ALL of Topic 1 Flashcards

Environmental Value Systems (EVS)

A worldview that shapes the way people perceive and evaluate environmental issues, influenced by cultural, economic, and socio-political factors.

Ecocentric

An EVS that emphasizes ecology and nature as central to humanity, advocating for the protection of natural environments and biodiversity.

Anthropocentric

An EVS that believes humans are managers of global systems, exerting control through taxes, regulations, and legislation.

Technocentric

An EVS that views technological advancements as solutions to environmental problems, highlighting innovation's role in addressing pollution and resource depletion.

System

A set of interconnected parts that work together to form a complex whole, often defined by specific boundaries and interactions with their environment.

Input (System)

Energy or matter that enters a system.

Output (System)

Something produced at the end of the system.

Storage (System)

Areas where energy or matter is accumulated inside a system.

Flow (System)

Movement of energy or matter within a system.

Boundaries (System)

The outside edge of a system.

Open System

A system that exchanges both matter and energy with its environment.

Closed System

A system that exchanges energy but not matter with its environment.

Isolated System

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

Model

Simplified versions of systems showing flows, storages, structure, and workings.

1st Law of Thermodynamics

The principle stating that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

The law stating that the entropy of an isolated system tends to increase over time.

Equilibrium

The tendency of the system to return to an original state following disturbance.

Negative Feedback Loops

Processes that help an organism or system return to its original state, stabilizing and reducing change.

Positive Feedback Loops

Changes that destabilize a system by increasing change, often leading to a new state.

Tipping Point

A critical threshold where a small change can cause dramatic effects in a system.

Resilience

The ability of a system to maintain stability and avoid tipping points despite small changes.

Tragedy of the Commons

A philosophical idea regarding the overconsumption of shared resources that leads to depletion.

Macroscale Sustainability

Focus on sustainability at a regional, national, or global scale, evaluating large systems' sustainability.

Ecological Footprint

The environmental impact of an individual or community expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their resource consumption.

Primary Pollutants

Pollutants that are dangerous in their emitted form.

Secondary Pollutants

Pollutants formed after a primary pollutant has been chemically changed.

Point Source Pollution

Pollution released from a single, identifiable source.

Non-Point Source Pollution

Pollution that comes from multiple sources and is difficult to trace.

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Toxic chemicals that do not easily break down and can bioaccumulate.

Biodegradable Pollutants

Pollutants that break down quickly in the environment.

Acute Pollution

The release of large amounts of pollutants at one time, resulting in significant harm.

Chronic Pollution

The long-term release of small amounts of pollutants that often goes undetected.

Direct Measurements of Pollution

Specific quantities measured to assess pollution levels.

Indirect Measurements of Pollution

Assessing changes in abiotic or biotic factors as a result of exposure to pollutants.

Level 1 (Pollution Management)

Preventing pollution before it happens through education and alternatives.

Level 2 (Pollution Management)

Controlling pollutant release through regulations and technological solutions.

Level 3 (Pollution Management)

Cleanup and restoration of environments affected by pollution.