Studied by 5 people
Flashcards for AP Environmental Science, ONLY UNIT 1! (Not done)
Environment
The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates, including physical, chemical, and biological factors.
Environmental Science
Environmental Science studies the impact of human activity on the environment and aims to find sustainable solutions for environmental issues.
Ecosystem
A community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment, interacting as a system.
Biotic
Living organisms in an ecosystem, including plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria.
Abiotic
Non-living components of an ecosystem, such as temperature, water, sunlight, and soil.
Environmentalist
Environmentalists advocate for the protection and preservation of the environment and natural resources through activism, education, and policy initiatives.
Environmental Studies
Field of study that examines the relationships between humans and their environment, focusing on environmental issues, sustainability, and conservation.
Ecosystem Services
Benefits that nature provides to humans, such as clean water, pollination, and climate regulation, essential for our well-being.
Environmental Indicator
A measurable parameter that provides information on the state of the environment, helping assess environmental quality and trends.
Biodiversity
The variety of life forms in a specific habitat or on Earth, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.
Background Extinction
Background Extinction is the ongoing, natural process of species becoming extinct due to environmental and ecological factors over time.
Greenhouse gasses
Atmospheric gases like carbon dioxide and methane that trap heat, leading to global warming and climate change.
Anthropogenic
Originating from human activity rather than natural processes.
Tragedy of the Commons
A concept where individuals exploit shared resources for personal gain, leading to depletion and degradation of the resource for all.
Biogeochemical cycle
The flow of chemical elements and compounds between living organisms and the environment through biological, geological, and chemical processes.
Nitrogen Fixation
Process by which certain bacteria convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form plants can use for growth, essential for ecosystem nutrient cycling.
Nitrification
The process by which certain bacteria convert ammonium into nitrites and then nitrates in the soil, making nitrogen available for plants.
Mineralization
The process where organic matter is converted into minerals through decomposition by microorganisms in the soil.
Denitrification
The process by which bacteria convert nitrates into nitrogen gas, reducing the availability of nitrogen in soil and water ecosystems.
Evaporation
When a liquid, like water, changes into a gas and rises into the air.
Transpiration
A process in which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves.
Runoff
The movement of water over the surface of the land
Evapotranspiration
The combined process of evaporation and transpiration, representing the total amount of water that is evaporated from the Earth's surface and transpired by plants into the atmosphere.
Flows and Pools of the Carbon Cycle
Flows of carbon involve the movement of carbon between different reservoirs, such as the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms. Pools of carbon represent the storage or accumulation of carbon in these reservoirs over longer periods of time, like in forests, soils, and fossil fuel deposits.
Flows and Pools of the Hydrologic Cycle
Flows of water involve the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms. Pools of water represent the storage or accumulation of water in various forms, such as lakes, rivers, groundwater, and glaciers.
Flows and Pools of the Phosphorus Cycle
Flows of phosphorus involve the rocks, soil, water bodies, and living organisms. Pools of phosphorus represent the storage or accumulation of phosphorus in these reservoirs over longer periods of time.
Note 
Flashcard (24)