Environmental Science Unit 1 Study Guide

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is classified as a commons in this study guide?

International waters in the oceans (correct)

A large soybean farm

The parking lot of a nearby drug store

Apartments within a skyscraper

What could be a tragedy of the commons with respect to groundwater?

An increase in greenhouse gases affects climate

Overfishing leads to extinction of fish species

Excessive use can deplete the aquifer (correct)

Reduced agricultural yield from vegan farming

Which of the following resources is classified as nonrenewable?

Plastic made from plant matter

Fuel made from corn-based ethanol

Gasoline made from crude oil (correct)

Photovoltaic solar panels

What is not permitted in a National Park?

Mining for minerals (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant environmental issue related to leaded gasoline?

Lead causing neurological damage (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which public land designation typically allows logging and grazing?

National Forest (B) Signup and view all the answers

How are used fuel rods from nuclear reactors classified regarding resource management?

Recyclable nonrenewable (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which environmental event is primarily associated with water pollution?

The Exxon Valdez oil spill (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is used as a heating source and is made from wood?

Charcoal (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which environmental law primarily focuses on protecting endangered species?

Endangered Species Act (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the ecological footprint measure?

The environmental impact of human activities (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario would most likely decrease your ecological footprint?

Carpooling with coworkers (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why might a cost-benefit analysis favor tuna production in Indonesia?

Lower labor costs can reduce overall expenses (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is likely a hidden cost behind the price difference between American Tuna and Starkist Tuna?

Sustainability of fishing practices (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT regulated by the Clean Air Act?

Drinking water quality (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which country is classified as developed based on GDP per capita and other socio-economic factors?

South Korea (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which approach to resource utilization emphasizes the sustainable use of resources while recognizing human needs?

Stewardship (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the main question James Lind was investigating in his study on scurvy?

What dietary components affect the onset of scurvy? (A) Signup and view all the answers

In Lind's experiment, what was the hypothesis regarding the treatment for scurvy?

Dietary changes can cure scurvy. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following represents the independent variable in Lind's scurvy experiment?

The amount of citrus provided (C) Signup and view all the answers

What was the control group in Lind's scurvy experiment?

Sailors receiving a placebo treatment (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of pseudoscience from the list provided?

Research funded by General Mills on cereal health (B) Signup and view all the answers

What finding did James Lind conclude at the end of his experiment?

Oranges and lemons were effective in treating scurvy. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What should be the next step after reaching a conclusion in a scientific experiment?

Conduct further experiments to validate results. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Environmental Commons and Tragedies

Commons Definition: Shared resources accessible to all, such as air, water, and land.
Examples and Tragedies:
- International waters (C): Overfishing, pollution, and resource depletion.
- Drug store parking lot (P): Private property; not a commons issue.
- Groundwater (C): Over-extraction leading to aquifer depletion and contamination.
- Large soybean farm (P): Private farming; not a commons issue.
- Atmosphere (C): Air pollution leading to health risks and climate change.
- Skyscraper apartments (P): Individual ownership; not a commons issue.

Public Land Designations

National Park:
- Allowed: Recreation, conservation, educational activities.
- Not Allowed: Commercial activities, extraction of resources.
National Wildlife Refuge:
- Allowed: Wildlife observation, conservation, limited hunting/fishing.
- Not Allowed: Resource extraction, development.
National Forest:
- Allowed: Timber harvesting, recreation, grazing.
- Not Allowed: Activities harming environment, unrestricted development.

Hetch Hetchy Debate

Anthropocentric Arguments for Dam:
- Provides drinking water to urban populations.
- Enables agricultural irrigation.
- Creates recreational opportunities in reservoirs.
Ecocentric Arguments Against Dam:
- Protects natural ecosystems and biodiversity.
- Preserves areas for aesthetic and cultural value.
- Prevents disruption of local flora and fauna.

Significant Environmental Events

Leaded Gasoline Ban: Issue of air pollution and neurological damage caused by lead.
1930s Drought: Related to famine and agricultural loss, affecting economic stability.
Nuclear Waste Storage: Concerns about carcinogens and hazardous waste management.
Exxon Valdez Oil Spill: Incident highlighting water pollution and extinction of marine life.

Resource Classification

Gasoline from crude oil: Nonrenewable (N).
Corn-based ethanol: Renewable (R).
Lead from batteries: Recyclable nonrenewable (RY).
Coal-fired electricity: Nonrenewable (N).
Plastic from plant matter: Renewable (R).
Photovoltaic solar panels: Renewable (R).
Glass from silica: Recyclable nonrenewable (RY).
Wind-powered electricity: Renewable (R).
Charcoal from wood: Nonrenewable (N).

Environmental Laws

Antiquities Act: Protects historic sites and national monuments.
Safe Drinking Water Act: Regulates water quality for public health.
Clean Water Act: Addresses pollutant discharges into water bodies.
Clean Air Act: Limits air emissions to protect public health and environment.
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act: Manages hazardous and nonhazardous waste.
Endangered Species Act: Protects threatened and endangered species.
Environmental Policy Act: Requires assessment of environmental effects of federal projects.
CERCLA (Superfund): Deals with cleanup of hazardous waste sites.

Country Comparisons: Mali vs. South Korea

Mali:
- GDP per capita: Low.
- Total Fertility Rate: High.
- Life Expectancy: Low.
- Ecological Footprint: High.
- Classification: Developing.
South Korea:
- GDP per capita: High.
- Total Fertility Rate: Low.
- Life Expectancy: High.
- Ecological Footprint: Low.
- Classification: Developed.

Ecological Footprint

Measures human demand on Earth's ecosystems, comparing resources consumption to regeneration.

Factors Increasing Ecological Footprint

Printing hard copies of emails.
Driving alone to school.
Eating steak for dinner.
Using disposable water bottles.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Analysis

Cost-benefit analysis may prefer Indonesian tuna due to lower production costs and larger scale.
Hidden costs of cheaper tuna include environmental degradation and poor labor conditions.

Political Views on Resource Management

Planetary Management: Focus on sustainable resource use with human benefit as priority.
Stewardship: Emphasizes responsible management of resources for future generations.
Environmental Wisdom: Advocates for nature's intrinsic value and conservation over exploitation.

Scientific Method Case Study (James Lind and Scurvy)

Initial Observation: Not all sailors contracted scurvy despite similar conditions.
Hypothesis: Diet may impact scurvy resistance.
Experiment: Divided sailors into groups with different diets.
- Independent Variable: Type of dietary treatment.
- Dependent Variable: Recovery from scurvy.
- Controlled Variables: Same living conditions, activities.
Control Group: Group without special dietary treatment.
Experiment Type: Not blinded.
Conclusion: Oranges and lemons effectively cured scurvy. Next step: Further experimentation to confirm findings.

Science vs. Pseudoscience

Science (S):
- Study of soil samples and living organisms.
- Newton's first law of motion.
Pseudoscience (P):
- Cereal research funded by General Mills.
- Psychic predictions based on palm lines.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

This study guide covers the foundational concepts of environmental science, including the scientific method, atoms and molecules, and environmental dynamics. Test your understanding of these topics and explore real-world issues related to commons and private property. Prepare for discussions about environmental protection and sustainability.