Environmental Changes (Video) — Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the Environmental Changes lesson.

ice age

a period when continental glaciers covered much of Earth’s surface

ice ages

long periods of widespread glaciation that affect climates and life and can lead to extinction

speciation

the evolutionary process through which new species emerge

solar energy

energy given off by the Sun

La Niña

an irregular climate event in the eastern Pacific Ocean during which surface waters become colder than usual

El Niño

an irregular climate event in the Pacific Ocean during which winds shift, pushing warm water toward the coast of South America

tectonic plate

a puzzle-piece–like section of Earth’s surface that slowly moves due to convection in the mantle

tectonic plate movement

the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates that can rearrange continents and habitats

global warming

a gradual increase in the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere

tsunami

a large ocean wave usually caused by an undersea earthquake

short-term environmental change

an environmental change that occurs in minutes to hundreds of years

long-term environmental change

an environmental change that occurs in thousands to billions of years

earthquakes

sudden ground shaking caused by movement of Earth's tectonic plates

volcanic eruptions

eruptions that cover land in lava and fill the air with ash and dust

forest fires

fires that destroy trees, burrows, dens, and nests

flooding

overflows of water that may cause death and destruction

drought

an extended period with little to no precipitation

forced migration

the movement of a population to a new area to find resources needed to sustain life

species

a group of organisms that are able to mate and produce offspring that can mate

adaptation

a change by which a species becomes better suited to the environment

extinction

the permanent loss of a species when it cannot adapt

pollution

the introduction of harmful substances into the environment by humans

habitat destruction

loss or damage of natural habitat, reducing living space for organisms

invasive species

non-native species introduced to a new area that can threaten native species

oil spill

an accidental release of oil into the environment that harms organisms and habitats

clear-cutting

the removal of all trees in an area, causing habitat loss and ecosystem disruption

changes in solar energy reaching Earth

variations in solar energy reaching Earth that can affect organisms and survival

mountain building

the uplift of land forming mountains, which can force relocation of organisms

large asteroid and comet impacts

impacts that can create craters, kill populations, and may lead to extinction