HUMAN IMPACT
This human activity is the largest contributor to climate change due to burning coal, oil, and gas.
fossil fuel use
A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into this type of body of water.
river, lake, or ocean
Water molecules stick to each other because of this force
cohesion
Most of Earth’s energy comes from this star at the center of our solar system
Sun
This planet is known as the “Red Planet.
Mars
Cutting down large areas of forests for farming or development is called this.
deforestation
Rainwater that flows over land instead of soaking into the ground is called this
runoff
This property allows some insects to “walk” on water
surface tension
Earth reflects part of the Sun’s energy back into space; this reflectivity is called this
albedo
The largest planet in our solar system is this gas giant
Jupiter
Plastic waste in oceans especially harms this group of animals, including turtles and seabirds.
marine life
Pollution from farms, roads, and neighborhoods that washes into waterways is known as this type of pollution
nonpoint source pollution
Water is called this type of solvent because it can dissolve many substances
universal solvent
Greenhouse gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere through this effect
Greenhouse gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere through this effect
This planet is famous for its large and visible ring system
Saturn
This renewable energy source uses moving air to generate electricity.
wind power
Trees and plants along riverbanks help watersheds by preventing this problem caused by soil washing away
erosion
Unlike most substances, water becomes less dense when it changes into this state of matter
solid
Dark-colored surfaces absorb more solar energy than light-colored ones because they have lower this
albedo
The path a planet follows around the Sun is called this.
Orbit
Human-caused nutrient pollution in lakes and rivers can create low-oxygen “dead zones”; this process
eutrophication
This imaginary line separates one watershed from another and is often found along hills or ridges
What is a watershed divide
Water molecules have a slightly positive side and a slightly negative side, making water this type of molecule
polar molecule
When Earth absorbs the same amount of energy that it radiates back into space, it is in this type of balance
energy equilibrium
This dwarf planet, once considered the ninth planet, lies in the Kuiper Belt
Pluto