Environmental Science Notes — Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key terms and definitions from the environmental science notes.

Percent Change

(Final − Initial) / Initial × 100; a measure of how much something has changed as a percentage of its initial value.

Rate

Distance per unit of time; e.g., speed = distance ÷ time.

Fracking

A method to extract oil and natural gas from deep shale by injecting high-pressure water, sand, and chemicals to crack rock and release trapped fuels.

Fracking benefits

Positive outcomes: boosts energy supply, creates jobs, lowers fuel prices.

Fracking drawbacks

Negative outcomes: water contamination, air pollution, methane release, earthquakes.

Anthropogenic environmental change

Environmental change caused or influenced by human activity.

Anthropogenic examples

Examples include recycling programs (positive) or deforestation (negative).

Science

The process of learning about the natural world through observation and experimentation, using evidence to form explanations and predictions.

Environment

The sum total of living and nonliving elements and their effects that influence human life.

Environmental science/studies

Interdisciplinary study of the Earth's physical, chemical, and biological systems, focusing on human impacts and solutions; integrates biology, geology, etc.

Rachel Carson

Marine biologist who warned about pesticide dangers (DDT), inspiring the modern environmental movement and EPA creation.

System

A set of interconnected parts that work together to form a unified whole.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms and their nonliving physical environment functioning as a unit.

Biotic

The living components of an ecosystem (plants, animals, microorganisms, and their wastes).

Abiotic

The nonliving components of an ecosystem that influence living organisms.

Environmental scientist

A professional who studies the natural world and human impacts on it to protect the environment and human health.

Environmentalist

A person who advocates protection of the environment.

Population Growth

Increase in the number of people, often increasing resource use and environmental impact.

Technological Development

Advancement in technology that alters how humans interact with the environment.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits humans receive from ecosystems, categorized as provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services.

Provisioning services

Tangible goods from ecosystems (food, water, wood, medicine).

Regulating services

Regulation of ecosystem processes (flood control, climate regulation, pollution control).

Cultural services

Nonmaterial benefits like recreation, tourism, and spiritual value.

Supporting services

Foundational ecological processes like nutrient cycling, soil formation, and photosynthesis.

Biodiversity

The variety of life on Earth, including genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity.

Genetic diversity

Variation of genes within a population or species.

Species diversity

Variety of different species in a given area.

Ecosystem diversity

Variety of habitats, communities, and ecological processes within and between ecosystems.

Tropical biodiversity

Greatest biodiversity is found in tropical regions.

Genetic diversity benefits

Higher genetic diversity allows populations to adapt to changing conditions.

Species diversity benefits

Higher species diversity supports ecosystem resilience and function.

Ecosystem diversity benefits

A variety of habitats supports a wider range of ecosystem processes.

Speciation

Formation of new species.

Background extinction

Continuous, low-rate extinction of species over time.

Food production dependencies

Soil quality, water availability, and climate.

World population (approx.)

About 8.1 billion people.

Green Revolution

Agricultural advances with high-yield crops, fertilizer, irrigation, and mechanization; increased food supply but with pesticide pollution and soil degradation.

Norman Borlaug

Father of the Green Revolution; key figure in modern high-yield agriculture.

Carrying capacity (k)

Maximum population size that a environment can sustain indefinitely given resource availability.

Renewable resource

Resource that can be replenished naturally over time (e.g., solar energy, timber).

Nonrenewable resource

Resource that is finite and not replenishable on human timescales (e.g., fossil fuels, minerals).

Sustainability

Using resources in a way that meets current needs without compromising future generations’ ability to meet theirs.

Ecological footprint

Measure of the land and resources needed to support a lifestyle; Earth’s carrying capacity branded as “5 Earths” if everyone lived like the USA.

Scientific method

Systematic process to investigate phenomena through observation, hypothesis, experimentation, and analysis.

Hypothesis

A testable educated guess about the relationship between variables.

Controlled experiment

An experiment where one variable is deliberately changed while others are kept constant to isolate effects.

