U3S1 Natural Events in the Environment – Key Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms on human activities that influence natural disasters and the role of greenhouse gases in climate-related events.

Hurricane Katrina

A natural disaster example; indicates that human activities may increase the frequency and intensity of such events.

Urbanization

Turning natural land into cities; increases flood risk at coasts and floodplains and can raise landslide risk on hill slopes.

Deforestation

Clearing natural trees; leads to increased soil erosion and reduced water retention.

Waste disposal and resource extraction

Practices that can contaminate water sources, damage ecosystems like coral reefs, and cause loss of vegetation and soil.

Man-made structures

Human-built features (e.g., highways, dams) that can trigger landslides and erosion.

Seawalls

Coastal walls that protect property but can increase beach erosion.

Groins

Coastal structures that trap sand but may cause erosion in adjacent areas.

Dams

Water-control structures that can trigger landslides.

Landslides

Mass movement of rock/soil down a slope; can be triggered or worsened by human activity on slopes.

Beach erosion

Loss of beach sand; can be accelerated by hard coastal structures like seawalls and groins.

Coral reefs

Marine ecosystems damaged by water pollution and resource extraction.

Greenhouse gases

Gases such as CO2, CH4, and N2O that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect.

Greenhouse effect

The process by which greenhouse gases trap heat in the lower atmosphere, warming the Earth.

Global warming

Long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to the enhanced greenhouse effect.