defintions Flashcards
what are abiotic factors?
-physical factors such as light, temperature and water
what is acidification?
-process in which the ph drops as the conditions become more acidic
what does acidophile mean?
-an organism that thrives under acidic conditions. many acidophiles are bacteria or archaea
what are acoustic deterrent devices?
-a device that deters mammals by using sound
-used to deter small cetaceans from fishing nets, or seals from fish farms
what is acoustic fatigue?
-stress cracking of a material caused by repetitive vibrations induced by sound
what is acoustic monitoring?
-monitoring environmental sounds eg to detect the presence of dolphins and whales or bats
what are activated carbon filters?
-a filter that reduces emissions of pollutants such as complex organic molecules that absorb onto the surface of the activated carbon particles
what are activation products?
-atomic nuclei that become radioactive because theyve absorbed neutrons that change them into less stable nuclei that emit ionising radiation
what is active traffic management?
a method of controlling road lane usage and speed limits to smooth traffic flow and reduce congestion
what does acute mean?
exposure to a substance or symptoms that appear rapidly
what does absorption mean?
-the process where a substance fixes onto a surface
what is an aerobic process?
-a process that takes place in the presence of oxygen
what is aerodynamics?
-the study of airflow over surfaces to allow the design of surfaces that reduce wind resistance, turbulence, friction and noise generation
what is afforestation?
planting trees to increase area of forest
what is albedo?
-measure of the reflectivity of a surface. more reflective surfaces have high albedos
-a surface that reflects all light has an albedo of 100%, while one that absorbs all light has an albedo of 0%
-the albedo of an area can affect the local climate
what is an anaerobic process?
-a process that takes place in the absence of oxygen
what is the antarctic treaty (1959)?
-international agreement signed by many countries to protect and manage antarcitca
what does anthropogenic mean?
-outcomes caused by human activities
what is the aphotic zone?
-deeper layers of water that receive no sunlight because they are absorbed by shallower layers
what is aquaculture?
-the artificial production of aquatic organisms, including fish farming
what is an aquifer?
-a rock which contains water that is abstracted by humans
what is archaea?
-microorganisms similar to bacteria, including the first life-forms to develop on earth.
-only organisms that produce methane from the decomposition of organic matter
what is artificial insemination?
-form of selective breeding where semen is collected from chosen male to be inserted artificially into the chosen female
-allows semen to be stored for later use or the transport of semen without bringing the animals together
what does as low as reasonably achievable mean?
-an approach to control pollution, especially ionising radiation, where levels are kept as low as is practically achievable
what does atmosphere mean?
gasses surrounding earth
what are baffle mounds?
-embankments which absorb and deflect noise, especially around mines, airports and major roads
what is a bag filter?
-a method of reducing atmospheric pollution caused by smoke and particulate matter
what is a barrage?
-a dam built across and estuary to generate tidal power
what are barrier crops?
-crop that’s grown around another crop to protect the neighbouring crop, usually producing a scent that deters the oests
what is a beating tray?
-method of sampling invertebrates on the branches of bushes and small trees
what is a becquerel?
-unit of activity of a radioactive source
what is best available technology not entailing excessive cost?
-an approach to pollution control where tech is used that achieves the lowest emission levels, without costing so much that further marginal gains would risk their financial viabiloty
what is bioaccumulation?
-increse in concentration of a substance in living tissue as it is absorbed and stored faster than is it broken down and excreted
what is biocapacity?
-a measure of the biological productivity of an area
what does biodegradable mean?
-a material that can be broken down by living organisms usually bacteria
what does biodiversity mean?
-a measure of the variety and abundance of wildlife species
what are biogeochemical cycles?
-series of linked processes which use and re-use elements such as carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron and sulfur, as they move between biotic and abiotic reservoirs
what is bioleaching?
-method of using bacteria to dissolve metals from low grade ores
what is biological control?
-control of pests using living organisms, usually predators or pathogens
what is a biological corridor?
-a habitat that links other habitats so that animals can move between them
what is biomagnification?
-progressive bioaccumulation of a material along a food chain
what is biomass?
-total mass of living, or recently lived materials in an area
what is a biome?
-a lerafe geographical region with particular climate features, in which a characteristic, unique community of species lives
what are biomimetics?
-study of living organisms so the knowledge gained can be applied to engineering or other technological developments
what is bioremediation?
