Mining
Soil and rock removed to expose mineral deposits
Overburden
Removal of all trees in an area
Clear-cutting
Water flowing over land into rivers/lakes
Runoff
Growing one crop over large areas
Monoculture
Heat increase in cities compared to rural areas
Urban heat island effect
Mining method that follows land contours
Contour strip mining
Selective removal of trees in a forest
Selective cutting
Underground layer that stores groundwater
Aquifer
Fertilizer made from animal waste
Manure
Expansion of cities into surrounding land
Urban sprawl
Waste left after mineral extraction
Soil loss caused by removal of tree roots
Erosion
Excess nutrients causing algal blooms
Eutrophication
Farming technique that reduces erosion by following land shape
Contour plowing
Surfaces that prevent water absorption (roads, pavement)
Impervious surfaces
Acidic water formed from sulfide minerals reacting with air/water
Acid mine drainage
Effect of deforestation on atmospheric CO₂
Increased CO₂ / reduced carbon storage
Overuse of groundwater leading to depletion
Aquifer depletion
Large-scale irrigation method that wastes water through evaporation
Flood irrigation
Polluted water runoff from cities into waterways
Urban runoff
Mining that removes mountaintops and buries valleys
Mountaintop removal
Fragmentation of forests reducing genetic exchange
Reduced gene flow / inbreeding
Saltwater moving into freshwater aquifers due to overpumping
Saltwater intrusion
Environmental impact of pesticide overuse on ecosystems
Biomagnification / toxicity in food webs
Infrastructure that reduces flooding by increasing infiltration
Green infrastructure / permeable pavement