Unit 6 - Human Impact on the Environment - 9th Grade

Pollutant

harmful material that can enter the biosphere through the land, air, or water

Renewable Resource

a natural resource that can be replaced at the same rate at which the resource is consumed

Acid Rain

rain containing acids that form in the atmosphere when industrial gas emissions (especially sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides) combine with water

Global Warming

a gradual increase in average global temperature

Pesticide

a chemical used to kill pests (as rodents or insects)

Nonrenewable Resource

something produced in nature more slowly than it is consumed by humans

Smog

fog or haze combined with smoke and other atmospheric pollutants

Sustainable Development

development that balances current human well-being and economic advancement with resource management for the benefit of future generations

Ecological Footprint

measure of how much an individual consumes, expressed in area of land

Biological Magnification

increasing concentration of a harmful substance in organisms at higher trophic levels in a food chain or food web

Runoff

surface runoff is water, from rain, snowmelt, or other sources, that flows over the land surface, and is a major component of the water cycle

Deforestation

the removal of trees faster than forests can replace themselves

Ozone Layer

protective layer in atmosphere that shields earth from UV radiation

Desertification

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

Ocean Acidification

it occurs when carbon dioxide gas (or CO2) is absorbed by the ocean and reacts with seawater to produce acid

Fossil Fuels

hydrocarbons, primarily coal, fuel oil or natural gas, formed from the remains of dead plants and animals

Fertilizer

(agriculture) any substance, such as manure or a mixture of nitrates, added to soil or water to increase its productivity

Biodiversity

the amount of biological or living diversity per unit area. It includes the concepts of species diversity, habitat diversity and genetic diversity

Climate

the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time - 30 years

Habitat Fragmentation

splitting of ecosystems into small fragments