Human Impact Whole Unit Quizlet

Renewable resource

A resource that can be replaced

Nonrenewable resource

A resource that cannot be replaced in a reasonable amount of time

Deforestation

destruction of forests

Smog

Haze caused by chemical reactions from pollutants in the air that form ozone

Greenhouse Gases

Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat. Examples - Carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor

Biodiversity

The total variety of all living organisms

Habitat fragmentation

Splitting ecosystems into pieces

Invasive species

Species that are introduced into an environment they normally would not live in. Species will thrive because there are no natural predators and will populate quickly

Ozone layer

Layer in the atmosphere that absorbs UV light from the sun

Climate Change

A change in global or regional climate patterns due to human impact

Greenhouse effect

When the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap the heat to maintain Earth's temperature range

Ocean acidification

Chemical changes in the ocean as a results of carbon dioxide emissions - causing a sharp decline in populations of shelled organisms

Coral bleaching

coral expel their algae and turn white, and eventually die. Caused by the warming of the ocean and ocean acidification

Drought

Extended period of dry weather caused by a lack of snow and rain

Sustainability

The use of natural resources in such a way that does not cause long-term environmental harm

ecological footprint

the impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.

Desertification

the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.