Sustainable Development, Environmental Movements, and Climate Science

What is the fundamental change needed in economic development for sustainability according to View 1?

Economic development must be compatible with the environment, as capitalist growth exploits the environment.

How does View 2 reconcile economic growth with environmental stewardship?

Economic growth is seen as beneficial for environmental stewardship because it generates wealth for conservation, allows people to value environmental amenities, and alleviates poverty which drives environmental degradation.

What is the Environmental Kuznets Curve?

It is a key rationale for sustainable development, suggesting that economic growth can lead to environmental improvement after reaching a certain income level.

What are the main concerns of environmentalism in the New Millennium?

Environmental problems, particularly climate change, are global threats that link local and global concerns.

What role do global institutions play in sustainable development?

They establish frameworks like the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to address environmental issues.

What is the significance of the 'triple bottom line' for private firms?

It encourages firms to consider social, environmental, and economic impacts in their operations.

How do social movements contribute to sustainable development?

They center local community concerns and create global networks to influence the definition and questioning of sustainable development.

What does the Rights of Nature concept advocate?

It recognizes that ecosystems have rights similar to human rights, promoting a balance between human interests and the well-being of nature.

How does the Rights of Nature approach differ from traditional legal views of nature?

It treats nature not as property but as having its own rights to exist, persist, and regenerate.

What is the connection between Indigenous cultures and the Rights of Nature?

Indigenous cultures often align with the Rights of Nature, emphasizing harmony with nature and interconnectedness of all life.

What are the political aspects of nature management in the new millennium?

Nature management is political, with multiple perspectives influencing the human-environment relationship.

What geographic principles help understand the politics of nature?

Scale-sensitive analysis, spatial patterns of resource use, connections between places and regions, and viewing the human-environment as a single unit.

What are the three perspectives on nature that illustrate variances in politics?

Preservation, Conservation, and a third unspecified perspective that helps understand the debate over nature.

How do social movements influence the definition of sustainable development?

They challenge and redefine sustainable development by advocating for local concerns and creating global networks.

What is the holistic recognition emphasized by the Rights of Nature?

All life and ecosystems are deeply intertwined, necessitating a balance between human and ecological needs.

What is the role of wealth in environmental stewardship according to View 2?

Wealth generated from economic growth is necessary to invest in conservation efforts.

How does poverty relate to environmental degradation?

Poverty is a driving force behind environmental degradation, as it limits the ability to value and invest in environmental amenities.

What is the significance of multiscalar institutions in addressing environmental issues?

They facilitate cooperation and regulatory frameworks at global, national, state, and municipal levels.

What is the relationship between local and global environmental concerns?

They are interconnected, with local issues often reflecting broader global environmental challenges.

What is the legal authority of people in relation to the Rights of Nature?

People have the authority and responsibility to enforce the rights of ecosystems on their behalf.

What does the term 'eco-centric approach' refer to in the context of Rights of Nature?

It emphasizes the intrinsic rights of nature and ecosystems, advocating for their protection and legal recognition.

How do social movements act in relation to sustainable development?

They operate locally while influencing global discussions and policies on sustainable development.

What led to the modern environmental movement?

Industrialization and industrial science generated concern and activism.

What is the aim of Sustainable Development?

To address tensions between economic development and environmental protection.

How is the current environmental movement characterized?

It is defined by multiple competing visions of nature and differentiated human relations to it.

What is critical analysis in the context of environmental studies?

An approach to examine how common sense ideas become default knowledge and shape perceptions of reality.

What does critical analysis require us to pay attention to?

How common sense comes about, what it includes, what it excludes, and its impact on shaping knowledge.

What is the first step in the data life cycle?

Data Acquisition.

What are the main stages of the data life cycle?

Capture, Maintain, Communicate, Process, Analyze.

What does the 'Maintain' stage of the data life cycle include?

Data Warehousing, Data Cleansing, Data Staging, Data Processing, Data Architecture.

What is the purpose of the 'Communicate' stage in the data life cycle?

To report and visualize data, support business intelligence, and aid decision making.

What types of analysis are included in the 'Analyze' stage of the data life cycle?

Exploratory/Confirmatory, Predictive Analysis, Regression, Text Mining, Qualitative Analysis.

What percentage of the mass of our Solar System does the Sun account for?

99.9%.

What is solar energy?

Radiant light and heat energy from the Sun, generated by the process of fusion.

What is the significance of the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn in terms of solar energy?

They mark the locations where the Sun's rays are most direct at 23.5° N and 23.5° S, respectively.

How does insolation vary between the equator and the poles?

The equator receives 2.5 times more energy than the poles due to more direct sunlight.

What is the electromagnetic spectrum in relation to solar energy?

The Sun emits shortwave energy, including gamma rays, X-rays, UV, visible light, and infrared.

What type of energy does Earth emit?

Longwave energy.

What would happen to Earth's temperature without accounting for solar and terrestrial radiation?

Earth would be 30 degrees colder.

What is the formula for Global Net Radiation?

Net Radiation = Incoming Shortwave Radiation - Outgoing Longwave Radiation.

What does the Energy Budget by Latitude illustrate?

It shows how much energy the Earth receives from the Sun and its distribution across different latitudes.

