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Environment and Humanity DSST

Terms in this set (54)

Pathogens
Disease causing bacteria, viruses, parasitic worms, and other organisms.
Biological Magnification
Occurs when toxins pass from organism to organism: An infected fish is eaten by a bird, the toxin increases and is passed onto the bird.
Eutrophic
Containing an abundance of nutrients
Thermal Pollution
When excessive amounts of heat are added to a body of water.
Primary Pollutant
A pollutant that is put directly into the air by human activity.
Secondary Pollutant
Is formed when a primary pollutant comes into contact with other primary pollutant.
Thermal Inversion
Occurs when a layer of warm air settles over a layer of cooler air that lies near the ground. The warm air holds down the cool air and prevents pollutants from rising and scattering.
Troposphere
Extends from the earth's surface to 10km (6mi). Contains 90% of the atmosphere's gases. The layer where most weather occurs.
Stratosphere
Extends from 10km to about 50km (30mi) above earth. Comercial airless fly in the lower part. Contains ozone layer.
Climate
The average weather in an area over a long period of time. Temperature, humidity, wind, and precipitation all play a role in climate.
Greenhouse Effect
Sunlight comes through the atmosphere and heats earth. The heat radiates up from earth and some escapes into space. The rest of the heat is trapped by gases in the troposphere and warms the air on earth.
Greenhouse Gases
Gases that trap and radiate heat: Water vapor, carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane, and nitrous oxide.
Urbanization
The growth of cities as people move from rural to urban areas.
Infrastructure
All the things society builds for public use
Urban Crisis
Lack of adequate infrastructure in overpopulated cities.
Suburban Sprawl
development that spreads out around cities, characterized by houses and strip malls.
Deforestation
Clearing trees without replacing them
Clear Cutting
A process that involves removing all of the trees from a land area
Selective Cutting
Cutting only middle aged or mature trees.
Reforestation
Replacing trees that have died or have been cut down.
Open Pit Mining
When machines are used to dig large holes in the ground and remove ore.
Strip Mining
Huge bull dozers and other machines are used to clear away large strips of the earth's surface.
Reclamation
Restoring mined land to the condition it was in before mining.
Wilderness
An area where the land and ecosystems are protected from all development.
Green Revolution
The intro of new grains and farming techniques. Allows for more people to be fed. Problems: some people can not afford the necessary chemicals and equipment, new grains have to have specific fertilizer, pesticides, and amounts of water. The chemicals and pesticides harm the environment.
Subsistence Farmers
Those who grow food just for just their family.
Arable Land
Fertile land that can be plowed to grow crops.
Desertification
Soil fertility that deteriorates so much that the land becomes desert-like.
No-Till Farming
The seeds of the next crop are planted in slits that are cut into the soil, straight through the remains of the previous crops.
Low Input farming
Farming which doesn't use a lot of energy, pesticides, fertilizer, or water.
Salinization
Accumulation of salts in the soil.
Biological pest control
Using living organisms or naturally produced chemicals to control pests.
Pheromones
Chemicals produced by one organism that affect the behavior of another.
Biodiversity
Refers to the number and variety of species on earth.
Exotic Species
A species that is not a native to a particular region
Keystone Species
Species that are very important to the functioning of an ecosystem.
Endangered Species
When the species numbers have fallen so low it could become extinct.
Threatened Species
A species that could become endangered
Germ Plasm Bank
When reproductive (germ) cells of organisms are stored.
Electric generator
A device for converting mechanical energy into electricity.
Fossil Fuels
Coal, oil, and natural gas
Nonrenewable resources
Materials being used faster than they can naturally be replaced.
Renewable resources
Resources that are continually produced
Nuclear energy
The energy that exists within the nucleus of an atom.
Nuclear Fission
When the nucleus of an atoms is split apart
Nuclear Fusion
Occurs when lightweight atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing huge amounts of energy in the process.
Solar Energy
Energy from the sun
Passive solar heating
When sunlight is used to heat buildings directly without pumps or fans.
Solar cells
Devices that convert the sun's energy directly into electricity.
Joseph Fourier 1824
The natural greenhouse effect was first described by:
Claude Pouillet
The role of water vapor and CO2 in the greenhouse effect was later identified by:
Abiotic
The components of an environment that are non-living (water, air)
Biotic
The components of an environment that are living (plants, animals)
Detrivores
Made up of detritus feeders and decomposers.
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