Help
Options
Didn't know it?
click below
click below
Knew it?
click below
click below
Don't Know
Remaining cards (0)
Know
retry
shuffle
restart
0:00
Embed Code - If you would like this activity on your web page, copy the script below and paste it into your web page.
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Unit Five
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| watershed | an area of land that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet such as the outflow of a reservoir, mouth of a bay, or any point along a stream channel. |
| invasive species | non-native plant, animal, or organism that causes ecological, environmental, or economic harm in a new environment. Introduced by humans either accidentally or intentionally, they thrive, spread rapidly, and displace native species - they lack natural pre |
| urban heat island | a metropolitan area that is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural countryside |
| rural | any geographic region, town, or population center located outside of cities and dense suburban areas |
| urban | related to a city or town. It describes places with many people, tall buildings, busy streets, and lots of traffic |
| fresh water | any naturally occurring liquid or frozen water containing low concentrations of dissolved salts and other total dissolved solids. The term excludes seawater and brackish water. |
| ground water | water found underground in the cracks and spaces between soil, sand, and rock; precipitation that has infiltrated the soil beyond the surface and collected in empty spaces underground |
| aquifer | A saturated, porous, and permeable layer of rock or sediment that stores and transmits groundwater |
| water basin | a low-lying area of land, shaped like a bowl, where water collects and drains into a common river, lake, or ocean. It is surrounded by higher land that acts as a boundary |
| drought | a prolonged dry period in the natural climate cycle that can occur anywhere in the world |
| stormwater runoff | rain/melting snow that doesn't soak into the ground - instead flows over land, paved streets, and roofs. As it moves across these surfaces, it picks up pollutants—such as oil, fertilizers, and litter—carrying them directly into storm drains, streams, and |
| stream buffers | a protected, vegetated area—consisting of trees, shrubs, or grasses—along the edge of a stream, river, or lake. It acts as a natural boundary that filters pollutants, stabilizes banks, reduces erosion, and provides shade to maintain water quality |
| conservation | the responsible protection, management, and sustainable use of Earth’s natural resources—such as water, wildlife, forests, and energy—to prevent them from being wasted or destroyed. It focuses on keeping nature balanced for present and future generations |
| wetlands | an area of land that is either covered by shallow water or has waterlogged soil, either permanently or seasonally. These ecosystems, which include swamps, marshes, and bogs, act as a transition zone between dry land and water bodies |
| estuaries | a partially enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean. These sheltered, nutrient-rich "nurseries of the sea" create brackish water, providing vital habitats for diverse wildlife |
| contaminants | any physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance present in an environment, food, or material where it does not belong |
| salt water intrusion | movement of salty seawater into freshwater aquifers (underground water sources) or rivers, making the water too salty for drinking or irrigation; occurs naturally in coastal areas - accelerated by sea-level rise and over-pumping of freshwater wells. |
| infiltration | water soaking into the ground, |
| mircoplastics | tiny pieces of plastic, less than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) long—about the size of a pencil eraser or smaller. They pollute the environment, coming from broken-down trash (secondary) or manufactured microbeads and synthetic fibers (primary), and are foun |
| remediation | process of removing pollutants - heavy metals, petroleum products, or industrial chemicals, from contaminated soil, groundwater, sediment, or surface water. It protects human health and ecosystems while restoring polluted sites—often called brownfields—fo |
| filtration | a process used to separate solids from liquids or gases using a filter medium that allows the fluid to pass through but not the solid |
| point source pollution | a single, identifiable source of pollution—such as a pipe, ditch, ship, or factory smokestack—from which pollutants are discharged; a localized, traceable source that enters the environment (water or air) directly, easier to monitor & regulate |
| nonpoint source pollution | widespread water contamination that does not come from a single, specific location like a pipe. Instead, it is caused by rainfall or snowmelt moving over and through the ground, picking up pollutants from many diffuse sources |
| percolation | the slow, gradual movement or filtration of a liquid through a porous substance, such as water soaking down through soil, rocks, or coffee grounds. It represents the process of fluid flowing through small, interconnected spaces, often driven by gravity |
| biomass | organic material made from living or recently living plants and animals, such as wood, crops, and waste. It serves as a renewable energy source because it can be converted into heat, electricity, or biofuels |
| fossil fuel | non-renewable energy sources - coal, coal products, natural gas, derived gas, crude oil, petroleum products and non-renewable wastes. These fuels originate from plants and animals that existed in the geological past (for example, millions of years ago). |
| landfill | sites designed to store garbage. They are designed to minimize the effects of the trash on human health and the environment |
