Natural Resources

Energy Conservation

the practice of reducing energy use

Greenhouse effect

the process by which heat is trapped in the atmosphere by gases (water vapor and carbon dioxide) that form a “blanket” around Earth

Global Warming

the theory that increasing dioxide in the atmosphere will raise Earth’s average temperature

Fossil Fuel

an energy-rich substance (such as coal, oil, or natural gas) formed from the remains of organisms

Nonrenewable resource

a resource that is used faster than it can be replaced by natural processes.

Renewable resource

a resource that can be replaced by natural processes in a relatively short amount of time

Nuclear energy

energy released from atomic reactions

Biomass energy

energy produced by burning organic matter, such as wood, food scraps, and alcohol

Geothermal energy

thermal energy from earth’s interior

Hydroelectric power

electricity produced by flowing water

Solar energy

energy from the sun

Wind farm

a group of wind turbines that produce electricity

Deforestation

the cutting of large areas of forest for human activities

Acid precipitation

precipitation that has a PH less than 5.6

Photochemical smog

a brownish haze produced when nitrogen compounds and other pollutants in the air react in the presence of sunlight