4d - Human Influences on the Environment

Acid Rain

酸雨 (suānyǔ) Rain (or other forms of precipitation) that is unusually acidic due to atmospheric pollution, primarily from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released by burning fossil fuels. Damages ecosystems and structures.

Algal bloom

水华 (shuǐhuá) / 藻类大量繁殖 (zǎolèi dàliàng fánzhí) The rapid and excessive growth of algae in a body of water, often caused by eutrophication (excess nutrients). Can deplete oxygen and harm aquatic life.

Bioaccumulation

生物累积 (shēngwù lěijī) The gradual build-up of a persistent, toxic substance (e.g., pesticide, heavy metal) within an individual organism's tissues over its lifetime, as it takes in more than it excretes.

Biological control

生物防治 (shēngwù fángzhì) A method of controlling pest populations by introducing or encouraging their natural enemies (e.g., predators, parasites, or pathogens), rather than using chemical pesticides.

Biomagnification

生物放大 (shēngwù fàngdà) The process where the concentration of a persistent, toxic substance (e.g., DDT) increases in organisms at successively higher trophic levels of a food chain.

Carbon monoxide (CO)

一氧化碳 (yīyǎnghuàtàn) A colorless, odorless, toxic gas produced by the incomplete combustion of carbon-containing fuels (e.g., in car engines). Reduces oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.

CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)

氯氟烃 (lǜfú tīng) / 氟氯昂 (fú lǜ áng) Synthetic chemical compounds once widely used as refrigerants and propellants, which cause depletion of the ozone layer in the stratosphere.

Climate change

气候变化 (qìhòu biànhuà) Significant and long-term changes in global or regional climate patterns, including temperature, precipitation, and wind, largely attributed to increased greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.

DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)

滴滴涕 (dīdītì) A persistent organochlorine insecticide, now banned in many countries due to its harmful effects on wildlife (e.g., bird eggshell thinning via biomagnification) and potential human health risks.

Deforestation

森林砍伐 (sēnlín kǎnfá) / 毁林 (huǐlín) The clearing or removal of forests or stands of trees, where the land is thereafter converted to a non-forest use (e.g., agriculture, urban development). Contributes to habitat loss, soil erosion, climate change.

Eutrophication

富营养化 (fùyíngyǎnghuà) The process where a body of water becomes overly enriched with nutrients (especially nitrates and phosphates from fertilizers, sewage), leading to excessive plant/algal growth, oxygen depletion, and ecosystem damage.

Fertilisers

肥料 (féiliào) Substances (natural or synthetic) containing plant nutrients like nitrates and phosphates, added to soil to increase crop yield. Overuse can lead to leaching and eutrophication of water bodies.

Fossil Fuels

化石燃料 (huàshí ránliào) Combustible materials (coal, oil, natural gas) formed from the ancient remains of dead organisms, which release greenhouse gases (like CO₂) and pollutants (like SO₂) when burned.

Global warming

全球变暖 (quánqiú biànnuǎn) The long-term heating of Earth's climate system observed since the pre-industrial period due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels.

Greenhouse effect

温室效应 (wēnshì xiàoyìng) The natural process where certain gases in Earth's atmosphere (greenhouse gases like CO₂, methane, water vapour) trap heat, keeping the planet warm enough to support life. Enhanced by human activities.

Greenhouse Gases

温室气体 (wēnshì qìtǐ) Gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit infrared radiation, causing the greenhouse effect and contributing to global warming (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapour).

Leaching

（土壤养分）淋溶 ((tǔrǎng yǎngfèn) línróng) The process by which soluble substances (e.g., nitrates, phosphates from fertilizers, minerals) are washed out from the soil by water percolating downwards, often leading to nutrient loss from soil and pollution of water bodies.

Methane (CH₄)

甲烷 (jiǎwán) A potent greenhouse gas produced by anaerobic decomposition of organic matter (e.g., in landfill sites, rice paddies, livestock digestion).

Non-biodegradable pollutants

不可生物降解污染物 (bùkě shēngwù jiàngjiě wūrǎnwù) Pollutants that cannot be broken down by natural biological processes (e.g., by decomposers), thus persisting in the environment for long periods (e.g., many plastics, heavy metals, some pesticides).

Ozone Layer Depletion

臭氧层破坏 (chòuyǎngcéng pòhuài) The thinning of the ozone layer in the stratosphere, primarily caused by human-produced chemicals like CFCs, leading to increased levels of harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching Earth's surface.

Pesticide

农药 (nóngyào) / 杀虫剂 (shāchóngjì - for insects) A chemical substance used to kill, repel, or control pests (e.g., insects, weeds, fungi) that damage crops or spread disease. Can have unintended environmental effects.

Pollution

污染 (wūrǎn) The introduction of harmful substances or contaminants into the natural environment, causing adverse changes to ecosystems, human health, or other organisms.

Sulfur dioxide (SO₂)

二氧化硫 (èryǎnghuàliú) A colorless, pungent toxic gas produced by burning fossil fuels (especially coal) and industrial processes. A major contributor to acid rain and respiratory problems.