ENV101 Exam #1 Study Guide

What is environmental science and what fields are involved in the study of it?

Using scientific approaches (encompasses using all fields) to understand the environment & our place within it.

Describe the components of the environment? (Natural world, technological, social, and cultural world)

There are two components of the environment, (1) the “natural” world containing, plants, animals, soil, air, water etc and (2) the “built” world which is the world we created for ourselves, containing technology, social and cultural materials.

What are the three parts of ecosystem services? Be sure you can give examples of each part.

1.    Provisions (wood food, fuel, etc)

2.    Support Services (H20 purification, O2 production, decomposition of waste)

3.    Regulation Services (temp control, carbon production)

We only pay attention to ecosystems services we pay for. Why is that a problem?

It is a problem, because often these services are TIGHTLY coupled across the world and not “paying” for one can very heavily influence the others which we need to survive.

Define: Sustainability

Sustainability is the balance between ecological stability and human progress that can be supposed over many generations.

Define: Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is the act of meeting present needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

“True sustainability meets the needs of all humans rather than just the members of a privileged group” – what does this mean for the poorest?

That before we can truly focus on the future, we need to meet the needs of our current communities, even the poorest and start development for sustainability.

What are the first 3 UN Sustainable Development Goals?

1.    Combat Poverty

2.    Reduce Resource Consumption

3.    Population Growth

What is science?

Science is a process producing knowledge based on observations. It is the cumulative knowledge produced by scientists.

What is the scientific method?

The process by which scientists conduct experiments to test questions. It includes a question, a hypothesis, and experiments.

Why is a control important in an experiment?

The control is important to show results in the absence of the test variable, it is essential to make comparisons.

Explain why you cannot prove a hypothesis true and how you can prove a hypothesis false

We can’t prove a hypothesis true, we can only accept it or prove it false because it is based on uncertainty and constant re-evaluation, and new evidence may disprove an accepted hypothesis.

Why do experimental results have to be repeatable?

If they aren’t able to be reproduced by multiple trials, multiple methods and multiple scientists, then it is possible that the outcome is wrong and cannot be accepted.

What is the difference between a scientific theory and the popular culture way of using the word ‘theory’?

A scientific theory is an explanation that is supposed by a large number of tests by many individuals and is accepted by the majority of experts as a reliable explanation.

The cultural theory is used as a speculative and unsupported explanation, more of an opinion than supported idea.

What is scientific consensus and why is it important?

Scientific consensus is the general agreement among informed scholars, based on many exchanges, debates, testing and information.

Why do we need to rely on experts in a field?

We have to rely on experts because one person can’t be an expert in everything, so we need experts to sort through many contradictory results to provide appropriate conclusions.

Describe three ways to evaluate if a study is based on sound science or junk science.

1.    Check the source for reliability

2.    If it contradicts established theories

3.    Check funding sources.

Which property of water explains how oceans regulate Earth's climate?

It takes a lot of energy to raise the temperature of water.

Humans mostly value which part of Ecosystem services?

Provisioning resources

Living plants and the ocean are known as "carbon sinks" because

they store carbon.

An ecosystem consists of