Environmental Science Exam Review

A collection of flashcards covering key concepts and terms related to environmental science, designed to aid in exam preparation.

Biotic Factors

Living components of an ecosystem that affect and interact with each other.

Abiotic Factors

Non-living chemical and physical components of the environment.

Ecocentrism

A perspective that places intrinsic value on all living organisms and their natural environment, regardless of their perceived utility to humans.

Anthropocentrism

A human-centered perspective that considers human beings as the most significant entities in the universe.

Superfund

A program established to clean up some of the nation’s most contaminated land and respond to environmental emergencies.

Waste Stream

The complete flow of waste from its creation to its final disposal.

Biodegradable

Substances that can be broken down by natural processes.

Non-Biodegradable

Substances that cannot be broken down naturally and may persist in the environment for long periods.

Integrated Waste Management Triangle

A model emphasizing waste reduction, reuse, recycling/composting, incineration, and landfill.

National Wildlife Refuge

Protected areas for the conservation of fish, wildlife, and their habitats.

Law of Conservation of Mass

States that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system.

Law of Conservation of Energy

States that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.

Fracking

A technique for extracting oil and gas from underground rock formations by injecting high-pressure fluid.

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which greenhouse gases trap heat from the sun in the earth's atmosphere.

Fossil Fuels

Natural substances composed of decomposed organisms, used as energy (coal, oil, natural gas).

Ecological Footprint

A measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems, reflecting the amount of land and water area required.

E-waste

Electronic products that are discarded after the end of their useful life.

Clean Water Act

A U.S. federal law that regulates the discharge of pollutants into the waters of the United States.

CERCLA

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, also known as the Superfund law.

IUCN

International Union for Conservation of Nature, an organization focused on nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

Hydropower

Energy derived from the movement of water, commonly used for electricity generation.

Climate Change

Long-term changes in temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.