APES Chapter 1 Review Flashcards

1
Q

Natural Resource

A

Anything humans obtain from nature that is useful or economically valuable

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2
Q

Renewable Resource

A

Resources that are replenished in a period of time that will allow them to be replenished for human consumption (up to about 100 years).

Ex: Solar Energy
      Wind Energy 
      Timber
      Water
      Fertile Soil
      Fisheries
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3
Q

Nonrenewable Resources

A

Resources for which a fixed quantity is available for human use; They are not renewed in a viable period of time for human reuse.

Ex: Coal
      Crude Oil
      Copper
      Iron
      Gold
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4
Q

Sustainablility

A

The practice of using a resource at a rate that is less than or equal to the rate at which it is naturally replenished

Ex: A cow eats less than an inch of grass a day and the grass grows one inch a day.

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5
Q

Name renewable resources that are depleted due to unsustainable use.

A

Timber
Fertile Soil
Fisheries

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6
Q

Name nonrenewable resources that are depleted due to unsustainable use.

A

Crude Oil
Coal
Uranium

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7
Q

Common

A

A resource that is free and available to every one in a population

Ex: Publicly Owned Forests
      Rangelands
      Fisheries
      Open Ocean
      Air
      Rivers
      Aquifers
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8
Q

Tragedy of the Commons

A

Degradation of the common resource

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9
Q

Poverty

A

Significant obstacle to sustainability and environmental protection

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10
Q

Affluence

A

The rapid unsustainable consumption of resources that is associated with the lifestyles of citizens in developed countries

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11
Q

Per Capita

A

Per Person

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12
Q

GDP

A

Gross Domestic Product

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13
Q

Developed Countries

A

Countries with relatively high per capita gross domestic products

Ex: United States
      Canada
      Japan
      Australia
      Most of Europe
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14
Q

Developing Countries

A

Countries with a relatively low per capita gross domestic product

Ex: China
India
African Countries
Southeast Asia

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15
Q

Where are the least developed countries found?

A

Sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan\

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16
Q

Where are moderately developed countries found?

A

China, India, and Brazil

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17
Q

Ecological Footprint

A

The amount of biologically productive land and water that is required to provide all of the resources to support the lifestyle of the owner and of the footprint

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18
Q

Ecosystem Service

A

When nature provides humans with numerous economically valuable services

Ex: Pollination
     Water Purification ad Storage
     Climate Regulation
     Flood Control 
     Protection from UV Radiation
     Protection from storms
     Pest Control
     Lumber Production
     Pharmaceutical Production
     Food Production
     Soil Formation
     Nitrogen Fixation 
     Recreational Opportunities
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19
Q

What are examples of pollinators?

A

Bees and butterflies.

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20
Q

Aldo Leopold

A

Land Ethic: Humans are only one member of a complex community and should not abuse nature as if it belongs to them

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21
Q

Pollution

A

The contamination of a resource that decreases its purity and renders it unsafe for human health

22
Q

Point Source Pollution

A

A source of pollution that introduces pollutants into the environment from a single point or source

Ex: Factories
Power Plants
Refineries
Sewage Treatment Plants

23
Q

Non-point Source Pollution

A

A pollution source that introduces pollutants into the environment over a large area rather than at a single point

Ex: Pesticide and Fertilizer Runoff; Agricultural Lands and Golf Courses
Oil Runoff; Roads and Parking Lots
Sediment Pollution and Dust; Construction Sites and Strip Mining Operations
Wind-Blown Topsoil; Agricultural Lands

24
Q

Controlled Experiment

A

Type of experiment that needs to be analyzed or designed

25
Q

Independent Variable

A

Manipulated during the experiment

26
Q

Dependent Variable

A

Measured during the experiment

27
Q

Anthropogenic

A

Manmade

Ex: Chlorofluorocarbons

28
Q

Carbon

A

The backbone of all organic compounds, which includes all of the important molecules found in living organisms. Fossil fuel use shifts the equilibrium of the global carbon cycle.

29
Q

Nitrogen

A

The most abundant element in the earth’s atmosphere at 78%. Found in the amino group of every amino acid, the building blocks of proteins, also components of nucleic acids. Nitrogen runoff from agricultural land is an important contributor to nutrient pollution in waterways. Nitrous oxide is an important greenhouse gas

30
Q

Oxygen

A

The second most abundant element in the atmosphere at 21% and the most abundant element in the earth’s crust. Oxygen was not a significant component of the atmosphere when it was formed, but was added later through photosynthesis by green plant, especially cyanobacteria. Oxygen is necessary for cellular respiration.

31
Q

Phosphorus

A

A component of nucleic acids and phospholipids. In many ecosystems, phosphorus is the limiting factor for primary production (plant growth). Phosphorus runoff from agricultural land is an important contributor to nutrient pollution in waterways. Phosphorus does not have a significant presence in the earth’s atmosphere.

32
Q

Sulfur

A

A component of some amino acids and proteins. Sulfur is a major constituent of volcanic eruptions and a contaminant of coal that contributes to acid rain.

33
Q

pH

A

pH is a logarithmic scale covering a range of 0-14 that is used to differentiate between acidic and base environments. Neutral environments have a pH of approximately 7. A basic solution will have a high pH; for example, household ammonia may have a pH of 10-11. An acidic solution will have a low pH; for example, vinegar may have a pH of 3 and acid rain may have a pH of 4-5. Rainwater naturally has a slightly acidic pH of 5.5-6.0 due to dissolved carbon dioxide from the atmosphere that forms a dilute solution of carbonic acid in raindrops.

34
Q

Half-life

A

The time it takes for one-half of a sample to decay

35
Q

Energy

A
The ability to do work; Unit of energy: Joule (J)
Ex: Mechanical
      Electrical
      Chemical
      Nuclear
      Solar
      Thermal
      Heat
36
Q

Heat

A

Special form of energy that initially was not recognized as such

37
Q

One Calorie

A

The heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of water by one Celsius degree

38
Q

BTUs

A

British Thermal Units

39
Q

One BTU

A

The heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one Fahrenheit degree; The amount of heat released by burning one large kitchen match

40
Q

What are the connections between calories, Joules, and BTUs?

A

1 cal = 4.184 J

1 Btu = 252 cal = 1055 J

41
Q

Power

A

The rate at which energy is used

42
Q

Watt

A

International unit of power; Equivalent to about 1 Joule per second

Ex: 1 Joule = 1 watt-sec

43
Q

The First Law of Thermodynamics/Law of Conservation of Energy

A

Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only converted to different forms

44
Q

The Second Law of Thermodynamics

A

In all energy conversions, some low quality heat (waste heat) will always be produced

45
Q

Open System

A

Systems that exchange both energy and matter across their boundaries. Most environmental systems are open systems.

46
Q

Closed System

A

Systems the exchange energy but not matter across their boundaries. The global water cycle is one example of a close system since no matter (water) enters or leaves the system.

47
Q

Isolated System

A

Systems that exchange neither energy nor matter across their boundaries. There are not examples of isolated environmental systems.

48
Q

Input

A

Energy or matter that enters a system

49
Q

Output

A

Energy or matter that leaves a system

50
Q

Positive Feedback Loop

A

When the initial change to a component of the system is amplified by the series of changes within the feedback loop

51
Q

Negative Feedback Loop

A

When the initial change to a component of the system is undone by the series of changes within the feedback loop.