-cleaning up a contaminated site using living organisms such as bacteria that chemically degrade the pollutants or plants that absorb the pollutants
what is biotic index?
-measure of pollution based on the presence, abundance and state of health of selected living organisms
what is blue baby syndrome?
-a health problem with several possible causes, where the haemoglobin in a baby’s blood doesn’t carry enough oxygen
what is a bund wall?
-a wall that surrounds a tank which would contain the contents if the tank leaked or burst
what does bycatch mean?
-the non-target organisms that are caught when fishing
what are captive breeding and release programs?
-method of boosting wild populations by keeping a breeding population in captivity
what is carbon capture and storage?
-a method to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, by removing the gases and storing them in underground geological structures
what is carbon footprint?
-an estimate of the total release of greenhouse gases caused by the actions of an individual, group of people, an organisation or activity
what is carbon sequestration?
-any process which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, such as afforestation or carbon captures
what is carcinogen?
-a substance or energy form that can cause cancer
what does carrying capacity mean?
-the greatest population that can be supported sustainably in an area
what is a catalytic converter?
-a device that reduces emissions of pollutant gases from petrol and diesel engines
what is a catch quota?
-a limit on the quantity of fish that can be caught
what are centre of diversity?
-a geographical region with a high plant biodiversity, especially of the wild crop relatives of crop species
what are cetaceans?
-marine mammals including whales, dolphins and porpoises
what is a compa t fluorescent lamp?
-an early design of low energy lifhy
what does chronic mean?
-exposure to a substance of symptoms that appear over a long period of tome
what is a cirrus cloud?
-thin wispy clouds, usually found at altitudes above 6000m
-can reflect infrared energy emitted by the earths surface and emit infrared produced from absorbed sunlight
what is the clean air act (1956)?
- uk legislation to control smoke pollution by the establishment of smoke zones by making control orders in large urban areas
what is a climax community?
-the relatively stable community of species present at the end of ecological succession
what is cloning?
-an artificial form of asexual reproduction
what are cnidarians?
-a taxon of animals that includes corals and jellyfish
what is colonisation media?
-a method of demonstrating the presence of species by providing places that they can colonise which can then be checked
what are combined heat and power stations?
-a power station that has a high overall energy efficiency because the heat energy from the condenser cooling water is harnessed and used, often for heating buildings
what is community of species?
-a community of species is made up of the populations of all the species living in a particular area
what are companion crops?
-crops that are grown together to benefit one or both crops by actions such as providing nutrients, controlling pests or attracting beneficial insects
what is concentrating solar power?
-a method of increasing the intensity of solar energy by using a parabolic array of mirrors to reflect the light onto a smaller area
what is a constant descent angle?
-a method of approaching an airport where the aircraft descends at a constant angle usually 3°
what does contact action mean?
-a pesticide that kills pests by coming in contact with them after spraying
what does contamination mean?
-pollution caused by the pollutant staying in contact or mixing with materials such as soil, atmosphere, water or living organisms
what is contour ploughing?
-a soil erosion control measure where land is cultivated by ploughing horizontal furrows along the contours of the land
what is the convention on international trade in endangered species?
-international agreement that controls the international trade in certain species of plants and animals and their products
what are cooling towers?
-a method of reducing the temperature of effluent water to reduce thermal pollution and deoxygenation
what is coppicing?
-regularly cutting down tree branches close to ground level
what is cradle to cradle design?
- concept of designing items such that all the materials can be reused or disposed of without leaving toxic or harmful wastes
what is critical group monitoring?
-a method of monitoring pollutants , particularly radioactive discharges. if the members of the public that are most at risk are safe, then so is everyone
what is critical pathway analysis?
-prediction of routes that an effluent will take in the environment, to assess pollution risk
what is crop rotation?
-the practise of growing a different crop in a field on a cycle of three, four or five years
what are crop wild relatives?
-wild plant varieties or species that are closely related to domesticated crops. CWRs may contain genetic characteristics that can be used in crop breeding programmes
what is the cryosphere?
-all frozen water on earth
what is CSS?
-countryside stewardship scheme
what is culling?
-reducing the population of a species by selective breeding
what is cut off ore grade?
-the lowest outfit of a mineral that can be exploited economically
what is a cyclone separator?
-equipment used to remove suspended particles from gaseous effluents
what is the DAFOR scale?
-qualitative scale that judges the abundance of organisms
-initials stand for dominant, abundant, frequent, occasional, rare
what is the dB scale?
