Environmental Science Worksheet

Environmental Science Worksheet

1. Provide a brief summary of the history of the environmental movement.

The publication of Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring helped start the environmental movement. Her book discussed the harmful pesticide DDT to humans and animals. Many environmental events contributed to the environmental movement. For instance, before 1960 many people did not acknowledge environmental issues as an importance until humanity, air, water, and animal life were put in danger. The oil spill on the coast of California and Massachusetts was one major event and the people saw a greater need to address concerns of the environment. Environmentalist, scientists, and many other people conducted more research and depended on the development of advanced technology to educate the people and to save the Earth. In December of 1970, the United States Environmental Protection Agency originated to address and help the various environmental issues (EPA, 2011).

2. Explain the main point concerning exponential growth and whether it is good or bad. Compare exponential growth to a logistic growth curve and explain how these might apply to human population growth. What promotes exponential growth? What constrains population growth?

Birth rate is the constraint for population growth. An increase (exponentially) in the population’s resources like food, water, and better crop conditions promotes exponential growth. “Exponential growth is positive feedback” (Botkin & Keller, 2009, Ch. 3.2) because contributing factors like high birth rate and good health conditions of the population have a J shape whereas the logistic growth curve is S shaped. The logistic growth curve has many determinants like disease, death, and unhealthy conditions in the environment. Also birth rate may not slow down or decrease just because the population does.

3. Compare predictions for human population growth in developed countries versus developing countries. Why is it difficult to predict...