Ecology Glossary

abioticdescribes the non-living part of the environment, including water, rocks, light, and temperature

ablationAll processes by which snow and ice are lost from a glacier, floating ice, or snow cover; or the amount which is melted. These processes include melting, evaporation, (sublimation), wind erosion, and calving. Synonym: wastage.

aboreal tree dwelling organism

accretionthe growth of ice crystals or snowflakes by collision with super cooled cloud droplets that freeze upon contact.

AccumulationAll processes that add snow or ice to a glacier or to floating ice or snow cover: snow fall, avalanching, wind transport, refreezing...

Acid Precipitationprecipitation with a ph below 5.6 that can pollute water, kill fish and plants and damage soils, occurs when air pollutants from the burning of fossil fuels react with water in the atmosphere to form strong acids

acid precipitationprecipitation, such as rain, sleet or snow, that contains a high concentration of acids, often the cause of the pollution of the atmosphere

acid shockthe sudden runoff of large amounts of highly acidic water into lakes and streams when snow melts in the spring or when heavy rains follow a drought

Acidificationto make a substance more acidic. Acidification also means that a substance loses its acid neutralizing capacity (ANC). ANC is a measure of the ability for water or soil to neutralize added acids.

active or solar heatingthe gathering o fsolar energy by collectors that are used to heat water or heat a building

active zone section of soil above the permafrost located in the tundra

adaptation the process of becoming adapted to an environment

aerateto supply or expose water with air to increase dissolved oxygen and release harmful gases.

aerosola suspension of solid or liquid particles in a gaseous medium (e.g. dust, pollen, volcanic ash)

age structurethe classification of members of a population into groups according to age or the distribution of members of a population in terms of age groups

agriculturethe raising of crops and livestock for food or for other products that are useful to humans

air pollutionthe contamination of the atmosphere by the introduction of pollutants from human and natural resources

air quality

a measure of the degree to which air is free from harmful pollution. In the US, the Environmental Protection Agency identifies and regulates the harmful compounds in air, particularly those that harm human health, damage crops, or cause harm to building, roads, and other structures (for example, acid rain). Scientists study the sources of air pollutants, how pollution changes as air moves around the planet, and how the chemistry in the atmosphere removes air pollutants.

air quality indexThe Air Quality Index (AQI) (also known as the Air Pollution Index (API) or Pollutant Standard Index (PSI)) is a number used by government agencies to characterize the quality of the air at a given location.

AIRSThe Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) one of the 6 instrument aboard the Aqua spacecraft. AIRS collects data on weather, climate, and atmospheric composition.

albeto

reflectivity of the planet; a measure of reflectivity; the planetary albedo of the Earth averages about 0.31, meaning that on average about 31 percent of the light from the Sun is reflected back to space. The value at any given time is dependent on cloud cover and ground cover (snow, ice).

Albeto effectreflectivity of the planet--negative Albeto is absorption of heat and positive Albeto is the reflection of heat

alternative energy energy that does not come from fossil fuels and that is still in development

altitudethe height of an object above a reference point, such as sea level or the Earth's surface

angiosperm a flowering plant that produces seeds within a fruit

annual a plant species that completes its life cycle in one growing season.

anomalythe difference from the average, or climatological, value. Anomalies are often used in climate science, as they make small changes in variables much easier to see.

Aphotic Zone

The aphotic zone (aphotic from Greek prefix "without light") is the portion of a lake or ocean where there is little or no sunlight. It is formally defined as the depths beyond which less than 1% of sunlight penetrates. Consequently, bioluminescence is essentially the only light found in this zone. Most food comes from dead organisms sinking to the bottom of the lake or ocean from overlying waters. The depth of the aphotic zone can be greatly affected by such things as turbidity and the season of the year. The aphotic zone underlies the photic zone, which is that portion of a lake or ocean directly affected by sunlight.

aquaculture the raising of awuatic plants and animals for human use or consumption

Aquatic Assemblagean organism group of interacting populations in a given wate rbody, for example, fish assemblage or a benthic macro-invertebrate assemblage.

aquifera body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows the flow of groundwater

arable land land that is dry

archaebacteria

a kingdom made up of prokaryotes that are from other prokaryotes by differences in their genetics and in the makeup of their cell wall; currently, biologists prefer to classing members of this kingdom into the domain Archaean

archipelago a chain or cluster of islands

arid dry, receives little precipitation.

artificial selectionthe selective breeding of organisms (by humans) for specific desirable characteristics

artificial eutrophication

a process that increases the amount of nutrients ina body of waer through human activities, such as waste disposal and land drainage.

asbestosany of six silicate minerals that form bundles of minute fibers that are heat resistant, flexible and durable.

ASDC

acronym for Atmospheric Science Data Center. ASDC is located at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. ASDC processes, archives and distributes NASA satellite data relating to clouds, aerosols, radiation budget and tropospheric chemistry.

asthenospherethe solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on the top

atmospherethe mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth and some other planets. The concentrations of the gaseous constituents of Earth's atmosphere are determined by biogeochemical processes, including manmade effects.

atmospheric pressure

the weight of the column of the atmosphere above a surface. On average, the atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1013.25 millibars (mb), but it can be relatively higher or lower than this value based on air temperature and humidity. Changes in atmospheric pressure at a given location often indicate changing weather.

atoll

the ring of coral left behind when a volcanic island has eroded below the surface of the ocean. Composed of calcium carbonate skeletons representing many generations of coral organisms, the ring-shaped atoll may partially or totally enclose a lagoon

Atolls coral islands consisting of a reef surrounding a lagoon

aurora

ethereal, high-altitude patterns of light that are usually observed in the sub-polar regions of Earth. Auroras are caused by the interaction of Earth's magnetic field with the constant stream of high energy particles generated by the sun. Northern Hemisphere - Aurora Borealis; Southern Hemisphere - Aurora Australis

B

Term Definition

bacteriaextremely small, single-celled organisms that usually have a cell wall and reproduce by cell division

barrier islanda long ridge of sand or narrow island that lies parallel to the shore--helps to protect the mainland

basina topographically low region of Earth, often surrounded by mountain ranges and usually with a central river for drainage.

