Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
92 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
What are the Scientific principles?
|
Empiricism: see or measure (observe)
Uniformitarism: scientific laws apply everywhere and all the time (ex. Gravity) parsimony: Ockham's razor uncertainty: no absolute proof repeatability: reproducing same results to make sure they are accurate |
|
|
What is the Scientific Method?
|
Observation
Question about the world Hypothesis Experimental design Data collection Reporting |
|
|
What is Probability?
|
Science provides the probability that something is true. P-value: the probability that a result arose through random chance. We consider a result statistically significant if the P-value is less than .05 + 5%
|
|
|
What does Experimental Design consist of?
|
Manipulative experiment: manipulating variables
Control group: the group you don’t manipulate for comparison Blind & Double blind experiments: patient and doc don’t know Natural experiments Independent variable-cause X Dependant variable-effect Y |
|
|
What is positive feedback?
|
Positive: a particular process re-enforces itself, spiraling out of control (using an air conditioning in global warming)
|
|
|
What is negative feedback?
|
Negative: a steady state, process counteracts itself (body temp)
|
|
|
What is conservation of matter?
|
During an ordinary chemical change, there is no detectable increase or decrease in the quantity of matter.
When high-energy matter is transformed into low-energy matter, some energy is released However, the matter did not “become” the energy |
|
|
What is Photosynthesis?
|
Photosynthesis uses energy to transform matter from one form to another
Photosynthesis does not use energy to create matter |
|
|
What is the Scientific Consensus?
|
General agreement among informed scholars
|
|
|
What is a Paradigm Shift?
|
New observations require new explanations
|
|
|
What are Bias and some of the issues related to them?
|
Need to think about who is providing information
What is their background/education? Who do they work for? Who paid for the information? What are their goals? Do they have a political agenda? |
|
|
What are the elements of Critical Thinking?
|
Premises vs. conclusions
Uncertainty Facts vs. values Source reliability Not dependence on authority Conceptual framework |
|
|
What is the definition of Environmental Science?
|
method for understanding the world around us
|
|
|
What is the definition of Environmentalism?
|
a set of beliefs about how humans should interact with the environment
|
|
|
Climate change and global warming
|
Troposphere
Warms the troposphere H20, CO2, CH4, etc. Traps terrestrial thermal infrared Less infrared out means more heat in fossil fuels; de-carbonation make global warming occur Kyoto protocol meeting set up multinational agreement to reduce use of fossil fuels. Has not worked– Has more potential now that the IPCC 4th report came out in 2007 |
|
|
Ozone Depletion
|
Stratosphere
Cools the stratosphere CFC’s and NOx Less Ozone means more UV radiation = more skin cancer Montreal Protocol 1987 meeting set up multinational agreement to phase out CFC’s It has worked mainly because industry could find alternate chemicals |
|
|
The Keeling Curve
|
Co2 ↑ in winter and ↓ in summer because in the summer the trees are bloomed and they are holding the Co2 within them (photosynthesis)
Keeling curve: Co2 over time, long term, keeps increasing 1950-2009 present |
|
|
The Hockey Stick
|
Graph of global average temp. of the past 1000 years
The graph was flat until the industrial revolution, where it spiked |
|
|
Fossil Fuels
|
Coal: 26%, no shortage, dangerous for miners, environmentally damaging (mountaintop removal), contains a lot of neurotoxins (which damage the brain and the body), air pollution, acid rain, coal releases the most CO2 per unit energy out of all 3 fossil fuels.
