Cambridge International AS Level Environmental Management 8291 Flashcards

A set of 100 vocabulary flashcards covering key definitions, concepts, formulas, and terminology from the Cambridge International AS Level Environmental Management 8291 syllabus.

Cambridge Learner Attributes

The five key characteristics developed in students through the Cambridge Pathway: confident, responsible, reflective, innovative, and engaged.

Continents

The world's seven major continuous landmasses: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania.

Oceans

The world's five major connected bodies of salt water: Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Southern Ocean.

World Bank Income Groups

The economic classification system used by the World Bank to categorize countries into low income economies (LICs), middle income economies (MICs), and high income economies (HICs).

Low Income Economies (LICs)

Countries classified by the World Bank as having lower gross national income per capita relative to global benchmarks.

High Income Economies (HICs)

Countries classified by the World Bank as having higher gross national income per capita relative to global benchmarks.

Sustainability

The ability to meet the needs of the present global population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainable Management of Resources

The practice of using and managing natural resources responsibly to fulfill current needs while conserving ecosystems for future generations.

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water on, above, and below the Earth's surface through processes including condensation, precipitation, interception, infiltration, surface run-off, through-flow, ground water flow, transpiration, and evaporation.

Condensation

The process in the water cycle where cooling water vapour converts into liquid water droplets to form clouds.

Precipitation

Any form of water—such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail—that falls from atmospheric clouds to the Earth's surface.

Interception

The capture and temporary storage of precipitation by plant foliage and vegetation before it reaches the ground surface.

Infiltration

The movement and absorption of surface water downward into the soil layer.

Surface Run-off

Precipitation water that flows overland across the soil surface directly into rivers, lakes, or oceans rather than infiltrating the soil.

Through-flow

The horizontal movement of infiltrated water downslope within the soil layer under the influence of gravity.

Ground Water Flow

The very slow lateral movement of filtered water deep beneath the surface within saturated permeable rock or soil layers.

Transpiration

The process by which plants absorb water through roots and evaporate it into the atmosphere via leaves.

Evaporation

The physical change of state where liquid water absorbs heat energy and transforms into gaseous water vapour in the atmosphere.

Atmosphere Components

The major primary gaseous constituents of Earth's atmosphere: nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon, and water vapour.

Primary Layers of the Atmosphere

The four main vertical divisions of Earth's atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere.

Troposphere

The lowest primary layer of Earth's atmosphere where weather occurs and ambient human activities take place.

Stratosphere

The atmospheric layer directly above the troposphere that contains the protective ozone layer.

Ozone Layer

A concentrated layer of ozone ($\text{O}_3$) molecules within the stratosphere that absorbs harmful shortwave ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.

Natural Greenhouse Effect

The natural process where greenhouse gases absorb longwave infrared radiation re-emitted by Earth's surface, trapping thermal energy to maintain Earth's ambient temperature.

Biome

A large terrestrial biological region characterized by its specific climate, dominant soil types, and specialized plant communities.

Ecosystem

A biological community of living organisms interacting with one another and with their non-living physical environment.

Population

A group of individual organisms belonging to the same species that inhabit a specific geographic area simultaneously.

Community

All the populations of different species that co-exist and interact with each other in a shared habitat.

Habitat

The specific physical environment or living location where an organism or species naturally resides.

Niche

The specific functional role, position, and resource use of an organism or species within an ecosystem.

Biotic Components

The living biological factors of an ecosystem, comprising producers, consumers (primary, secondary, and tertiary), and decomposers.

Abiotic Components

The non-living physical and chemical environmental factors of an ecosystem, including temperature, humidity, water, oxygen, salinity, light, and pH.

Competition

A biotic interaction where organisms compete for limited environmental resources, categorized as inter-specific (between different species) or intra-specific (between same species).

Photosynthesis

The biochemical process by which green plants synthesise glucose using carbon dioxide, water, and light energy captured by chlorophyll.