Independent variable

The variable deliberately changed in an experiment.

Dependent variable

The variable measured in an experiment.

Constants

Variables kept the same across all experimental trials.

Experimental group

Subject group exposed to the independent variable.

Control group

Subject group not exposed to the independent variable, used for comparison.

Replication

Repeating an experiment to verify results.

Sample size

The number of observations or trials used in an experiment.

Accuracy

How close a measurement is to the true value.

Precision

How repeatable measurements are to each other.

Data display

Ways to present data (tables, graphs, charts) for analysis.

Controlled vs natural experiments

Controlled experiments modify variables; natural experiments observe phenomena as they occur without manipulation.

Environmental justice

Fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens across all people, regardless of race, income, or origin.

Matter (cycles of matter)

Anything with mass; cycles describe how matter moves through systems (inputs/outputs).

Atom

Smallest unit of an element containing protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Proton

Positively charged subatomic particle in the nucleus.

Neutron

Electrically neutral subatomic particle in the nucleus.

Electron

Negatively charged subatomic particle orbiting the nucleus.

Element

A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical reactions; defined by its number of protons.

Periodic table

Organized array of elements by atomic number and properties.

Molecule

Two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds.

Compound

A substance composed of two or more different elements chemically combined.

Atomic number

Number of protons in the nucleus; defines the element.

Mass number

Sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus.

Isotope

Variants of an element with the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons.

Half-life

Time required for half of a radioactive substance to decay.

Radioactive decay

Process by which unstable nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation.

Carbon dating

Method to determine the age of organic materials using the decay rate of carbon-14.

Intramolecular bonds

Bonds within a molecule (primarily covalent and ionic) that hold atoms together.

Covalent bond

Bond formed by sharing electron pairs between atoms.

Ionic bond

Bond formed by transfer of electrons resulting in charged ions that attract each other.

Polarity

Unequal distribution of electrons in a molecule leading to partial charges; water is a polar molecule.

Electron pair

Two electrons that are shared or belong to a single atom; involved in covalent bonding and polarity.

Intermolecular bond

Attractive forces between molecules (e.g., hydrogen bonds) weaker than intramolecular bonds.

Hydrogen bond

Intermolecular attraction between a slightly positive hydrogen and an electronegative atom (often misnamed as a true bond).

Balanced chemical equation

A chemical equation with the same number of each type of atom on both sides, reflecting conservation of matter.

Organic compound

Compound primarily composed of carbon and hydrogen, often with other elements; typically associated with living systems.

Inorganic compound

Compound not primarily composed of carbon-hydrogen bonds (e.g., salts, minerals).

Salt

Compound formed from the reaction of an acid and a base; typically ionic and soluble.

Macromolecule

Large carbon-based molecule composed of smaller units; includes lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids.

Lipids

Macromolecules mostly composed of carbon and hydrogen; insoluble in water; energy storage and membranes.

Carbohydrates

Macromolecules made of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; provide energy and structure.

Proteins

Macromolecules built from amino acids; perform numerous functions including enzymes.

Nucleic acids

Macromolecules (DNA and RNA) that store and transmit genetic information.

Enzymes

Proteins that act as biological catalysts to accelerate chemical reactions.

Cell

Basic unit of life; a system that carries out essential biological processes.

Energy

The ability to do work or cause change; flows through living systems.

Photosynthesis

Process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy (sugars).

Cellular respiration

Process by which cells convert chemical energy from nutrients into usable energy (ATP).

Photon

Particle of light; a quantum of energy emitted by the Sun and other sources.

Electromagnetic spectrum

Range of all types of electromagnetic radiation arranged by wavelength and energy.

Visible light

Portion of the spectrum visible to the human eye; essential for photosynthesis.

Short vs long wavelengths

Short wavelengths carry more energy per photon than long wavelengths.

Producer

Organism, typically plants or algae, that performs photosynthesis to form organic matter from light energy.

Energy vs power

Energy is the ability to do work (joules); power is the rate of energy transfer (watts, J/s).