Environmental Science Overview Quiz

The study of how living organisms interact with their environment.

Factors like temperature, rainfall, and sunlight that influence an organism's survival and reproduction.

The materials and energy sources that organisms require for survival.

The study of how populations of organisms change in size over time.

A pattern of population growth where the rate of growth slows down as the population approaches its carrying capacity.

The science that investigates how human activities affect the environment and develops solutions for sustainable coexistence.

The impact human actions have on the natural world. This can include pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change.

These are dangers to human health that arise from the interaction between humans and the environment.

The process of using natural resources in a way that meets current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

The management of natural resources, including minerals, soils, water, and biological resources like timber and fish.

These are strategies to reduce the amount of resources used, aiming to decrease environmental impact and save money.

This refers to the highest demand for energy during a specific timeframe. It's often aimed at reducing energy waste during peak hours.

An interdisciplinary area of study that combines elements of different sciences like biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science.

All the conditions and factors, both living and nonliving, that surround an organism, including other organisms, food sources, predators, climate, and landscape.

The area immediately surrounding an organism or person, including other organisms, food sources, and local weather conditions.

The sum of all the aspects of the Earth, encompassing all the local environments and their interactions, creating a global system.

The study of how populations of organisms change in size and distribution over time, considering factors like birth rates, death rates, immigration, and emigration.

The scientific method used to study the environment, including observation, hypothesis testing, data collection, and analysis.

A measurable characteristic of the environment that indicates the health or condition of an ecosystem. For example, tree growth can indicate forest health.

Different systems within the environment, such as forests, oceans, and the atmosphere, and how they interact with each other.

The difficulty in assessing the overall environmental impact of actions with multiple, potentially conflicting outcomes, making it challenging to definitively determine which choice is environmentally superior.

The phenomenon where scientific advancements and technological developments promoting environmental improvement are hindered by human choices and lack of cooperation. This can be seen in the case of rising fuel efficiency in cars, countered by consumer preference for SUVs, leading to an overall decrease in national fuel efficiency.

The overall average fuel efficiency achieved by all vehicles within a region.

The preference for vehicles that offer more space, power, or features, often at the expense of fuel efficiency.

The use of electricity as power and the combination of electric and traditional fuel-powered engines in vehicles.

Policies aimed at encouraging the adoption of electric and hybrid vehicles, promoting their use and driving their widespread adoption.

The trend of increased popularity of smaller SUVs, which, despite their size, generally offer better fuel efficiency than larger SUVs.

The change in the trajectory of fuel efficiency due to a shift in consumer preferences and policy interventions, leading to a more positive development in overall vehicle fuel efficiency.

A system where the inputs and outputs are equal, resulting in no change in the size of the pool over time.

The difference between inputs and outputs for a given system.

The total amount of a substance within a defined system. Example- the amount of water in a lake.

The rate at which a substance enters a system.

The rate at which a substance leaves a system.

The analysis of inputs and outputs to determine changes in a given system. This is often used to assess the health or stability of a system.

A system in which the input and output of a substance are equal, the size of the pool does not change over time.

The rate of change in the size of a pool.

A set of interconnected living or non-living components where changes in one part affect others.

The study of how components within a system interact and influence each other.

The idea that systems on Earth are interconnected, meaning actions in one place can have far-reaching effects.

The exchange of materials (matter) or energy between different parts of a system.

The largest and most encompassing system studied in environmental science, encompassing all other systems on Earth.

The application of scientific knowledge to understand and address environmental problems, often involving policy, law, and economics.

The impact of human activities on the environment, including pollution, habitat destruction, and climate change.

The area of environmental science where human actions have the most significant and often detrimental impacts.