-logarithmic scale used to measure sound levels
what are dept for nature swaps?
-agreements whereby an organisation agrees to pay part of a country’s debt in return for a commitment to a wildlife conservation programme
what are decomposers?
-organisms that break down dead organic matter, releasing nutrients in the process
what is deflected succession?
-natural ecological succession is stopped by human actions. long term continuation of the actions that deflect succession will create plagioclimax
what is deforestation?
-action of removing trees, resulting in a reduction in forest area
what is degradability?
-a measure of the ease with which a material breaks down
what is demersal?
-living on the seabed
what is dendrochronology?
-method of determining the age of a piece of wood using the characteristic sequence of sizes of growth rings in the wood
what is desulfurisation?
-removal of soldier or compounds containing sulfur such as sulfur dioxide
what are detritivores?
-heterotrophic animals that ingest and digest dead organic matter
-eg earthworms, wood lice, slugs
-often break up the dead organic matter into smaller pieces
what is directional drilling?
-drilling of wells for oil or gas that aren’t vertical
what are dolphin pingers?
-type of acoustic deterrent device used to deter small cetaceans so they don’t get caught in fishing nets
what is a drift net?
-a net which hangs vertical in the water. the top is held at the surface by floats
what is dry flue-gas desulfurisation?
-method of removing sulfur oxides from effluent gases using a slurry of crushed lime
what is dynamic equilibrium?
-a balance created by active processes whose impacts cancel each other out
what is ecological footprint?
-method of assessing the sustainability of lifestyles by estimating the biologically productive area needed to provide the resources and services needed by an individual or group
what is an ecological niche?
-the role that an organism plays in its habitat, including its use of resources and its inter-relationships with other species
what is ecological succession?
-sequence of changes in community composition which changes as an area is colonised and develops until a climax community is produced
what is an ecosystem?
-community of organisms living in an area, their inter-relationships and interactions with their abiotic environment
what is eDNA?
-DNA detected in environmental samples such as water or soil that is used to confirm the presence of the species that produced it
what is efficiency?
-a measure of the amount of product compared with the inputs usually expressed as a percentage
what is El Niño?
-name given to events when the wind and ocean currents in the equatorial pacific ocean slow significantly or reverse. it alters heat distribution and weather patterns around pacific area
-events caused by natural processes
what does electrostatic precipitator mean?
-equipment used to remove suspended particles from gaseous effluents by attracting them to electrically charged wires or plates
what is embodied energy?
-the amount of energy that was used to make and install an item
what is embryo transfer?
-transfer of fertilised eggs or embryos from one female to another, such as from a rare species into a female of a closely related species that’s more common
what does endemic mean?
-an endemic species is indigenous to a particular area and its t naturally found elsewhere
what is energy density?
-the amount of energy in a particular mass of fir or that can be harnessed by a particular mass of equipment
what is eradication?
-the dedication of a population of a species by removal or culling
what are escape panels?
-a spring-loaded part of a fishing net through which large by-catch organisms can escape
what is the european union common fisheries policy?
-set of regulations intended to ensure the sustainable management of fish stocks within the EU
what is eutrophication?
-process by which nutrient levels in water body increase to excessive levels such that the growth and subsequent die off of plants and algae cause deoxygenation
what are evolutionary, distinct and globally endangered species?
-species that are threatened with extinction and have few relatives that are genetically similar. this genetic uniqueness means they should be a high priority for conservation
what is an exoskeleton?
-a skeleton on the outside of an organism
what does exposure mean?
-in ionising radiation control, this refers to an object or person receiving radiation
what is ex-situ conservation?
-conservation of a species in an area which isn’t its natural habitat
what is extensive agriculture/ aquaculture?
-where the yield is achieved with low levels of inputs
-often over a large area
-productivity is usually low but efficiency is usually high
what are feedback mechanisms?
-process where an action has consequences which affect the original process
-positive feedback mechanisms increase the rate of the original action while negative feedback mechanisms reduce iy
what are flagship species?
-high-profile species that can be used to raise support for the conservation of their habitat and all the other species that live there
what is flue gas desulfurisation?
-processes that removed oxides of sulphur from gaseous effluents
what are food conversion ratios?
-a measure of the efficiency with which a organism converts its food into its own increasing biomass
what is a fuel cell?
-an electrochemical device that produces electricity from the chemical reaction between two substances and oxyfem
what is genetic modification?
