An Introduction to Environmental Science

Unit 1: An Introduction to Environmental Science Key Terms and Definitions ● Environment: The sum of all biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) factors that affect an organism or ecological system. ● Biotic Factor: Any living component of an ecosystem (e.g., plants, animals, bacteria). ● Abiotic Factor: Any non-living component of an ecosystem (e.g., sunlight, temperature, water). ● Environmental Science: The interdisciplinary study of how humans interact with the environment. ● Environmentalism: A social movement aimed at protecting the natural world. ● Culture: The collective beliefs, values, and practices that influence human behavior and interaction with the environment. ● Stewardship: Responsible management and care for the environment. ● Anthropocentric: A worldview that considers humans as the central and most important element of existence. ● Biocentric: A worldview that values all living organisms and considers their well-being. ● Ecocentric: A worldview that values entire ecosystems, including both living and non-living components. ● Utilitarian: Emphasizes practical and economic benefits of resources. ● Preservation: Protecting the environment from human interference. ● Conservation: Managing natural resources to ensure their long-term sustainability. ● Environmental Ethics: The moral principles guiding human interaction with the environment. ● Renewable Resource: A resource replenished naturally over short periods (e.g., sunlight, wind). ● Nonrenewable Resource: A resource that forms slowly and is finite (e.g., fossil fuels, minerals). ● Nomadic Lifestyle: A way of life where people move frequently in search of food and resources. ● Agricultural Revolution: The shift from nomadic lifestyles to settled farming, increasing resource use. ● Industrial Revolution: A period of industrialization that greatly increased energy use and resource demand. ● Consumption: The use of goods and resources by individuals or societies. ● Ecological Footprint: A measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems. ● Independent Variable: The variable manipulated in an experiment. ● Dependent Variable: The variable measured in an experiment. ● Qualitative Data: Non-numerical data describing qualities or characteristics. ● Quantitative Data: Numerical data describing quantities or measurements. ● Manipulative Experiment: An experiment where the researcher actively changes the independent variable. ● Controlled Experiment: An experiment with a control group and experimental group(s) to isolate variable effects. ● Control: A baseline in an experiment used for comparison. ● Natural Experiment: Observation of natural events without manipulation by researchers. ● Laboratory Experiment: Experiments conducted in a controlled indoor environment. ● Field Experiment: Experiments conducted in natural settings. ● Blind Experiment: Participants do not know which group they are in to prevent bias. ● Double-Blind Experiment: Both researchers and participants are unaware of group assignments to eliminate bias. ● Experimental Bias: When researchers’ expectations influence results. ● Correlation: A relationship between two variables that does not imply causation. ● Model: A simplified representation of a system or phenomenon. ● Peer Review: Evaluation of scientific work by other experts in the field. ● Skepticism: Questioning and critically evaluating scientific claims. ● Environmental Justice: The fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens. Key Concepts and Explanations 1. Biotic and Abiotic Factors ○ Example: In a forest, biotic factors include trees, deer, and fungi, while abiotic factors include sunlight, soil, and water. 2. Goals of Environmental Science vs. Environmentalism ○ Environmental Science seeks to understand interactions and solve problems using data and research. ○ Environmentalism advocates for protecting nature based on ethical and moral grounds. 3. Interdisciplinary Nature of Environmental Science ○ Combines biology, chemistry, physics, geology, and social sciences to address environmental issues. 4. Requirements for Life ○ Basic Needs: Energy (sunlight), nutrients, water, and suitable temperature ranges. 5. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill ○ Event: 1989 oil spill in Alaska, releasing 11 million gallons of crude oil. ○ Cleanup: Used chemical dispersants, hot water washing, and bioremediation to break down oil. 6. Scientific Method ○ Steps: Observation, hypothesis formation, experimentation, data analysis, conclusion. ○ Example: Testing the effect of fertilizer on plant growth. 7. Variables in Experiments ○ Independent Variable: Fertilizer type. ○ Dependent Variable: Plant height. 8. Control and Experiment Types ○ Control Trial: A plant group receiving no fertilizer. ○ Importance: Ensures results are due to the independent variable. 