EXAM UGS

Land Surface Degradation

Damage to Earth’s surface caused by urbanization, deforestation, soil erosion, and habitat loss.

Resource Depletion

Overuse of energy, water, materials, and non-renewable resources.

Population Growth

Increase in the number of people, especially in developing countries, linked to resource strain.

Water Cycle Issues

Problems such as droughts, floods, pollution of rivers/aquifers, and ocean pollution.

Atmospheric & Global Change

Changes including air pollution, ozone depletion, smog, global warming, and climate changes.

Ecosystems

Biological communities impacted by biodiversity loss and effects from fertilizers and pesticides.

Dead Zone (Gulf of Mexico)

Low oxygen zone created by nutrient runoff leading to algal blooms that kill marine life.

Carbon Dioxide Trend

Rapid increase from ~280 ppm pre-industrial to 428 ppm in 2025 due to fossil fuels and deforestation.

Tipping Points

Thresholds beyond which environmental change becomes irreversible.

Sustainable Development

Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

Sustainability (Brundtland Commission, 1987)

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising future generations.

Sustainability Science

Interdisciplinary study examining the interactions between nature and society.

1960s–70s Heroes

Icons like MLK, JFK, and Gloria Steinem advocating for civil rights, women’s rights, and social change.

2000–2025 (Gen Z) Issues

Focus on climate change, racial justice, gender equality, and sustainability, often using digital activism.

Generation Q

Critique of passive activism, emphasizing the need for real action beyond social media.

Power of One vs. Power of Many

Individual leadership contrasted with collective action in driving social change.

Observation

Factual description of something seen or measured.

Inference

Logical interpretation or explanation based on observations.

Hypothesis

Tentative explanation or educated guess that can be tested.

Theory

Well-supported, broad explanation for phenomena based on substantial evidence.

Law

Statement of a consistent relationship observed under specific conditions.

Peer Review

Process where scientific work is evaluated by other experts to ensure quality and accuracy.

Science

Testable, falsifiable, and peer-reviewed systematic study of the natural world.

Non-Science

Disciplines not using scientific methods, such as art and philosophy.

Nonsense

Claims lacking logical or scientific basis.

Pathological Science

When scientists deceive themselves through biased expectations.

Pseudoscience

Claims not grounded in the scientific method, mistakenly believed to be scientific.

Junk Science

Claims with insufficient evidence designed to mislead others.

Cold Fusion

An example of pathological science where results were replicated unscientifically.

Hologram Bracelets

Example of pseudoscience showcasing belief over evidence.

NASA Moon Hoax

Misinterpretations that challenge scientific evidence of the moon landing.

Vitamin O

A form of junk science promoting misleading health claims.

Tragedy of the Commons

Overuse of shared resources due to individual self-interest leading to depletion.

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population size that an environment can sustain without depleting resources.

Moai

Statues carved by the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island.

Deforestation

The loss of trees leading to soil erosion and decreased biodiversity.

Easter Island Collapse

Population depletion resulting from resource overuse, deforestation, and social conflict.

Jacob Roggeveen

Dutch explorer who observed the severe decline of Easter Island's resources in 1722.

Captain James Cook

British explorer who reported on the drastic reduction of Easter Island’s population in 1774.

Study Methods of Easter Island’s History

Evidence from lake sediment cores, midden records, oral traditions, and DNA studies.

Five Carbon Reservoirs

Carbon is sequestered in the atmosphere, oceans, terrestrial biosphere, sediments, and Earth's interior.

Malthusian Argument

Theory stating population grows exponentially while food supply grows linearly.

I=PAT Equation

Framework illustrating Impact = Population × Affluence × Technology.

Rachel Carson

Marine biologist who raised awareness about the dangers of pesticides in 'Silent Spring'.

Barry Commoner

Biologist advocating that technology drives ecological consequences.

Paul Ehrlich

Author warning of the dangers of overpopulation in 'The Population Bomb'.

Thomas Malthus

Economist known for his theories on population growth and resource depletion.

Energy Budget

The balance between solar radiation received and terrestrial radiation emitted.

Climate Feedbacks

Processes that impact climate change either positively or negatively.

Positive Feedback

Processes that reinforce changes, e.g., ice melt causing more warming.

Negative Feedback

Processes that stabilize systems, e.g., increased vegetation leading to cooling.

Shortwave Radiation

High-energy solar radiation in forms like visible light and UV.

Longwave Radiation

Infrared radiation emitted by Earth post solar absorption.

Atmospheric Layers

Stratification of atmosphere including troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.

Ozone Layer

Region in stratosphere containing ozone that protects life by filtering UV radiation.

Greenhouse Effect

Natural process wherein greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Gases (GHGs)

Gases like CO₂ and CH₄ that contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Tropospheric Composition

The air composition mainly consisting of nitrogen and oxygen with trace gases.

Energy Budget

Overall balance determining Earth's prevailing temperature and climate.