Studied by 0 peopleFracking
Hydraulic fracturing, a method of oil and gas extraction that uses high-pressure fluids to force open cracks in rocks deep underground
Environment
the sum of all the conditions surrounding us that influence life
Environmental science
The field of study that looks at interactions among human systems and those found in nature
Ecosystem
A particular location on Earth with interacting biotic and abiotic components
Biotic
Living
Abiotic
Non-living
Environmentalist
A person who participates in environmentalism, a social movement that seeks to protect the environment through lobbying, activism, and education
Environmental studies
The field of study that includes environmental science and additional subjects such as environmental policy, economics, literature, and ethics
Ecosystem services
The processes by which life-supporting resources such as clean water, timber, fisheries, and agricultural crops are produced
Environmental indicator
An indicator that describes the current state of the environmental system.
Biodiversity
The diversity of life forms in an environment
Genetic diversity
A measure of the genetic variation among individuals in a population
Species
a group of organisms that is distinct from other groups in its morphology, behavior, or biochemical properties
Species diversity
The number of species in a region or in a particular type of habitat
Speciation
The evolution of new species
Background extinction rate
The average rate at which species become extinct over the long term
Greenhouse gasses
Gasses in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat near the surface
Anthropogenic
Derived from human activities
Development
Improvement in human well-being through economic advancement
Sustainability
Living on Earth in a way that allows humans to use its resources without depriving future generations of those resources
Sustainable development
Development that balances current human well-being and economic advancement with resource management for the benefit of future generations
Biophilia
Love of life
Ecological footprint
A measure of how much an individual consumes, expressed in area of land
Scientific method
An objective method to explore the natural world, draw inferences from it, and predict the outcome of certain events, processes, or changes
Hypothesis
A testable conjecture about how something works
Null hypothesis
A prediction that there is no difference between groups or conditions, or a statement or an idea that can be falsified, or proved wrong.
Replication
The data collection procedure of taking repeated measurements
Sample size
The number of times a measurement is replicated in data collection
Accuracy
How close a measured value is to the actual or true value
Percision
How close the repeated measurements of a sample are to one another
Uncertainty
An estimate of how much a measured or calculated value differs from a true value
Theory
A hypothesis that has been repeatedly tested and confirmed by multiple groups of researchers and has reached wide acceptance
Control group
In a scientific investigation, a group that experiences exactly the same conditions as the experimental group, except for the single variable under study.
Natural experiment
A natural event that acts as an experimental treatment in an ecosystem
Matter
Anything that occupies space and has mass
Mass
A measurement of the amount of matter an object contains
Atom
The smallest particle that can contain the chemical properties of an element
Element
A substance composed of atoms that cannot be broken down into smaller, simpler components
Periodic table
A chart of all chemical elements currently known, organized by their properties
Molecule
A particle that contains more than one atom
Compound
A molecule containing more than one element
Atomic number
The number of protons in the nucleus of a particular element
Mass number
A measurement of the total number of protons and neutrons in an element
Isotopes
Atoms of the same element with different numbers of neutrons
Radioactive decay
The spontaneous release of material from the nucleus of radioactive isotopes
Half-life
The time it takes for one-half of an original radioactive parent atom to decay
Covalent bond
The bond formed when elements share electrons
Ionic bond
A chemical bond between two ions of opposite charges
Hydrogen bond
A weak chemical bond that forms when hydrogen atoms that are covalently bonded to one atom are attracted to another atom on another molecule
Polar molecule
A molecule in which one side is more positive and the other side is more negative
Surface tension
A property of water that results from the cohesion of water molecules at the surface of a body of water and that creates a sort of skin on the water's surface
Capillary action
A property of water that occurs when adhesion of water molecules to a surface is stronger than cohesion between the molecules
Acid
A substance that contributes hydrogen ions to a solution
Base
A substance that contributes hydroxide ions to a solution
pH
The number that indicates the relative strength of acids and bases in a substance
Chemical reaction
A reaction that occurs when atoms separate from molecules or recombine with other molecules
Law of conservation of matter
A law of nature stating that matter cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change form
Inorganic compound
A compound that does not contain the element carbon or contains carbon bound to elements other than hydrogen
Organic compound
A compound that contains carbon-carbon and carbon-hydrogen bonds
Carbohydrate
A compound composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms
Protein
A critical component of living organisms made up of a long chain of nitrogen-containing organic molecules known as amino acids
Nucleic acid
Organic compounds found in all living cells
DNA
A nucleic acid, the genetic material that contains the code for reproducing the components of the next generation, and which organisms pass on to their offspring.
RNA
A nucleic acid that translates the code stored in DNA and allows for the synthesis of proteins.
Lipid
A smaller organic biological molecule that does not mix with water
Cell
A highly organized living entity that consists of the four types of macromolecules and other substances in a watery solution, surrounded by a membrane
Energy
The ability to do work or transfer heat
Joule
The amount of energy used when a 1-watt electrical device is turned on for 1 second
Power
The rate at which work is done
Electromagnetic radiation
A form of energy emitted by the sun that includes, but is not limited to, visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared energy
Photon
A massless packet of energy that carries electromagnetic radiation at the speed of light
Potential energy
Stored energy that has not been released
Chemical energy
Potential energy stored in chemical bonds
Kinetic energy
The energy of motion
Temperature
A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance
First law of thermodynamics
A physical law which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can change from one form to another
Second law of thermodynamics
The physical law stating that when energy is transformed, the quantity of energy remains the same, but its ability to do work diminishes
Energy efficiency
The ratio of the amount of energy expended in the form you want to the total amount of energy that is introduced into the system
Energy quality
The ease with which an energy source can be used for work
Entropy
Randomness in a system
Open system
a system in which exchanges of matter or energy occur across system boundaries
Closed system
A system in which matter and energy exchanges do not occur across boundaries
Input
An addition to a system
Output
A loss from a system
Systems analysis
An analysis to determine inputs, outputs, and changes in a system under various conditions
Steady state
A state in which inputs equal outputs, so that the system in not changing over time
Negative feedback loop
A feedback loop in which a system responds to a change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which the change is occurring
Positive feedback loop
A feedback loop in which change in a system is amplified
Transform fault boundary
An area where tectonic plates move sideways passed each other
Acid Precipitation
Precipitation high in sulfuric acid and nitric acid from reactions between water vapor and sulfur and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere
Biosphere
The region of our planet where life resides, the combination of all ecosystems on Earth (from the bottom of the ocean to the highest peak)
Producer
An organism that uses the energy of the Sun to produce usable forms of energy (also known as autotroph)
Photosynthesis
The process by which producers use solar energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose
Cellular respiration
The process by which cells unlock the energy of chemical compounds
Aerobic respiration
The process by which cells convert glucose and oxygen into energy, carbon dioxide, and water
Anaerobic respiration
The process by which cells convert glucose into energy in the absence of oxygen
Consumer
An organism that is incapable of photosynthesis and must obtain its energy by consuming other organisms (also known as heterotroph)
Primary consumers
A consumer that eats producers (herbivore)
Secondary consumers
A consumer that eats other consumers (carnivore)
Tertiary consumers
A carnivore that eats secondary consumers
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