ESS 1.1-1.3 test vocab

Holistic

Looking at the whole system and how its parts connect, not just the individual pieces.

Biosphere

The part of Earth where life exists (land, water, air).

Hydrosphere

All the water on Earth (oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater).

Cryosphere

All the frozen water on Earth (ice caps, glaciers, permafrost).

Geosphere

The solid parts of Earth (rocks, minerals, landforms, soil).

Atmosphere

The layer of gases surrounding Earth (air, climate regulation).

Anthroposphere

Human systems, activities, and impacts on the environment.

Gaia hypothesis

The idea that Earth functions like a living system, with living and nonliving parts working together to maintain balance.

Negative feedback loop

A process that brings a system back to balance (self-regulating).

Equilibrium

A state of balance in a system.

Positive feedback loop

A process that increases change and pushes a system further from balance.

Destabilizing

Breaking down balance and making a system less stable.

Tipping point

A critical threshold where a small change causes a big, often irreversible shift.

Models (describe and types)

Simplified representations of reality (types: physical models, computer simulations, diagrams, mathematical models).

Emergent properties

New characteristics that appear when parts of a system work together, not seen in the individual parts.

Resilience

The ability of a system to recover after a disturbance.

Steady-State Equilibrium

A balance where inputs and outputs are constant over time.

Global Hectare

A unit that measures the ecological footprint (amount of biologically productive land/water used).

Stable equilibrium

A balance that returns to normal after small changes.

Perspective

A particular way of viewing or understanding an issue.

Value

What a person or society considers important.

Belief

An accepted idea or conviction, often based on culture or religion.

Sociocultural norms

Shared expectations and rules in a society.

Argument

A reasoned statement that supports or opposes an idea.

Questionnaires/survey

Tools to collect data from people through questions.

Sustainability

Meeting current needs without harming future generations’ ability to meet theirs.

Technocentric

Belief that technology and science can solve environmental problems.

Anthropocentric

Human-centered view; nature is valuable mainly for human benefit.

Ecocentric

Nature-centered view; ecosystems have value beyond human use.

Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs)

Groups made up of countries working together (e.g., UN, EU).

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

Independent groups (not government-controlled) that work on social or environmental issues.

Socio-ecological

The interaction between human society and ecosystems.

Resource depletion

Using resources faster than they can be replaced.

Pollution

The release of harmful substances into the environment.

Biodiversity

Variety of life (species, genes, ecosystems).

Sustainable development

Development that meets needs now without harming the future.

Brundtland report

A 1987 UN report that popularized the concept of sustainable development.

Unsustainable

A process that cannot continue long-term without damage.

Overexploitation

Using natural resources too much, leading to decline or extinction.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total value of goods and services produced in a country.

Environmental Justice

Fair treatment of all people regarding environmental policies and risks.

Deepwater Horizon oil spill

A 2010 disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, one of the largest marine oil spills in history.

Privatization

Transferring public resources or services to private ownership.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

17 global goals set by the UN to achieve a better, more sustainable future.

Ecological footprint

A measure of how much land and resources a person or society uses.

Biocapacity

The ability of ecosystems to provide resources and absorb waste.

Renewable resources

Resources that can naturally regenerate (e.g., solar, wind, forests if managed well).

Citizen Science

Research conducted with the help of the public, not just scientists.

Green Gross Domestic Product (Green GDP)

GDP adjusted for environmental costs (pollution, resource loss).

Albedo

How much sunlight a surface reflects (ice has high albedo, dark soil has low).

Insolation

The amount of solar energy reaching Earth’s surface.