The Environment: Our Challenges and Responsibilites Flashcards
carrying capacity
the largest population that an environment can supporting
deforestation
the process of destroying a forest and replacing it with something else
acid precipitation
any form of precipitation that is high in sulfuric and nitric acids as a result of pollution in the air
sustainable development
a way to maintain economic growth without damaging the environment
Earth Summit
a meeting of world leaders, in Rio, to discuss environmental changes and sustainable development
Agenda 21
a statement of environmental action, produced at the Earth Summit, outlines actions that should be taken to protect the planet and achieve sustainable development
groundwater
water beneath Earth’s surface in underground streams and other forms
surface water
water that is readily available on Earth’s surface in streams, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and oceans
aquifer
an underground layer of rock, gravel… from which water can be drawn for wells and which is a source of springs
carbon footprint
the total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted over the full life cycle of a product or service
greenhouse gases
various gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation, including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
destroy the ozone layer; widely used in coolants and air conditioners
Montreal Protocol
an international agreement signed in 1987 to phase out the ozone depleting chemicals CFCs
greenhouse effect
greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, causing Earth’s temperature to rise
carbon sink
a reservoir that can absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
