nature and outdoors; being scared of nature?

Question 16

Paradigm shift

Answer 16

Change in thinking, approach or mindset

Question 17

Plantary boundaries

Answer 17

Framework proposed for Earth system
Safe operating conditions proposed for humanity activities and Earth’s resilience
2 core boundaries = climate change and biosphere integrity

Question 18

Precautionary Principle

Answer 18

Thinking of future situations and consequences of actions/decisions made today; considering all conditions to decide that something should not be done if there is a significant risk

Question 19

Solar radiation management

Answer 19

Climate engineering projects to reflect sunlight off of planet in efforts to reduce global warming
ex. increasing the albedo effect

Question 20

Steady state economics

Answer 20

?? Balancing of production with nature?

Question 21

Thermodynamics

Answer 21

Science and study of energy dynamics

Question 22

Visceral learning

Answer 22

Learning through instinct and experience?