1. Foundations Flashcards
(14 cards)
What is an Environmental Value System?
An EVS is a worldview that shapes the way an individual or group perceives and evaluates environmental issues.
What is a Technocentric EVS?
A technocentric viewpoint is technology-centered. It believes that technological innovations can solve environmental problems and supports economic growth and scientific research to improve environmental management.
What is an Anthropocentric EVS?
An anthropocentric viewpoint sees humans as the most important species. It believes nature exists primarily to benefit humans and supports sustainable management of the environment for human benefit.
What is an Ecocentric EVS?
An ecocentric viewpoint is earth-centered. It prioritizes ecological integrity and sustainability, advocating for minimal environmental impact and a deep respect for nature.
What is a System?
A System is a group of interconnected parts working together to form a functional whole.
What are Systems composed of?
Storages: Where matter or energy is held
Flows: Movements of energy or matter
Transfers: Change in location
Transformations: Change in chemical nature, state, or energy form
What are the Laws of Thermodynamics?
Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.
In every energy transformation, some energy is lost as heat, increasing entropy (disorder). Energy conversions are typically 10% efficient.
What is an Open System?
An Open System exchanges both matter and energy with its surroundings. Most ecosystems are open systems.
What is a Closed System?
A Closed System exchanges energy but not matter with its surroundings. The Earth is often considered a closed system.
What is an Isolated System?
An Isolated System exchanges neither matter nor energy with its surroundings. These are theoretical and do not occur naturally.
What is Equilibrium in a system?
Equilibrium is the tendency of a system to return to its original state after a disturbance. It can be static or dynamic.
What is Positive Feedback?
Positive Feedback amplifies change, causing a system to move away from equilibrium and potentially become unstable.
E.G. In climate change, melting ice caps reduce Earth’s albedo, leading to more heat absorption and further warming — which causes more ice to melt.
What is Negative Feedback?
Negative Feedback counteracts change and promotes stability by bringing the system back to equilibrium.
E.G In a predator-prey relationship, wolf eating rabbit
What is Resilience in a system?
Resilience is the ability of a system to return to its original state after a disturbance while maintaining its structure and function.
