Chapter 17 Vocabulary

Question 1

Acid Rain*

Answer 1

Rain that is more acidic I and has a lower pH than normal rain because certain pollutants in the air form acids when they mix with water in the air.

Question 2

Air Pollution**

Answer 2

Chemical substances/particles released into the atmosphere (mostly due to humans).

Question 3

Global Climate Change*

Answer 3

A worldwide increase in Earth’s Temp. Caused by the addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere (due to humans).

Question 4

Greenhouse Effect*

Answer 4

The natural heat on earth by gases in the atmosphere, which keeps Earth’s temperature within a range that allows life.

Question 5

Algal Bloom*

Answer 5

Excessive growth of algae in a body of water because of pollution with fertilizer in runoff.

Question 6

Dead Zone

Answer 6

An area in a body of water where there is too little oxygen to support living things.

Question 7

Nonpoint-source Pollution*

Answer 7

Pollution that enters the environment from many different places (Ex: runoff that flows from land into a body of water).

Question 8

Ocean Acidification

Answer 8

Increasing acidity of ocean water because it’s dissolving more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Question 9

Point-source Pollution*

Answer 9

Pollution that enters the environment from a single place (Ex: waste water from factory discharged into a body of water).

Question 10

Thermal Pollution

Answer 10

Reduction in the quality of water because of an increase in water temp..

Question 11

Waterborne Disease

Answer 11

Disease caused by drinking water that contains pathogens.

Question 12

Water Pollution**

Answer 12

Addition of chemicals, sewage, trash, or heat to water resources.

Question 13

Wetland

Answer 13

A habitat such as a swamp, marsh, or bog where the ground is soggy or covered with water much of the year.

Question 14

Biomass Energy*

Answer 14

Energy obtained by burning or decomposing organic matter.

Question 15

Fossil Fuel**

Answer 15

A nonrenewable natural resource that forms over hundreds of millions of years from dead organisms and is burned for energy (Ex: coal, oil, natural gas).

Question 16

Natural Resource**

Answer 16

Something supplied by nature that helps support life (Ex: water, oxygen, soil).

Question 17

Nonrenewable Resource**

Answer 17

Any natural resource that cannot be remade or that takes too long to remake to keep up with human use.

Question 18

Recycle**

Answer 18

Breaking down and processing a used item so it’s components can be reused.

Question 19

Renewable Resource**

Answer 19

Any natural resource that exists in limitless amounts or can be remade or recycled quickly enough to keep up with human use.

Question 20

Soil

Answer 20

Naturally occurring substance that consists of tiny pieces of rock, minerals, and decaying organic matter and is needed for the growth of most plants..

Question 21

Solar Energy*

Answer 21

Form of energy in sunlight.

Question 22

Sustainable Use

Answer 22

Use of natural resources in a way that meets present human needs an also conserves resources for future generations.

Question 23

Wind Energy*

Answer 23

Form of energy in blowing wind.

Question 24

Biodiversity**

Answer 24

A variation in living things, often measured by the number of different species.

Question 25

Exotic Species**

Answer 25

Non-native species introduced into a new habitat where it may become invasive and threaten native species.

Question 26

Habitat Loss

Answer 26

Disturbance or destruction in natural habitats, usually due to human actions such as clearing land for farming.

Question 27

Extiniction**

Answer 27

Complete dying out of a species.

Question 28

Sixth Mass Extiniction

Answer 28

A current rapid rate of species extinctions that is due mainly to human destruction of habitats.