Studied by 3 peoplewater pollution
when waste or other material is added to water so that it is harmful to organisms
point-source pollution
when the pollution comes from one specific site
nonpoint-source pollution
the pollution comes from many small sources and is difficult to control
thermal pollution
any heating of natural water that results from human activity
eutrophication
an increase in the amount of nutrients in water
potable
water that is suitable to drink
reservoir
a body of water that usually forms behind a dam
urbanization
the growth of urban areas caused by people moving into cities
land degradation
the process by which human activity and natural processes damage land to the point that it can no longer support the local ecosystem
desertification
the process by which land becomes more desert like and unable to support life
deforestation
the removal of a forest or group of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use
greenhouse effect
certain gases in the atmosphere, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide, absorb and reradiate thermal energy
air pollution
the contamination of air due to the presence of substances in the atmosphere that are harmful to the health of humans and other living beings, or cause damage to the climate or to materials
particulate
a tiny particle of solid that is suspended in air or water
smog
forms when ground-level ozone and vehicle exhaust react in the presence of sunlight
acid precipitation
precipitation such as rain, sleet, or snow that contains acids from air pollution
air quality
measuring how clean or polluted the air is
conservation
the wise use of natural resources
stewardship
the careful and responsible management of a resource
salt water
this kind of water makes up 97% of Earth’s water supply
fresh water
this kind of water makes up 3% of Earth’s water supply
fresh water
2/3 of Earth’s supply of this type of water is frozen
fresh water
less than 1% of this type of water is available for use from the surface
aquifer
a body of rock or sediment that can hold water and allows it to easily flow throughout
pores
spaces between rocks and sediment that water can be stored in
permafrost
the layer that water is frozen with soil in
biological pollution
when organisms are added to supplies of water
wastewater
water already used by people
artificial eutrophication
when human activity adds more nutrients to water
floculation
the process of removing particles, bacteria, and other microbes from water
safe drinking water act
a federal law that ensures safe drinking water for people in the United States
canal
an artificial channel for water
aqueducts
an artificial channel for water to flow
saltwater intrusion
when saltwater seeps into aquifers
urban sprawl
when urbanization occurs on the edges of cities
stratosphere
this layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
this chemical was the cause of the hole in the ozone layer
reclamation
the process of damaged land being transformed back into it’s original state
clean air act
this act limits how much toxic chemicals and other pollutants can be released into the atmosphere
kyoto protocol
an effort worldwide to limit the release of greenhouse gasses
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Flashcard (69)