APES

What is Environmental Science?

A broad field that includes biology, chemistry, geology, and more to understand environmental problems and solutions.

What is Ecology?

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

What is Biodiversity?

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

What is Sustainability?

The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

What is Environmental Science?

A broad field that includes biology, chemistry, geology, and more to understand environmental problems and solutions.

What is Ecology?

The study of interactions between organisms and their environment.

What is Biodiversity?

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

What is Sustainability?

The ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

What is a renewable resource?

A resource that can be replenished naturally over time, such as solar, wind, and water.

What is a non-renewable resource?

A resource that cannot be replenished at the rate it is used, such as fossil fuels.

What is Photosynthesis?

The process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the form of sugar.

What is Carbon Emission?

The release of carbon from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.

What is Global Warming?

The gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other pollutants.

What are Greenhouse Gases?

Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapor.

What is the Greenhouse Effect?

The effect of Earth's atmosphere trapping heat, causing the planet to be warmer than it would be otherwise.

What is a Carbon Footprint?

A measure of the amount of greenhouse gases produced by activities.

What is Deforestation?

The cutting down of forests, often for agriculture or urbanization.

What is Desertification?

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

What is Water Pollution?

The contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities.

What is Air Pollution?

The contamination of air by smoke and harmful gases, mainly oxides of carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen.

What is Land Pollution?

The pollution of the land by industrial, commercial, domestic, and agricultural activities.

What is Acid Rain?

Rainfall made acidic by atmospheric pollution, particularly the oxides of sulfur and nitrogen.

What is Ozone Depletion?

The depletion of the ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere, allowing harmful UV rays to reach the surface.

What is a Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)?

A chemical compound containing chlorine, fluorine, and carbon atoms.

What is Environmental Remediation?

The process of cleaning up and restoring degraded ecosystems.

What is Resource Conservation?

The conservation of resources and reduction of waste.

What is Recycling?

The reuse of materials to reduce waste and conserve resources.

What is Waste Reduction?

The practice of reducing the use of resources to minimize waste and pollution.

What is Environmental Conservation?

The protection, preservation, management, or restoration of natural environments and the ecological communities that inhabit them.

What is Natural Resource Management?

The management of natural resources to meet human needs while ensuring the sustainability of natural ecosystems and the environment.

What is Environmental Ecology?

The scientific study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.

What is Paleoclimatology?

The study of past environmental conditions and changes.

What is Environmental Toxicology?

The study of the effects of pollution on the environment and human health.

What is Environmental Ethics?

The ethical relationship between human beings and the natural environment.

What is Environmental Philosophy?

The branch of philosophy that is concerned with the natural environment and humanity's place within it.

What is Bioremediation?

The use of living organisms to solve environmental problems, such as pollution.

What is Biodiversity Conservation?

The preservation of biological diversity through the protection of species, habitats, and ecosystems.

What is Composting?

The use of natural processes to decompose organic matter, reducing waste volume and creating compost.

What is Waste Conversion?

The process of converting waste materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution and water pollution.

What is Wastewater Treatment?

The process of collecting and treating wastewater before it is released back into the environment.

What is the Clean Air Act?

A law designed to protect and improve air quality in the United States.

What is the Clean Water Act?

A law designed to protect and improve water quality in the United States.

What is the Kyoto Protocol?

A United Nations treaty designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

What is the Paris Agreement?

An international agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance.

What is Sustainable Forestry?

The sustainable use and management of forests to meet the environmental, social, and economic needs of present and future generations.

What is Sustainable Agriculture?

The sustainable farming practices that minimize environmental impact.

What is Life Cycle Assessment?

The concept of designing products and systems to minimize environmental harm throughout their entire life cycle.

What is Ecological Sustainability?

The practice of meeting needs using renewable resources and minimizing waste to ensure resources are available for future generations.

What is Environmental Justice?

The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

What is an Ecological Footprint?

The impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.

What is Environmental Pollution?

The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment.

What is Eutrophication?

The process by which nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, become highly concentrated in a body of water, leading to increased growth of organisms such as algae or cyanobacteria.

What is Carrying Capacity?

The maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support indefinitely.

What is Species Richness?

The number of different species represented in an ecological community, landscape or region.

What is a Keystone Species?

A species whose presence and role within an ecosystem has a disproportionately large impact on other organisms within the system.

What is an Invasive Species?

A species that is not native to a specific location, and which has a tendency to spread to a degree believed to cause damage to the environment, human economy or human health.

What is Organismal Ecology?

The branch of biology dealing with the relations and interactions between organisms and their environment, including other organisms.

What is an Ecosystem?

A community of living organisms, such as animals, plants, and microorganisms, that interact with each other and their physical environment.

What is a Biome?

A large community of plants and animals that occupies a distinct region, characterized by its climate, soil, and other environmental factors.

What is the Biosphere?

The global sum of all ecosystems; it is the zone of life on Earth.

What is Ecosystem Diversity?

The variety of ecosystems present in a biosphere, as well as the variety of species within those ecosystems.

What is Genetic Diversity?

The genetic variation within a species.

What is Species Diversity?

The number of different species in a particular area or habitat.

What is an Endangered Species?

A species that is at risk of extinction.

What is a Threatened Species?

A species that is likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.

What is Sustainable Development?

A concept that allows natural resources and the environment to coexist with industrial expansion; it supports economic growth without exhausting natural resources or causing ecological damage.