APES Vocab List 4

1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act

U.S. law regulating environmental effects of coal mining and requiring land restoration after mining

1st Law of Thermodynamics

Energy cannot be created or destroyed

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

Amount of energy remains constant, but ability to do work decreases

Acid Deposition

Deposition of acidic components (rain, snow, dry particles) from SO₂ and NOx in the atmosphere

Acid Mine Drainage

Outflow of acidic water from mining areas due to oxidation of sulfide minerals

Active Solar

Use of mechanical systems (pumps, panels) to collect and distribute solar energy

Acute Effects (Exposure)

Immediate health effects from short-term exposure to a substance

Adaptation

Trait that improves an organism’s survival and reproduction in its environment

Aerosols

Tiny solid or liquid particles suspended in the atmosphere

Albedo

Reflectivity of a surface; proportion of sunlight reflected

Anthracite Coal

Highest-grade coal with high carbon content and energy yield

Asbestos

Fibrous mineral once used in construction; causes lung disease and cancer

Background Extinction

Normal rate of species extinction over time

Background Radiation

Low-level radiation naturally present in the environment

Bauxite

Primary ore used to produce aluminum

Bioaccumulation

Build-up of toxins in an organism over time

Biomagnification

Increase in toxin concentration at higher trophic levels

Biomass

Total mass of living matter or organic material used as fuel. Renewable

Biophilia

Natural human love for nature and living things

Bituminous Coal

Mid-grade coal commonly used for electricity generation

BP Oil Spill (Deep Horizon)

2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico from offshore drilling accident

Carbon Monoxide

Colorless, odorless gas from incomplete combustion; reduces oxygen transport in blood

Carcinogens

Substances that cause cancer

CERCLA (Superfund)

U.S. law for cleaning up hazardous waste sites and assigning liability

Chain Reaction

Self-sustaining series of nuclear fission reactions

Chernobyl, Ukraine

1986 nuclear reactor explosion site releasing large radiation amounts

Chronic Effects

Long-term health effects from prolonged exposure to a substance

CITES

International agreement regulating trade of endangered species

Climate

Long-term patterns of temperature and precipitation in a region

Closed System

System where energy can be exchanged but matter cannot

Control Rod

Device in nuclear reactors that absorbs neutrons to regulate fission

Criteria Pollutants

Six major air pollutants regulated by the EPA (e.g., CO, SO₂, NOx, PM)

Curie

Unit to represent decay rate of material (measuring radioactivity)

Dose

Amount of exposure to a substance

Dose-Response Curve

Graph showing relationship between dose and effect on an organism

Ecosystem Services

Benefits humans receive from ecosystems (e.g., pollination, water purification)

ED-50

Dose that causes a response in 50% of test organisms

Endemic Species

Species native to and found only in a specific area

Endocrine System

Hormone system regulating body processes

Energy Efficiency

Using less energy to perform the same task

EPA

U.S. agency responsible for environmental protection and regulation

Estimated Reserve

Known resources that are likely recoverable with current technology

Extirpation

Local extinction of a species in a specific area

Fossil Fuel

Resources formed from ancient organic matter (coal, oil, gas)

Fractional Distillation

Process separating crude oil into components based on boiling points

Fuel Rod

Rod containing nuclear fuel used in reactors

Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

2011 nuclear meltdown in Japan caused by tsunami

Geothermal

Energy derived from heat within the Earth

Giga- (metric prefix)

1 billion (10⁹)

Habitat

Natural environment where an organism lives

Habitat Fragmentation

Breaking of habitat into smaller, isolated patches

Heat Island Effect

Urban areas experiencing higher temperatures due to human structures

High-level Radioactive Waste

Highly radioactive waste from nuclear reactors requiring long-term storage

Hoover Dam

Hydroelectric dam on the Colorado River

Hydroelectric

Electricity generated from flowing water

Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Device generating electricity from hydrogen and oxygen, producing water as waste

Immune System

Body system defending against pathogens and toxins

Indoor Air Pollutant (IAP)

Pollutants found inside buildings (e.g., radon, smoke)

Industrial Smog

Coal-burning smog containing sulfur compounds and particulates

Ionizing Radiation

High-energy radiation capable of removing electrons from atoms

Kilo- (metric prefix)

1 thousand (10³)

LD-50

Dose that kills 50% of test organisms

Lead

Toxic heavy metal causing neurological damage

Leachate

Liquid that has percolated through waste and carries dissolved substances

Light Pollution

Excess artificial light disrupting ecosystems and human health

Lignite Coal

Lowest-grade coal with low carbon and energy content

Love Canal

Toxic waste disaster site in New York linked to health issues

Mangrove Forest

Coastal ecosystem with salt-tolerant trees providing storm protection

Mega- (metric prefix)

1 million (10⁶)

Mineral

A naturally occuring element (solid) or an inorganic compound that forms a crystaline structure

Montreal Protocol

International treaty to phase out ozone-depleting substances

Mutation

Change in DNA sequence

Natural Gas

Fossil fuel composed mainly of methane. Cleanest FF.

Neurotoxin

Substance that damages the nervous system

Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)

Air pollutants contributing to smog and acid deposition

Noise Pollution

Harmful or disruptive levels of sound

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Diffuse pollution from multiple sources (e.g., runoff)

Nuclear Fission

Splitting of atomic nuclei releasing energy

Nuclear Fusion

Combining nuclei to release energy (occurs in the sun)

Oil Sands

Oil mixed with sand and clay; water is used to separate and extract the oil (bitumen)

Oil Shale

Sedimentary rock containing kerogen used to produce oil

OPEC

Organization of arab oil-exporting countries controlling oil supply. AKA OAPEC.

Open Pit Mining

Surface mining removing large areas of land

Open System

System where both matter and energy can be exchanged

Ore

Rock containing valuable minerals

Overburden

Soil and rock removed to access mineral deposits. What was originally there before mining

PANs

Pollutants formed in photochemical smog irritating eyes and lungs

Passive Solar

Building design using sunlight for heating without mechanical systems

PCBs

Toxic industrial chemicals formerly used in electrical equipment

Peat

Partially decayed organic matter used as fuel

PFAS

Persistent chemicals resistant to degradation, harmful to health

Photochemical Smog

Smog formed by sunlight reacting with NOx and VOCs

Photovoltaic Cell

Device converting sunlight directly into electricity

PM10

Particulate matter ≤10 micrometers in diameter

PM2.5

Fine particulate matter ≤2.5 micrometers in diameter

Point Source Pollution

Pollution from a single identifiable source

Primary Pollutant

Pollutant emitted directly from a source

Proven Reserve

Resources confirmed to be recoverable under current conditions

Quarries

Open pits used to extract stone or minerals

Radon Gas

Radioactive gas from natural decay of uranium in soil