Ch 9 - 5th Science Human Impact

conserve

to prevent ruin, waste, or destruction

natural resources

materials or substances found in the environment that are used by humans for various purposes, including water, soil, minerals, and forests.

nonrenewable resources

resources that cannot or take a long time to replace, like fossil fuels

renewable resources

resources that are replenished naturally over short periods, such as solar energy, wind, and biomass.

scrubbers

devices used to remove pollutants from industrial exhaust gases, helping to reduce air pollution.

recycle

to remake a material for a new use

compost

a mixture that consists largely of decayed organic matter and is used to fertilize soil

geothermal energy

energy that comes from the heat within the Earth, often harnessed for electricity generation or direct heating applications.

acid precipitation

water that contains pollutants from polluted clouds and falls to the ground as rain, snow, or sleet, potentially harming ecosystems.

fossil fuels

natural resources formed from the remains of ancient plants and animals, including coal, oil, and natural gas, that release energy when burned.

mining

the process of extracting minerals or other geological materials from the Earth

coal

a solid fossil fuel formed from decomposed plant remains

landfill

a site for the disposal of waste materials

reduce

to lessen the amount

reuse

to use again

population density

the number of people per square unit