fundamental concepts Flashcards
what is exponential growth?
N = No * e^kt
N → number in population after time t
No → initial number in population
k → growth constant expressed as decimal
e → base of natural log/Euler’s number
t → time
what is sustainability?
development & use of resources that allows future generations to use resources & inherit a quality environment.
includes developments & biodiversity
sustainable developments
economically viable, environmentally benign, socially just, protecting equal access of resources for future generations
sustaining biodiversity
ensuring sustainable land use & preventing habitat fragmentation & loss of natural habitats
what are causes & implications of freshwater salinization & nitrogen pollution?
the salinization of freshwater impacts our drinking water (salt is not regulated), it also corrodes metals in the ground. Nitrogen pollution from fertilizers causes algae & bacteria to grow in water supplies leading to dead zones.
residence time
measure of the time it takes for the total stock or supply of the material to be cycled through a system
mass balance approaches, pools, fluxes, steady states
book figure 1.9 changes in systems
uniformitarianism vs. catastrophism
uniformitarianism - earth’s processes are similar now to those in the past, but with a different magnitude/frequency
catastrophism - rapid changes are linked to large events on the local, regional, or planetary scale
Earth system science & 5 spheres
the study of Earth as a dynamic system
- geosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, biosphere
how have humans altered the natural nitrogen cycle and what are the consequences?
nitrogen polluting water supplies due to increased nitrogen from fertilizers
scientists discovered how to turn nitrogen into a physical form to increase planting worldwide, which led to a population boom in WWII, however the overpopulation has since proven to be a problem, as resources are limited
additionally it has led to the nitrification of water supplies
what is the scientific method?
observation of phenomena → development of hypothesis → testing hypothesis with experiments → evaluation of hypothesis’ validity & modification → hypothesis passes repeated testing and is accepted as a theory
why is population growth an environmental problem?
earth’s carrying capacity is limited, which means that as the population grows, land, food, water, minerals, and any non-renewable resources are more sparse. furthermore increased human activity has a negative impact on natural systems.
