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ESS > Unit 1 > Flashcards

Unit 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Environmental Value System

A

An EVS is a worldview or paradigm that shapes the way an individual, or group of people, perceives and evaluates environmental issues, influenced by cultural,
religious, economic and socio-political contexts.

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2
Q

What may influence EVS

A

Inputs –>education, experience, culture, media
Outputs –> values, arguments , decisions

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3
Q

Historical influnence on EVS

A

Rachel Carsons Silent spring (1962) –> established of the US Environmental Protection Agency and a ban on domestic use of DDT due to the overuse and impacts on the environment

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4
Q

Ecocentric

A

Intrinstic value in nature
Puts ecology and nature as central to humanity
less materialistic approach to life with greater self-sufficiency
An ecocentric viewpoint prioritizes biorights, emphasizes the importance of education and encourages self-restraint in human behaviour.

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5
Q

Anthopocentric

A

humans must sustainably manage the
global system.
This might be through the use of taxes, environmental regulation and legislation. Debate would be encouraged to reach a consensual, pragmatic
approach to solving environmental problems.

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6
Q

Technocentric

A

Absolute faith in technology
Technology will keep up with the pace of environmental issues and provide solutions if we push too much natura systems

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7
Q

System

A

A system is a set of interrelated parts and the connection between them that unites them to form a complex whole and produces emergent properties.

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8
Q

A system consits of

A

Storages (Of matter and energy)
Flows (inputs and outputs from storages)
Processses (transfer o transform energy or matter)
Feedback mechanisms that mantian sustainability

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9
Q

Open system

A

An open system exchanges matter and energy with its surroundings.
ex. ponds

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10
Q

Closed system

A

A closed system exchanges energy but does not exchange matter with its surroundings.
ex. nitrogen cycle, carbon cycle

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11
Q

Difference between energy and matter

A

Energy flows but matter cycles

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12
Q

Source of energy in any system

A

solar radiatiom

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13
Q

Flows of enegry occur as

A

Transfers or transformations

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14
Q

Transfer

A

simply move energy or matter from one place to another without changing it in anyway.

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15
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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16
Q

Model

A

simplified version of reality that tells a story about what happens in the natural world.

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17
Q

Advantages of a model 4

A
  1. helps illustrate complex concepts and allow predictions
  2. Brings out patterns
  3. easy to understand
  4. Study to small or too large things
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18
Q

Disadvantages of a model

A
  1. lacks detail , not accurate
  2. false impression, no figures
  3. oversymplified, misundertandinsgs
  4. Size miselading
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19
Q

Laws of thermosynamics

A
  1. Law of conservation of enegry
  2. Entropy and the second lae
20
Q

Law of conservation of energy and implications (5)

A

energy cannot be created or destroyed
1. Energy has to keep entering the system to keep it functioning
2. In food chaiin energy transforms light to chem to heat and increases entropy –> less work less animals at Higehr Trophic level
3. if there are non bioderabae toxins in chain, they become progressibley concentrated - bioacc
4. energy cannot be created
5. no new energy enters universe

21
Q

Entripy and the second law

A

the entropy of a system increases over time; the only way to avoid entropy is a continuous input of additional energy like food and sunlight

Entropy- increase in disorder of a system
increase in entropy –> decrease in energy for work

22
Q

Negative feedback

A

(Stabalizes) it reverses the change and returns the system to the original state of equilibrium.

23
Q

Positive feedback

A

(destabilizes) amplifies the change in the system and keeps it going in the same direction. So a small disturbance in the system causes an increase in that disturbance towards a tipping point

24
Q

Tipping point

A

A tipping point is the minimum amount of change within a system that will destabilize it, causing it to reach a new equilibrium or stable state.

25
Q

Stable equilibirum

A

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

26
Q

Steady state equilibrium

A

A steady-state equilibrium is 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.
MOST ECOSYSTEMS

27
Q

Stability

A

is the ability of an ecosystem to remain in balance.