| ground level ozone | a harmful air pollutant & component of smog, formed near the Earth's surface when pollutants from cars, industry, and power plants react in sunlight and heat. Unlike the protective ozone layer high up, this "bad" ozone triggers problems |
| particulate matter | extremely small solid particles and liquid droplets suspended in the air, including dust, soot, smoke, and dirt; can be inhaled, originate from natural sources or human activities |
| clean air act | comprehensive U.S. federal law that authorizes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate air emissions from factories and mobile (vehicles) sources. It sets national air quality standards to protect public health and the environment |
| acid rain | any form of precipitation—rain, snow, fog, or dust—that has a low pH level |
| wind energy | a clean, renewable power source that uses the wind's movement to spin large turbine blades, which turn a generator to create electricity. It works like a modern windmill, turning "kinetic energy" from moving air into electricity |
| solar energy | light and heat harnessed from the sun. It is a renewable power source that can be captured using technology like solar panels to create electricity or for heating. It is clean, abundant, and inexhaustible |
| geothermal energy | renewable heat generated and stored inside the Earth; tapped from underground reservoirs of hot water and steam to produce electricity, heat buildings directly, or provide cooling. |
| nuclear energy | the immense power stored inside the core (nucleus) of an atom that holds it together. It is released as heat and light through splitting atoms (fission) or combining them (fusion) |
| biomass energy | a renewable energy source derived from organic materials—such as plants, wood, agricultural waste, and animal manure—that are burned directly or converted into liquid/gas fuels |
| fossil fuel | non-renewable energy sources such as coal, coal products, natural gas, derived gas, crude oil, petroleum products and non-renewable wastes; originate from plants and animals that existed in the geological past (for example, millions of years ago). |
| nonrenewable energy | power generated from natural resources that are limited in supply and cannot be replaced once used up. These sources, such as fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and nuclear fuel (uranium), take millions of years to form and will eventually run out |
| renewable energy | power generated from natural sources that replenish themselves faster than they are consumed, such as sunlight, wind, and water; inexhaustible, clean, and do not produce harmful greenhouse gas emissions during operation |
| sustainable | using natural resources wisely and protecting ecosystems so they can last forever. It involves meeting today’s needs without harming the planet |
| soil degradation | decline in soil quality, health, and fertility caused by human activities (like intensive farming, deforestation) or natural processes. It reduces the soil's ability to support plants, animals, and ecosystems |
| water overuse | consumption of water at a rate faster than it can be naturally replenished, leading to depletion of resources, drying rivers, and lower groundwater levels |
| overfishing | the practice of catching fish from the ocean faster than they can reproduce and replenish their populations. This unsustainable rate of fishing depletes fish stocks, disrupts marine ecosystems, and threatens food sources for1 people and wildlife. |
| waste production | the creation of discarded, unwanted, or useless materials resulting from human activity, such as manufacturing, agriculture, or daily consumption. |
| mitigate | actions taken to avoid, minimize, or compensate for negative impacts on nature. It involves reducing harm from human activities—such as pollution or development—to protect ecosystems and biodiversity |
| mining | the process of extracting useful materials from the earth. Some examples of substances that are mined include coal, gold, or iron ore |
| deforestation | the purposeful clearing, cutting down, or burning of large forest areas, primarily driven by human activities like agriculture, logging, and urbanization. It involves permanently converting forest land to other uses |
| waste disposal | the process of collecting, transporting, processing, recycling, or burying unwanted materials and trash. It focuses on safely removing garbage to prevent environmental contamination, such as pollution of air, soil, or water |
| agricultural processes | the methods, techniques, and steps farmers use to produce food, fiber, and raw materials efficiently. These actions range from preparing the soil, planting, and irrigating, to managing pests and harvesting crops or raising livestock. |
| urbanization | process of improving raw land to make it usable for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes. It involves changing the landscape—such as clearing, grading, and installing utilities—to build infrastructure like roads, homes, and shopping centers. |
| land development | process of improving raw land to make it usable for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes. It involves changing the landscape—such as clearing, grading, and installing utilities—to build infrastructure like roads, homes, and shopping centers. |
| land use | how humans manage, modify, and utilize land for purposes like residential, industrial, agricultural, or recreational activities. It describes the functional use of land (e.g., farming, housing, or conservation) |
| fusion | nuclear fusion happens when tiny atomic particles (nuclei) smash together under extreme heat and pressure to create a heavier atom, releasing massive amounts of energy. This process powers the sun and stars |
| fission | splitting of a heavy atomic nucleus (such as Uranium or Plutonium) into two or more smaller, lighter nuclei; releases a massive amount of energy, along with neutrons and radiation; fundamental process used in nuclear power plants to generate electricity |
Created by:
ejanznc