Oil: 37%, peak oil, hubbert curve, production is peaking, declining production + increasing demand= high prices, 2/3 of proven reserves are in the Middle East, oil shares and tar sands have low energy output to energy input ratio. Natural gas: 24%, releases the least amount of CO2, consists mostly of methane, less gas, fewer toxins, difficult to transport, LNG: Liquid Natural Gas, potentially explosive, NYMBY: not in my back yard. |
|
|
Energy Conservation
|
do less of the things that use energy
Transportation: Public transportation, Carpool, Combine trips, Walk/bike |
|
|
Energy Efficiency
|
do the same things, using less energy
Transportation: Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standards, Since 1988, standard has been 27.5mpg, Obama administration plans to raise that |
|
|
Way to reduce energy use in Buildings
|
Reduce air infiltration
Increase insulation Better insulated windows Summer shading Trees! Passive solar energy South-facing windows |
|
|
Ways to reduce electricity (lighting, appliances, industrial practices)
|
Lighting
o Any lightbulb that gets hot is wasting energy o Can make better use of natural light o Turn off lights that aren’t in use Appliances o Energy Star o “Vampire appliances” use energy when they’re off Industrial practices o Wal-Mart working to reduce carbon footprint |
|
|
Cogeneration
|
Most electric plants produce steam
o Release it into the atmosphere as waste Cogeneration uses this steam o Heat buildings o Heat water More energy from the same amount of fuel Good choice for a facility with multiple buildings (ex: universities) |
|
|
Scope 1 Emissions
|
Scope 1: direct emissions, including on site stationary combustion, owned vehicles (gas burned)
|
|
|
Scope 2 Emissions
|
Scope 2: purchased electricity ( only created because we need them to burn things to make electricity we bought)
|
|
|
Scope 3 Emissions
|
Scope 3: indirect emissions, food ( requires many greenhouse gases to create the food), driving + flying, commuters, college related flights, water use, materials we buy, waste we dispose of
|
|
|
Solar Heating
|
Passive Solar, and Active Solar
|
|
|
Solar Heating
|
Passive Solar
o South-facing windows o Heat collectors Active Solar o Pumps fluid through rooftop heat collectors o Heated fluid is used for: Building heat Hot water |
|
|
Solar Electricity
|
Light collection and Photovoltaic cells
|
|
|
Solar Electricity
|
Light collection
o Collect & focus light using mirrors o Use heat to generate steam to turn a turbine Produces electricity Photovoltaic cells o Convert solar energy directly to electricity o Increasing efficiency o Thin-film solar panels “amorphous silicon collectors” Already used in calculators, etc. |
|
|
Energy Storage and Transportation
|
Solar & wind aren’t constant
o Requires energy storage o Improving battery technology o Two-way metering Utilities encourage renewable power Sun & wind aren’t always near people o Requires energy transportation o More power lines o Some electricity lost in transit |
|
|
Fuel Cells
|
Efficient way of converting fuel to electricity
o More efficient than an internal combustion engine Can run on a variety of fuels Most run on hydrogen o Produces only pure water as waste product o Hydrogen must be generated o Currently, most hydrogen comes from natural gas, which contributes to global warming |
|
|
Biomass Energy Sources
|
Biofuels, fuelwood, methane
|
|
|
Biofuels
|
Biofuels
o Ethanol Waste-based: good Corn-based: not so good o Biodiesel Waste-based: good Crop-based: probably not so good either |
|
|
Fuelwood
|
Fuelwood
o Deforestation |
|
|
Methane
|
Methane
o Captured from manure, landfills |
|
|
Hydropower
|
Significant source of electricity in U.S.
|
|
|
Hydropower Pros
|
Pros
o Irrigation o Flood control o Transportation |
|
|
Hydropower Cons
|
Cons
o Fish populations o Floodplain ecosystems o Recreation |
|
|
Wind Power:
|
Significant power source in Europe
Huge potential in U.S. Can be installed above agricultural land Some challenges remain o High initial investment o Transportation of electricity o NIMBY |
|
|
Forest Types
|
Boreal, tropical, old growth, monocultural
|
|
|
Boreal
|
o Northern Canada, Siberia, etc.
o Lots of carbon in the soil |
|
|
Tropical
|
o Amazon, Sub-Saharan Africa, etc.
