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Molecule
A group of atoms bonded together, representing the smallest fundamental unit of a chemical compound.
Polar molecule
A molecule with an uneven distribution of charge, resulting in a positive end and a negative end.
Proton
A positively charged subatomic particle found in the nucleus of an atom.
Electron
A negatively charged subatomic particle that orbits the nucleus of an atom.
Neutron
A subatomic particle without a charge, found in the nucleus of an atom.
Covalent bond
A type of chemical bond where atoms share pairs of electrons.
Hydrogen bond
A weak bond between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom.
Cohesion
The property of molecules being attracted to each other, resulting in a substance forming a continuous phase.
Surface tension
The cohesive force at the surface of a liquid that causes it to behave as an elastic sheet.
Adhesion
The attraction between molecules of different substances.
Specific heat
The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius.
Heat of vaporization
The amount of energy required to convert a liquid into a gas at its boiling point.
Solute
The substance that is dissolved in a solution.
Solvent
The substance that dissolves the solute to form a solution.
Precipitation
Any form of water, liquid or solid, that falls from clouds and reaches the ground.
Evaporation
The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas.
Transpiration
The process by which moisture is carried from plants to the atmosphere.
Evapotranspiration
The sum of evaporation and plant transpiration from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere.
Infiltration
The process by which water on the ground surface enters the soil.
Interception
The process of capturing precipitation by plants before it reaches the ground.
Stem flow
The movement of intercepted water down the stems of plants to the ground.
Runoff
The flow of water that occurs when excess stormwater, meltwater, or water from any other source flows over the ground.
Subsurface flow
Water that flows through the soil and rock below the surface.
Vadose zone
The area of soil that is not saturated with water.
Ground water
Water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and fractures of rock.
Water table
The upper surface of the zone of saturation in the ground.
Permeability
The ability of a material to transmit water.
Porosity
The measure of the void spaces in a material, often expressed as a percentage.
Percolation
The process of a liquid slowly passing through a filter or porous substance.
Salinity
The concentration of salts in water.
Freshwater
Water that has low concentrations of dissolved salts, typically less than 1%.
Lentic
Referring to still bodies of water, such as lakes and ponds.
Lotic
Referring to flowing bodies of water, such as rivers and streams.
Tectonic lake
A lake formed by the movements of the Earth's tectonic plates.
Kettle lake
A depressional lake formed by melting glaciers.
Caldera
A large depression formed when a volcano erupts and collapses.
Dissolution lake
A lake that forms in a region with soluble rocks, like limestone, due to dissolution.
Moraine lake
A lake formed by the melting of glacial ice in a depression made by the glacier.
Earthslide lake
A lake that forms due to a landslide blocking a river.
Oxbow lake
A curved lake formed from a meander in a river.
Litoral zone
The part of a lake where sunlight can penetrate and plants can grow.
Pelagic zone
The open water area of the sea or ocean.
Limnetic zone
The well-lit, open surface waters in a lake away from the shore.
Photic zone
The upper layer of a body of water where sunlight is sufficient for photosynthesis.
Aphotic zone
The deeper layer of water where there is little to no light.
Epilimnion
The upper layer of water in a stratified lake, warm and well oxygenated.
Metalimnion
The middle layer of water in a stratified lake, where temperature changes rapidly.
Hypolimnion
The dense bottom layer of water in a stratified lake.
Thermocline
The layer in a body of water where temperature changes rapidly with depth.
Phytoplankton
Microscopic plants in aquatic environments that photosynthesize.
Velocity
The speed of water flow in rivers, streams, or other bodies of water.
Discharge
The volume of water flowing through a river or stream per unit of time.
Watershed
An area of land that drains into a particular river or body of water.
Run
A straight stretch of fast-moving water in a river.
Riffle
A shallow section of a river with rapid water flow.
Pool
A deep, slow-moving section of a river.
Thalweg
The deepest part of a river or stream channel.
Riparian zone
The interface between land and a river or stream.
Floodplain
The low-lying area adjacent to a river that is subject to flooding.
Total dissolved solids (TDS)
The total concentration of dissolved substances in water.
Total suspended solids (TSS)
The concentration of particles suspended in water.
Erosion
The process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface.
Deposition
The laying down of sediment carried by wind, water, or ice.
Delta
A landform created by sediment deposited at the mouth of a river.
Hydrophytes
Plants that grow in water or in soils that are permanently saturated with water.
Hydric soils
Soils that are saturated with water long enough to develop anaerobic conditions.
Marsh
A wetland area dominated by herbaceous plants.
Swamp
A wetland area dominated by woody plants.
Bog
A wetland that accumulates peat and is characterized by acidic waters.
Fen
A type of wetland that is nutrient-rich and has a high water table.
Organism
Any individual living creature.
Population
A group of individuals of the same species living in a particular area.
Species
A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
Community
An assemblage of different populations that live together in a defined area.
Ecosystem
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Abiotic
Non-living chemical and physical factors in the environment.
Biotic
Living components of an ecosystem.
Producer
An organism that can produce its own food through photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
Primary consumer
An organism that feeds on producers, typically herbivores.
Secondary consumer
An organism that feeds on primary consumers.
Detritivore
An organism that feeds on dead organic material.
Decomposer
An organism, often bacteria or fungi, that breaks down dead organisms.
Nutrients
Substances that provide nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life.
Detritus
Dead organic matter.
Macrophytes
Large aquatic plants, including emergent, floating, and submerged types.
Benthic
Referring to the lowest ecological level in a body of water, including the sediment.
Pelagic
Referring to the open sea or ocean waters.
Omnivore
An organism that consumes both plants and animals.
Shredders
Organisms that break down coarse organic matter, like leaves, into smaller pieces.
Grazers/scrapers
Organisms that scrape algae and other materials off surfaces.
Collectors
Organisms that gather fine particulate organic matter from the water column.
Filterers
Organisms that filter small particles from the water.
Predators
Organisms that hunt and consume other organisms for food.
Herbivore
An organism that primarily eats plants.
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