Bathmymetry

Bathymetry is the study of underwater depth of lake or ocean floors. In other words, bathymetry is the underwater equivalent to hypsometry or topography. The name comes from Greek bathus, "deep",[1] and metron, "measure".

benthic zone the bottom region of oceans and bodies of fresh water

Benthic Zone Bottom of a lake, pond or ocean

benthosbottom dwelling organisms, such as mussels, worms and barnacles. Many benthic organisms live attach to hard surfaces, like bottom of ships.

biodegradable material

a material that can be broken down by natural/biological processes

biodiversitythe variety of organisms in a given area, the genetic variation within a population, the variety of species in a community, or the variety of communities in an ecosystem

biodiversity treatyan international agreement aimed at strengthening national control and preservation of biological resources; associated with the UN Conference onEnvironment and Development (UNCED or Earth Summit) in 1992

biological diversityrefers to the number of different species present within a given area. High diversity means many different species present in a given area.

biological pest control the use of certain organisms by umans to eliminate or control pests

bioluminescence Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism.

Its name is a hybrid word, originating from the Greek bios for "living" and the Latin lumen "light". Bioluminescence is a naturally occurring form of chemiluminescence where energy is released by a chemical reaction in the form of light emission. Fireflies, anglerfish, and other creatures produce the chemicals luciferin (a pigment) and luciferase (an enzyme).[1] The luciferin reacts with oxygen to create light.

biomagnification the accumulation of pollutants at successive levels of the food chain

Biomass

In the context of energy production, biomass refers to living and recently living biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Most commonly, biomass refers to plant matter grown for use as biofuel, but also includes plant or animal matter used for production of fibers, chemicals or heat. Biomass may also include biodegradable wastes that can be burnt as fuel. It excludes organic material that has been transformed by geological processes into substances such as coal or petroleum. It is usually measured by dry weight.

biomass burningrefers to the burning of vegetation whether by wildfire or manmade causes; agricultural fields are often cleared by setting prescribed fires.

biomass fuelplant material, manure, or any other organic matter that is used as an energy source

biomea large region characterized by a specific type of climate and certain types of plants and animal communities

biospherethe part of the Earth where life exists; The whole collection of living organisms in the Earth system, including plants and animals, on land, at sea, and in the atmosphere.

biotic factoran environmental factor that is associated with or results from the activities of living organisms

Brackisha mixture of salt water and fresh water, usually where a river drains into a tidal bay or basin

breakerwhen a wave breaks against the shore or itself, the crest outruns the trough and the crest collapses

broadleafa plant with wide blade leaves, such as an oak or cottonwood. Seeds are born from flowering parts in contrast to conifers which bear seeds in cones.

brood the young birds hatched from a single clutch, usually laid by a single female.

BulkheadA man-made structure separating land and water areas; a structure or partition to retain or prevent sliding of the land. A secondary purpose is to protect the upland against damage from oceans waves.

bunchgrass short, fine-bladed grasses that grow in a clump

buttea hill that rises abruptly from the surroundings. The sides are steeply sloped or with cliffs, and the top is nearly flat.

C

Term Definition

cactiplants adapted to dry conditions. Often store water in leaves and other parts of the plant. Usually have small leaves and thorns.

calderaa large, nearly circular volcanic depression that is several time larger than the original volcanic crater. Calderas form by explosive eruption or collapse of a large volcano.

calvingA form of ice ablation or ice disruption. It is the sudden release and breaking away of a mass of ice from a glacier, iceberg, ice front, ice shelf or crevasse.

canopy the layers of treetops that shade theforest floor

canopy coverthe amount of ground covered by the branches, leaves, and stems of plants. Can specify as herbaceous, shrubs, tree, or all canopy cover. Expressed as a percentage.

Carbon

Carbon occurs in all organic life and is the basis of organic chemistry. This nonmetal also has the interesting chemical property of being able to bond with itself and a wide variety of other elements, forming nearly 10,000,000 known compounds. When united with oxygen, it forms carbon dioxide (CO2). When united with hydrogen, it forms various compounds called hydrocarbons which are essential to industry in the form of fossil fuels.

carbon cyclethe movement of carbon from the nonliving environment into living things and back

Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Carbon dioxide is emitted in a number of ways. It occurs naturally through the carbon cycle and through human activities like the burning of fossil fuels. Burning fossil fuels causes the Earth’s temperature to warm and change over time. Carbon dioxide emissions are about 40 percent higher than they were before the Industrial Revolution and are at their highest levels in recorded history, covering over 650,000 years.