Why is incoming solar radiation highest at the equator?

Because the equator receives more direct sunlight all year round.

How does outgoing energy relate to incoming energy?

Outgoing energy (heat) tries to balance the incoming energy.

What is the energy surplus and deficit at the equator and poles?

The equator receives more energy than it loses (energy surplus), while the poles lose more energy than they receive (energy deficit).

How does the Earth's energy budget vary with latitude?

It is warm at the equator and cold at the poles, leading to a redistribution of energy to balance the temperature differences.

What drives winds, ocean currents, and weather on Earth?

The imbalance of energy surplus at the equator and energy deficit at the poles.

What are the main factors affecting land and water heating?

Evaporation, transmissivity, mobility, and specific heat.

How does land heat up compared to water?

Land heats up faster and to higher temperatures than water due to low evaporation, no transmission, no mobility, and low specific heat.

What is the orographic effect?

Precipitation is created by a topographic barrier, leading to a rain shadow on the opposite side.

What is the urban heat island effect?

It is the phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than their rural surroundings due to human activities and infrastructure.

What are the daily radiation patterns in relation to energy transfer?

Heat transfers downward during the day and upward toward the surface at night.

What is the difference between heat and temperature?

Heat is energy that flows due to temperature differences, while temperature measures the average kinetic energy of molecules.

What are the key temperature scales and their significance?

Fahrenheit (°F): Ice melts at 32°F, boils at 212°F; Celsius (°C): Ice melts at 0°C, boils at 100°C; Kelvin (K): Absolute zero is -273°C.

What are the principal temperature controls?

Latitude (affecting solar radiation) and altitude/elevation (affecting air density).

What happens to energy exchange at depth in the soil?

Energy exchange becomes negligible at certain depths due to conduction.

What is specific heat and how does it differ between land and water?

Specific heat is the amount of heat required to change a substance's temperature; land has low specific heat and heats quickly, while water has high specific heat and heats slowly.

What is the significance of the heat transfer direction during day and night?

During the day, heat transfers downward into the ground, while at night, heat transfers upward toward the surface.

What is the role of mobility in heating and cooling of land and water?

Mobility refers to the ability of fluids (like air and water) to move and distribute heat; water's higher mobility contributes to its slower heating.

What is the impact of altitude on temperature?

Higher altitudes generally result in lower temperatures due to decreased air density.

How does the concept of temperature relate to molecular motion?

Higher temperatures indicate faster molecular motion, while lower temperatures indicate slower motion.

What factors might influence the geographic occurrence of the urban heat island effect?

Factors include city size, population density, vegetation cover, and building materials.

What is the relationship between temperature changes and heat energy?

Changes in temperature are caused by the absorption or emission of heat energy.

What is the significance of the surface energy budget?

It illustrates how energy is balanced between the atmosphere and the surface, affecting temperature and climate.

What happens to air as elevation increases?

Air expands with elevation.

What effect does cloud cover have on solar radiation?

Cloud cover blocks solar radiation.

What are the major terrestrial biomes on Earth?

Equatorial and tropical rain forest, tropical seasonal forest and scrub, tropical savanna, midlatitude broadleaf and mixed forest, needleleaf forest and montane forest, temperate rain forest, Mediterranean shrubland, midlatitude grasslands, deserts, Arctic and alpine tundra.

How is solar radiation distributed on Earth?

Solar radiation is unevenly distributed.

What is the relationship between energy and phase changes of water?

Energy is tightly coupled to the phase change of water.

What is the total energy required to change ice at 0 °C to steam at 100 °C?

720 cal/g.

What are the types of liquid precipitation?

Rain, drizzle, dew, fog-drip.

What are the types of solid precipitation?

Snowflakes, grains, graupel, frozen rain, frost, hail.

What are the three steps in precipitation formation?

1. Creation of saturated conditions in the atmosphere; 2. Condensation of water vapor into liquid water; 3. Growth of droplets by collision and coalescence.

What is vapor pressure?

Vapor pressure is a measure of how much water vapor is in the air.

What happens to relative humidity when air is cooled while maintaining constant moisture?

Relative humidity rises until it reaches 100%.

What is the dew point?

The temperature at which the moisture content in the air will saturate the air.

What is condensation?

The phase change whereby water vapor becomes liquid water.

How are heat and temperature different?

Heat is energy that flows due to temperature difference, while temperature measures the average kinetic energy of molecules.

What is the significance of terrestrial biomes?

They are manifestations of the distribution of biophysical resources on Earth.

What is the relationship between the energy budget and water balance on Earth?

The energy budget and water balance are tightly linked through phase changes of water.

What is the role of condensation nuclei in condensation?

Condensation nuclei, such as dust particles and ice, facilitate the phase change from vapor to liquid.

What is the impact of human activity on geographical expressions of physical processes?

Human activity can be traced to some geographical expression of physical processes.

What is the effect of temperature on the capacity of air to hold water vapor?

Warm air can hold more water vapor, while cool air can hold less.

What is the significance of energy redistribution in response to gradients?

It helps explain the uneven distribution of solar radiation and energy on Earth.

What is the role of phase changes in energy expenditure?

Phase changes require significant energy without changing temperature, while heating/cooling changes temperature with less energy.