Chapter 1 Flashcards
Deforestation
The clearing of all trees
Global climate
the prevailing weather patterns of a region over time
Greenhouse gases
gases that warm a planet’s surface by absorbing outgoing infrared radiation and reradiating some of it back toward the surface
Ozone layer
a chemically distinct region within the stratosphere that protects Earth’s surface from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation
acid rain
Acidic rainwater produced when various acids, including sulfuric acid produced from SO2 oxidation, combine with natural rainwater.
anthropogenic
induced by humans
atmosphere
The thin envelope of gases that surrounds most planets; one of the four major components of the Earth system.
biodiversity
The variety of life-forms, for example, the num- ber of species in an area.
biota
all living organisms
chlorofluorocarbons
Synthetic compounds containing chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. These gases, also called freons, contribute to the greenhouse effect and are harmful to the ozone layer.
core
The central part of a planet or of the Sun. Earth’s core— one of the three components of the solid Earth—is dense, is composed mostly of metallic iron and nickel, and has a solid inner and a liquid outer part
crust
The thin, outer layer of the solid Earth; consists of light, rocky matter that is in contact with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biota
cryosphere
The portion of the Earth’s surface that is mostly frozen, including both the polar caps and mountain glaciers
deuterium
A stable isotope of hydrogen that has one neutron in its nucleus; denoted as 2H or D
Earth system
The group of interacting components (atmosphere, hydrosphere, solid Earth, and biota) that influence conditions at the Earth’s surface
fossil feuls
A
