Sustainable Development and Environmental Stewardship Review

A collection of flashcards covering key terminology and concepts related to sustainable development and environmental engineering.

Anthropogenic Environmental Change

Changes in the environment resulting from human activities.

Industrial Ecology

The study of material and energy flows through industrial systems, viewed in concert with surrounding systems.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.

Environmental Engineering

The application of scientific and engineering principles to improve the environment for future generations.

Air Pollution

Contamination of the air that can cause health effects and environmental damage.

Particulate Matter

A mixture of small solid or liquid particles suspended in the air.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

A gas produced primarily from the combustion of coal and oil, leading to respiratory problems and acid rain.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

A colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion of carbon-containing materials.

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Gases produced from fuel combustion that contribute to smog and respiratory problems.

Tropospheric Ozone (O3)

A harmful air pollutant formed by chemical reactions between sunlight and pollutants like nitrogen oxides.

Acid Rain

Precipitation that has a lower pH due to the presence of sulfuric and nitric acids from oxides of sulfur and nitrogen.

Pathogens

Microorganisms that can cause disease, such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa.

Eutrophication

The process by which water bodies receive excess nutrients that stimulate excessive plant growth, disrupting ecosystem balance.

Toxic Organic Chemicals

Synthetic organic compounds that may be harmful to human health and the environment.

Hazardous Waste

Waste that poses a substantial or potential threat to human health or the environment.

Risk Assessment

The process of determining the potential impact of a chemical on human health and the environment.

Greenhouse Effect

The warming of the Earth's surface due to the trapping of radiation by greenhouse gases.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

A method to evaluate the environmental impacts of a product from cradle to grave.

Dose-Response Assessment

A method to determine the relationship between exposure to a chemical and the resulting health effects.

Carbon Sequestration

The natural or artificial capture and storage of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Decision Tree

A diagram that shows the consequences of different decisions, used in risk analysis and decision-making.

Renewable Resources

Natural resources that can be replenished naturally over time.

Non-Renewable Resources

Resources that exist in finite amounts and cannot be replenished within a human timescale.

Climate Sensitivity Factor

The ratio of temperature change to the change in radiative forcing due to greenhouse gases.