28
Q

Resistance

A

When the ecosystem continues to function during a disturbance.
A resistant ecosystem will respond to a disturbance with self-regulating mechanisms (negative feedback) that maintain the system in a steady state during a disturbance.

29
Q

Resilience

A

The ability of the ecosystem to recover after a disturbance.
A resilient ecosystem will respond to a disturbance with self-regulating mechanisms (negative feedback) that return the system to a steady state after any disturbance.

30
Q

Factors that affect stability (5)

A

1.climate and limiting factors –> less extreme climate less likeley to push to tipping point
2. Biodiversity –> more complex, more stability
3. Trophic complexity –> many trophic levels–> more complex
4. Nutrient stores –> more stores , more stable
5. Frequency and intensity of distrurbances

31
Q

Sustanavility

A

Sustainability is 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.

32
Q

natural capital

A

Natural capital is a term used for natural resources that can produce a sustainable
natural income of goods or services.

33
Q

Natural income

A

Natural income is the yield obtained from natural resources.

34
Q

What is the MA and what did it do

A

Millenium ecosystem assesment
The Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment (MA) gave a scientific appraisal of the condition and trends in the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide using environmental indicators, as well as the scientific basis for action to conserve and use them sustainably

35
Q

What is EIA

A

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is formal process that is put into action before something major can be changed, for example a project such as a building, change of land use or mining activity. The aim is to:
1. identify impacts
2. impove decision making
3. Lessen any potential impact

Steps
1. scoping
2. Baseline Study
3. Predicting and Assesing Effects
4. Mitigarion

36
Q

Critisism of EIA

A

the lack of a standard practice or training for practitioners
the lack of a clear definition of system boundaries and the lack of inclusion of indirect
impacts.

37
Q

Pollution

A

is 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.

38
Q

Orgganic and inorganic pollution

A

Organic –> pollutant is something that is or was living, such as human sewage, silage, etc.
Inorganic –> pollutant is one that is non-living and generally does not contain carbon, such as nitrates and phosphates from artificial fertilizers

39
Q

Persistent vs biodegradable pollutant

A

Persistent –> do not breakdown easily and the most dangerous ones are the persistent organic pollutants (POP’s). Insoluable in water

Biodegreadable –> pollutants are substances that will breakdown or decompose due to the action of microorganisms, such as human sewage, food waste etc.

40
Q

acute vs chronic pollutant

A

acute –> pollution occurs suddenly and in large quantities over a short period of time, for example a sudden rupture in an oil pipe is an acute problem.

Chronic –> pollution is the persistent long-term release of a pollutant at low concentrations

41
Q

Primary vs secondary pollutants

A

Primay: pollutants are released into the environment directly from a source in the form they are produced.

Secondary: y pollutants form when primary pollutants react with the environment and other pollutants

42
Q

Pollution management model 3 steps

A

Educate, legislate, remediate

43
Q

What is DDT and why was it usefll

A

organochordie insecticide that is colourless, tasteless and odourless.
highly effective in controlling malaria and typhus during World War II
agricultural purposes after the war.

44
Q

Why is DDT dangerous

A

persistent organic pollutant (POP) (means that it does. not brea down that is absrobed by the soil once spread.

make the way through food chain and become more concentrated.

45
Q

Who wrote a book about DDT

A

Rachel Carson - Silent Spring - identifyed DDT impacts like how it bioaccumulates within fat tissues and biomagnifys up the food chain becoming increasingly concentrated at each trophic level

This bood lead to the ban of DDT in agricultural usage

46
Q

Problems of DDT to Top predators and humans

A

Lowers reproductive success
Ex. Predaroy birds suffer fromm eggsehll thining

DDT in humans –>cancer, reprodicrive system, lver damage

47
Q

Controversy in DDT

A

Recognized that a total ban was not feasible due to lack of cheap effective alternatives

Environmentalists –> DDT is harmful to humans and environment and should be banned

Humanitarins –> DDT banning cause the death of millions of people

ESS (9 decks)

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