AP Environmental Science Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the AP Environmental Science lecture notes.

Tragedy of the Commons

A situation in which individuals use shared public resources in their own self-interest, leading to degradation of those resources.

Overfishing

Catching so many fish that the remaining population cannot sustain itself, leading to fishery collapse.

Negative Externalities

Costs associated with human actions not accounted for in the price, such as pollution impacting local communities.

Green Revolution

A significant shift in agriculture characterized by increased mechanization, use of GMOs, irrigation, and fertilizers to boost food supply.

High Yield Variety (HYV) Crops

Crops developed to produce higher yields through hybridization or genetic modification.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Synthetic compounds that do not easily break down in the environment and accumulate in living organisms.

Biological Magnification

The process by which pollutants become more concentrated as they move up the food chain.

Endocrine Disruptors

Chemicals that interfere with hormonal systems, potentially causing reproductive and developmental issues.

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

Trash generated by households and businesses, distinct from hazardous waste.

Sustainable Forestry

Forest management practices aimed at minimizing ecosystem damage while using trees for lumber.

Leachate

Liquid that drains or 'leaches' from a landfill, potentially contaminating groundwater.

NIMBY (Not In My BackYard)

A societal attitude where communities oppose local developments like landfills due to perceived negative impacts.

Acid Rain

Precipitation that has been made acidic by environmental factors, leading to harmful effects on ecosystems.

Reforestation

The process of replanting trees in deforested areas to restore ecosystems.

Eutrophication

Nutrient enrichment of water bodies, often leading to excessive growth of algae and depletion of oxygen.

Climate Change

Long-term alteration of temperature and typical weather patterns in a place, primarily driven by human activities.