Environmental Science: Water Resources, Forest & Land Management, and Agriculture

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions across water systems, forest ecosystems, grazing strategies, land conservation, and sustainable agriculture based on the lecture transcript.

Groundwater

Water found underground in soil or rock.

Surface Water

Water found above ground, such as rivers, lakes, and oceans.

Water Cycle

The continuous movement of water through the atmosphere, land, and living organisms.

Transpiration

The release of water vapor from plants.

Aquifer

An underground layer of soil or rock that holds water.

Infiltration

Water soaking into the ground.

Water Table

The upper level of groundwater in an aquifer.

Saltwater Intrusion

When saltwater enters a freshwater aquifer because freshwater levels have dropped.

Water Wars

Political conflicts over access to water.

Aquifer Collapse

When too much groundwater is removed, causing the ground to sink or collapse.

Domestic Water

Water used by households and small businesses.

Water Scarcity

Not having enough accessible clean water.

Wastewater

Used water contaminated by homes, businesses, industries, or agriculture.

Wastewater Treatment

Removing pollutants from used water.

Potable Water

Water that is safe to drink.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Federal law protecting public drinking water supplies.

Dam

A structure that blocks or controls flowing water.

Reservoir

An artificial lake created by a dam.

Desalination

Removing salt from seawater to make it usable.

Water Footprint

The amount of water used by a person, group, or activity, including water used to make products.

Water Pollution

Adding substances to water that decrease its quality.

Point Source Pollution

Pollution that comes from one identifiable source, such as a discharge pipe.

Effluent

Wastewater released into the environment.

Nonpoint Source Pollution

Pollution from widespread sources, such as runoff from farms or streets.

Stormwater Runoff

Rainwater that flows over land instead of soaking into the ground.

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)

The amount of oxygen available in water.

Hypoxia

When water has too little oxygen to support healthy aquatic life.

Eutrophication

Excess nutrients cause algae and other organisms to grow, eventually lowering oxygen levels.

Watershed

An area of land where water drains into the same body of water.

Chemical Assessment

Testing water for chemical conditions such as pH and dissolved oxygen.

Physical Assessment

Testing physical water conditions such as temperature and cloudiness.

Biological Assessment

Examining organisms living in water to determine its health.

Benthic Macroinvertebrates

Small animals without backbones that live at the bottom of streams and can indicate water quality.

Clean Water Act

Federal law regulating pollution released into surface water and establishing water quality standards.

Performance Standards

Limits on how much pollution is allowed in the environment.

Watershed Management

Managing land and activities around waterways to protect water quality.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL)

The maximum amount of a pollutant a body of water can receive while meeting quality standards.

Riparian Areas

Land next to rivers, lakes, or streams that influences water quality.

Forest

An ecosystem mainly made up of trees and woody plants.

Boreal Forest (Taiga)

A cold forest with mostly coniferous trees, low temperatures, and little precipitation.

Temperate Forest

A forest with four seasons, moderate temperatures, and moderate rainfall.

Tropical Forest

A warm forest near the equator with high rainfall and no winter.

Canopy

The upper forest layer formed by the tops of tall trees.

Emergent Layer

Trees that grow above the main canopy.

Understory

Smaller trees, shrubs, and plants growing beneath the canopy.

Forest Floor

The lowest forest layer, containing soil, fungi, fallen leaves, and small plants.

Ecosystem Services

Benefits and natural processes ecosystems provide that support life.

Carbon Sink

An area that stores carbon and prevents it from quickly entering the atmosphere.

Deforestation

The loss of trees from a forested area.

Clear-Cutting

Cutting down all trees in an area.

Selective Harvesting

Cutting only the most valuable trees while leaving others to regrow the forest.

Shelterwood Harvesting

Leaving the best trees to produce seeds before eventually harvesting them.

Maximum Sustainable Yield

The greatest amount of a resource that can be harvested without reducing future supplies.

Multiple Use Sustained Yield Act

Federal law requiring national forests to be managed for multiple uses.

Ecotourism

Environmentally responsible travel that supports conservation and respects local communities.

Grassland

A biome dominated by grasses because of rainfall levels, grazing, or fire.

Carbon Sequestration

Storing carbon so it does not enter the atmosphere.

Rangeland

Grassland used for grazing livestock.

Desertification

The process of fertile land becoming desert-like.

Overgrazing

When animals eat plants faster than the plants can regrow.

Continuous Grazing

Allowing livestock to graze an entire pasture all the time.

Rotational Grazing

Moving livestock between pastures to prevent overgrazing.

Undergrazing

Too little grazing to maintain a grassland's ecological health.

Holistic Planned Grazing

Moving livestock in groups through small areas to imitate wild grazing animals.

Sustainable Grazing

Grazing practices that allow grasslands to stay healthy and recover.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

A federal program that pays farmers to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production.

Conservation Easement

A legal agreement limiting land use to protect natural resources.

Shelterbelt

A row or group of trees that blocks wind and reduces soil erosion.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming that can continue long-term without using resources faster than they can be replaced.

Organic Agriculture

Farming without synthetic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, GMOs, or certain chemical additives.

Soil

A mixture of minerals, organic matter, and living organisms that supports plant growth.

Soil Erosion

Soil being moved or lost because of wind or water.

Agroecology

Farming that uses ecological principles and local knowledge to protect the environment.

Polyculture

Growing multiple crops or raising different animals together on the same land.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Using different pest-control methods to reduce the need for chemical pesticides.

Cultural Control

Changing farming practices to prevent or reduce pests.

Biological Control

Using other living organisms to control pests.

Mechanical Control

Physically trapping, removing, blocking, or repelling pests.

Chemical Control

Using chemicals to kill or repel pests.

Annual Crops

Crops that complete their life cycle in one year and must be replanted.

Perennial Crops

Crops that live for several years and can produce harvests without annual replanting.

Contour Farming

Planting along the natural curves of hills to reduce soil erosion.

Reduced Tillage

Disturbing soil as little as possible when planting to reduce erosion.

Terrace Farming

Creating flat steps on hillsides to prevent erosion and retain water.

Crop Rotation

Growing different crops on the same land in different years to improve soil and reduce pests.

Strip Cropping

Growing different crops in alternating strips to reduce pest spread.

Cover Crops

Crops planted during the off-season to protect and improve soil.

Food Miles

The distance food travels from where it is produced to the consumer.

Carbon Footprint

The amount of greenhouse gases released by a person, activity, or organization.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO)

Raising large numbers of livestock in confined spaces.

Feed Conversion Ratio

The amount of edible animal food produced compared with the amount of feed used.