Geo notes 1 Note Jan 27, 2025

Sustainability

Use of resources in a way that makes them available for the future.

Exponential Population Growth

Current population is 8.2 billion people, necessitating oxygen, water, food, and space.

Watershed

An area of land that drains water to a specific point in a hydrologic system.

Equilibrium

Balance among the components of a system.

Threshold

The limit of equilibrium or boundary between equilibrium and disequilibrium.

Negative Feedback

Promotes stability in a system by counteracting changes.

Positive Feedback

Promotes further change or instability within a system.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Fluvial Geomorphologist

A scientist who studies the forms and processes of river systems.

Glacial Ice

Frozen water from glaciers that can impact CO2 absorption and climate.

Atmosphere

Layers of gases surrounding the Earth, important for regulating temperature and CO2 levels.

Carbon Cycle

The series of processes by which carbon compounds are interconverted in the environment.

Platte River

A river in Nebraska known for its braided channels and high-energy flow.

Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC)

A commission that manages the Delaware River, including restrictions on fracking.

The 6th Extinction

Current mass extinction event caused by human activities affecting biodiversity.

Keystone Pipeline

A pipeline system for transporting oil from Canada to various locations in the U.S.

High Population Density

An area where large numbers of people live close together, increasing resource demands.

Copper Recycling

The process of reprocessing copper to make it available for future use.

Climate Change

Long-term change in temperature and typical weather patterns in a place.

Natural Resource Consumption

The use of natural resources, which needs to be managed sustainably.