Carbon Dioxide

A colorless, odorless gas that is a major greenhouse gas. Commercially, carbon dioxide is used as a refrigerant (dry ice), in beverage carbonation, and in fire extinguishers. It is also produced from the burning of fossil fuels and organic matter. It is composed of a single carbon atom and two oxygen atoms EPA - A naturally occurring gas, and also a by-product of burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as land-use changes and other industrial processes. It is the principal anthropogenic greenhouse gas that affects the Earth's radiative balance. It is the reference gas against which other greenhouse gases are measured and therefore has a high Global Warming Potential..

carbon footprinta calculation that shows the quantity of carbon released into the atmosphere from an activity such as driving a car or the total transportation of a food product from field to store to consumption

carbon monoxide

A clear odorless gas formed from the incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels. Carbon monoxide is a short lived gas in the lower layer of the atmosphere. Sources of carbon monoxide include: cigarette smoke, blocked fireplaces and gas stoves, idling cars. EPA - Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. Because it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, CO can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. At lower levels of exposure, CO causes mild effects that are often mistaken for the flu. These symptoms include headaches, dizziness, disorientation, nausea and fatigue. The effects of CO exposure can vary greatly from person to person depending on age, overall health and the concentration and length of exposure..

carbon sesquetitationthe holding of carbon and carbon dioxide in vacated spaces in the Earth (like empty natural gas wells).

Carbonic Acid the acide (H2CO3) that is formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water.

carrion stinking, rotten flesh.

carrying capacitythe maximum number of organisms an environment can sustain before degradation of the environment occurs.

cellular respirationthe process by which cells produce energy fromcarbohydrates; atmospheric oxygen combines with glucose to form water and carbon dioxide.

CERESThe Clouds and the Earth\'s Radiant Energy System provides very high quality measurements of the Earth's Radiation Budget, including both longwave (Earth-emitted) and shortwave (Earth-reflected) radiation..

CFC - chlorofluorocarbons

hydrocarbons in which some or all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by chlorine and fluorine; used in coolants from refrigerators and air conditioners, and in clearning solvents; their use is restricted because they destroy ozone molecules in the stratosphere

chaparrala type of vegetation that includes broad-leafed evergreen shrubs and that is located in areas with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters

chemical weatheringthe erosion of surfaces like rocks through chemical reactions (such as water to create calcium carbonate).

chloroflorcarbons CFC

Gas made of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon, abbreviated CFC. In the troposphere, a CFC molecule does not normally react with other substances. However, in the stratosphere, ultraviolet radiation from the Sun breaks apart the CFC molecule. This releases a chlorine atom which serves as a catalyst to destroy many ozone molecules through a series of chemical reactions

cirqueA cirque (French for "circus") or corrie (from Scottish Gaelic coire meaning a "kettle") is an amphitheatre-like valley head, formed at the head of a valley glacier by erosion.

Clean Water ActAn act passed by the US Congress to control water pollution (formerly referred to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972).

clear-cutting the process of removing all of the trees from an area of land.

climate the average weather conditions in an area over a long period of time

Climate Change

A long-term change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods of time that range from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in the average weather conditions or a change in the distribution of weather events with respect to an average, for example, greater or fewer extreme weather events

Climate ModelA simulation or representation of how the various parts of the climate system (e.g. atmosphere, oceans, ice, land surface) interact with each other.

Climatic Diagram, climatograph

also called climogram, climatograph, climograph, climagram, climagraph, climatogram, hythergraph. A graph that represents annual climatological information for a particular location. Pictured to the right, monthly average values of precipitation and temperature are displayed throughout the year.

climatology

This term has two meanings. The basic meaning is the science or study of the climate. The second meaning, which is used within the MY NASA DATA project, is a long-term average of a variable in the Earth system. For weather-related information, at least a 30-year average is preferred. For most satellite datasets, one is lucky to find a 5-year climatology, because the data have not been measured for much longer than that.

climax community a final, stable community in equilibrium with the environment

clutch eggs that have been laid by a bird or reptile in one nesting attempt.

coastal plain large, nearly level areas of land near ocean shores.

Coastal Shelves

Also known as coastal plains, coastal shelves are composed of a horizontal or gently sloping layer of gravel bordering the coast. The selves are often formed by aggradation, the geologic process by which various parts of the surface of the earth are raised in elevation or built up by material transported by water or wind.

Cogeneration or co-generational

using a natural resource waste as energy--e.g. the production of electricity using waste heat or waste from paper production using trees (as in steam) from an industrial process or the use of steam from electric power generation as a source of heat

column number density

A unit often used in remote sensing. The number of something (particles, atoms, molecules, ...) in an atmospheric column over an area. The area could

be a square centimeter, square meter, square kilometer, etc... This provides information about the total amount of that substance in the column, but does not provide any information about how it is distributed: uniformly mixed in the atmosphere (i.e., CO2), vs concentrated near the surface (i.e. pollution), vs concentrated at some other level (i.e., the ozone layer). Because the number of atoms or molecules is usually large, scientific notation is used. For example: 1.e15 NO2 molecules in a column over one square centimeter of the surface (1,000,000,000,000,000 NO2 molecules in an atmospheric column)..

commensalisma relationship between two organisms in which one organism benefits and the other is unaffected

communitya group of various species that live in the same habitat and interact with each other

competitionthe relationship between two species (or individuals) in which both species (or individuals) attempt to use the same limited resources such that both are negatively affected by the relationship

composta mixture of decomposing organic matter, such as manure and rotting plants, that is used as fertilizer and soil conditioner

conceptual model a verbal or graphical explanation for how a system works or is organized

condensation the change of state from a gas to a liquid

conduction the transfer of energy as heat through a material

congregate when animals group together in an area.

coniferusually refers to evergreen, needle leaf trees that bear their seeds in cones. Spruces, pines, and firs are examples.

