Environmental Problems

Flashcards on Environmental Problems - Key Vocabulary

Greenhouse Effect

The way in which heat is trapped close to Earth's surface by “greenhouse gases.”

Carbon Footprint

A measure of the impact our activities have on the environment, and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases produced in our day-to-day lives.

Global Warming

The phenomenon of a gradual increase in the temperature near the earth’s surface.

Climate Change

A change in the atmosphere of specific areas for a long time. It also refers to the new condition of the weather, including drought, temperature, rain, earthquake, snowfall, and so more.

Ozone Layer Depletion

The reduction of the amount of ozone in the stratosphere, caused bys substances formed from the breakdown of ozone depleting substances.

Acid Rain

Refers to any form of precipitation with acidic components.

Deforestation

Occurs when people use forested lands for non-forest purposes, such as agriculture and urbanization.

Organic Waste

Plant- and animal-based materials that can decompose naturally, including food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, cardboard, and even some types of plastic.

Hazardous Waste

A category of waste that, if improperly managed or disposed of, can pose significant threats to human health and the environment. Waste that contains dangerous properties, which can be harmful even in small amounts.

Solid Waste

A broad category encompassing a range of everyday items we discard, such as packaging materials, food scraps, clothing, and household goods.

Liquid Waste

Encompassing wastewater originating from domestic households, industrial processes, and medical facilities.

Recyclable Waste

Includes materials like plastics, paper, glass, and metals, which can be reprocessed and transformed into new products.

Gaseous Waste

Refers to waste materials in the form of gases that are produced as byproducts of industrial processes, such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and nitrogen oxides.

E-waste

Electronic waste, e-scrap and end-of-life electronics are terms often used to describe used electronics that are nearing the end of their useful life, and are discarded, donated or given to a recycler.

Nuclear Waste

(radioactive waste) waste from nuclear fuel that is produced when it has been spent inside a nuclear reactor.