biology 14.1-14.3

Pollution

The addition of harmful materials or pollutants to the environment.

Sulfur Dioxide

A pollutant released into the air when fossil fuels are burned.

Nitrogen Oxides

Pollutants produced when fossil fuels are burned in factories, power stations, and vehicles.

Acid Rain

Rain whose pH level has been lowered by the presence of dissolved acids like sulfuric and nitric acid.

Carbon Monoxide

A pollutant released when carbon-containing compounds burn in the presence of low oxygen.

Photochemical Smog

A thick brownish mist formed by unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in the presence of sunlight.

Greenhouse Effect

The trapping of heat near the Earth's surface by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Global Warming

The gradual rise in Earth's average temperature caused by too much greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

CFCs (Chlorofluorocarbons)

Gases used as refrigerants that damage the ozone layer.

Ozone Layer

A layer of the upper atmosphere rich in ozone gas, protecting Earth from ultraviolet radiation.

Bioaccumulation

The accumulation of persistent chemicals in the bodies of organisms after being taken from the environment.

Selective Breeding

A method used to increase crop production by breeding organisms with desirable traits.

Monoculture

The cultivation of a single species in a certain area, often decreasing biodiversity.

Intensive Livestock Production

Keeping large numbers of animals in small spaces, increasing the risk of disease spread.

Intensive Grazing

Overgrazing that leads to the degradation of grasslands, risking soil erosion.

Deforestation

The large-scale removal of trees from forest areas, disrupting oxygen and carbon dioxide balance.

Habitat Destruction

The process of destroying natural environments, often leading to species extinction.

Invasive Species

Foreign species with no natural enemies that outcompete native species, threatening their survival.

Overharvesting

The excessive removal of species from their habitats, leading to population declines of those species.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem, crucial for ecological balance.