APES Eco-Footprint Unit Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is an ecological footprint?

The age of a person

The total amount of food consumed by an individual

The number of species in an area

A measure of human impact on Earth's ecosystems (correct)

What does the term 'overshoot' refer to?

The average lifespan of humans

Exceeding Earth's carrying capacity for our species (correct)

The total energy consumed by a nation

The maximum speed of a vehicle

What is affluenza?

The failure of material goods to bring happiness to people who have the financial means to afford them.

Define economic growth.

An increase in the amount of goods and services produced per head of the population over a period of time. Signup and view all the answers

What is ecolabelling?

A process of designating on a product's label how it was grown, harvested, or manufactured. Signup and view all the answers

What are aquifers?

Bodies of permeable rock that can contain or transmit groundwater. Signup and view all the answers

What is fresh water?

Water that is relatively pure, holding very few dissolved salts. Signup and view all the answers

What are sinkholes?

Areas where the ground has given way due to subsidence caused by depletion of water from an aquifer. Signup and view all the answers

What is an artesian aquifer?

An underground layer that holds groundwater under pressure. Signup and view all the answers

Define groundwater.

Water held underground in aquifers. Signup and view all the answers

What is surface water?

Water located atop Earth's surface. Signup and view all the answers

What is a confined aquifer?

A water-bearing layer of rock trapped between impermeable layers. Signup and view all the answers

What is irrigation?

The artificial application of water to the land or soil. Signup and view all the answers

What is a non-confined aquifer?

An aquifer with no impermeable upper layer. Signup and view all the answers

What is consumptive use of water?

Fresh water removed from available supplies without return to a water resource system. Signup and view all the answers

What is non-consumptive use of water?

Water use that is removed temporarily and then returned. Signup and view all the answers

Define the water table.

The upper limit of groundwater held in an aquifer. Signup and view all the answers

What is a watershed?

The entire area of land from which water drains into a given river. Signup and view all the answers

What is a reservoir?

An artificial water body behind a dam that stores water for human use. Signup and view all the answers

What does aerobic mean?

Occurring in an environment where oxygen is present. Signup and view all the answers

What does anaerobic mean?

Occurring in an environment that has little or no oxygen. Signup and view all the answers

What is coal?

A fossil fuel composed of organic matter that was compressed under very high pressure. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ecological Concepts and Definitions

Ecological Footprint: Represents human impact on ecosystems, typically measured in area of wilderness or natural capital consumed annually.
Overshoot: Occurs when humanity exceeds Earth's long-term carrying capacity, potentially leading to ecological crashes or die-offs.
Affluenza: Describes the inability of material goods to provide happiness for those who can afford them, often associated with consumer culture.
Economic Growth: Refers to the increase in goods and services produced per capita over time, correlating with consumption levels.

Environmental Practices and Ethics

Ecolabelling: A labeling process that informs consumers about the environmental impacts of products, allowing them to choose environmentally beneficial brands; it's a voluntary certification method.
Environmental Ethics: The application of moral standards to environmental issues, focusing on the relationship between humanity and the environment.

Water Resources

Aquifers: Underground layers of permeable rock that store or transmit groundwater, acting as vital water reservoirs.
Fresh Water: Defined as water with low concentrations of dissolved salts, crucial for consumption and agriculture.
Groundwater: Refers to water found underground in aquifers, important for ecological balance and human use.
Surface Water: Water that resides on the Earth's surface, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.

Aquifer Types

Artesian Aquifer: An underground layer where groundwater is under pressure, causing levels in wells to rise.
Confined Aquifer: This aquifer is bounded by impermeable layers, resulting in pressurized water.
Unconfined Aquifer: Lacks an impermeable upper layer, allowing easier recharge from surface water and resulting in lower water pressure.

Water Usage and Management

Irrigation: The artificial application of water to support agriculture and landscaping, particularly in arid regions or during dry periods.
Consumptive Use: Involves removing fresh water from available supplies without returning it, common in manufacturing and agriculture.
Non-Consumptive Use: Involves the temporary removal of water for activities like hydroelectric power generation, permitting its return to the source.
Water Table: Marks the upper limit of groundwater in an aquifer, indicating saturation levels.
Watershed: The area of land that drains water into a specific river system, playing a crucial role in water management.

Other Relevant Terms

Reservoir: An artificial lake or water body created by damming rivers, intended to store water for human use.
Sinkholes: Formed by subsidence due to groundwater depletion, where the ground collapses, often found in limestone areas.

Environmental Processes

Aerobic: Processes occurring in environments rich in oxygen, often essential for the survival of many organisms.
Anaerobic: Processes that occur in low or no oxygen environments, such as the formation of fossil fuels from organic matter deep underwater.

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Description

Test your knowledge on ecological concepts related to the human impact on the environment with these flashcards. Understand key terms like ecological footprint, overshoot, and affluenza, and how they affect Earth's ecosystems. Perfect for AP Environmental Science students looking to reinforce their learning.