Environmental Science

Environmental Science

The study of the interaction of humans with the natural environment.

Environment

Includes all conditions that surround living organisms, such as climate, air and water quality, soil and landforms, and the presence of other living organisms.

Resource Depletion

The great deal of resources needed to support the human population.

Pollution

The degradation or undesired change in air, water, and soil that affects the health of living things.

Loss of Biodiversity

The decrease in the number of different species present in a specific ecosystem.

Environmental Ethics

The discipline that studies the moral relationship of human beings to the environment.

Modern Environmentalism

The awakening to threats of pollution and toxic chemicals to humans and species, sparked by events like the Cuyahoga river fire and Rachel Carson's book "Silent Spring."

Global Environmentalism

The exploration of issues and problems over the entire world, not just within the local community.

Tragedy of the Commons

The likelihood of a commons area being exploited for short-term economic gain, such as the atmosphere and oceans.

Economics and Environment

The influence of economics in environmental decision-making, including supply and demand and cost/benefit analysis.

Population and Consumption

The consumption of resources by developed countries at a greater rate, despite their smaller size and growth.

Sustainability

When human needs are met so that the population can survive indefinitely, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Spaceship Earth Worldview

The concept that the Earth is a closed system with limited resources, and waste does not go away.

Nature and Organization of Matter

The states of matter, atomic structure, compounds

Energy and Energy Flow

The forms of energy (mechanical, electromagnetic, electrical, chemical, and thermal).

Interdisciplinary

Includes concepts and ideas from multiple fields of study.

Renewable resources

can be replenished within a human lifetime.

e.g, Water

Non-Renewable Resources

is replenished extremely slowly, if at all. These can be used up.

e.g, Coal, Oil, Minerals

Biodegradable pollution

will break down naturally over time.

Non-Biodegradable pollution

does not break down.

Extinction

 the complete loss of a species, is a natural event that can be accelerated by human actions.

Background rate

Assuming no catastrophic events occur, extinction normally occurs at a pretty slow rate.

1 every 200 years

Normal background extinction rate for mammals

Anthropocentrism

literally means “human-centered”.

Anthropocentrism

This set of ethics protects and promotes human interests or well-being at the expenses of all other factors.

Anthropocentrism

Often places an emphasis on short-term benefits while disregarding long-term consequences.

Ecocentrists/ecocentrism

believe that nature deserves to exist for its own sake regardless of degree of usefulness to humans.

Ecocentrists/ecocentrism

The preservation of ecosystems or other living things takes priority over human needs.

Commons

is an area that belongs to no individual; it is shared by the entire society.

Cost/Benefit analysis

This questions whether the benefit of doing something justifies the economic cost.

States of Matter

The Earth is one large mixture of gases, liquids and solids.

Atomic Structure

the main atomic constituents are protons, electrons and neutrons. The relationship of every element present in the environment depends on these subatomic particles.

Compounds

Elements are able to combine to form compounds by reacting together.

Mechanical Energy

Energy due to an object’s motion (kinetic) or position (potential).

Potential Energy

Energy that is stored in an object due to its position or condition.

Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion, observable as the movement of an object or subatomic particle.