ConiferousCone-bearing trees, mostly evergreens that have needle-shaped or scale-like leaves. They produce a wood known commercially as softwood.

conservationthe preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources

consumeran organism that eats other organisms or organic matter instead of producing its own nutrients or obtaining nutrients from inorganic sources

continental drift theory

Proposed in 1912 by German meteorologist Alfred Wegener suggests that all of the world's landmasses are in motion.

control burning

also known as a prescribed burn--the initial burning of ground debris (commonly in forests and grasslands)under controlled aspects (where fire is set, how fast it will move, how much it will consume) to return nutrients to the soil and control invasive species of plants.

control groupin an experiment, a group that servces as a standard of comparison with another group to which the control group is identifical except for one factor.

convectionthemovement of matter due to differences in density that are caused by temperature variations; can result in the transfer of energy as heat

Convergencethe inflow of air horizontally into an area; if occurring at the surface, the air must rise and may cause cloud formation.

coral reefa limestone ridge foudn in tropical climates and composed of coral fragments that are deposited around organic remains

core the central part of the Earth below the mantle; also the center of the sun

Coriolis forcean apparent force resulting from Earth's rotation that causes deflection of mass to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

correlation the linear dependence between two variables

covervegetation and other land features that provide areas for wildlife to hide, sleep, feed, and reproduce.

CPC

The Climate Prediction Center (CPC), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service, provides predictions of climate variability, real-time monitoring of climate and the required databases, and assessments of the origins of major climate anomalies..

cradle to cradleThe theory on cradle to cradle is a new way to think about caring for our environment and become more sustainable. It challenges us to think beyond our life cycle and to the next.

cradle to the grave

“Cradle to Grave” refers to the entire lifespan right from cradle signifying birth and grave representing death. “Cradle to Grave” can be also used in terms of the effect of a product on the environment and refers to something remaining from the start to the end. The term “Cradle to Grave” can be used in the sense of the lifecycle of a product from its creation to its disposal. It may be the responsibility of a particular company to deal with hazardous waste by studying the product performance and its disposal.

crest highest point of a wavce

crevasse

A crevasse is a crack in an ice sheet or glacier (compare to crevice, which is in rock). Crevasses often have vertical or near-vertical walls, which can then melt and create seracs, arches, etc.; these walls sometimes expose layers that represent the glacier's stratigraphy.

crown-sproutThe ability of some plants to regrow after plant materials above ground is removed by fire or other disturbances.

crust the thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle

cultivatetilling or working the soil for the purpose of growing crops and other desired plants.

cultivated grassesgrasses that have been adapted through genetic mutation or manipulation by humans--such as corn, oats, rice.

D

Term Definition

dam a structure that is built across a river to control a river's flow

data any pieces of information acquired through observation or experimentation

decadent declining in health and/or productivity.

decibel the most common unit used to measure loudness

DeciduousTree species that shed foliage in response to seasonal change. They produce wood known commercially as hardwood.

decision-making model

a conceptual model that provides a systematic process for making decisions

decomposeran organism that feeds by breaking down organic matte from dead organisms; examples include bacteria and fungi

deep-well injection deep-well disposal of hazardous waste

deforestationrefers to the cutting, clearing, and removal of forests into less bio-diverse ecosystems such as pasture, cropland or plantations

demographic transition

the general pattern of demographic change from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates, as observed in the history of more-developed countries

demography the study of the characteristics of populations, especially human populations

density the number of individuals of the same species that live in a given unit of area

dependent variablea variable that changes in response to the independent variable. On a simple X-Y coordinate graph the dependent variable is usually on the Y-axis.

desalination a process of removing salt from ocean water

desert

a region that has little or no vegetation, long periods without rain (less than 10 inches annually) and extreme temperatures; usually found inwarm climates however based on precipitation arctic and anarctic regions also are known as deserts

desert dust

Aerosols comprising of minerals from arid and semi-arid regions that absorb sunlight as well as scatter sunlight. Through absorption of sunlight, the dust particles warm the layer of the atmosphere where they reside. This warmer air is believed to inhibit the formation of storm clouds. Desert dust is also a source of nutrients for many remote regions.

desert varnishminerals washed downstream in the desert that colors the rock faces brown, red, grey, etc.

desert-grassland boundary

area that supports some grasses but can become desert if the climate changes.

desertificationthe process by which human activities impact climatic changes to make arid or semiarid areas more desert-like

detritus

non-living particulate organic material (as opposed to dissolved organic material). It typically includes the bodies or fragments of dead organisms as well as fecal material. Detritus is typically colonized by communities of microorganisms which act to decompose (or re-mineralize) the material. In terrestrial ecosystems, it is encountered as leaf litter and other organic matter intermixed with soil, which is referred to as humus. Detritus of aquatic ecosystems is organic material suspended in water, which is referred to as marine snow.

diet the type and amount of food that a person eats

dispersion in ecology, the pattern of distribution of organisms in a population

distributionthe relative arrangement of the members of a statistical population; usually shown in a graph

dobson unit a standard unit measure for ozone in a column of air

domesticated describes organisms that have been bred and managed for human use

dominatea plant or animal species that is most noticeable and common in an area. Often are a controlling force in the community where they occur.

dosethe amount of a harmful substance to which a person is exposed; the quantity of medicine that needs to be taken over a period of time

dose-response curvea graph that shows the relative effect of various doses of a drug or chemical organism or organisms

Downcycle Using recycled goods to manufacture a product of lesser quality, like plastic water bottles, that will ultimately be returned to the waste management

stream.

