Topic 1

Question 1

Historical events influencing the environmental movement:

Answer 1

1. Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson catalyzed the modern environmental movement.
2. The 1970 Earth Day led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and passage of key environmental legislation.

Question 2

Environmental Value Systems (EVS):

Answer 2

refers to a worldview that shapes how individuals and societies perceive and interact with the environment.

Question 3

Main types of EVS:

Answer 3

Ecocentric: Nature-centered, prioritizing the intrinsic value of ecosystems.
Anthropocentric: Human-centered, valuing nature for its instrumental benefits to humans.
Technocentric: Technology-centered, relying on human innovation to solve environmental issues.

Question 4

Intrinsic value of nature:

Answer 4

It’s the inherent worth of nature regardless of its utility to humans.

Question 5

Contrasting EVSs on climate breakdown:

Answer 5

Ecocentric: Urgent action to preserve ecosystems and mitigate climate change.
Anthropocentric: Focus on human impacts and adaptation strategies.
Technocentric: Emphasis on technological solutions like geoengineering.

Question 6

System:

Answer 6

A set of interconnected components working together to achieve a common purpose.

Question 7

Drawing models:

Answer 7

Use boxes to represent storages (components) and arrows to show flows (inputs and outputs).

Question 8

Evaluating models:

Answer 8

Assess accuracy, completeness, and relevance to real-world phenomena.

Question 9

Transfer processes:

Answer 9

Movement of matter or energy from one storage to another (e.g., water flowing from rivers to oceans).

Question 10

Transformation processes:

Answer 10

Conversion of matter or energy from one form to another (e.g., solar energy converted to chemical energy through photosynthesis)

Question 11

Open systems

Answer 11

Exchange matter and energy with surroundings (e.g., ecosystems).

Question 12

Closed system

Answer 12

Exchange energy but not matter with surroundings (e.g., Earth).

Question 13

Isolated systems

Answer 13

Neither exchange matter nor energy with surroundings (rare in nature).

Question 14

Systems thinking scales:

Answer 14

Can be applied from individual organisms to ecosystems, societies, and the biosphere.

Question 15

Emergent properties:

Answer 15

Characteristics of a system that arise from interactions between its components (e.g., biodiversity emerging from interactions between species).

Question 16

1st law of thermodynamics:

Answer 16

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transferred or transformed.

Question 17

2nd law of thermodynamics:

Answer 17

Energy spontaneously tends to disperse, leading to increased entropy in closed systems.

Question 18

Consequences for energy flow:

Answer 18

Limits the efficiency of energy transfer between trophic levels in ecosystems.

Question 19

Steady-state equilibrium:

Answer 19

System maintains a stable, constant condition over time despite ongoing inputs and outputs.

Question 20

Negative feedback mechanisms:

Answer 20

Stabilize systems by counteracting changes (e.g., predator-prey dynamics).

Question 21

Positive feedback mechanisms:

Answer 21

Amplify changes and may lead to system instability (e.g., melting ice caps).

Question 22

Resilience:

Answer 22

Capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganize while maintaining function and structure.

Question 23

Tipping point:

Answer 23

Threshold beyond which a system undergoes a significant and often irreversible change.

Question 24

Example of
Positive feedbacks:

Answer 24

Melting permafrost releasing methane, accelerating climate change.

Question 25

Examples of Negative feedbacks:

Answer 25

Increased CO2 levels leading to enhanced plant growth, offsetting some emissions.