UNIT 2 VOCAB

Abiotic Factors

Nonliving, physical factors that influence organisms and ecosystems, e.g., temperature, sunlight, pH.

Adaptation

Initiatives and measures to reduce the vulnerability of human and natural systems to climate change.

Albedo

The amount of incoming solar energy reflected back into the atmosphere by the Earth’s surface.

Anthropogenic

Human-related processes and/or impacts.

Autotrophs

Primary producers that use light or inorganic chemical reactions to create the energy needed to survive.

Bioaccumulation

The build-up of persistent/non-biodegradable pollutants within an organism or trophic level.

Biodiversity

The variety of different types of life found on Earth or in a specific ecosystem.

Biogeography

The study of the geographical distribution of species and explains their current distribution using evolutionary history.

Biological Degradation

Associated with the deforestation practice of clear cutting trees and removing them from the area.

Biomagnification

The increase in concentration of persistent or non-biodegradable pollutants along a food chain.

Biomes

Collections of ecosystems sharing similar climatic conditions.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems; the closed system that holds all life on Earth.

Biotic Factors

The living components of an ecosystem that directly or indirectly affect another organism.

Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)

The technology of capturing greenhouse gas emissions from power stations and pumping them into underground reservoirs.

Carbon Dioxide

A natural greenhouse gas that has seen an exponential increase in atmospheric concentrations.

Carnivores

Secondary consumers that have adapted to eating primary consumers.

ChloroFluoroCarbon (CFC)

Synthetic greenhouse gas produced from aerosol cans that is illegal in most developed countries.

CITES

International agreement aimed at regulating trade in endangered species of plants and animals.

Conduction

The transfer of heat by direct contact.

Consumers (Heterotrophs)

Organisms that cannot make their own food and must eat other organisms.

Convection

The transfer of heat by the movement of a gas or a liquid.

Cryosphere

The zone around the Earth associated with ice sheets, glaciers, and snow.

Decomposers

Organisms that obtain food and nutrients from the breakdown of dead organic matter.

Decarbonization

A large reduction of CO2 per value of gross world product.

Deforestation

Clear cutting a wide area of trees.

Ecology

The branch of biology that deals with the relations of organisms to one another and their physical surroundings.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms in conjunction with the nonliving components of their environment.

Endemic Species

A species not found anywhere else.

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

The increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as a result of human activities.

Equinox

Occurs twice per year when day and night are equal lengths; September 21st and March 21st.

Eustatic Changes

The rise and fall of the sea.

Exosphere

The outermost region of any planet’s atmosphere.

Feedback Loop

When information that starts a reaction may input more information which may start another reaction.

Fossil Fuel

Form in the geologic past from the remains of living organisms like trees and plankton.

Flagship Species

Charismatic animals selected for protection to appeal to the public.

Geographical Isolation

A physical barrier that causes populations to become separated.

Geosequestration

The technology of capturing greenhouse gas emissions from power stations.

Geothermal Energy

Long-wave radiation that originates from the Earth’s core.

Glacier

A slowly moving mass or river of ice formed by the accumulation and compaction of snow.

Global Climate Change

Changes in global patterns of rainfall, temperature, and sea level due to human impacts.

Global Dimming

The cooling effect of air pollution.

Global Warming

The increase in temperatures around the world, particularly since the 1960s.

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which certain gases trap long-wave radiation from the Earth.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG)

Gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, and CFCs that contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Greenpeace

An international NGO that fights against climate change, waste disposal, and deforestation.

Habitat

The environment in which a species normally lives.

Heat

Long-wave radiation; infrared.

Herbivores

Primary consumers that have adapted to eating plants.

Hot Spot

An area high in biodiversity.

Insolation

Shortwave radiation from the Sun; Incoming Solar Radiation.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

Group of scientists studying the causes and consequences of climate change.

International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

World Conservation Union; publishes the Red List of endangered species.

Ionosphere

Layer of Earth's atmosphere with a high concentration of ions and free electrons.

Irrigation

The artificial addition of water to soil in areas with insufficient natural amounts.

Isostatic Changes

The rise and fall of the land.

Keystone Species

Species that are vital for the continuing function of the ecosystem.

Kyoto Protocol

International agreement calling for the reduction of CO2 emissions based on historic pollution levels.

Mass Extinctions

Periods during which at least 75% of species on Earth are wiped out.

Mesosphere

Atmospheric zone between the Stratosphere and Thermosphere with decreasing temperature.

Mesopause

The line separating the Thermosphere from the Mesosphere at 80 km above Earth's surface.

Milankovitch Cycle

A cyclical movement related to the Earth's elliptical orbit around the Sun.

Malaria

A fever caused by a protozoan parasite transmitted by mosquitoes.

Methane

A greenhouse gas that is highly efficient at trapping heat, produced mainly from farm animals.

Mitigation

Attempts to reduce the causes of climate change.

Natural Capital

Environmental resources that can produce a sustainable income of goods or services.

Natural Income

The yield obtained from environmental resources.

Negative Feedback Loop

Stabilizing process where output inhibits further change, leading to equilibrium.

Niche

Describes the particular set of conditions and resources to which an organism responds.

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)

Groups that are not run or funded by governments.

Ozone Layer

Protective atmospheric layer located between 25 – 35 km above Earth's surface.

Periglacial

An area adjacent to an ice sheet subjected to frequent freezing and thawing.

Permafrost

A thick layer of soil that remains frozen throughout the year.

Pollution

The addition of substances to an environment by human activity at an unsustainable rate.

Positive Feedback Loop

Destabilizing process that amplifies changes in a system.

Radiation

The emission of electromagnetic waves from the Sun.

Red List

Books published by IUCN assessing conservation status of species.

Reduced Impact Logging (RIL)

Selective logging to minimize environmental impact.

Resilience

The ability of a system to absorb change and return to its initial state.

Sequester

To isolate or hide away.

Sheet Erosion

Loss of the entire top soil layer, usually from mismanagement.

Soil Degradation

Severe reduction in soil quality through erosion, salinization, and exhaustion.

Solstice

When the Sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky, marking the longest and shortest days.

Speciation

The formation of new species when populations become isolated.

Species

A group of organisms sharing common characteristics that interbreed.

Stratopause

The boundary line separating the Stratosphere from the Mesosphere.

Stratosphere

Atmospheric zone between the Troposphere and Mesosphere with increased temperature.

Sustainability

Management of resources to allow natural replacement and recovery.

Sustainable Development

Meeting present needs without compromising future generations.

Thermosphere

Top atmospheric zone with a drastic increase in temperature with altitude.

Tipping Point

When an ecosystem shifts to a new state, significantly changing biodiversity.

Trophic Levels

The position within the food chain occupied by different organisms.

Tropics

Regions with warm climates, high biodiversity, and efficient nutrient use.

Tropopause

The boundary separating the Troposphere from the Stratosphere.

Troposphere

Atmospheric zone closest to Earth’s surface associated with weather patterns.

UNFCCC

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change with global stabilization goals.

Vulnerability

The degree to which a system is susceptible to adverse impacts of climate change.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

NGO that protects endangered species and fights climate change.