ESS All Topics
Environmental Value System - ANSWER...-Worldview that shapes the way an individual
or group of people perceive and evaluate environmental issues.
System - ANSWER...-A set of inter-related parts working together to make a complex
whole
Open System - ANSWER...-Exchanges matter and energy with its surroundings
Closed System - ANSWER...-Exchanges energy but not matter with its surroundings
Isolated System - ANSWER...-Exchanges neither matter nor energy
Transfer - ANSWER...-Occurs when energy or matter flows and changes location
Transformation - ANSWER...-Occurs when energy of matter flows and changes its state
Model - ANSWER...-A simplified version of the real thing
Strengths of Models - ANSWER...-Easier to work with than complex reality / helps us
see patterns / used to visualize really small or big things
Weaknesses of Models - ANSWER...-Accuracy is lost as it is simplified / predictions
may be inaccurate / assumptions are wrong means model is wrong
First Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER...-States that energy in an isolated system
can be transformed but cannot be created or destroyed
Second Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER...-The fact that energy is transformed
through energy transfers
Entropy - ANSWER...-The measure of the amount of disorder in a system
Efficiency - ANSWER...-energy produced / energy consumed
Steady-State Equilibrium - ANSWER...-Where there are continuous inputs and outputs
of energy and matter but the system as a whole remains in a constant state
Static Equilibrium - ANSWER...-Where there is no change over time
Stable Equilibrium - ANSWER...-Returns to the same equilibrium after a disturbance
, Unstable Equilibrium - ANSWER...-System returns to a new equilibrium after a
disturbance
Negative Feedback - ANSWER...-Stabilizing and it counteracts deviation
Positive Feedback - ANSWER...-Destabilizing and tend to amplify changes and drive
system towards the tipping point
Resilience - ANSWER...-Ability of a system it return to its initial state after a disturbance
Factors Affecting Resilience - ANSWER...-Diversity / Biodiversity / Size of Ecosystem /
Speed of Reproduction Process
Ecological Tipping Point - ANSWER...-When an ecosystem experiences a shift to a new
state in which there are significant changes to its biodiversity. E.G = lake eutrophication
Sustainability - ANSWER...-Use and management of resources that allows full natural
replacement of the resources exploited and full recovery of the ecosystems affected by
their extraction and use
Natural Capital - ANSWER...-Natural resources that can produce a sustainable natural
income of goods or services
Natural Income - ANSWER...-Yield obtained from natural resources
Indicators of Sustainability - ANSWER...-Biodiversity / Pollution / Population / Climate
Environmental Impact Assessments - ANSWER...-Incorporate baseline studies before a
development project is undertaken. They assess the environmental, social and
economic impacts of the project, prediction and evaluating possible impact and
suggesting mitigation strategies for the project.
Ecological Footprint - ANSWER...-Area of land and water required to sustainably
provide all resources at the rate at which they are being consumed by a given
population
Pollution - ANSWER...-The addition of a substance or an agent to an environment by
human activity, at a rate greater than that at which it can be rendered harmless by the
environment.
Primary Pollutants - ANSWER...-Active on emission
Secondary Pollutants - ANSWER...-Formed by primary pollutants undergoing physical
or chemical changes
Environmental Value System - ANSWER...-Worldview that shapes the way an individual
or group of people perceive and evaluate environmental issues.
System - ANSWER...-A set of inter-related parts working together to make a complex
whole
Open System - ANSWER...-Exchanges matter and energy with its surroundings
Closed System - ANSWER...-Exchanges energy but not matter with its surroundings
Isolated System - ANSWER...-Exchanges neither matter nor energy
Transfer - ANSWER...-Occurs when energy or matter flows and changes location
Transformation - ANSWER...-Occurs when energy of matter flows and changes its state
Model - ANSWER...-A simplified version of the real thing
Strengths of Models - ANSWER...-Easier to work with than complex reality / helps us
see patterns / used to visualize really small or big things
Weaknesses of Models - ANSWER...-Accuracy is lost as it is simplified / predictions
may be inaccurate / assumptions are wrong means model is wrong
First Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER...-States that energy in an isolated system
can be transformed but cannot be created or destroyed
Second Law of Thermodynamics - ANSWER...-The fact that energy is transformed
through energy transfers
Entropy - ANSWER...-The measure of the amount of disorder in a system
Efficiency - ANSWER...-energy produced / energy consumed
Steady-State Equilibrium - ANSWER...-Where there are continuous inputs and outputs
of energy and matter but the system as a whole remains in a constant state
Static Equilibrium - ANSWER...-Where there is no change over time
Stable Equilibrium - ANSWER...-Returns to the same equilibrium after a disturbance
, Unstable Equilibrium - ANSWER...-System returns to a new equilibrium after a
disturbance
Negative Feedback - ANSWER...-Stabilizing and it counteracts deviation
Positive Feedback - ANSWER...-Destabilizing and tend to amplify changes and drive
system towards the tipping point
Resilience - ANSWER...-Ability of a system it return to its initial state after a disturbance
Factors Affecting Resilience - ANSWER...-Diversity / Biodiversity / Size of Ecosystem /
Speed of Reproduction Process
Ecological Tipping Point - ANSWER...-When an ecosystem experiences a shift to a new
state in which there are significant changes to its biodiversity. E.G = lake eutrophication
Sustainability - ANSWER...-Use and management of resources that allows full natural
replacement of the resources exploited and full recovery of the ecosystems affected by
their extraction and use
Natural Capital - ANSWER...-Natural resources that can produce a sustainable natural
income of goods or services
Natural Income - ANSWER...-Yield obtained from natural resources
Indicators of Sustainability - ANSWER...-Biodiversity / Pollution / Population / Climate
Environmental Impact Assessments - ANSWER...-Incorporate baseline studies before a
development project is undertaken. They assess the environmental, social and
economic impacts of the project, prediction and evaluating possible impact and
suggesting mitigation strategies for the project.
Ecological Footprint - ANSWER...-Area of land and water required to sustainably
provide all resources at the rate at which they are being consumed by a given
population
Pollution - ANSWER...-The addition of a substance or an agent to an environment by
human activity, at a rate greater than that at which it can be rendered harmless by the
environment.
Primary Pollutants - ANSWER...-Active on emission
Secondary Pollutants - ANSWER...-Formed by primary pollutants undergoing physical
or chemical changes
