Natural Disasters & Environmental Issues Flashcards
A sudden occurrence of something, especially a disease or violence.
An outbreak of
Negative consequences of an action or event.
Harmful effects
Not suitable for living.
Uninhabitable
Leads to a catastrophic situation
Spells disaster
Dangerous waste materials harmful to humans and the environment.
Toxic waste
Improperly disposing of small waste items.
Throwing litter
Waste produced by factories and industries
Industrial waste
The release of oil into the environment, usually in water.
Oil spill
Gases emitted from vehicles and factories.
Exhaust
In danger of being harmed or destroyed.
Under threat
People killed or injured in an event.
Casualties
Dangerous or risky.
Hazardous
The thinning of the Earth’s ozone layer.
Ozone depletion
Extremely heavy rainfall.
Torrential rain
A lack of sufficient water resources.
Water shortage
The wearing away of the topsoil.
Soil erosion
Unable to produce vegetation or sustain life.
Barren
The destruction of natural environments where species live.
Habitat loss
So severely harmed that it is unidentifiable.
Damaged beyond recognition
Harmful substances that contaminate the environment.
Pollutants
Pollutants released into the air.
Emissions
The reduction or a lack of a resource.
Depletion
The process of something becoming worse or damaged.
Degradation
Polluted or made impure, usually by harmful substances.
Contaminated
Certain to happen; unavoidable.
Inevitable
The effect something has on a situation or environment.
Impact on
The reduction in the variety of plant and animal life.
Biodiversity decline
Using something too much, leading to negative effects.
Excessive use
