Environmental Science Concepts

Sustainable Energy

• Involves global management of Earth's natural resources to ensure that current and future energy needs will be met without harming the environment.

• Focuses solely on renewable energy sources like solar and wind.

• Is primarily concerned with reducing energy costs for consumers.

• Emphasizes the use of fossil fuels to meet energy demands.

Reclamation

• Process of restoring land used during mining operations to its original contours and replants vegetation.

• A method of extracting minerals from the earth's crust.

• The act of demolishing old buildings to make way for new construction.

• A technique used to increase the yield of crops in agriculture.

Natural resources

• All resources supplied by the natural world, including water, land, soils, rocks, forests, animals, fossil fuels, and minerals.

• Only renewable resources such as solar and wind energy.

• Resources that are man-made and include buildings and infrastructure.

• Resources that are exclusively found in urban areas.

Aquaculture

• The rearing of aquatic animals or cultivating of aquatic plants for food.

• A method of fishing using nets and traps.

• The study of ocean currents and tides.

• A technique for purifying water in aquariums.

Ecological footprint

• The total amount of carbon emissions produced by an individual.

• The impact a person or community has on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.

• The measure of biodiversity in a given area.

• The amount of water consumed by a person or community.

Ozone Layer

• Plays a vital role by shielding humans and other life from harmful ultraviolet light from the sun.

• Is primarily composed of carbon dioxide and contributes to global warming.

• Is a layer of the atmosphere that absorbs all types of radiation from the sun.

• Has no significant impact on life on Earth.

Biodiversity

• The total number of species in the world.

• The number and variety of organisms found in a specific area or ecosystem.

• The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

• The process by which species evolve over time.

Sunspots

• Relatively cool, dark spots that appear on the surface of the sun due to magnetic fields.

• Bright, hot areas on the sun's surface that emit high levels of radiation.

• Large solar flares that cause disruptions in the Earth's atmosphere.

• Permanent features on the sun that do not change over time.

Greenhouse Effect

• Trapping of the sun's warmth in the lower atmosphere.

• Absorption of sunlight by the ocean's surface.

• Reflection of sunlight back into space.

• Increase in atmospheric pressure due to pollution.

Photovoltaic cells

• A type of battery that stores solar energy.

• A specialized semiconductor diode that converts visible light into direct current, used in solar panels.

• A device that generates electricity from wind energy.

• A chemical cell that converts thermal energy into electrical energy.