APES - Chapters 1, 2, 8

fracking

The pumping of water at high pressure to break apart rocks in order to release natural gas

ecosystem

A particular location on Earth with interacting biotic and abiotic components

environmentalist

a person who participates in environmentalism, a social movement that seeks to protect the environment through lobbying, activism, and education

environmental indicators

an indicator that describes the current state of an environmental system

species

a group of organisms that is distinct from other groups in its morphology, behavior, or biochemical properties

greenhouse gases

Gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat near the surface

sustainability

Living on Earth in a way that allows humans to use its resources without depriving future generations of those resources

ecological footprint

A measure of how much an individual consumes, expressed in area of land

null hypothesis

A prediction that there is no difference between groups or conditions, or a statement or an idea that can be falsified, or proved wrong.

accuracy

how close a measured value is to the actual or true value

theory

a hypothesis that has been repeatedly tested and confirmed by multiple groups of researchers and has reached wide acceptance

environment

the sum of all the conditions surrounding us that influence life

biotic

living

environmental studies

The field of study that includes environmental science and additional subjects such as environmental policy, economics, literature, and ethics.

biodiversity

the diversity of life forms in an environment

species diversity

The number of species in a region or in a particular type of habitat

anthropogenic

derived from human activities

sustainable development

development that balances current human well-being and economic advancement with resource management for the benefit of future generations

scientific method

an objective method to explore the natural world, draw inferences from it, and predict the outcome of certain events, processes, or changes

replication

The data collection procedure of taking repeated measurements

precision

how close the repeated measurements of a sample are to one another

control group

In a scientific investigation, a group that experiences exactly the same conditions as the experimental group, except for the single variable under study.

environmental science

The field of study that looks at interactions among human systems and those found in nature

abiotic

non-living

ecosystem services

the processes by which life-supporting resources such as clean water, timber, fisheries, and agricultural crops are produced

genetic diversity

a measure of the genetic variation among individuals in a population

background extinction rate

The average rate at which species become extinct over the long term

development

improvement in human well-being through economic advancement

biophilia

love of life

hypothesis

a testable conjecture about how something works

sample size

the number of times a measurement is replicated in data collection

uncertainty

an estimate of how much a measured or calculated value differs from a true value

natural experiment

a natural event that acts as an experimental treatment in an ecosystem

matter

anything that occupies space and has mass

element

a substance composed of atoms that cannot be broken down into smaller, simpler components

compound

a molecule containing more than one element

isotopes

Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons

covalent bond

the bond formed when elements share electrons

polar molecule

a molecule in which one side is more positive and the other side is more negative

acid

a substance that contributes hydrogen ions to a solution

chemical reaction

a reaction that occurs when atoms separate from molecules or recombine with other molecules

organic compound

a compound that contains carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds

nucleic acid

organic compounds found in all living cells

lipid

a smaller organic biological molecule that does not mix with water

electromagnetic radiation

A form of energy emitted by the Sun that includes, but is not limited to, visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared energy.

kinetic energy

the energy of motion

power

the rate at which work is done

2nd law of thermodynamics

the physical law stating that when energy is transformed, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes

entropy

randomness in a system

input

an addition to a system

steady state

a state in which inputs equal outputs, so that the system is not changing over time

mass

the measurement of the amount of matter in an object

periodic table

A chart of all chemical elements currently known, organized by their properties.

atomic number

the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

radioactive decay

the spontaneous release of material from the nucleus of radioactive isotopes

ionic bond

A chemical bond between two ions of opposite charges

surface tension

a property of water that results from the cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water and that creates a sort of skin on the water's surface

base

a substance that contributes hydroxide ions to a solution

law of conservation of matter

A law of nature stating that matter cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change form

carbohydrate

a compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms

DNA

A nucleic acid, the genetic material that contains the code for reproducing the components of the next generation, and which organisms pass on to their offspring.

cell

a highly organized living entity that consists of the four types of macromolecules and other substances in a watery solution, surrounded by a membrane

photon

a massless packet of energy that carries electromagnetic radiation at the speed of light

chemical energy

potential energy stored in chemical bonds

temperature

the measure of the average kinetic energy of a substance

energy efficiency

The ratio of the amount of energy expended in the form you want to the total amount of energy that is introduced into the system

open system

a system in which exchanges of matter or energy occur across system boundaries

output

a loss from a system

negative feedback loop

A feedback loop in which a system responds to a change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which the change is occurring.

atom

the smallest particle that can contain the chemical properties of an element

molecule

a particle that contains more than one atom

mass number

a measurement of the total number of protons and neutrons in an element

half-life

the time it takes for one-half of an original radioactive parent atom to decay

hydrogen bond

a weak chemical bond that forms when hydrogen atoms that are covalently bonded to one atom are attracted to another atom on another molecule

capillary action

a property of water that occurs when adhesion of water molecules to a surface is stronger than cohesion between the molecules

pH

the number that indicates the relative strength of acids and bases in a substance

inorganic compound

A compound that does not contain the element carbon or contains carbon bound to elements other than hydrogen.

protein

A critical component of living organisms made up of a long chain of nitrogen-containing organic molecules known as amino acids

RNA

a nucleic acid that translates the code stored in DNA, which makes possible the synthesis of proteins

energy

the ability to do work or transfer heat

potential energy

stored energy that has not been released

joule

The amount of energy used when a 1-watt electrical device is turned on for 1 second

1st law of thermodynamics

A physical law which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can change from one form to another

energy quality

the ease with which an energy source can be used for work

closed system

a system in which matter and energy exchanges do not occur across boundaries

systems analysis

an analysis to determine inputs, outputs, and changes in a system under various conditions

positive feedback loop

a feedback loop in which change in a system is amplified

core

the innermost zone of Earth's interior, composed mostly of iron and nickel. It includes a liquid outer layer and a solid inner layer.

asthenosphere

The layer of Earth located in the outer part of the mantle, composed of semi-molten rock.

hot spot

In geology, a place where molten material from Earth's mantle reaches the lithosphere.

subduction

The process of one crustal plate passing under another

seafloor spreading

The formation of new ocean crust as a result of magma pushing upward and outward from Earth's mantle to the surface.

fault

a fracture in rock caused by a movement of Earth's crust

earthquake

The sudden movement of Earth's crust caused by a release of potential energy along a geologic fault and usually causing a vibration or trembling at Earth's surface.

rock cycle

the geologic cycle governing the constant formation, alteration, and destruction of rock material that results from tectonics, weathering, and erosion, among other processes.

extrusive igneous rock

Rock that forms when magma cools above the surface of Earth

metamorphic rock

Rock that forms when sedimentary rock, igneous rock, or other metamorphic rock is subjected to high temperature and pressure.

parent material

the rock material from which the inorganic components of a soil are derived

O horizon

The organic horizon at the surface of many soils, composed of organic detritus in various stages of decomposition

E horizon

A zone of leaching, or eluviation, found in some acidic soils under the O horizon or, less often, the A horizon