Introduction to environmental Science Flashcards
What is Environmental Science?
Studies all aspects of environment in an INTERDISCIPLINARY way
requires knowledge of other sciences
What is the environemnt?
Describes Biotic and Abiotic
incorporates biogeochemical and physical factors and processes
What is Science?
Meaning knowledge
study to attempt to compreend nature of the universe in all its parts
What are all living things in an area and the way they affect each other and the environment?
Ecosystem
What is the relationship between the air, land, water, animals and plants usually of a particular area of a scientific study?
Ecology
What is invovled, caused by, or relating to living things in the environment?
Biotic
What are related to things in the environment that are NOT living
Abiotic
Name the 5 Major spheres in the Earth
- Atmosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Cryoshphere
- Geosphere
- Biosphere
What sphere is a thin layer made of a mixture of gasses and particles suspended in the air that surround the Earth?
Atmosphere
What sphere includes the liquid ocean, inland water bodies, and groundwater?
Hydrosphere
What sphere is the subset of the hydrosphere that consists of frozen water?
Cryosphere
What sphere inlcudes the solid Earth; the core, mantle, crust, and soil layers?
Geosphere
What sphere includes all of Earth’s organisms, including humans, and matter that has not yet decomposed?
Biosphere
What are the elements required for a living organisms to survive?
CHNOPS
Carbon
Hydrogen
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Phosphorus
Sulfur
What are the 5 biogeochemical cycles
Carbon cycle
Water Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle
Phosphorus Cycle
Sulfur Cycle
What forms the backbone of organic molecules, allowing for diverse chemical structures due to its ability to form multiple bonds. Found in Macromolecules like carbohydrates, lipids, poteins, and nucleic acids?
Carbon
What is a fundamental part of hydrocarbons and many macromolecules. Includes acidiity and is crucial in energy-rich molecules?
Hydrogen
What is an essential component of amino acids (proteins) and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). Found in the amine group of amino acids and nitrogenous bases?
Nitrogen
What is required for cellular respiration. Acts as a poten oxidizer in molceuls and is present in carbohydrates?
Oxygen
What is found in the backbone of DNA and ATP and exists in the form of the phosphate group and is a Limiting Nutrient
Phosphorus
What is commonly found in proteins, forming disulfied bridges that stabilize their 3D structure and is presnt in amino acids like cysteine and methionine, playing structural ccatalytic roles and is a Limiting Nutrient
Sulfur
what biogeochemical cycle is te continuous movement of water between the atmosphere, land, and oceans, involving evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff?
Water cycle
What biogeochemical cycle has this molecule move thorugh the atmosphere, plants, animals and the Earth. Plants take up this molecule during photosynthesis and it returns it to the atmosphre through resipiration, decomposition, and combustion of fossil fules. Some of it is also engaged in the formation of fossil fuels?
Carbon cycle
What biogeochemical cycle has the molevule move thrugh the atmosphere, soil, and living organisms. Bacteria play a key role in converting this into usable form for plants; this includes _____fixation, nitrification, and denitrification?
Nitrogen cycle