Word Equation for Photosynthesis

$$\text{carbon dioxide} + \text{water} \rightarrow \text{glucose} + \text{oxygen}$$

Chemical Equation for Photosynthesis

$$6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2$$

Chlorophyll

The green photosynthetic pigment contained in plant cells that captures light energy required for photosynthesis.

Limiting Factors in Photosynthesis

Environmental variables whose restricted availability caps the maximum rate of photosynthesis, specifically water availability, carbon dioxide concentration, and light availability.

Carbon Cycle Role of Photosynthesis

The terrestrial and aquatic photosynthetic process that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to form organic carbon stores.

Producer

An autotrophic organism, such as a green plant or algae, that synthesises its own organic compounds using solar energy.

Primary Consumer

An herbivorous organism that directly feeds on primary producers to obtain energy.

Secondary Consumer

A carnivorous or omnivorous organism that feeds on primary consumers.

Tertiary Consumer

An apex predator or carnivore that feeds on secondary consumers within a food chain.

Decomposer

An organism, such as bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead organic matter and waste products to release nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Trophic Levels

The sequential feeding positions occupied by organisms along a food chain or food web.

Energy Loss in Food Chains

The dissipation of energy between successive trophic levels, caused mainly by cellular respiration and metabolic waste excretion.

Aerobic Respiration

The cellular chemical process that breaks down glucose in the presence of oxygen to release usable energy, carbon dioxide, and water.

Word Equation for Aerobic Respiration

$$\text{glucose} + \text{oxygen} \rightarrow \text{carbon dioxide} + \text{water}$$

Chemical Equation for Aerobic Respiration

$$\text{C}_6\text{H}_{12}\text{O}_6 + 6\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 6\text{CO}_2 + 6\text{H}_2\text{O}$$

Stages of the Carbon Cycle

The fundamental processes governing carbon movement: photosynthesis, respiration, feeding, decomposition, fossilisation, and combustion.

Scientific Method

A systematic research technique involving continuous interplay between observations, formulation of hypotheses, controlled experimental testing, data evaluation, and theoretical conclusions.

Hypothesis

A proposed testable explanation for an observed phenomenon formulated from observations or preliminary data.

Independent Variable

The variable in an investigation that is deliberately altered or controlled by the experimenter.

Dependent Variable

The variable measured during an investigation that changes in direct response to alterations in the independent variable.

Scientific Theory

A well-tested hypothesis that is consistently supported over time by rigorous observational and experimental research.

Reliable Data

Experimental results that are consistently repeatable when investigations are conducted under identical conditions.

Bias

A systematic distortion or prejudice in experimental design, data collection, or interpretation that skews findings away from objective truth.

Random Sampling

A field sampling technique where every location or organism has an equal chance of selection, ensuring well-distributed samples with low risk of bias.

Systematic Sampling

A field sampling technique where samples are collected at regular, predefined intervals along a line or grid.

Lincoln Index

A formula used to estimate total population size ($N$) based on mark-release-recapture data: $N = \frac{n_1 \times n_2}{m_2}$.

Simpson's Index of Diversity (D)

A mathematical formula measuring biodiversity in a sample: $D = 1 - \left(\sum \left(\frac{n}{N}\right)^2\right)$.

ACFOR Scale

A standardized subjective abundance scale standing for Abundant, Common, Frequent, Occasional, and Rare used in field sampling.

Big Data

Extremely large and complex datasets collected rapidly from source technologies like satellite sensors and geospatial modeling.

Population Density

The number of individuals residing per unit area, determined by environmental, economic, social, political, and historical factors.

Dependency Ratio

A demographic metric calculated as: $\text{Dependency Ratio} = \frac{\text{young population } (0\text{ to }14) + \text{old population } (65+)}{\text{population aged } 15\text{ to } 64} \times 100$.

Impacts of Ageing Populations

Socioeconomic challenges affecting nations, including lower tax revenues, increased pension spending, healthcare strain, and pressure to raise retirement ages.

