Environmental science, and how it's done
Earth as a planet and its geological cycles
Energy flow in ecosystems and biogeochemical systems
Plate tectonics
Properties of systems and modelling systems
100

A(n) ____ is used when we want to test whether a prediction that arose from a hypothesis is correct.

experiment

100

Is the hydrological cycle a geological cycle? Why?

YES! It's a sub-cycle

100

True or false: soil is a component required to make a functional ecosystem.

(Justification for full points!)

FALSE! Recall the four components required to make a functional ecosystem

100

A(n) ___ is a sudden release of built up strain energy in rock subjected to tectonic forces

earthquake

100

A ____ feedback loop is homeostatic.

negative

200

A(n) ___ worldview is one that is centred on the environment

ecocentric

200

____ properties are those that are exhibited by a larger body (e.g. a lake with many, many water molecules), not by an individual object from that body (e.g. one water molecule)

Emergent

200

True or false: in most biogeochemical cycles, transformations to and from inorganic and organic forms occur.
(Must provide justification to get full points!)

TRUE! 

200

___ crust is made of denser basaltic rock

Oceanic

200

The mass of a substance in a reservoir is called...

a burden
300

Is the following an example of environmental science: Eco Canada advocates for the protection of rivers and lakes.
(To get full points, you must provide a justification!)

No!

300

The name given to the time between about 540 and 600 million years ago, when there was a rapid increase in the number, diversity, and complexity of species is called the ____

Cambrian Explosion

300

___  is a strategy that uses biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people and communities adapat to climate change.
(In order to get the full points, you must provide the short form!)

Ecosystem-based adaptation or EbA

300

True or false: both P and S waves can travel though liquid.

FALSE

300

True or false: a system supports life

FALSE

400

A dominant view in science or society

A paradigm

400

Why is the transparency of water an important property in regards to ecosystems and ecosystem services?

Multiple accepted answers - discuss in class

400

Name at least 2 processes of the nitrogen biogeochemical cycle

Accepted answers: 

- Nitrogen Fixation
- Nitrification
- Denitrification
- Ammonification (Mineralization)

400

___ is the material that is most abundant in the mantle.

Solid, hot silicate rock

400

True or false: a rock is a closed system

(Justification for full points!)

FALSE! Recall the properties of a system!

500

____ ____ set the environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate

Planetary boundaries

500

What was earth like when it was first created?

Multiple acceptable answers:

  • HOSTILE

  • Atmosphere: H + He

  • Radioactive decay in earth’s core → volcanoes, hot lava flows, released gases

  • Debris + meteorites might have brought H2O + C-compounds

  • Ultraviolet radiation from sun (no ozone layer)

  • No ‘free’ O2

  • NO LIQUID water

  • NO Life

500

True or false: one characteristic that determines the size of an ecosystem is how many individual species are involved in the ecosystem.
(Must provide justification to get full points!)

FALSE! Species individuality is less important that the scale of the space!

500

The middle of a tectonic environment is called...

The intraplate

500

Drawing time!!! Go to the board! You have one minute to draw a box model of the hydrological cycle! We'll take a vote to see if you get full points or not! Timer starts at the end of this sentence.

To get full marks, at least 3 resevoirs, appropriate icons (arrows, boxes, etc), labelled fluxes