-method of altering an organisms genetic makeup by artificially introducing genes from another organism
what is ghost fishing?
-the capture and death of organisms that get caught in lost or discarded fishing gear
what are gibberelins?
a group of plant hormones
what does gonadic mean?
-relating to ovaries and testes
what does grays mean?
-a unit of energy absorbed by ionising radiation
what are greenhouse gases?
-a gas that absorbs infrared radiation emitted by earths surface and causes atmospheric heating
what is a haber process?
-industrial process that combines nitrogen from air with hydrogen from natural gas to produce ammonia
what is a habitat?
-the place where an organisms, species or population lives
what is a half life?
-the time taken for half of a material to be lost or broken down
what is a halophyte?
-an organism that thrives in conditions with a high salt concentration
what is hard release?
-te release of animals from captivity where they are not provided with post-release support such as food
what is homeostasis?
-the maintenance of a state of equilibrium
what are horizontal axis wind turbines?
-wind turbines where the blades rotate around a generataor that has a horizontal axis of rotation
what is hydraulic fracturing?
-a method using high pressure fluids to open cracks in fine-grained shales to allow trapped oil and gas to flow so it can be extracted
what is hydroelectric power?
-am egos of generating electricity using the downhill flow of water to turn turbines and generators
what is hydrodynamics?
-study of of the flow of water, often in relation to ship design to reduce resistance to movement to reduce fuel use
what is hydrogen economy?
-proposal that hydrogen produced by electrolysing water could be used as the main fuel to meet a country’s energy demands
what is hydrology?
-study and understanding of the movement, distribution and properties of water in the environment
what is the hydrosphere?
-all the water on earth
what is hydrothermal deposition?
-the deposition of mineral deposits from hot mineral-rich solutions
what is incineration?
-breakdown of waste by burning it
what is in-situ conservation?
-conservation of a species in its natural environment
what is insolation?
-sunlight that reaches a particular location
what are in-stream turbines?
-tidal turbines that are rotated by marine currents, but without having a barrage to focus the water flow
what is intensive agriculture/ aquaculture?
-yield is achieved with high levels of inputs
what is the interaction tropical timber organisation?
-intergovernmental organisation which promotes the conservation and sustainable management, use and trade of tropical forest resources
what is the international union for conservation of nature?
-organisation of 1300 government and non-government organisations that provides info on the status of the natural work and the measures needed to safeguard it
what is the international whaling commission?
-international organisation which aims to ensure the sustainable exploitation of whales
what are keystone species?
-species that has much more important ecological functions within their ecosystem than their abundance might suggest
what is kick sampling?
-a method of sampling aquatic invertebrates by disturbing the substrate
what is kinetic energy recovery system?
-method of slowing a vehicle by using the kinetic energy of the vehicle to turn a flywheel or charge batteries. the stored energy is used for acceleration which reduces the amount of fuels that needs to be used
what are k-selected species?
-species that have a relatively low breeding capacity
what is La Niña?
-the name given to events when the wind and ocean currents in the equatorial pacific ocean increase in strength
what is laser fusion?
-a development nuclear fusion technique that uses a laser beam to cause fusion in beads of frozen hydrogen
what is laskys principle?
-the theoretical model stating that as the purity of available mineral deposits declines in a linear fashion, there is a logarithmic increase in the amount of the material present
what is leachate?
-drainage water that carries other substances either in solution or suspended solids
what are LEDs?
-very energy efficient lights
what are legumes?
-plants with symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria in root nodules
what are light traps?
-a method of sampling populations of night flying organisms that are attracted to lights
what is limecrete?
-an alternative to concrete that has a much lower embodied energy because it uses calcium hydroxide rather than cement
what is the lincoln index?
-a catch, mark, release, recapture method of estimation animal populations
what is liposolubility?
-a measure of how easily a substance dissolves in fats and oils
what is the lithosphere?
-relatively hard outer layer of the earth comprising of the crust and the upper layer of the mantle
what are local nature reserves?
-designated under the national parks and a cess to the countryside act (1949) for their local importance for wildlife, geology, education or public enjoyment
what is long lining?
-a fishing method with many hooks attached to a main fishing line that is trailed behind the fishing boat. can be used to catch pelagic or demersal fish
what is magnetometry?
-a method of detecting mineral deposits based on their magnetism
what is the magnetosphere of earth?