o Lots of carbon in the trees o Rapid deforestation o Have the most wild life, 50% of all plants and animal species |
|
|
Old Growth
|
o Contain trees in all phases of growth & decomposition – critical for habitat
|
|
|
Mono culture forestry
|
only one type of tree in forest, generally for rapid growth
|
|
|
Deforestation
|
Rapid in the tropics, causes, harvest methods
|
|
|
Rapid in the tropics
o Much temperate forest has already been destroyed |
o Much temperate forest has already been destroyed
|
|
|
Causes of deforestation
|
o Logging (fuel, paper, lumber)
o Agriculture o Urban sprawl |
|
|
Harvest Methods
|
o Clear-cutting ( cut everything down to dirt)
o Strip-cutting ( o Selective cutting ( only cut specific trees) |
|
|
Effects of Deforestation
|
Loss of biodiversity, Land degradation, Global warming
|
|
|
Effects of Deforestation: Loss of biodiversity
|
Loss of biodiversity
o Tropical forests contain half of all species |
|
|
Effects of Deforestation: Land degradation
|
Land degradation
o Erosion o Changing weather patterns |
|
|
Effects of Deforestation: Global warming
|
Global warming
o Around 25% of greenhouse gasses o Reforestation can help reduce atmospheric CO2 |
|
|
Forest Management
|
Must consider local populations
Fire Management Adaptive management |
|
|
Forest Management: Must consider local populations
|
Must consider local populations
o All land on Earth is inhabited by somebody |
|
|
Forest Management: Fire Management
|
Fire Management
o Fire suppression harms some ecosystems o “Smokey-the-Bear effect” |
|
|
Forest Management: Adaptive management
|
Adaptive management
o Constantly improving management techniques o Requires gathering data and testing hypotheses |
|
|
Soil Characteristics
|
Living organisms, soil horizons, soil types
|
|
|
Soil Characteristics: Living organisms
|
Living organisms
o Insects & worms break up dead leaves o Bacteria & fungi carry out decomposition |
|
|
Soil Characteristics: soil horizons
|
Soil horizons
o Litter layer ( dead leaves on top of soil) o Topsoil ( a lot of organic matter, 12-18 in. on top) o Subsoil ( not very much organic material) |
|
|
Soil Characteristics: soil types
|
Soil types
o Different soils in different places o Most fertile soils contain high organic matter concentrations |
|
|
Soil Degradation
|
Wind erosion
Water erosion |
|
|
Soil Degradation: Wind erosion
Water erosion are caused by what? |
Caused by intensive farming practices
o Deep plowing o Herbicide application o Plowing against the contours o Removal of windbreaks & fencerows Desertification o Too much plowing or grazing o Difficult to reverse ( fertilizer application does not apply to erosion) |
|
|
Effects of Soil Degradation
|
Reduced crop yields
o Can lead to starvation Global warming o Massive amount of carbon stored in the world’s soils More than the land plants + the atmosphere o Speed up decomposition → release carbon into the atmosphere Plowing Erosion ( soil contains the most carbon) |
|
|
Agriculture
|
Environmental Impacts of Farming, and How to Reduce Them
Dams provide farmers with: Irrigation water, Flood control, Electricity, Navigable rivers to send crops to market Agriculture accounts for at least 2/3 of all human water use |
|
|
Agriculture: fertilizer
|
Fertilizer:
Increase crop yield o Major nutrients: Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium o Runoff o Water pollution o Global warming o Nitrogen fertilizer releases N2O (nitrous oxide) o Significant contributor to global warming o Replacing synthetic fertilizers with organic fertilizers can store carbon |
|
|
Agriculture: fertilizer
|
Nitrogen fertilizer results in the release of what greenhouse gas? N2O
If you're like most Americans, your average food item comes to you from as far away as: 2,000 km away |
|
|
Energy
|
Energy
o Agriculture is highly energy-intensive o Direct energy use o Indirect energy use o Fertilizer & pesticide production o Food distribution o Average food item travels over 1,200 miles o Eating local reduces carbon footprint |
|
|
True or False: In Integrated Pest Management (IPM), synthetic pesticides may still be used, but in smaller amounts.
