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Vocabulary flashcards that cover key environmental challenges, natural‐resource issues, climate concepts, and disaster terms discussed in the lecture.
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Biodiversity
The total variety of life on Earth, from the smallest bacteria to the largest trees and animals.
Coral Triangle
A Western Pacific region (including the Philippines) considered the global center of marine biodiversity, hosting roughly 1,000 reef‐fish species.
Marine Biodiversity
The richness of life found in oceans and seas, especially abundant in the Philippine portion of the Coral Triangle.
Solid Waste
Non-hazardous trash generated by households, businesses, agriculture, and other sources.
Residential Waste
Garbage that comes from homes, accounting for about 56.7 % of Philippine solid waste.
Commercial Waste
Trash produced by stores, restaurants, and other businesses, about 27.1 % of national waste.
Institutional Waste
Refuse from offices, schools, and similar institutions, roughly 12.1 % of total waste.
Industrial Waste
Non-hazardous waste originating from factories and industrial plants, around 4 % of the solid-waste stream.
Biodegradable Waste
Organic, easily decomposed garbage; the largest Philippine waste category (≈52.31 %).
Recyclable Waste
Materials that can be reused or processed again, about 27.78 % of total waste.
Residual Waste
Trash that is neither recyclable nor compostable, comprising about 17.98 %.
Special Waste
Small fraction (≈1.93 %) of trash requiring special handling, e.g., electronic or bulky items.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
A vast accumulation of mostly plastic debris floating in the North Pacific; one of five global oceanic garbage patches.
Garbage Patches (Global)
Five major debris gyres located in the North & South Pacific, North & South Atlantic, and Indian Ocean.
Deforestation
The large-scale clearance of forests, often for infrastructure, farming, or logging.
Fuel-wood Harvesting
Cutting trees for charcoal or firewood, a driver of forest loss in the Philippines.
Kaingin
The practice of slash-and-burn farming that removes forest cover and degrades soil.
Overgrazing
Allowing too many livestock to feed on land, leading to vegetation loss and soil erosion.
Infrastructure Development
Building roads, dams, grids, or subdivisions, often at the expense of forest areas.
Water Shortage
Seasonal lack of sufficient clean water, notably in NCR, Central Luzon, CALABARZON, and Central Visayas.
Coliform Contamination
Presence of fecal bacteria in water; 58 % of tested Philippine groundwater shows unsafe levels.
Groundwater Contamination
Pollution of underground water sources, requiring treatment before drinking.
Soil Degradation
Decline in farmland quality due to kaingin, overgrazing, deforestation, and improper plowing.
Agribusiness
Commercial agriculture; supplies about 20 % of Philippine GDP and 70 % of agricultural output.
Climate Change
Long-term alteration of global or regional climate patterns, driven by natural factors and human activities.
Greenhouse Effect
Warming of Earth as greenhouse gases trap outgoing heat in the atmosphere.
Greenhouse Gas
Any gas (e.g., CO₂, CH₄) that absorbs infrared radiation and contributes to the greenhouse effect.
Water Vapor
Most abundant greenhouse gas; forms clouds and precipitation, enhancing atmospheric warming.
Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)
Greenhouse gas from respiration, volcanoes, and burning fossil fuels; a key driver of climate change.
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Toxic gas from incomplete combustion; also contributes to atmospheric chemistry affecting climate.
Methane (CH₄)
Potent greenhouse gas from decaying waste, livestock manure, and rice paddies.
Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)
Greenhouse gas emitted by fertilizer use, biomass burning, and fossil-fuel combustion.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Synthetic chemicals once used in refrigerants and aerosols; damage ozone and heat the planet.
Industrial Revolution
18th-century shift to machine manufacturing that began large-scale fossil-fuel combustion and CO₂ emissions.
Drought
Extended period of deficient rainfall; a common climate-change impact on agriculture.
El Niño
Warm Pacific Ocean phase causing prolonged droughts and higher temperatures.
La Niña
Cool Pacific phase bringing extended heavy rains and floods.
Typhoon
A tropical cyclone affecting the Philippines; 19–30 enter PAR each year, mainly May–October.
Storm Surge
Abnormal sea rise during a storm, producing widespread coastal flooding.
Flood
Overflow of water onto normally dry land, often from heavy rain, typhoons, or clogged waterways.
Landslide
Sudden downhill movement of soil and rock triggered by rain, quakes, volcanoes, or mining.
Volcanic Eruption
Explosive release of magma, ash, and gases from an active volcano; 24 Philippine volcanoes are active.
Earthquake
Ground shaking caused by sudden crustal movements; Philippine quakes range magnitude 1–7.
Bureau of Soil and Water Management
Philippine agency identifying causes of declining farmland quality such as kaingin and overgrazing.