Environmental Problems and Ozone Layer Vocabulary

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering environmental problems, ozone layer depletion, pollutants, and related international agreements based on the lecture transcript.

issue

Problem, Thema

depletion

Ausdünnung

ozone layer

Ozonschicht; layer that is vital to life as it shields the Earth's surface from harmful solar radiation / ultraviolet (UV) rays

emission

Schadstoffausstoß

to emit sth

Etw. ausstoßen

acid rain

Saurer Regen

climate change

Klimaveränderung

greenhouse effect

Treibhauseffekt

to have sth in common

Etw. (miteinander) gemein haben

complex

Komplex (opposite of simple)

irreversible

Nicht mehr rückgängig zu machen (opposite of reversible)

to invest sth (in sth)

Etw. (in etw.) investieren

disaster

Catastrophe; Katastrophe

to avert sth

To prevent sth; etw. verhindern/abwenden

vital (to sth)

Essential; unerlässlich (für etw.)

to shield sth from sth

Etw. vor etw. schützen

solar radiation

Sonnenstrahlung

ultraviolet (UV) rays

Ultraviolette Strahlung

to disrupt sth

Etw. stören (e.g., disrupting the food chain)

incidence

Auftreten, Vorkommen (e.g., rise in the incidence of skin cancer)

skin cancer

Hautkrebs

cataract

Grauer Star (eye condition)

pollutant

Schadstoff

CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons)

FCKWs (Fluorchlorkohlenwasserstoffe); pollutants that cause ozone molecules to break down, used as refrigerants in fridges, propellants in aerosols, and in making plastic foam

refrigerant

Kühlmittel

propellant

Treibmittel

aerosol

Spraydose

insulation

Isolierung

foam

Schaumstoff

expanded polystyrene

Styropor

HFCs (hydrofluorocarbons)

FKWs (Fluorkohlenwasserstoffe); greenhouse gases used instead of CFCs that do not destroy ozone but contribute to global warming

to contribute to sth

Zu etw. beitragen

to sign an agreement

Ein Abkommen unterzeichnen

aim

Ziel

to reduce sth

Etw. verringern (noun: reduction)

to amend sth

Etw. ergänzen

to ratify (an agreement)

(Ein Abkommen) ratifizieren

precursor

Vorläufer (opposite of successor)

to date

Bis heute

to enable sth

Etw. ermöglichen