|
True
|
|
|
Pest Control & GMO’s
|
o Pesticides
o Increase crop yields o Health effects o Integrated Pest Management o Combines natural methods & synthetic pesticides o Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) o Controversial o Already in the food supply o Nearly all conventional corn & soybeans o Not in organic food ( reduced tillage farming does not benefit less herbicide use) |
|
|
Sustainable Agriculture
|
soil conservation, organic farming, benefits
|
|
|
Sustainable Agriculture: soil conservation
|
Soil conservation
o Contour plowing, low-till & no-till o Cover crops |
|
|
Sustainable Agriculture: organic farming
|
Organic farming
o No synthetic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, or GMO’s o Not the same as sustainable |
|
|
Sustainable Agriculture: benefits
|
Benefits
o Farmers o Consumers o Environment (organic food is not generally grown sustainably) |
|
|
Growing Cities
|
Currently approximately 60% of people live in cities
Nearly 2/3 of the world’s pop. Lives in cities In the U.S. ¾ of Americans live in cities Urbanization is ongoing, always growing Mega cities more than 10 mill. People o Mostly in developing world countries ( 3rd world countries) |
|
|
Causes of Growing Cities
|
Causes
o Job opportunities o Government policies ( more resources) |
|
|
Developing World
|
Traffic congestion, Sewage treatment + drinkable water, Housing
|
|
|
Developing World: Traffic congestion
|
o Air pollution
o Global warming |
|
|
Developing World: Sewage treatment + drinkable water
|
o Significant causes of death
|
|
|
Developing World: Housing
|
o Slums
o Shanty towns o Pop. Increases to quickly for government to keep up with infrastructure (public transportation is not a component of urban sprawl) |
|
|
Urban Planning
|
Long commutes
Takes farm land/forest now converted to lawns, roads, parking lots, and it is making global warming increase, higher pollution levels, animals lose their habitats and the storm runoff has nowhere to go Smart growth o Mixed-use zoning having businesses and residents in the same area o Public transportation- reducing commute time and pollution o Open space Advantages o Stronger communities o Healthier people o Less global warming (large lawns around each house is not a component to smart growth.) |
|
|
Tragedy of the commons
|
Collective decision making
Privatization Shared resources tend to be over exploited Also true for capacity to absorb waste o Ex. Rivers before the clean water act |
|
|
Environmental Economics
|
Sustainability and economic theories
Sustainability BRUNTLAND DEFINITION: melts the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs Limits to growth are controversial |
|
|
Neoclassical economics
|
o Emphasizes growth (exponential)
Neoclassical economist favor constant growth |
|
|
Ecological economics
|
o Steady state economy
o Renewable vs. nonrenewable resources • Not always a clear distinction |
|
|
Global Warming
|
Plants have a limited ability to absorb co2 out of the atmosphere
The atmosphere is help in common globally Result: release co2 the far exceeds uptake by plants leading to global warming Privitation is impossible |
|
|
Cost Benefit Analysis
|
Add up all the costs (downside) of a decision and all the benefits (upside) and compare
Requires assigning a monetary value to natural resources (valuation) as well as other non-monetary costs and benefits Useful conceptual framework Problems o Uncertainty • Differing- valuations • Future predictions o Equity- fair: distribution of resources |
|
|
Externalities and Globalization
|
Externalized cost: are a part of the cost of businesses that the business doesn’t actually pay for
Through experiment Goal of much environmental regulation internalize external cost Globalization o Pros: economic development, cheaper goods o Cons: globally externalized cost (pollution, deforestation, etc.) |
|
|
Green business
|
Increasing consumer interest in “buying green”
Win-win opportunities o Energy efficiency saves money and reduces carbon footprint o Ex. Wal-Mart establishing worldwide sustainable product index Creating jobs Beware of “green washing” o Ex. Poland springs bottled water in the eco- shaped bottle |
|
|
Environmental Policy
|
3 branches of fed. Gov’t
o Executive, legislative, judicial Legislative branch passes laws called statues Judicial courts makes case laws Preponderance of evidence is a case law that requires civil law Executive branch participates most directly in international diplomacy ( treaties) Executive branch of the fed. Gov’t carries out “rule making” in its agencies |
|
|
steps of adaptive management
|
o act
o monitor o evaluate o adjust o plan |
