SL1 ESS Midterm Flashcards

What shapes people's views in understanding perspectives?

Beliefs, values, and assumptions.

What are Environmental Value Systems (EVS)?

A person or group’s views on environmental issues.

Name three ways to examine Environmental Value Systems.

Ecocentric, Anthropocentric, Technocentric.

What does ecocentric prioritize?

The environment and natural solutions.

Give an example of an ecocentric approach.

Planting trees to reduce CO2.

What does anthropocentric prioritize?

People and solutions that benefit humans.

Give an example of an anthropocentric approach.

Building more houses.

What does technocentric focus on?

Technology, inventing solutions to solve problems.

Give an example of a technocentric approach.

Using robots to clean up pollution.

What are the two ways people can value things?

Intrinsic value and monetary value.

What is intrinsic value?

Valued because we like it.

Give an example of intrinsic value.

Protecting animals or plants because we like them.

What is monetary value?

Values for its price.

Give an example of monetary value.

Buying houses or stocks to sell at a higher price later.

What is the environmental movement?

A political/cultural movement focusing on environmental issues.

Is the environmental movement a single group?

No, it consists of many different groups with common goals.

What is a system?

A set of interacting or interdependent components organized to create a functional whole.

What are the components of systems?

Storages, flows, functions, and emergent properties.

What characterizes open systems?

Energy and matter can enter and exit.

What are closed systems?

No matter enters or exits.

What are 'flows' in systems?

Changes in the direction of energy or matter between storages.

What are transfers in a system?

Change in location of energy or matter.

What are transformations in a system?

Change in the chemical nature, state, or energy.

What do storages in a system represent?

Where energy or matter is held within the system.

What forms can matter take?

Solid, liquid, gas, plasma.

What types of energy are there?

Heat, kinetic, electrical, chemical, light, nuclear.

What do the laws of thermodynamics pertain to?

Physics of energy and matter.

What does the first law of thermodynamics state?

Energy and matter can’t be created or destroyed, only change forms.

What does the second law of thermodynamics state?

Some energy will always change into heat during transformations.

What is equilibrium in ecosystems?

A state of relative balance between organisms and their needs.

What indicates non-equilibrium in a system?

The quantity of things in a storage or system changes over time.

What is feedback in ecosystems?

Mechanisms that help maintain stability or drive change in systems.

What are negative feedback loops?

Processes that inhibit or reverse change, stabilizing the system.

Give an example of a negative feedback loop.

Atmospheric heating leading to cloud cover that cools temperatures.

What are positive feedback loops?

Processes that amplify disturbances, destabilizing the system.

Give an example of a positive feedback loop.

Permafrost thawing releases methane, further warming the atmosphere.

What is a tipping point in ecological terms?

A critical threshold that, when exceeded, leads to significant changes in the system.

What is sustainability?

The ability to continue an activity at a certain level or rate.

What is the IB definition of sustainability?

A measure of practices that ensure long-term viability of the system.

What are the three categories of sustainability?

Environmental, social, and economic.

What is the ecological footprint?

The amount of natural resources a person or group uses.

What is environmental sustainability?

Use and management of resources that allow for recovery and regeneration.

What are key components of environmental sustainability?

Biodiversity conservation, pollution control, resource management, ecosystem regeneration.

What is social sustainability?

Creating structures that support human well-being and equity.

What are key components of social sustainability?

Healthcare access, education equity, community well-being.

What is economic sustainability?

Creating systems that support future human needs and production.

What leads to the tragedy of the commons?

Shared, unregulated resources being depleted due to individual self-interest.

What are natural resources?

Matter, energy or organisms found in nature that have value to humans.

What is sustainable development?

Meeting present needs without compromising future generations.

What are ecosystem services?

Free benefits that humans enjoy from a healthy ecosystem.

What are three types of biomes?

Aquatic, terrestrial, and forest biomes.

What is the definition of a biome?

A group of ecosystems with similar climates.

How does latitude affect biomes?

Latitude affects the distribution of biomes on Earth.

What role does insolation play in biomes?

It drives temperatures and productivity.

What is the difference between weather and climate?

Weather is short-term, while climate is long-term patterns.

What is primary succession?

Development of soil on bare rock allowing new plants to grow.

What is secondary succession?

Clear soil where plants can regrow immediately after a disturbance.