9. Culture and Worldview ○ Examples: Western cultures may prioritize economic growth (anthropocentric), while indigenous cultures may focus on harmony with nature (ecocentric). 10. Preservation vs. Conservation ● Preservation: Keeping ecosystems untouched (e.g., wilderness areas). ● Conservation: Sustainable use of resources (e.g., forestry practices). 11. Tragedy of the Commons ● Garrett Hardin’s Analogy: Overgrazing on shared pasture leads to resource depletion. ● Real-World Example: Overfishing in oceans. 12. Easter Island Case Study ● Event: Resource overuse led to deforestation and societal collapse. ● Lesson: Importance of sustainable resource management. 13. Revolutions and Resource Use ● Agricultural Revolution: Increased food production and population growth. ● Industrial Revolution: Shift to fossil fuels, industrial processes, and urbanization. 14. Graphing Experimental Data ● X-axis: Independent variable. ● Y-axis: Dependent variable. 15. Science vs. Pseudoscience ● Science: Based on empirical evidence and peer review. ● Pseudoscience: Lacks scientific rigor and reproducibility. Unit 2 Study Guide: Earth Systems and Cycles Part 1: Biology/Chemistry/Physics Review Key Terms ● Chemistry: The study of matter, its properties, and how it interacts with energy and other matter. ● Biology: The study of living organisms and their interactions with the environment. ● Ecology: The study of relationships between organisms and their environment. ● Matter: Anything that has mass and occupies space; made up of atoms. ● Law of Conservation of Matter: Matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. ● Chemical Reaction: A process that changes substances into new substances with different properties. ● Organic Compound: Molecules containing carbon and hydrogen; often associated with living organisms. ● Hydrocarbon: Organic compounds made up entirely of carbon and hydrogen, such as methane. ● Combustion Reaction: A chemical reaction where a hydrocarbon reacts with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy. ● Endothermic: A reaction that absorbs energy from its surroundings. ● Exothermic: A reaction that releases energy to its surroundings. ● Metabolism: All chemical reactions that occur within living organisms to maintain life. ● Population: A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area. ● Community: All living organisms in a particular area, interacting as a system. ● Bioremediation: The use of organisms, such as bacteria, to clean up pollutants in the environment. ● Ecosystem: A community of organisms interacting with their abiotic environment. ● Energy: The capacity to do work or produce change. ● Work: The application of force over a distance. ● Kinetic Energy: Energy of motion. ● Potential Energy: Stored energy due to position or structure. ● Chemical Energy: Energy stored in chemical bonds. ● First Law of Thermodynamics: Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed. ● Second Law of Thermodynamics: Energy transformations increase entropy (disorder). ● Entropy: Measure of disorder or randomness in a system. ● Photosynthesis: Process where producers convert sunlight into chemical energy (glucose). ● Cellular Respiration: Process where organisms break down glucose to release stored energy. ● Heat of Combustion: The amount of heat released when a substance is burned. ● Specific Heat: The heat required to raise the temperature of one gram of a substance by one degree Celsius. ● Joule: A unit of energy in the SI system. ● Calorie: A unit of energy often used in food and chemistry. ● Molar Mass: The mass of one mole of a substance. Key Concepts ● Law of Conservation of Matter: Understand how it applies to nutrient cycles (e.g., carbon, nitrogen) and waste issues like landfill buildup. ● Chemical Reactions: Recognize reactants, products, and energy changes involved. ● Water Properties: High heat capacity, surface tension, solvent abilities, and density changes. ● Organic Compounds: Examples include carbohydrates, proteins, and hydrocarbons. ● Combustion Reactions: Hydrocarbons produce CO₂, H₂O, and energy when combusted. ● Bioremediation: Microorganisms breaking down oil (e.g., Exxon Valdez spill cleanup). ● Energy Storage and Release: ATP as a storage molecule in living systems. ● Photosynthesis vs. Cellular Respiration: ○ Photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + sunlight → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ ○ Respiration: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy. ● Hydrothermal Vent Producers: Chemosynthesis using hydrogen sulfide instead of sunlight. ● Geothermal/Tidal Energy: Energy from Earth’s heat and gravitational interactions with the moon. ● Experimental Calculations: Heat of combustion from experimental data. Part 2: The Geosphere