Environment and Nature Flashcards

What is an ecosystem?

Answer: A community of living organisms interacting with their physical environment

An ecosystem is a system formed by a community of organisms (biotic factors) interacting with each other and their nonliving physical environment (abiotic factors).

What is deforestation and why is it a concern?

Answer: The large-scale removal of forests, which reduces biodiversity and increases CO₂ emissions

Deforestation is the clearing of forests for agriculture, logging, or development, which destroys habitats and releases stored carbon into the atmosphere.

What does it mean for a species to be 'endangered'?

Answer: The species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild

An endangered species is one that has been categorized as likely to become extinct unless the circumstances threatening its survival improve.

Which of the following best describes a 'watershed'?

Answer: An area of land that drains water into a common river, lake, or ocean

A watershed is a land area that collects and channels precipitation and runoff into a shared body of water such as a river or bay.

What is the purpose of the Clean Air Act in the United States?

Answer: To regulate air emissions from stationary and mobile sources to protect public health

The Clean Air Act, originally passed in 1963 and significantly amended in 1970 and 1990, authorizes the EPA to set and enforce national air quality standards.

What is the main difference between weather and climate?

Answer: Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions while climate refers to long-term patterns in a region

Weather is the day-to-day state of the atmosphere (e.g., today's rain), while climate is the average pattern of weather over decades in a specific region.