Downstream In the direction of or nearer to the mouth of a stream

Drainage Basin a tract of land drained by a sole river system

droughtthe lack of normal precipitation for an extended period of time. A long period with little or no rain.

E

Term Definition

Earth's energy budget The balance between the energy coming into a system compared to the energy going out of that system.

ecological footprinta calculation that shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particualr country

ecological succession a gradual process of change and replacement in a community

ecologythe study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and with their environment

economicsthe study of how individuals and groups make decisions about the production, distribution and consumption of limited resources as the groups attempt to fulfill their needs and wants.

ecosystem a community of organisms and their abiotic environment

ecosystem services

resources that are produced by natural and artificial ecosystems; examples: purification of air and water, preservation of soil and renewal of soil fertility; prevention of flood and drought; regulation of climate; maintenance of biodiversity; movement and cycling of nutrients; detoxification and decomposition of wastes; aesthetic beauty

Ecotone An ecotone is a transition area between two biomes. It may be narrow or wide, and it may be local (the zone between a field and forest) or regional (the transition between forest and grassland ecosystems. An ecotone may appear on the ground as a gradual blending of the two communities across a

broad area, or it may manifest itself as a sharp boundary line.

ecotourisma form of tourism that supports the conservation and sustainable development of ecologically unique areas

edge where two different types of habitat or vegetation meet.

El Nino

the warm phase of the El Nino-southern oscillation; a periodic occurrence in the eastern Pacific Ocean in which the surface-water temperature becomes unusually warm; the term used to identify the irregular development of warmer ocean surface water off the coast of Ecuador and Peru when the Trade Winds weaken and the usual upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water reduces.

electric generator a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy

Embayment an indentation in a coastline forming an open bay

emergent layerthe top foliage layer in a forest where the trees extend above surrounding trees

Emissions

In common usage, emissions refers to gases produced as a by-product of an individual process–for example, the engine exhaust of transport vehicles (cars, trucks, airplanes, trains and ships). As they occur on an industrial scale, even relatively harmless gases can have an undesired effect.

endangered species act

an act that the US Congress passed in 1973 to protect any plant or animal species in danger of extinction

endangered speciesa species that has been identified to be in danger of extinction throughout all of a significant part of its range, and that is thus under protection by regulations or conservation measures

endemic speciesa species that is native to a particular place and that is found only there (e.g. lemurs of Madagascar)

energy conservation the process of saving energy by reducing energy use and waste

energy efficiency the percentage of energy put into a system that does useful work

ENSOan acronym meaning El Nino - Southern Oscillation. The Southern Oscillation is the reversal of the atmospheric circulation in the Equatorial Pacific region which causes the onset of El Nino conditions.

environmental impact statement

an assessment of the effect of a proposed project or law on teh environment

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or sometimes USEPA) is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress. The EPA was proposed by President Richard Nixon and began operation on December 2, 1970, after legislation establishing it was passed by Congress and signed into law by Nixon. The agency is led by its Administrator, who is appointed by the president and approved by Congress.

environmental sciencethe study of the air, water, and land surrounding an organism or a community, which ranges from a small area to Earth's entire biosphere; it includes the study of the impact of humans on the environment

environmentally friendly

being aware of impact on Earth's limited natural resources or ability to natural compost

EOSacronym for Earth Observing System. A major international science program to monitor climate and environmental change.

epidemiologythe study of the distribution of diseases in populations and the study of factors that influence the occurrence and spread of disease

epiphyte a plant that uses another plant for support, but not for nourishment

equivalent water thickness

a measurement of change in mass on the Earth. For example, 1 cm of water thickness change means mass change equivalent to a 1 cm layer of water. The changes in mass may be due to surface and deep currents in the ocean, runoff and ground water storage on land masses, exchanges between ice sheets or glaciers and the oceans.

ERBSacronym for Earth Radiation Budget Satellite. A NASA satellite carrying instruments used in the ERBE experiment to study the radiation budget and atmospheric aerosols and gases.

erosiona process in which the materials of Earth'ssurface are loosened, dissolved, or worn away and transported from one place to another by a natural agent, such as wind, water, ice or gravity

erracticA large rock that is carried on top of the glacier and deposited when the glacier retreats.

erratic

A glacial erratic is a piece of rock that differs from the size and type of rock native to the area in which it rests. "Erratics" take their name from the Latin word errare, and are carried by glacial ice, often over distances of hundreds of kilometres. Erratics can range in size from pebbles to large boulders such as Big Rock (16,500 tons) in Alberta.

estuaryan area where fresh water from rivers mixes with salt water from the ocean; the part of a river where the tides meet the river current

eubacteriain a traditional taxonomic system, kingdom made up of all prokaryotes, except members of the kingdom Archaebacteria; currently biologists prefer to classify members of this kingdom into the domain Bacteria

eutrophicationan increase in the amount of nutrients, such as nitrates, in a marine or aquatic ecosystem

evaporationthe process where liquid water is converted to water vapor (gaseous state). The air above the evaporating surface must be unsaturated for evaporation to occur (relative humidity less than 100 percent).

evaportation the change of state from a liquid to a gas

Evaportation the process of a liquid changing into a vapor or gas.

evaprotranspirationThe transport of water to the atmosphere from the Earth\'s surfaces through a combination of transpiration (from plants and vegetation) and evaporation (from soil and bodies of water)..

evergreenplants that do not lose all their leaves at one time. Usually conifer trees, but also some broadleaf trees such as live oak.

evolution a heritable change in the characteristics within a population from one generation to the next; the development of new types of organisms from

preexisting types of organisms over time.

exacavate to make a cavity or hole. To hollow out.

exosphere The outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere.

exotic species a species that is not native to a particular region

experimenta procedure that is carried out under controlled conditions to discover, demonstrate, or test a fact, theory, or general truth

experimental groupin an experiment, a group that is identical to a control group except for one factor and that is compared with the control group

exponential growthlogarithmic growth, or growth in which numbers increase by a certain factor in each successive time period

F

Term Definition

faminewidespread malnutrition and stravation in an area due to a shortage of food, usually caused by a catastrophic event.

