Human Impacts, Biodiversity, and Environmental Issues Flashcards

Flashcards about Human Impacts, Biodiversity, and Environmental Issues

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

Air pollutant that contributes to smog and acid precipitation.

Hydrocarbons (HC)

Air pollutant from vehicle exhaust and paints that contributes to smog.

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Air pollutant from fossil fuel burning that contributes to smog.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Air pollutant from fossil fuel burning that contributes to acid precipitation.

Halons

Air pollutant containing bromine from fire extinguishers that contributes to ozone layer destruction.

Methane (CH4)

Air pollutant from deforestation and farms that contributes to global warming.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Air pollutant from refrigerants, aerosol sprays, plastic foam, and pesticides that contributes to global warming and ozone layer destruction.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Air pollutant from deforestation and fossil fuel burning that contributes to global warming.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat and keep it from escaping the atmosphere, causing the atmosphere to heat up (e.g., water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, halons).

Greenhouse Effect

Gases let sunlight through, but trap heat from radiating back outward into space, contributing to global warming.

Ozone (in troposphere)

A pollutant that is toxic and causes respiratory difficulties.

Ozone (in stratosphere)

A protective shield that shields Earth’s surface from UV light.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Chemicals which deplete the stratospheric ozone layer.

Acid Precipitation

Rain, snow, or other precipitation with a high concentration of sulfuric and nitric acids, often caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions.

Smog

Air pollution consisting of smoke and fog, containing nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and other irritants.

Thermal Inversion

Atmospheric conditions that trap smog and prevent its dispersal.

Combined Sewage Overflow (CSO)

Storm water combined with sewage that overwhelms receiving streams and oceans.

Eutrophication

Rapid growth of plant life and subsequent death of animal life in a shallow body of water due to excessive organic or inorganic nutrients.

Biological Magnification

The concentration of toxic pollutants is higher in the tissues of organisms higher on the food chain.

Desertification

Transformation of marginal land into near-desert conditions, unsuitable for future agriculture.

Biodiversity

Species richness, the assortment of living organisms on Earth.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their economic needs.

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

Total market value of all goods and services produced within a country per year; a standard indicator of economic progress.

GPI (Genuine Progress Indicator)

Market value of goods and services PLUS environmental costs of production of goods and services and social costs; reflects the quality of life.