Energy & Resources
This natural resource can be replaced quickly and includes sunlight and wind.
renewable resource
These gases trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere.
greenhouse gases
Cutting down forests for land and resources is called this.
deforestation
A park has trees, grass, animals, sunlight, water, and soil all interacting with each other in one area.
ecosystem
This is the careful use and protection of natural resources.
conservation
This type of resource forms over millions of years and cannot be replaced quickly.
nonrenewable resource
This process happens when heat is trapped by gases in the atmosphere.
the greenhouse effect
This occurs when too many people use resources faster than they can be replaced.
overpopulation
A new species of fish is introduced into a lake and begins eating the same food as native fish, causing native fish populations to decrease.
invasive species
This practice helps reduce waste by reusing materials like paper and plastic.
recycling
This type of energy uses moving water to spin turbines and generate electricity.
hydroelectric power
This type of heat transfer allows energy from the Sun to travel through space.
radiation
A factory releases waste into a nearby river, causing fish and other aquatic organisms to become sick or die.
water pollution
This term describes the variety of living organisms in an area.
biodiversity
This farming method helps keep soil healthy by changing crops each year.
crop rotation
These fuels form from ancient plants and animals buried under heat and pressure.
fossil fuels
On a sunny day, the land heats up faster than the nearby ocean. Warm air rises over the land, and cooler air from the ocean moves in to replace it, creating a breeze.
convection
Farmers remove too many trees and plants from an area, and over time the soil becomes loose and is easily carried away by wind and water.
soil erosion
This is why biodiversity is important for ecosystems.
maintaining balance and stability
A government sets aside a large area of land where human activity is restricted to protect plants, animals, and natural habitats from development.
a protected area (or national park/reserve)
What are the three types of fossil fuels?
Coal, petroleum, and natural gas
Scientists observe that over several decades, the average temperature of Earth has been increasing. They link this change to higher levels of carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere from human activities like burning fossil fuels.
climate change
A city continues to expand outward as more homes, roads, and shopping centers are built on previously undeveloped land. This growth increases traffic, pollution, and loss of natural habitats around the city.
Coral reefs begin to die after ocean temperatures rise and pollution increases, causing many marine species to lose their habitat.
loss of biodiversity
A community installs solar panels and wind turbines to reduce their use of fossil fuels and lower pollution while still meeting energy needs.
using renewable resources