Faunarefers to all of the animals of a particular geographic region or time period, as a whole. it is used to distinguish animal species from plant species.

feedback cyclea process that has interconnected links and passages which influence its components. A positive feedback increases or enhances the process or activity. A negative feedback reduces or reverses the process.

ferrel cella major Earth atmospheric circulation pattern that consists of sinking air near 30 degrees N or S and rising air near 60 degrees N or S. This circulation pattern is directly connected to the Hadley cell.

fertility ratethe number of births (usually per year) per 1,000 women of childbearing age (usually 15-44)

FloraRefers to all of the plants of a particular geographic region or time period. It is used to distinguish plant species from animal species.

fluid mosaic modelmodel that describes the arrangement and movement of the molecules that make up a cell membrane (p. 82)

fluxthe rate of transfer of a fluid, particles or energy across a unit area. In the atmosphere, this can be air, a particular pollutant or aerosol, or light or heat energy (which has units of Watts per square meter).

folliclecollection of cells that surrounds and nourishes an egg while it is in the ovary (p.1028)

food chain model that links organisms by their feeding relationships (p.408)

food webmodel that shows the complex network of feeding relationships within an ecosystem (p.411)

forage refers to the vegetation eaten by animals.

forblow-growing herbaceous plants, both annuals and perennials. Can be shown with a flower as part of a plant. Sometimes referred to as weeds.

Forcing FactorFeedback mechanisms (such as ocean temperature, currents, or freshwater flow) outside the climate system that can either amplify or reduce the impact of climate change.

fossil trace of an organism from the past (p.300)

Fossil Fuelnonrenewable energy resources: coal, oil, and natural gas, that formed in earths crust over hundreds of million of years.

fossil fuel

a nonrenewable energy resource formed from the remains of organisms that lived long ago; examples include oil, coal and natural gas;any fuel that is created from decomposed carbon-based plant and animal organisms. Examples of fossil fuels: oil, coal, natural gas. .

Fossil WaterWater that is drained from ancient aquifers for irrigation and wells. It is a non-renewable resource since it takes hundreds of years for water to filter through the soil to recharge the aquifer.

founder effectgenetic drift that occurs after a small number of individuals colonize a new area (p.336)

FrackingA drilling operation that uses a mixture of water, chemicals and sand (fracking fluid) to recover previously inaccessible natural gas from shale. The fluid is sent underground at high pressures, fracturing shall to relate trapped gas.

frameshift mutationmutation that involves the insertion or deletion of a nucleotide in the DNA sequence(p.252)

Free Of

companies may make a point of letting you know their product are “Free of” a chemical or other ingredient that may be a concern. When marketers say a product is “free of” an ingredient it means the product doesn’t have any more than a harmless trace of it—and the product is free of any other ingredients that poses the same kind of risk.

fresh water water that contains insignificant amounts of salts, as in rivers and lakes

freshwater wetlands areas of land that are covered with FRESH water for at least part of the year

fruit fertilized and mature ovary of a flower (p.622)

fruiting body spore-producing structure of a fungus that grows above ground (p.590)

fuel cella device that produces electricity chemically by combining hydrogen fuel with oxygen from teh air

fungusan organism whose cells have nuclei, rigid, cell walls, and no chlorophyll and that belongs to the kindom Fungi

G

Term Definition

gamete sex cell; an egg or a sperm cell (p.168)

gametogenesis process by which gametes are produced through the combination of meiosis

and other maturational changes (p.176)

gametophyte haploid, gamete-producing phase in a plant life cycle (p.664)

gastrovascular cavity saclike digestive space (p.708)

gel electrophoresismethod of separating various lengths of DNA strands by applying an electrical current to a gel (p.266)

gene specific region of DNA that codes for a particular protein (pp.23;180)

gene flow physical movement of alleles from one population to another (p.335)

gene knockoutgenetic manipulation in which one or more of an organism's genes are prevented from being expressed (p.279)

gene pool collection of alleles found in all of the indiciduals of a population (p.328)

gene sequencingprocess of determining the order of DNA nucleotides in genes and genomes (p.280)

gene therapyprocedure to treat a disease in which a defective or missing gene is replaced or a new gene is inserted into a patient's genome (p.285)

generalist species that does not rely on a single source of prey (p.409)

genetic driftchange in allele frequencies due to chance alone, occuring most commonly in small populations (p.336)

genetic engineeringa technology in which the genome of a living cell is modified for medical or industrial use

geographic information system

an automated system for capturing, storing, retrieving, analyzing, manipulating, and displaying geographic data; abbreviation GIS

geospherethe mostly solid, rock part of Earth; extends from the center of the core to the surface of the crust.

Geothermal Energyheat energy within earth’s crust; available only where natural geysers or volcanoes are located

geothermal energy the energy produced by heat within Earth

germ plasmhereditary material (chromosomes and genes) that is usually contained in the protoplasm of germ cells

GISGeographical Information Systems; merges computerized data with its spatial location on a digital map.

glaciation the action of huge masses of moving ice formed from packed snow.

