Guest Author - Deborah Watson-Novacek
Environmentalism uses many terms that are unique to the science. This is a glossary of environmental terms. (A through E)
A
Acid Rain - When strong acids fall from the atmosphere in the form of rain, snow, fog or dry particles. These acids are formed by the mixing in the atmosphere of industrial pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and oil and coal vapors with water vapor. Acid rain can kill forests and sterilize lakes over time.
Aerosol - a suspension of small liquid or solid particles in gas
Afforestation - the act of planting trees where there were none before
Agroforestry - the integration of tree growing with crop and livestock production.
Air Pollution - toxic or radioactive gases or particulate matter introduced into the atmosphere, usually as a result of human activity
Algae - rootless plants that grow in sunlit waters in relative proportion to the amounts of nutrients available. They are food for fish and small aquatic animals. Excess amounts of algae can adversely affect water quality by lowering.
Algae Blooms - the rapid or explosive growth of algae on the surface of lakes, streams, or ponds which is stimulated by nutrient enrichment
Alternative Energy - energy that is not popularly used and is usually environmentally sound, such as solar or wind energy as opposed to fossil fuels such as oil and coal.
Alternative Fibers - fibers produced from non-wood sources for use in paper making.
Alternative Fuels - transportation fuels other than gasoline or diesel. Includes natural gas, methanol, and electricity.
Alternative Transportation - modes of travel other than private cars, such as walking, bicycling, carpooling and transit.
Ancient Forest - a forest that is typically older than 200 years with large trees, dense canopies and an abundance of diverse wildlife.
Aquaculture - the controlled rearing of fish or shellfish by people or corporations who own the harvestable product, often involving the capture of the eggs or young of a species from wild sources, followed by rearing more intensively than possible in nature.
Aquifer - underground source of water. A porous, water-saturated layer of sediment and bedrock under the Earth's surface, alternatively referred to as artesian (confined) or water table (unconfined).
Arid - regions where precipitation is insufficient in quantity for most crops and where agriculture is impractical without irrigation.
Ash - incombustible residue left over after incineration or other thermal processes.
Atmosphere - the layer of air surrounding the Earth which supports the existence of all flora and fauna.
B
Bioaccumulation - the process by which the concentrations of some toxic chemicals gradually increase in living tissue, such as in plants, fish, or people as they breathe contaminated air, drink contaminated water, or eat contaminated food
Biodegradable - capable of being broken down by living organisms into inorganic compounds which can be absorbed into the ecosystem. Wood is an example of a biodegradable substance.
Biodiversity - or biological diversity, refers to the variety of different living species of animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms and the variety of different ecosystems that they form. Ecologically, wide biodiversity is conducive to the development of all species.
Biological Resources - includes genetic resources, organisms or parts thereof, populations, or any other biotic component of ecosystems with actual or potential use or value for humanity
Biomass - the total amount of living organisms in an area
Bioremediation - a process that uses microorganisms to change toxic compounds into non-toxic ones
Biosolids - residuals generated by the treatment of sewage, petroleum refining waste and industrial chemical manufacturing wastewater
Biosphere - the part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting; the global ecosystem
Biosphere Reserve - a part of an international network of preserved areas designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Biosphere Reserves formed to protect and preserve healthy natural systems threatened by development.
Biotic - of or relating to life
Biotransformation - the transformation of one chemical to others by populations of microorganisms in the soil.
Brownfields - abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by environmental contamination
Bycatch - fish and/or other marine life that are incidentally caught with the targeted species. For example, dolphins are often the bycatch of tuna fishermen.
C
Cap - a layer, usually of clay or a synthetic material, used to prevent rainwater from penetrating the soil and spreading contamination
Carbon Adsorption - a treatment system in which organic contaminants are removed from groundwater and surface water by forcing it through tanks containing activated carbon
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) - a naturally occurring "greenhouse gas" in the atmosphere, concentrations of which have increased as a result of humans' burning of coal, oil, natural gas and organic matter (e.g., wood and crop wastes).
Carcinogens - substances that cause cancer
Chlorination Byproducts - cancer-causing chemicals created when chlorine used for water disinfection combines with dirt and organic matter in water
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) - stable, artificially-created chemical compounds containing carbon, chlorine, fluorine and sometimes hydrogen. Chlorofluorocarbons, used primarily to facilitate cooling in refrigerators and air conditioners, have been found to damage the stratospheric ozone layer which protects the earth and its inhabitants from excessive ultraviolet radiation.
Chronic Exposure - repeated contact with a chemical over a period of time, often involving small amounts of toxic substance
Clean Fuel - fuels which have lower emissions than conventional gasoline and diesel
Cleanup - the treatment, remediation, or destruction of contaminated material. This generally involves investigation, analysis, development of a cleanup plan and implementation of that plan
Clearcutting - a logging technique in which all trees are removed from an area with little regard for long-term forest health
Climate - the long term average condition of the weather in a given area
Climate Change - the slow variations of climatic characteristics over time at a given place. Usually refers to the change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere
Climate system - the totality of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere and their interactions that characterize the average and extreme conditions of the atmosphere over a long period of time at any one place or region of the earth's surface
Commercial Extinction - the depletion of a population to the point where fisherman cannot catch enough to be economically worthwhile
Composting - a process whereby organic wastes, including food wastes, paper, and yard wastes, decompose naturally, resulting in a product rich in minerals and ideal for gardening and farming
Conservation - the long-term protection and sustainable management of natural resources
Contaminant - any biological, chemical, physical or radiological substance that has an negative effect on air, soil or water; pollution
Containment - enclosing or containing hazardous substances in a structure to prevent the migration of contaminants into the environment
D
DDT - an organochloride used as an insecticide banned in most developed countries, but still widely used in developing countries.
Deforestation - the felling of trees, usually for commercial purposes. The opposite of afforestation.
Dessertification
Dioxin - a man-made chemical by-product formed during the manufacturing of other chemicals and during incineration, dioxins are considered the most potent animal carcinogen ever tested
Dredge - a fishing method that utilizes a bag dragged behind a vessel that scrapes the ocean bottom, usually to catch shellfish
Driftnet - a huge net stretching across many miles that drifts in the water which is used primarily for large-scale commercial fishing
Drought - a naturally-occurring phenomenon that occurs when precipitation is significantly below normal levels for an extended period of time, causing water levels to drop and vegetation to die.
Dump Sites - waste disposal grounds
E
Ecologist - a scientist concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environment
Ecology - a branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environment
Ecosphere - refers to the entire global ecosystem that comprises atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere as inseparable components
Ecosystem - a dynamic and complex system of plant, animal and microorganism communities and their non-living environment all interacting as a functional unit within a defined physical location
Effluent - the discharge of industrial or urban waste material into the environment;
Emissions - the release of greenhouse gases and/or their precursors into the atmosphere over a specified area
Emissions Cap - a limit on the amount of greenhouse gases that a company or country can legally emit
Endangered Species - species that are in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant part of its range
Energy Conservation - using energy efficiently or prudently
Environment - all of the external factors, conditions, and influences which affect an organism or a community
Erosion - the wearing away of land surface by wind, water, glaciers, chemicals, and exposure to the atmosphere. Erosion can be intensified by land-clearing practices related to farming, residential or industrial development, road building or deforestation
Eutrophication - the over-enrichment of a water body with nutrients, resulting in excessive growth of organisms and depletion of oxygen concentration
Exposure Pathways - existing or hypothetical routes by which chemicals in soil, water or other media can come in contact with humans, animals or plants.
Extinct Species - a species that no longer survives anywhere in the world