-magnetic field around earth which deflects charged particles travelling from the sun
what are marine conservation zones?
-designated under uk law to protect a ra he of nationally important marine wildlife, habitats, geology and geomorphology
what are marine nature reserves?
-designated under wildlife and countryside act (1981) by natural england
what is a marine protected area?
-general name for marine areas that are legally protected for their wildlife, historical and cultural features
what is maximum sustainable yield?
-greatest amount that can be harvested sustainably
what are metamorphic processes?
-geological processes that change the form of a rock with heat or pressure but without melting it
what is methane hydrate?
-a solid compound of methane trapped in ice crystals often found in methane sediments
what is monoculture?
-the growth of a single type of crop, usually over a large area
what is the montreal protocol?
-international agreement that controlled the manufactured and use of CFCs and other ozone depleting substances
what is mulch?
-material placed in soil surface to reduce evaporation losses and reduce weed growth
what is multicropping?
-a form of polyculture where two or more different crops are grown in an area at the same time
what is mutagen?
-a material that can cause changes in dna structure
what are national nature reserves?
-designated under uk law by national parks and access to the countryside act (1949). they include important habitats with complete communities of ape ies
what is natura 2000?
-a network of protected sites in the EU that combine the SPAs and SACs set up under the EU birds and habitats directives
what are neonicotinoids?
-a wildly used group of insecticides. they have been linked with the death of bees
what is a neurotoxin?
-a poison that affects the nervous system
what are no take zones?
-an area where harvesting or fishing is prohibited
what is nuclear fission?
-nuclear power that involves the splitting of the nuclei of large atoms
what is nuclear fusion?
-nuclear power that involves the joining of nuclei of small atoms
what is nuclear power?
-an energy resource that releases large amounts of energy by the destruction of very small amounts of matter from atomic nuclei
what is ODS?
-ozone depleting substance
what are oil shales?
-fine sedimentary rock that contains kerogen
what are organochlorines?
-hydrocarbon-based compounds that include chlorine. they include pesticides such as DDT and industrial chemicals such as PCBs
what is an organophosphate pesticide?
-insecticide group. they aren’t persistent but have high mammalian toxicity
what is overburden?
-the soil and rock above a mineral deposit that must be removed to provide access
what is overfishing?
-fishing above the maximum sustainable yield of population
what is the ozone layer?
-the region of the stratosphere with higher concentrations of ozone
what is a pantograph?
-the electricity pick up on the roof of a locomotive that allows the use of electricity from overhead cables
what are pathogens?
-organisms that cause disease
what is peak shaving?
-the process of storing surplus energy to satisfy later peaks in demand
what is a peat bog?
-a wetland area with an accumulation of dead plant materials, especially moss
what is a pelagic?
-living near the water surface
what is permaculture?
-an agricultural system that incorporates the principles of natural ecosystems
what is permafrost?
-a layer of soil in which the water is permanently frozen
what is persistence?
-a measure of the rate at which a material breaks down and therefore the length of time remains
what is a pheromone trap?
-a trap that attracts organisms using the scent of pheromones
what is a pheromone?
-a chemical released by an organism that changes the behaviour of other members of the same species
what is the photic layer?
-the water layer into which light can penetrate
what is a photoautotroph?
-an organism that produces high energy food substances using sunlight in photosynthesis
what are photochemical smogs?
-atmospheric pollution events in which pollutants such as hydrocarbons, NOx and tropospheric ozone interact to produce more toxic pollutants such as PANs
what is photothermal?
-a system which converts light into heat
what is photovoltaic?
-a system that converts light into electricity
what is phytomining?
-a method used to extract metals that have been absorbed and concentrated by plants. it can be used as a method to exploit low purity metal deposits or decontaminate polluted areas
what is phytoremediation?
-a method of decontaminating a polluted site by growing plants that absorb the toxic materials
what are pioneer species?
-one of the first species to colonise an area at the start of ecological succession. usually well adapted to extreme abiotic factors
what is a pitfall trap?
-a method of sampling populations of mobile animals that live on the soil surface, by collecting individuals that fall into traps set into ground
what is a plagioclimax?
-a community of species that doesn’t develop to a natural climax community, but is maintained by external influences which prevent this, including human activities like burning, grazing and ploughing
what is ploughing?
-the cultivation of the soil by turning over the surface layer
what are plutonium reactors?
-nuclear fission reactors that use plutonium as a fissile fuel
what are polar vortex winds?
