Nature Flashcards
Biosphere
areas of the earth where life exists.
the ecosystem comprising the entire earth and the living organisms that inhabit
Emissions
Gases entering the atmosphere
Scientists spend their whole career studying the effect of emissions on the climate.
Pollutant particles
Microscopic elements of pollution
I remember going to a factory and seeing the snow covered with pollutant particles.
Run-off
Water that runs from the ground into rivers And lakes.
We should try to collect and use more run- off water to avoid having to recycle water so much.
The water cycle
Natural process of water moving frim clouds to rain and seas.
Scientists believe the water cycle is responsible for various natural events especially in coastal areas.
Aquifers
Underground , natural water stores
My family have a well which connects to an aquifer, giving very pure water
Filtration
The process of filtering and removing impurities.
Water filtration might be a solution to water shortages in very hot countries.
Water table
The layer of water below ground.
In my town the water table is very high and water will appear in even a small hole.
Tainted
Polluted
Contaminated
The mediterranean is badly tainted in some areas by sewage pollution
Sweage
Sewage is waste matter such as feces or dirty water from homes and factories, which flows away through sewers. …treatment of raw sewage.
Contamination of the soil, ground water, and air by percolation of sewage.
Soil erosion
The loss of soil by wind and rain activity
Deforestation has increased soil erosion seriously in Brazil.
Logging
Cutting down trees for timber and industrial use.
Logging has endangered many species throughout the world.
Timber
the wood of growing trees suitable for structural uses.
Dumping
Leaving waste deliberately without storing or treating it.
In most countries, dumping rubbish is a criminal offense.
Waste
Any material not wanted or needed after a process
In my country, we use waste from cotton manufacture for lighting fires.
Landfills
Organised areas where waste is buried in the ground.
Surprisingly, Britain still sends most of its domestic waste to landfill sites.
Waste processing
Recycling or reducing waste into manageable forms.
My brother has a waste processing company, which is subsided by the local authority.
Poaching
Illegally hunting and killing animals.
Elephant poaching should be a much higher priority for the world authorities, as elephants are an endangered species.
Habitat loss
Destruction or disappearance of an animal’s home.
Logging has caused substantial habitat loss for wildlife in many countries.
Food chain
The natural system of animals eating other animals and plants.
The food chain has been disrupted by the loss of certain species, with widespread impacts on all animals.
Dwindling numbers
To dwindle
To steadily decline in quantity
States seem to have dwindling funds to pay for animal sanctuaries, although they are still able to pay for government officials and their perks.
Extinction
The final death of all animals in a species.
Dinosaur extinction may have been caused by a meteor or volcano, but scientists seem unsure about this.
Drought
Similar to famine but a lack of water.
Drought in central Africa can continue for many years, apparently.
Irrigation
Supplying water to land for agriculture.
If we want quick solutions to famine, better irrigation and farming methods would be probably be the first step.
Catastrophe
A great disaster affecting many people.
The continuing destruction of the rain forests is a catastrophe for the global biosphere.
Exacerbated
To exacerbate
To make an existing problem worse, accidentally or deliberately.
Famine in Africa has bern exacerbated by civil war and political instability.