Glacier

A moving mass of ice that survives year-to-year. It is formed by the compacting of snow into ice and set in a motion outward and downward by the force of gravity and the stress of its accumulated mass. Glaciers are usually found in high altitudes and polar latitudes.

gleanto gather food in a systematic manner with a minimum of waste and unnecessary effort.

global warming

a gradual increase in average global temperature; Global warming is the observed increase in the average temperature of the Earth’s atmosphere and oceans in recent decades. The Earth’s average near-surface atmospheric temperature rose 0.6 ± 0.2°C in the 20th century. The prevailing scientific opinion on climate change is that “most of the warming observed over the last 50 years is attributable to human activities.”1 The increased amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions are the primary causes of the humaninduced component of warming. They are released by the burning of fossil fuels, land clearing and agriculture, among other things.

GPCP

The Global Precipitation Climatology Project (GPCP) is an international activity of the Global Energy and Water Experiment, part of the World Climate Research Program, to provide long-term global precipitation estimates. The bulk of the data used in the GPCP product are based on data from the international constellation of meteorological satellites. Where possible, mostly in land areas, analyses of rain gauge data are combined with the satellite data.

GRACE the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment. GRACE maps variations in the Earth\'s gravity field by making accurate measurements of the distance between two specially-designed satellites using an ultra-precise microwave ranging system. The gravity variations that GRACE is observing include changes due to surface and deep currents in the ocean, runoff and ground

water storage on land masses, exchanges between ice sheets or glaciers and the oceans, and variations of mass within the Earth.

grassland-forest boundary

Area that supports grasses but can become a forest if enough rain/precipitation happends due to climate changes.

grasslands

an ecosystem in which there is too much water to form a desert, but not enough water to support a forest; they can survive temperatures as cold as -25 degrees C and as hot as 70 degrees C. Biome that receives more rain than a desert, but not enough to support a forest.

green r being greenwhen used in environmental terms it means to be environmental friendly or literate

Green Washingcorporations trying to market a product as "green" but it really is damaging to the environment

greenhouse effectthe warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when carbon dioxide, water vapor, an dother gases in the air absorb and reradiate infrared radiation.

greenhouse gasa gas composed of molecules that absorb and radiate infrared radiation from the sun; An atmospheric gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect.

Greenhouse GasA gas composed of molecules that absorb and radiate infrared radiation from the sun; causes global warming.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

These are gaseous components of the atmosphere that contribute to the “greenhouse effect.” Although uncertainty exists about exactly how Earth’s climate responds to these gases, global temperatures are rising.2 Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others result from human activities. Naturally occurring greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone. Certain human activities, however, add to the levels of most of these naturally occurring gases.

Greenwashing When a company promotes that it's product and the way it is made is good for the Earth, but it is not. They advertise their product is Earth-friendly but the manufacturing or transporting of their product has a large carbon foot print. example: bottled water is often sold as a green product but the bottle itself takes over 7 liters of water to produce and creates tons of trash that

placed in our overflowing landfills.

gross domestic product

The total market value of all final goods and services produced in a country in a given year, equal to total consumer, investment and government spending, plus the value of exports, minus the value of imports Read more: http://www.investorwords.com/2240/Gross_Domestic_Product.html#ixzz0ymdPKNmV

ground litterlayer of the forest floor consisting of decaying organic matter such as leaves, branches, and dead plants.

groundwater the water that is beneath the Earth's surface

growth ratean expression of the increase in the size of an organism or population over a given period of time

gymnosperma woody vascular seed plant whose seeds are not enclosed by an ovary or fruit

gyrea large-scale circular current of water driven by winds at the ocean surface. Several gyres drive the ocean surface circulation patterns of Earth

H

Term Definition

habitat the place where an organism usually lives

habitat conservation plan

a land-use plan that attempts to protect threatened or endangered species across a given area by allowing some trade-offs between harm to the species and additional conservation commitments among coorperating parties

Haboob A haboob is a strong wind and accompanying sand or duststorm. In Khartoum, Sudan, they occur on average 24 times a year! Imagine a wall of sand or dust engulfing everything around you - 24 times each year!

Haboobs can happen in almost any desert region. In fact, haboobs have hit the Phoenix, Arizona area the last two Julys. The leading edge of the 2011 storm was almost 100 miles across and traveled 150 miles. There is an impressive video (http://vielmetti.typepad.com/vacuum/2011/07/what-is-a-haboob-phoenix-arizona-dust-storm.html) shot from a helicopter that shows

this powerful storm moving into the Phoenix area. This was no doubt a bad day to be out for an evening stroll or casual drive, as Accuweather estimated the swell of dust to be over a mile (5,000 feet!) high and said winds reached 70mph!

Haboobs are named for the Arabic word for wind, habb. Haboob. Fun word to say, but not a fun thing to experience. Check out National Weather Service's safety tips for weathering a haboob.