-winds that blow around the north and south poles in a circular manner which reduce the mixing of polar air masses with the rest of the atmosphere
what is pollarding?
-the process of regularly cutting down tree branches above ground level, usually to prevent the re growth being eaten by animals such as live stock or deer
what is pollen analysis?
-the use of the pollen present in environmental samples. the can be used to deduce the climate wf n historic sediments were deposited
what is polyculture?
-an agriculture/aquaculture system involving the growth of more than one species in the same area at the same time
what is a population?
-all the individuals of a species living in a particular area
what are power to gas systems?
-a method of using surplus electricity which would be wasted to produce methane gas
what is primary oil recovery?
-the extraction of crude oil where the oil is forced to the surface by the pressure of water beneath the oil or natural gas above or dissolved in the oil
what is productivity?
-a measure of the yield of a system, often expressed as the yield per unit area, time or input
what are proterozoic marine sediments?
-include the iron oxide deposits produced by the reaction of dissolved iron minerals with the oxygen produced by photosynthesis. this occurred in the early proterozoic era and delayed the build up of oxygen in the atmosphere
what is proxy data?
-the use of data that can be collected to predict the values of a related factor that cannot be measured
what is a pumping storage HEP?
-an energy storage system where surplus electricity is used to pump water from a lower reservoir to a higher one
what is purse seining?
-a fishing method where a net is used to encircle a shoal of pelagic fish
what are pyrethroids?
-synthetic insecticides pesticides, based on the natural chemicals originally extracted from chrysanthemum flowers
what is a quadrat?
-an area, usually square or circular in which samples are taken
what does rammed earth mean?
-a wall construction method where materials such as clay, soil, straw and sand are compacted. because no cement is used is has low embodied energy
what is a ramsar site?
-a wetland site designated to protect its biodiversity under an international agreement
what is range of tolerance?
-the range of conditions within which a species can survive
what is relative biological effectiveness?
-measure based on the amount of energy absorbed from ionising radiation which takes into account the damaging effects of the type of radiation
what is remote sensing?
-any method of monitoring the features of a location from another location, normally used to describe surveys from satellites or high-flying aircraft
what is resistivity?
-a method of predicting the mineral composition of mineral deposits underground using the ease with which they conduct electricity
what are reverse thrusters?
-a method used in most aioli slow down after landinf
what is re-wilding?
-the process of creating habitats that are similar to the conditions present before the natural habitat was changed by human actions
what is risk:benefit analysis?
-a method to inform decision making by comparing the risks of carrying out an activity with the benefits of doing so
what are r-selected species?
-species that have a relatively high breeding capacity:they often mature at a young age and have large numbers of young
what is salinity?
-a measure of the salt concentrations of a solution
what is satellite imagery?
-the collection of images using satellites: visible light, infrared, microwaves etc
what is secondary fuel?
-an energy source that is produced by the conversion of a primary fuel
what is secondary oil recovery?
-the extraction of crude oil where pressure is maintained by pumping water or natural gas into the oil reservoir
what is secondary succession?
-ecological succession that takes places in an area where the existing climax community has been disturbed or destroyed
what are seismic surveys?
-these use sound waves produced at the surface that reflect off underground geological structures to determine the depth and shape of the rock structures
what is sere?
-a stage in ecological succession in the changes that occur, eventually producing the climax community
what are shellfish?
-all the aquatic animals that are caught or grown to be eaten that have shells or an exoskeleton
what is sievert?
-a unit of absorption of ionising radiation absorption that takes into account the amount of energy absorbed and the relative biological effectiveness of the type of radiation
what is simpsons index of biodiversity?
-a quantitative measure of the number of species and the abundance of each in an area
what are sites of special scientific interest?
-designated by natural england under uk law by the wildlife and countryside act (1981) because of their importance for plants, animals, geological features or land forms
what are smart motorways?
-a method of relieving traffic congestion which allows driving on the hard shoulder and reduces the speed limit during periods of heavy traffic flow
what is smog?
-atmospheric pollution event involving smoke and fog
what is soft release?
-the release of animals from captivity where they are provided with post-release support such as food
what is somatic?
-an issue related to general body cells, but not the gonads
what are sonograms?
-a graph showing the volumes of sounds at different frequencies
what are species areas of conservation?
-designated by natural england under the EU habitats directive to protect internationally important habitats for rare and vulnerable species
what are special protection areas?
