Earth Science - Finals Coverage

Water Table

the saturation zone that separates soil and groundwater

Vadose zone

the unsaturated zone that lies above the water table

Recharge

replenishing of groundwater

aquifers

permeable geologic formations through which water flows easily

Confined

aquifers capped by a permeable layer

Unconfined

Aquifers not capped by an impermeable layer

Porosity

the proportion of total volume that is occupied by voids

Permeability

how readily the medium transmits water based on the size and shape of its pore

Hydraulic head

a measure hydrogeologists use to understand and map the complex patterns of groundwater flow

Watershed

an area of land that drains all streams and rainfall to a common outlet such as a bay or river delta

Traditional hazards

hazards that affect developing countries and poor people

Modern hazards

hazards due to high development and affects developed countries. Poor people experience a double burden

Carcinogen

agents that may cause cancer

Teratogen

agents that cause physical defects in embryos

Mutagen

agents that induce genetic changes in DNA

Neurotoxin

agents that cause an adverse reaction on the nervous system

Endocrine disruptor

agents that interfer with the body’s endocrine system

Formaldehyde

colorless flammable and released by building materials furniture vehicle exhaust and cigarettes

Lead

found in many industrial products and still found in old infrastructure and paints

Asbestos

a heat-resistant mineral fiber widely used for insulation and construction

Polyfluoroalkyl

long lasting chemicals found in food packaging and accumulate in the body

Bisphenol A

is used in producing hard plasics and epoxy resin

Phthalates

makes plastic flexible and are found in cosmetics and personal care products

Cultivation

the loosening or breaking of soil to prepare for crop growth

Harvesting

the process of gathering a finished crop from the fields

Fermentation

a metabolic process which results in a chemical change in organic substrates

Crop Management

the entire process of crop production from seeds to harvest

Crop Production

thoroughly comprehending every field need to increase the yield

Industrial

a type of food production that focusses on wide scale production

Sustainable

a type of food production which seeks to balance stewardess and economic viability

Organic

a type of food production that avoids any man made fertilizers or pesticides

Aggregates

mixtures of gravel

Bedrock

This deeper soil layer rests on unweathered parentrock

Ore

a natural resource that is profitably mined when its market value exceeds extraction costs

Carbon dioxide

a vital component of the atmosphere

Methane

It comes from plant-matter breakdown in wetlands and is also released from landfills and rice farming

Nitrous Oxide

released during commerical and organic fertilizer production and use

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

chemical pollutants entirely industrial of origin

Montreal Protocol

an agreement signed in 1989 to reduce ozone depleting substances