Page 1 Vocabulary for Environmental Science

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key environmental science concepts from Page 1 notes.

What is Worldview?

A set of beliefs about how the world works that shapes perceptions, values, and actions.

What is the Gaia Hypothesis?

The Earth and its living and nonliving components form a self-regulating system that maintains conditions suitable for life.

What does Holistic mean in environmental science?

Considering systems as integrated wholes rather than as separate parts.

What does Anthropocentric mean?

A human-centered worldview that treats nature primarily as a resource for humans.

What is the Agricultural Revolution?

The shift from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to settled farming and domestication of plants and animals.

What is the Industrial Revolution?

A period of rapid industrialization, mechanization, and fossil fuel use that increased production and environmental impact.

Who is Thomas Malthus and what is his theory?

An economist who argued population grows geometrically while food supply grows arithmetically, risking overshoot and famine.

What is the Tragedy of the Commons?

Overuse of shared resources driven by individual incentives, leading to depletion without regulation.

What does Overshoot mean?

When a population exceeds the carrying capacity of its environment.

What is Sustainability?

Meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

What is the Triple Bottom Line?

A framework evaluating social, environmental, and economic performance.

What is Affluenza?

A social condition of excessive consumption and materialism that can harm individuals and society.

What is a Hectare?

A unit of area equal to 10,000 square meters (0.01 square kilometers).

What is the pH scale used for?

Measuring how acidic or basic (alkaline) a solution is, on a 0–14 scale.

What is Ecological Footprint?

A measure of how much nature we use, expressing demand on Earth's ecosystems.

What is a Positive Feedback Loop?

A process where a change leads to effects that amplify the original change.

What is a Negative Feedback Loop?

A process that counteracts a change, helping to stabilize the system.

What are Controls in an experiment?

Variables kept constant to provide a baseline for comparison.

What are Constants in an experiment?

Values that do not change throughout the experiment.

What are Independent Variables?

Variables deliberately changed by the experimenter.

What are Dependent Variables?

Variables measured to observe the effect of changing the independent variable.

What are Ecosystem Services?

Benefits humans receive from ecosystems, including provisioning, regulating, supporting, and cultural services.

What is an Open System?

A system that exchanges matter and energy with its surroundings.

What is a Closed System?

A system that does not exchange matter or energy with its surroundings.

What does IPAT stand for?

Impact = Population × Affluence × Technology.

What is Sustainable Yield?

The level at which a resource can be harvested indefinitely without depletion.

Who is Garrett Hardin?

Ecologist who described the Tragedy of the Commons and argued for regulation and shared responsibility.