Unit 2

exploitation

the use of something in order to get an advantage from it

depletion

reduction in the number or quantity of something

throwaway society

a social group in which it is acceptable to waste usable materials and products

greenhouse gases

gases, especially carbon dioxide, that prevent heat from the earth escaping into space

impact (on)

an effect or result

extinction

a situation in which something no longer exists

global warming

a gradual increase in the earth's temperature

excessive

too much; more than is reasonable

reprehensible

extremely bad; unacceptable; deserving blame

massive

very large in size, amount, or number

gross

extremely unpleasant; unacceptable because clearly wrong (esp. in law)

irreversible

not possible to change; impossible to return to a previous condition

detrimental

harmful; damaging

burgeoning

expanding or growing rapidly

indiscriminate

not showing careful choice or planning; unselective

threat

something that is a source of danger; the possibility of trouble, danger or disaster

prevention

taking steps to keep something from happening or getting worse

emission

the act of sending out gas, heat, light, etc.

keep up with

to do something or move at an acceptable rate, or at the same rate as someone or something else

long-term

taking place over a long period of time

empirically

based on observations or experiment

sustainability

the quality of being able to continue over a period of time

intrepid

brave

airtight

completely closed so that no air can get in or out

occupant

a person who lives or works in a room or building

due to

because of, owing to

resources

something that can be used to help you

get by

to manage to survive

in years to come

in the future

run out

to finish, use, or sell all of something, so that there is none left

deposit

a layer of a substance

invertebrate

an animal without a backbone

mammal

any animal in which the female gives birth to babies, not eggs, and feeds them on milk from her own body

press for

to work hard to win support for a plan so that it will succeed

compelling

forceful, makes you believe it or accept it because it is so strong (e.g. evidence)

influential

having the power and importance to affect something

dramatic

very sudden or noticeable, or full of action and excitement

push for

to demand something repeatedly, or to take strong action to try to make it happen

take ownership of

to take responsibility for an idea or problem

footprint

a measurement of the size, effect, etc. that something has

radioactive material

any material that emits radiation

carbon dioxide

the gas formed when carbon is burned, or when people or animals breathe out (O=C=O)

human-induced

caused by people

merit

to deserve to be treated or considered in a particular way

meteor strike

a sudden and powerful hit or attack by a meteor

stratigraphy

the study of rock layers and the sequence of events they reflect

body

a group of people who have joined together for a particular reason

designate

to assign, to say officially that a place or thing has a particular character or purpose

paradigm shift

a major change in basic assumptions of a particular scientific discipline

blip

a temporary change that does not have any special meaning

mere

nothing more than; only

fellow

used to refer to someone who has the same job or interests as you, or is in the same situation as you

reveal

to show, to make known

invasive species

a species that is not native to a specific location, and that has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy or human health

gather

to collect

findings

conclusions, results

nitpick

to find faults in details that are not important

nit-picky

overly critical, concerned with insignificant details

fraught with

full of unpleasant things such as problems or dangers

acrimony

bitterness, ill-feeling

come to terms with

to gradually accept a situation

implication

a suggestion of something that is made without saying it directly

insignificant

not important

hominid

an early ancestor of humans

damming

building a barrier of concrete, earth, etc, across a river to create a body of water for a hydroelectric power station, domestic water supply, etc

deforestation

destruction of forests

fallout

the radioactive dust in the air after a nuclear explosion

humble

not proud; modest

friction

a force that opposes motion between two surfaces that are in contact

cautious

careful, avoiding unnecessary risks or mistakes

premature

too early, happening or done too soon

stripe

a line on a surface that is a different color from the rest of the surface

accumulate

to collect a large number of things over a long period of time

make out

to see, hear, or understand (something or someone), often with difficulty

unanimously

in a way that is agreed or supported by everyone in a group

epithet

a word or phrase used to describe someone, often as an insult

make-up

the combination of things that form something

witness

to see something happen, especially an accident or crime

conceive

to invent a plan or an idea

Nobel laureate

someone who has been awarded a Nobel Prize

ascent

a movement upward

on a par with

equal to

shatter

to (cause something to) break suddenly into very small pieces

cloak

to cover or hide something

determining

causing or deciding something

charge with

to order someone to do something

accepted

generally agreed to be satisfactory or right

catastrophic

disastrous, extremely harmful

geological

relating to geology

major

very large or important

demise

death; a ceasing to exist

survey

the collection of data by having people answer a series of questions

according to

as someone or something says, as stated by

landfill

the process of getting rid of large amounts of rubbish by burying it, or a place where rubbish is buried

cavalier

not considering other people's feelings or safety

disregard (for)

ignorance, the fact of showing no care or respect for something

in terms of

with regard to,with respect to

implications for

the effects that an action or decision will have on something else in the future

responsibility for

a duty to deal with or take care of sb/sth

shift in

change in