Pronatalist Policy

A government policy aimed at encouraging higher birth rates and population growth.

Antinatalist Policy

A government policy designed to reduce birth rates and control rapid population growth.

Major Terrestrial Biomes

The four main land-based biome classifications: desert, forest, grassland, and tundra.

Primary Succession

Ecological succession initiating on newly formed, completely barren land surfaces lacking pre-existing soil, starting with pioneer species.

Secondary Succession

Ecological succession occurring on disturbed land where vegetation was removed but intact soil remains.

Gross Primary Productivity (GPP)

The total rate at which photosynthetic producers store chemical energy as organic matter over a given area and time.

Net Primary Productivity (NPP)

The remaining energy stored as organic biomass by producers after subtracting energy lost to cellular respiration.

Ecosystem Productivity

The overall rate of biomass production within a given ecosystem.

Ecological Pyramids

Graphical models displaying the distribution of numbers, biomass, or energy across trophic levels.

Native Species

A species that naturally inhabits and originated in a specific ecosystem without human introduction.

Invasive Species

A non-native species introduced to an ecosystem that multiplies rapidly, outcompeting native organisms and causing ecological harm.

EDGE Programme

The Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered species initiative focused on prioritizing unique and threatened wildlife species for conservation.

CITES

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international agreement regulating endangered species commerce.

Rewilding

A conservation strategy involving the restoration of natural ecosystem processes and reintroduction of lost native species.

Impacts of Human Activity on Tropical Rainforests

Environmental degradation resulting from deforestation, timber collection, agricultural expansion, mineral extraction, hydroelectric projects, and climate change.

Debt for Nature Swaps

Financial agreements where a nation's foreign debt is reduced in exchange for guaranteed investments in local environmental conservation.

Antarctic Treaty 1959

An international agreement reserving Antarctica exclusively for peaceful scientific research while prohibiting military activity and commercial mineral extraction.

Food Security

A state achieved when all people at all times have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.

Causes of Food Insecurity

Factors restricting food supply including population growth, land degradation, disease, climate change, water shortages, biofuel crop diversion, and poverty.

Extensification

Increasing agricultural output by expanding crop production onto previously uncultivated land areas.

Intensification

Increasing agricultural yield per unit area of existing land through technological inputs, fertilisers, and improved techniques.

Hydroponics

An agricultural technique of growing crops without soil using nutrient-rich water solutions.

Renewable Energy Resources

Naturally replenished energy sources including biofuels, geothermal, hydroelectric, tidal, wave, solar, and wind power.

Non-Renewable Energy Resources

Finite energy resources depleted through usage, including fossil fuels (oil, natural gas, coal) and nuclear power using uranium.

Energy Security

The uninterrupted and reliable availability of energy sources at an affordable price while minimizing environmental harm.

Methods of Waste Disposal

Techniques for managing waste including landfilling, incineration, storage, ocean disposal, recycling, and exporting.

Bioaccumulation

The progressive absorption and buildup of a contaminant or toxic chemical within an individual organism over time.

Biomagnification

The increasing concentration of toxic substances in living organism tissues at progressively higher trophic levels in a food web.

Water Security

The reliable capacity to access sufficient quantities of clean water for food production, manufacturing, sanitation, and health care.

Acid Deposition

Pollutants depositing from the atmosphere as acidic wet deposition ($\text{pH} < 5.6$) or acidic dry deposition dust and gases.

Photochemical Smog

A hazardous atmospheric mix of pollutants and ground-level ozone produced when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) react under sunlight.

Flue Gas Desulfurisation

An industrial technology that removes sulfur dioxide ($\text{SO}_2$) emissions from power station exhaust gases before release into the atmosphere.

Dobson Unit

The standard unit of measurement used to express atmospheric ozone concentration.

Solar Radiation Management (SRM)

Geo-engineering methods aimed at counteracting climate change by reflecting incoming solar energy, including albedo enhancement, space reflectors, and stratospheric aerosols.