Environmental Science & Ecology Flashcards
7 cards from real AP practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Environmental Science & Ecology flashcards as text
The stratospheric ozone layer is critical for life on Earth primarily because it:
Answer: Absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation
The ozone layer absorbs the majority of the Sun's harmful UV-B and UV-C radiation, protecting organisms from DNA damage and other radiation injuries.
Which of the following energy sources is best classified as renewable?
Answer: Wind energy
Wind energy is renewable because it is continuously replenished by natural atmospheric processes, unlike fossil fuels that take millions of years to form.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was established primarily to:
Answer: Assess and synthesize scientific research on climate change for policymakers
Founded in 1988, the IPCC reviews and synthesizes peer-reviewed scientific literature on climate change to provide authoritative assessments for policymakers.
Among human activities, which factor is considered the leading global cause of species extinction today?
Answer: Habitat destruction and fragmentation
Habitat destruction — primarily through deforestation and land conversion for agriculture — eliminates the living space species need to survive, making it the leading driver of extinction.
An ecological footprint is best defined as:
Answer: The amount of biologically productive land and water required to support a population's resource use and absorb its waste
Ecological footprint quantifies the total biologically productive area needed to supply resources consumed and absorb waste generated by a specific population or individual.
Which of the following is an example of a negative feedback loop in the climate system?
Answer: Higher CO2 stimulates plant growth, which absorbs more CO2
Negative feedback loops counteract the original change; higher CO2 promotes plant growth, which absorbs more CO2, dampening the initial increase.
Garrett Hardin's concept of the 'tragedy of the commons' explains environmental overexploitation because:
Answer: Individuals overuse shared resources because personal benefits are immediate while costs are distributed among all users
Each individual gains the full benefit of exploiting a shared resource while environmental costs are distributed among all users, creating incentives to overuse until the resource collapses.