Environmental Science Final Exam Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards to assist in studying the Environmental Science material.

Externalities

Side effects of production/consumption not reflected in market cost

Scrubbers

Remove sulfur dioxide (SO₂) to reduce acid rain

Biomass Energy

Renewable, uses waste, carbon-neutral (in theory)

Nuclear Energy

Low CO₂ emissions, high energy output

Geothermal Energy

Low emissions, reliable source

Compost

Organic matter decomposition → nutrient-rich soil

Aral Sea Disaster

River diversions for cotton led to sea shrinkage, land degradation, and ecosystem loss. By Soviet Union for cotton irrigation

Drip Irrigation

Most efficient, targets roots, costly

Flood Irrigation

Flood entire field, cheap but wasteful

Compost

Organic matter decomposition → nutrient-rich soil; reduces landfill waste, improves soil structure

Oil Drilling (Pros)

High energy yield per unit; generates revenue and jobs; supports transportation, heating, and electricity in many countries.

Oil Drilling (Cons)

Oil spills, habitat destruction, air pollution, risk to Indigenous lands

Salmon Aquaculture (Pros)

Efficient food production, economic benefits, reduced pressure on wild salmon

Salmon Aquaculture (Cons)

Waste pollution, disease/parasites spread to wild populations, farmed salmon may outcompete wild ones

Tragedy of the Commons

A shared resource is overused by individuals acting in their own interest, depleting it for everyone.

Provisioning (Ecosystem Services)

Tangible goods like fish, crabs, oysters

Cultural (Ecosystem Services)

Recreation, tourism, spiritual value

Regulating (Ecosystem Services)

Natural water filters, buffer storm surges and prevent erosion

Supporting (Ecosystem Services)

Nurseries for marine species, primary production, nutrient cycling

Dead Zones (Cause)

Nutrient pollution → algal blooms → decomposition uses oxygen → hypoxia

GMOs (Pros)

Increased crop yield, pest/drought resistance, longer shelf life

GMOs (Cons)

Uncertain health effects, biodiversity loss, corporate seed control

Green Revolution (Techniques)

Synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, high-yield crops, irrigation