Environmental Science Lecture Notes

Flashcards on Biodiversity, Earth's Water Resources, Environmental Pollution and Problems

Habitat loss and destruction

Process by which natural habitat is damaged or destroyed, often leading to species extinction and biodiversity loss.

Habitat alteration

A change in land use or land cover that has an impact on local ecosystems.

Over-exploitation

Populations harvested at an unsustainable rate.

Pollution

Environmental contamination that occurs after an end process.

Pollutant

Substance introduced by man or naturally into the environment.

Contamination

Environmental contamination that occurs during a process.

Contaminant

Substance introduced by man into the environment.

Global warming

Long-term heating of Earth’s climate system.

Climate change

Long-term change in the average weather patterns that define Earth’s climates.

Salinity

The saltiness of saltwater.

Thermocline

Zone where the temperature of water decreases rapidly with depth.

Deep zone

Zone of uniformly low water temperature.

Thermohaline Circulation

Circulation in a deep zone controlled by temperature and salinity.

Glacier

A permanent body of ice, which consists largely of recrystallized snow.

Permafrost

Frozen soil, rock or sediment for more than two consecutive years.

Stream

Moving body of surface water that flows downslope toward sea level because of gravity.

Watershed/drainage basin

Land area in which water flows into a particular stream.

Wetlands

Land areas where water covers the surface for significant periods.

Marsh

Shallow wetland around lakes, streams, and oceans where grasses and reeds are the dominant vegetation.

Swamp

Wetland with lush trees and vegetation found in low-lying areas beside slow-moving rivers.

Estuary

Partly enclosed coastal body of water where freshwater from the stream meets saltwater from the sea.

Groundwater

Freshwater found in the rock and soil layers beneath the surface.

Unconfined aquifer

Aquifer in which the groundwater is free to rise to its natural level.

Confined aquifer

Aquifer where water is trapped and held down by pressure between impermeable rocks.

Artesian well

A well that doesn’t require a pump to bring water to the surface.

Pollution

When harmful substances contaminate the environment.

Air Pollution

An atmospheric condition in which certain substances are present in concentrations which can cause undesirable effects on man and his environment.

Water Pollution

The contamination of water with undesirable substances which make it unfit for usage.

Marine Pollution

Pollution caused due to Sewage Sludge, Industrial Effluents, Detergents, solid waste, plastic, etc.

Thermal Pollution

Presence of waste heat in the water which can cause undesirable changes in the natural environment.

Noise Pollution

Unwanted and unbearable sound.

Soil Pollution

Dumping of wastes and discharge of Industrial wastes.

Light Pollution

The presence of anthropogenic and artificial light in the night environment.

Glare

Excessive brightness that causes visual discomfort.

Skyglow

Brightening of the night sky over inhabited areas.

Light trespass

Light falling where it is not intended or needed.

Clutter

Bright, confusing and excessive groupings of light sources.

Greenhouse Effect

The way in which heat is trapped close to Earth's surface by “greenhouse gases.”

Carbon Footprint

A measure of the impact of our activities on the environment, and in particular climate change.

Global warming

The phenomenon of a gradual increase in the temperature near the earth’s surface.

Climate Change

Means a change in the atmosphere of specific areas for a long time.

Ozone Depletion

The reduction of the amount of ozone in the stratosphere.

Acid Rain

Refers to any form of precipitation with acidic components.

Organic Waste

Plant-based and animal-based materials that can decompose naturally.

Hazardous Waste

If improperly managed or disposed of, can pose significant threats to human health and the environment.

Solid Waste

Everyday items we discard, such as packaging materials, food scraps, clothing, and household goods.

Liquid Waste

Encompassing wastewater originating from domestic households, industrial processes, and medical facilities.

Recyclable Waste

Includes materials like plastics, paper, glass, and metals, which can be reprocessed and transformed into new products.

Gaseous Waste

Waste materials in the form of gases that are produced as byproducts of industrial processes.

E-waste

Electronic waste, e-scrap and end-of-life electronics.

Nuclear Waste

Waste from nuclear fuel that is produced when it has been spent inside a nuclear reactor.