-designated by natural england under the EU birds directive to protect areas for rare and vulnerable bird species
what are species?
-a group of organisms that resemble each other more than other organisms and naturally interbreed to produce fertile offspring
what are sterile male techniques?
-a method of insect pest control that uses the release of males that have been sterilised. if they mate, no offspring will be produced
what is strip cropping?
-the growth of more than one crop in alternating narrow strips, so that different sowing and harvesting times reduce soil erosion because the whole field is never all bare at the same time
what is surber sampler?
-a method of sampling aquatic invertebrates by disturbing the substrate that produces more reliable quantitative data than kick sampling
what are sweep nets?
-a method of sampling populations of flying insects and invertebrates among vegetation
what is synergism?
-the process where the presence of two materials produces a greater effect than the sum of their individual effects
what is systematic?
-a substance that is absorbed and transported throughout an organism
what are tar sands?
-very viscous crude oil found in sands
what is a taxon?
-a group of organisms based in their biological similarities eg domain, kingdom, class, order
what is temperature inversion?
-a situation in the troposphere where the temperature is lower than normal so that relatively warm air lies above cold air
what is teratogen?
-a substance that interferes with gene function in a growing embryo so that a non-inherited birth abnormality is produced
what is terracing?
-the replacement of a sloping landscape by the creation of a series of narrow horizontal stepped strips, often used to reduce soil erosion
what is tertiary oil recovery?
-the extraction of crude oil where the viscosity of the oil is reduced using methods such as the injection of steam, solvents or bacteria
what is thermal mass?
-a measure of the ability of a material or structure to absorb and store heat
what is thermal stratification?
-the changing temperatures in different layers of the atmosphere
what is the thermohaline circulation?
-the movement of ocean currents caused by changes in temperature, salinity and density
what is a thorium reactor?
-a reactor that uses thorium as a fertile fuel
what is a tidal barrage?
-a tidal power scheme where dam-like barrage is built across a bay or estuary so that all flowing water flows through the sluice tunnels in the barrage causing the turbines and generators to turn
what is a tidal lagoon?
-a tidal power scheme where a section of a bay or estuary is impounded by a sea wall which has sluice tunnels and turbines like a tidal barrage
what is tidal power?
-a method of generating electricity using the tidal water flow caused by gravitational forces between the moon and earth
what is tied ridging?
-a method of reducing soil erosion by creating a grid of raised ridges that cause rainfall to collect, increasing infiltration and reducing runoff
what is tillage?
-the cultivation by turning the soil
what is tipping point?
-reached when the changes caused by human activities cause further changes such that the human activities are no longer needed to maintain the changes
what is topography?
-the 3d shape of the land surface
what is a toroidal reactor?
-a nuclear fusion reactor in which hydrogen plasma is held in a torus
what is toxicity?
-a measure of how poisonous a substance is, usually caused by its ability to cause enzyme inhibition
what is a transect?
-a line or belt of sampling sites across an area
what are transgenics?
-the process of artificially transferring genetic material from one organism into an individual of another species
what is a tüllgren funnel?
-a piece of equipment used to extract invertebrates from soil or leaf litter
what is turbidity?
-a measure of the level of suspended solids in water which affects the ability of light to penetrate the water
what is the universal soil loss equation?
-formula that can be used to calculate rates of soil erosion
what is urea spray?
-a method of reducing NOx emissions
what are vavilov centres?
-an area of the world, identified by the russian zoologist Nikolai Vavilov, where crop plants were first domesticated and where wild varieties are still found
what is vegetative propagation?
-asexual reproduction
what are vehicle to grid systems?
-an energy storage method in which the batteries in vehicles are connected to the local electricity grid. if there is a shortage of electricity from other sources, a proportion of the energy from the batteries can be used to maintain supplies
what are vertical axis wind turbines?
-wind turbines where the blades rotate around a generator that has a vertical axis of rotation
what is wave power?
- method of generating electricity using the movement of water caused by winds blowing over the water surface
what is wet FGD?
-a method of removing sulfur oxides from effluent gases by dissolving them in a solution such as a spray of sodium sulphite solution
what is the wildlife and countryside act (1981)?
-a uk law that provides protection for many wildlife species and designated protected areas such as SSSIs. most birds and many mammals are protected
what are windbreaks?
-hedgerows and rows of trees that reduce wind velocity to reduce soil erosion
