AICE Environmental Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts and terminology from the AICE Environmental Study Guide.

Sustainability

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

Water Cycle

The cycle of processes by which water circulates between the earth's oceans, atmosphere, and land.

Biomes

Areas classified according to the species that live in those locations.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases in the atmosphere that absorb infrared radiation, such as carbon dioxide and methane.

Ecosystem

A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

Primary Producers

Organisms that make their own food, such as plants, trees, and algae.

Carbon Cycle

Nature's way of reusing carbon atoms, traveling from the atmosphere into organisms and back.

Capture-mark-recapture

A method used to estimate the size of a population by capturing individuals, marking them, and releasing them.

Acid Deposition

A mix of air pollutants that deposit from the atmosphere in the form of acidic wet or dry deposition.

Photochemical Smog

A mixture of air pollutants, including ozone, formed when oxides of nitrogen and VOCs react in the presence of sunlight.

Ozone Hole

An area where the average concentration of ozone is below 100 Dobson Units.

Dependecy Ratio

The ratio showing the relationship between a country’s working population and non-working population.

Net Migration

The difference between the number of people entering and leaving a country.

Biotic Factors

Living components that influence the number and diversity of organisms in an environment.

Abiotic Factors

Nonliving components of an ecosystem that shape its environment.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants synthesize glucose using carbon dioxide, water, and light energy.

Trophic Levels

Levels in the food chain categorized based on how organisms obtain energy.

Big Data

Extremely large sets of data that are analyzed to reveal patterns and trends.

Environmental Research

Studies that investigate environmental issues, often through the scientific method.

Human Population Dynamics

The study of how and why populations change in size and composition.

Food Security

When all people have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.

Renewable Resources

Natural resources that can be replenished, such as solar and wind energy.

Non-Renewable Resources

Resources that cannot be replenished, such as fossil fuels and nuclear energy.

Climate Change

Long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns over time, primarily due to human activities.

Ozone Layer

A region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Ecosystem Productivity

The rate of production of biomass in an ecosystem.

Invasive Species

Non-native species that, when introduced to an ecosystem, outcompete native species and disrupt the balance.

Acid Rain

Precipitation with a lower pH due to the presence of sulfuric and nitric acids.

Captive Breeding

The process of breeding endangered species in controlled environments with the goal of releasing them into the wild.

Data Collection Methods

Techniques used to gather data, such as surveys, experiments, and observational studies.

Sampling Strategies

Methods used to select a representative subset of individuals from a larger population.

Environmental Legislation

Laws and regulations aimed at protecting the environment and managing natural resources.

Community

Organisms that interact with one another within a specific area.

Habitat

The natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or other organism.

Niche

The role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem.

Sustainable Management

Utilizing resources in a way that meets present needs without compromising future generations.

Hydrological Cycle

Another term for the water cycle, emphasizing the movement of water through the atmosphere and earth.

Carbon Footprint

The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, or product.

Ecological Pyramid

A graphic representation showing the distribution of biomass, numbers, or energy among trophic levels.