Environmental Systems (Free preview) flashcards

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What is meant by “System” in this lesson?Systems and feedback: A system is a set of interacting components studied within a defined boundary.
What is meant by “Input” in this lesson?Systems and feedback: An input is matter or energy entering a defined system.
What is meant by “Output” in this lesson?Systems and feedback: An output is matter or energy leaving a defined system.
What is meant by “Positive feedback” in this lesson?Systems and feedback: Positive feedback amplifies an initial change rather than necessarily producing a desirable outcome.
What is meant by “Negative feedback” in this lesson?Systems and feedback: Negative feedback counteracts an initial change and can promote stability within limits.
What is meant by “System boundary” in this lesson?Systems and feedback: A system boundary specifies included components and relevant exchanges with surroundings.
What is meant by “Matter conservation” in this lesson?Matter and energy: Matter is conserved in ordinary chemical and biological processes, though its form and location change.
What is meant by “Energy transfer” in this lesson?Matter and energy: Energy changes form or location while total energy is conserved.
What is meant by “Energy dissipation” in this lesson?Matter and energy: Transfers disperse energy, often as heat, reducing its availability for useful work.
What is meant by “Biogeochemical cycle” in this lesson?Matter and energy: A biogeochemical cycle moves elements through organisms and physical reservoirs.
What is meant by “Residence time” in this lesson?Matter and energy: Residence time estimates how long material remains in a reservoir under stated conditions.
What is meant by “Limiting nutrient” in this lesson?Matter and energy: A nutrient in insufficient supply relative to demand constrains biological production.
What is meant by “Sampling” in this lesson?Reading environmental data: Sampling measures part of a population or environment to estimate broader conditions.
What is meant by “Representative sample” in this lesson?Reading environmental data: A representative sample reflects relevant variation in the population being studied.
What is meant by “Control comparison” in this lesson?Reading environmental data: A control helps separate the influence of a tested factor from other changes.
What is meant by “Replication” in this lesson?Reading environmental data: Replication repeats measurements or treatments to assess consistency and variation.
What is meant by “Correlation and causation” in this lesson?Reading environmental data: An association does not by itself identify which mechanism caused a change.
What is meant by “Measurement uncertainty” in this lesson?Reading environmental data: Uncertainty reflects limitations in instruments, sampling, and estimation.