Land Use & Sustainability: every key term you need (+ practice quiz)

More AP Environmental Science guides

• Earth Systems
• Biodiversity & Conservation
• Populations & Communities
• Energy Flow & Nutrient Cycles

Climate

Long-term atmospheric conditions in region; determined by latitude, ocean currents, elevation.

Weather

Short-term atmospheric conditions; changes daily; measured by temperature, precipitation, wind.

Atmosphere

Layer of gases surrounding Earth; ~78% N₂, 21% O₂, 1% Ar, 0.04% CO₂; pressure decreases with altitude.

Greenhouse Effect

Gases trap heat; CO₂, CH₄, H₂O, N₂O absorb infrared radiation, warming planet.

Greenhouse Gas

Gas trapping infrared radiation; CO₂, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide; anthropogenic sources.

Global Warming

Long-term increase in average global temperature; primarily from CO₂ emissions.

Climate Change

Long-term shift in climate patterns; warming, altered precipitation, extreme weather.

Carbon Footprint

Total greenhouse gas emissions from activities; measured in CO₂ equivalents.

Albedo

Fraction of light reflected by surface; high (snow, ice); low (dark water, forests).

Feedback Loop

Process amplifying or dampening change; positive feedback amplifies (melting ice); negative dampens.

Mitigation

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions; renewable energy, efficiency, carbon sequestration.

Adaptation

Adjusting to climate impacts; sea walls, drought-resistant crops, cooling centers.

Ozone Depletion

Stratospheric O₃ loss from CFCs; causes UV radiation increase.

Acid Rain

Precipitation with pH < 5.6 from SO₂, NOₓ; damages forests, aquatic ecosystems.

Photochemical Smog

Air pollution from NOₓ + VOC + sunlight; creates ozone and particulates; health hazard.

Particulate Matter

Solid particles or liquid droplets in air; PM2.5 penetrates lungs; health impacts.

Clean Air Act

U.S. legislation regulating air quality; set standards for pollutants.

Renewable Energy

Energy from replenishing sources: solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass.

Fossil Fuel

Non-renewable energy from ancient organic matter: coal, oil, natural gas; primary energy source.

Energy Efficiency

Using less energy for same output; reduces consumption and emissions.

Tragedy of the commons

Individuals overuse a shared, unregulated resource because each gains the full benefit while costs are spread across all (overfishing, overgrazing).

Ecological footprint

Land and water area needed to supply a person's or nation's resources and absorb wastes; the U.S. footprint is roughly 5x the global average.

Green Revolution

Mid-20th-century jump in yields from high-yield varieties, synthetic fertilizer, pesticides, irrigation, and mechanization; raised output but also inputs and pollution.

Monocropping

Growing one crop over a large area; simplifies harvest but depletes specific nutrients and invites pests and disease.

Tilling and no-till

Tilling loosens soil but accelerates erosion and carbon loss; no-till leaves residue in place, conserving soil and moisture.

Salinization and waterlogging

Irrigation in dry regions leaves salts as water evaporates and can raise the water table into root zones; drip irrigation and drainage reduce both.

Drip vs. flood irrigation

Drip delivers water to roots at >90% efficiency; flood/furrow irrigation loses much to evaporation and runoff (~50-70% efficient).

Integrated pest management (IPM)

Combines crop rotation, biological controls, pest monitoring, and targeted pesticide use only when thresholds are exceeded.

Pesticide treadmill

Pests evolve resistance, so farmers apply more or stronger chemicals, selecting for still more resistance.

CAFO

Concentrated animal feeding operation; efficient meat production but generates manure lagoons, antibiotic resistance, and water pollution.

Overgrazing and desertification

Livestock removing vegetation faster than it regrows exposes soil to erosion, converting productive land to desert-like conditions.

Clear-cutting vs. selective cutting

Clear-cutting removes all trees, causing erosion and habitat loss; selective cutting harvests some trees and keeps the canopy.

Prescribed burn

Intentional low-intensity fire that clears fuel, recycles nutrients, and prevents catastrophic wildfires.

Urban sprawl

Low-density expansion outward from cities that increases car dependence, impervious surface, and habitat loss.

Urban runoff and impervious surfaces

Roads and roofs shed water rapidly, carrying oil, metals, and nutrients into streams; permeable pavement and rain gardens mitigate.

Sustainable yield

Amount of a renewable resource (fish, timber, groundwater) that can be harvested without reducing future supply.

Aquaculture trade-offs

Fish farming boosts protein supply but concentrates waste, spreads disease to wild stocks, and often uses wild-caught feed.