Environmental Science Glossary arable land - land that can be used for growing crops.

Environmental Science Glossary

• arable land - land that can be used for growing crops.

• biocoenosis (alternatively, biocoenose or biocenose) – all the interacting organisms living together in a specific habitat (or biotope).

cancer – a group of diseases in which cells are aggressive (grow and divide without respect to normal limits), invasive (invade and destroy adjacent tissues), and sometimes metastatic (spread to other locations in the body

• carbon dioxide – a gas with the chemical formula CO₂; the most abundant greenhouse gas emitted from fossil fuels.

• compost – the aerobically decomposed remnants of organic matter.

• deforestation - the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land for agriculture, urban use, development, or wasteland.

• desert – an area that receives an average annual precipitation of less than 250 mm (9.8 in) or an area in which more water is lost than falls as precipitation.

• detritivore (detritus feeder) - animals and plants that consume detritus (decomposing organic material), and in doing so contribute to decomposition and the recycling of nutrients.
• detritus - non-living particulate organic material (as opposed to dissolved organic material).

• endangered species – a species which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in number, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters.

• euxenic - with extremely low oxygen cf. anoxic.

evaporation – water converted to water vapour.

• extinction - the cessation of existence of a species or group of taxa, reducing biodiversity.

• herbicide – a chemical the kills or inhibits growth of a plant.

• herbivory - predation in which an organism known as an herbivore, consumes principally autotrophs such as plants, algae and photosynthesizing bacteria.

• incineration - combustion (by chemical oxidation) of waste material to treat or dispose of that waste material.

• Kyoto Protocol - an international agreement adopted in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan. The Protocol sets binding emission targets for developed countries that would reduce their emissions on average 5.2 percent below 1990 levels.

• manure - organic matter used as fertilizer in agriculture.

• renewable energy - any source of energy that can be used without depleting its reserves. These sources include sunlight (solar energy) and other sources such as, wind, wave, biomass, geothermal and hydro energy.

artesian well

The result of a pressurized aquifer intersecting the surface or being penetrated by a pipe or conduit, from which water gushes without being pumped; also called a spring.

extirpate To destroy totally; extinction caused by direct human action, such as hunting, trapping, etc.

fungicide

A chemical that kills fungi.

gamma rays Very short wavelength forms of the electromagnetic spectrum.

geothermal energy

Energy drawn from the internal heat of the earth, either through geysers, fumaroles, hot springs, or other natural geothermal features, or through deep wells that pump heated groundwater.

hazardous

Describes chemicals that are dangerous, including flammables, explosives, irritants, sensitizers, acids, and caustics; may be relatively harmless in diluted concentrations.

hurricanes Large cyclonic oceanic storms with heavy rain and winds exceeding 119 km/hr (74 mph).

life span

The longest period of life reached by a type of organism.

malnourishment A nutritional imbalance caused by lack of specific dietary components or inability to absorb or utilize essential nutrients.

mitigation

Repairing or rehabilitating a damaged ecosystem or compensating for damage by providing a substitute or replacement area.

Дата добавления: 2015-09-29