Env.Bio Final Exam Guiding Questions

What si the purpose and scope of Environmental Science?
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What si the purpose and scope of Environmental Science?
to understand the natural world and our relationship to it
Why are both empirical and applied approaches useful in environmental science?
It allows us to understand our environment through both experimentation and information and bring a positive change.
Why do scientists think we are living in a new geologic epoch, the Anthropocene?
The impact of humans on Earth is so great. nuclear weapons, plastic pollution, and soot from power plants.
What are the characteristics of a sustainable ecosystem?
It relies on renewable energy (the sun), recycle matter, predators provide population control, and depend on local biodiversity
How do comparative studies contribute to the understanding of an environmental issue?
They allow us to study other species to try and figure out what is happening in the event they are investigating.
What is the difference between a correlation and a cause-and-effect relationship?
Correlation happens in observational studies and can prove that two things occur together. Cause and effect happens in experimental studies and shows that the manipulation of one thing causes a reaction in another.
What are they classes of toxic substances?
Natural and Synthetic
natural Capital
the natural resources we consume (oxygen, trees, fish)
Natural Interest
What is produced from Natural Capital (more trees=more oxygen)
What concerns do environmental economists have with mainstream economics?
without including environmental considerations, mainstream economics will fail.
What causes stratospheric ozone depletion?CFC's and other anthropogenic chemical pollutants increase our exposure to UV radiation.Environmental policya course of action adopted by a government or organization to either restore or protect the natural environment.How are policies developed and administered in the United States?1969, National Environmental Policy Act made a guiding policy for the nation.How are international policies established and enforced?Convention and protocol