Watt's up Doc?
This fossil fuel, which forms from the remains of ancient plants subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years, includes types such as anthracite, bituminous, sub-bituminous, and lignite.
What is coal
This is the biggest threat to endangered species.
habitat loss
This agricultural challenge occurs when water-soluble salts accumulate in the soil, often due to improper irrigation practices, negatively impacting crop growth and soil health.
What is soil salinization
This term describes a species that has a disproportionately large impact on its environment relative to its abundance, often maintaining the structure of an ecological community.
What are keystone species
This term refers to the total amount of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, emitted directly and indirectly by an individual, organization, or product, typically measured in units of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e).
What is carbon footprint
In many low-income countries, this is the primary fuel source used for heating and cooking, often leading to deforestation and health issues due to smoke inhalation.
This process refers to the decrease in pH levels of ocean water due to the absorption of excess carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, leading to harmful effects on marine life.
What is ocean acidification
This method of farming aquatic organisms, while providing a sustainable food source, can lead to pollution and degradation of local ecosystems due to the use of chemicals, waste discharge, and the spread of diseases.
What is aquaculture
This process refers to the gradual establishment of a biological community in an area where no soil exists, such as after a volcanic eruption or glacier retreat, starting with pioneer species like lichens and mosses.
What is primary succession
What is the greenhouse effect
Often referred to as a "bridge fuel" this nonrenewable energy source is extracted through the process of hydrofracking.
What is natural gas (methane)
This international treaty, adopted in 1987, aims to phase out substances that deplete the ozone layer, including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
What is the Montreal Protocol
This term describes the water that flows over the ground surface when precipitation exceeds absorption, and is significantly increased in urban environments where there are more impermeable surfaces.
What is runoff?
This essential process in the nitrogen cycle involves the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia (NH₃) or related compounds, making nitrogen available for uptake by plants, often facilitated by certain bacteria in the soil.
What is nitrogen fixation?
This term refers to the measure of the reflectivity of a surface, indicating how much sunlight is reflected back into space compared to how much is absorbed, with higher values associated with lighter surfaces.
What is Albedo
This form of energy production can lead thermal pollution, where the release of heated water from reactors disrupts local aquatic ecosystems.
What is nuclear power
This permanently frozen layer of soil found in polar regions is at risk of thawing due to rising global temperatures, which can release stored greenhouse gases and further exacerbate global warming.
What is permafrost
This farming practice, which involves turning over the soil, can lead to increased nutrient runoff into water bodies, contributing to eutrophication
What is tilling
An aquatic biome where freshwater from rivers mixes with saltwater from the ocean, creating a constantly fluctuating salinity level
What is an estuary
This term describes environmental changes or effects that are a result of human activities, often contrasted with natural processes.
This renewable energy generates electricity through the process of electrolysis, where water is split into its constituent elements. It's often used in transportation.
What is a hydrogen fuel cell.
The increased absorption of carbon dioxide in the ocean has resulted in a decreased availability of these ions which marine organisms use to make their shells.
What are carbonate ions
This sustainable farming practice reduces the need for chemical pesticides and may include methods like utilizing natural predators to control pest populations.
what is integrated pest management
This represents the energy available for consumption by herbivores and higher trophic levels in an ecosystems and is calculated by subtracting respiration from GPP.
What is net primary productivity (NPP)
This term describes a state where the net carbon emissions from biofuels are equal to the amount of carbon dioxide that was absorbed during the growth of the biomass, resulting in no overall increase in atmospheric CO2 levels.
What is "carbon neutral"