Unit 1

Question 1

Environmental Value System

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

What may influence EVS

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Historical influnence on EVS

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Ecocentric

Answer 4

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.

Question 5

Anthopocentric

Answer 5

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.

Question 6

Technocentric

Answer 6

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

Question 7

System

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

A system consits of

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Open system

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Closed system

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Difference between energy and matter

Answer 11

Energy flows but matter cycles

Question 12

Source of energy in any system

Answer 12

solar radiatiom

Question 13

Flows of enegry occur as

Answer 13

Transfers or transformations

Question 14

Transfer

Answer 14

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

Question 15

transformations

Answer 15

move energy and matter but in the process of doing so there is a change of state or form.

Question 16

Model

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Advantages of a model 4

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Disadvantages of a model

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Laws of thermosynamics

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Law of conservation of energy and implications (5)

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Entripy and the second law

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Negative feedback

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Positive feedback

Answer 23

(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

Question 24

Tipping point

Answer 24

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.

Question 25

Stable equilibirum

Answer 25

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.

Question 26

Steady state equilibrium

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Stability

Answer 27

is the ability of an ecosystem to remain in balance.

Question 28

Resistance

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

Resilience

Answer 29

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.

Question 30

Factors that affect stability (5)

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Sustanavility

Answer 31

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.

Question 32

natural capital

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Natural income

Answer 33

Natural income is the yield obtained from natural resources.

Question 34

What is the MA and what did it do

Answer 34

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

Question 35

What is EIA

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Critisism of EIA

Answer 36

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.

Question 37

Pollution

Answer 37

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.

Question 38

Orgganic and inorganic pollution

Answer 38

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

Question 39

Persistent vs biodegradable pollutant

Answer 39

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.

Question 40

acute vs chronic pollutant

Answer 40

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

Question 41

Primary vs secondary pollutants

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Pollution management model 3 steps

Answer 42

Educate, legislate, remediate

Question 43

What is DDT and why was it usefll

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Why is DDT dangerous

Answer 44

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.

Question 45

Who wrote a book about DDT

Answer 45

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

Question 46

Problems of DDT to Top predators and humans

Answer 46

Lowers reproductive success Ex. Predaroy birds suffer fromm eggsehll thining DDT in humans -->cancer, reprodicrive system, lver damage

Question 47

Controversy in DDT

Answer 47

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