Hadley cella major Earth atmospheric circulation pattern that consists of rising air at or near the Equator and sinking air at or near 30 degrees north or south of the Equator.

hardwood Deciduous or broadleaf trees.

hat an oil rig term--it is a control device to turn off the flow of a tapped oil well

hazardous wastes wastes that are a risk to the health or humans or other living organisms

heat islandarea of concentration of concrete structures that retain heat during the day to release it at night; an area in which the air temperature is generally higher than the temperature of surrounding rural areas

herbaceousall grasses and forbs having soft rather than woody stems, including flowers and plants called weeds.

herbicide chemicals used to control the growth of or kill undesired plants.

host an organism from which a parasite takes food or shelter

human made aerosols

Human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and vegetation and the alteration of natural surface cover, generate aerosols. Averaged over the globe, aerosols made by human activities are currently estimated to account for about 10 percent of the total amount of aerosols in our atmosphere. The concentration of aerosols is highest in the northern hemisphere where industrial activity is centered.

humus decayed organic matter

hydrocarbon An organic compound made of the elements hydrogen and carbon. Examples

are methane (CH4), propane (C3H8).

hydroelectric energy electrical energy produced by the flow of water

hydroelectric powerelectricity produced when the energy of falling waters turns the blades of a generator turbine

hydrosphereThe section of the Earth and atmosphere in which all of the water is located. This includes water vapor, glaciers, lakes, seas, rivers, oceans and other sources of water.

hypothesis a testable idea or explanation that leads to a scientific investigation

I

Term Definition

Ice Core Core sample of ice removed from an ice sheet.

ice sheet Layers of snow and ice that form over time on land

Imperviousany surface that cannot effectively absorb or allow water to pass through it; examples are sidewalks, roads, rooftops, sea walls.

impervious surfacea surface that prevents downward movement or filtration of water or sediments into the ground. An example of an impervious surface would be asphalt or concrete..

independent variablea variable that can be manipulated or changed, e.g. time scale divisions: hours, days, weeks, etc. On a simple X-Y coordinate graph the independent variable is always on the X-axis.

infastructure the basic facilities of a country or region, such as roads, bridges, and sewers

Infrared Radiation

The Earth’s surface absorbs visible radiation from the sun and re-emits much of the energy as infrared back to the atmosphere. Certain gases in the atmosphere, chiefly water vapor, absorb this infrared, and re-radiate it in all directions, including back to Earth. This, the greenhouse effect, keeps the atmosphere and surface much warmer than if the infrared absorbers were absent from the atmosphere.

infrastructureall of things that a society builds for public use such as roads, sewers, hospitals, water mains, power lines, bridges, railroads, schools, etc

insolation an abbreviated term for incoming solar radiation.

interior basinland areas that are generally bowlshaped and surrounded by hills and mountains. Usually drained by one river system and isolated from ocean influence by mountains and hills.

interspersiona term used to describe a mixture of different habitat types or successional stages in a given area.

intertidal zone

The intertidal zone (also known as the foreshore and seashore and sometimes referred to as the littoral zone) is the area that is exposed to the air at low tide and underwater at high tide (for example, the area between tide marks). This area can include many different types of habitats, with many types of animals like starfish, sea urchins, and some species of coral. The well-known area also includes steep rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, or wetlands (e.g., vast mudflats). The area can be a narrow strip, as in Pacific islands that have only a narrow tidal range, or can include many meters of shoreline where shallow beach slopes interact with high tidal excursion.

invasive species "Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions. The first definition, the most used, applies to non-indigenous species, or "non-native", plants or animals that adversely affect the habitats and bioregions they invade economically, environmentally, and/or ecologically. They disrupt by dominating a region, wilderness areas, particular habitats, and/or wildland-urban interface land from loss of natural controls (i.e.: predators or herbivores). This includes non-native invasive plant species labeled as exotic pest plants and invasive exotics, in restoration parlance, growing in native plant communities.[1] It has been used in this sense by government organizations[2][3] as well as conservation groups such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the California Native Plant Society.[4] The European Union defines "Invasive Alien Species" as those that are, firstly, outside their natural distribution area, and secondly, threaten biological diversity.[5] It is also used by land managers, botanists, researchers, horticulturalists, conservationists, and the public for noxious weeds.[6] The kudzu vine (Pueraria lobata), Andean Pampas grass (Cortaderia jubata), and yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis) are examples. The

second definition includes the first, but broadens the boundaries to include indigenous or native species, with the non-native ones, that disrupt by a dominant colonization of a particular habitat or wildlands area from loss of natural controls (i.e.: predators or herbivores). Deer are an example, considered to be overpopulating their native zones and adjacent suburban gardens, by some in the Northeastern and Pacific Coast regions of the United States. The third definition identifies invasive species as a widespread nonindigenous species.[4] This one can be too broad, as not every nonindigenous or "introduced" species has an adverse effect on a nonindigenous environment. A nonadverse example is the common goldfish (Carassius auratus), though common outside its native range globally, it is rarely in harmful densities to a native habitat.[4]

invertebrate an animal that does not have a backbone

ionosphere

The part of the atmosphere between the mesosphere and exosphere. Sufficient quantities of ions and free electrons exist to reflect or refract electromagnetic (especially radio) waves. This layer is what makes long-distance radio communication on Earth possible.

IPCS-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change (IPCC): The panel was established in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in recognition of the problem of global warming. Through the IPCC, climate experts from around the world synthesize the most recent climate science findings every five to seven years and present their report to the world’s political leaders. The IPCC has issued comprehensive assessments in 1990, 1996, 2001 and 2007.

irrigateto supply cropland, parks, yards, etc., with water through the use of diversions, ditches, pipes, or hoses.

ISCCP

The International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project was established in 1982 as part of the World Climate Research Program (WCRP) to collect and analyze the global distribution of clouds, their properties, and their diurnal, seasonal, and interannual variations.

ITCZ The Intertropical Convergence Zone; a zonal band of low atmospheric pressure and thunderstorms caused by converging Trade Winds, rising air and intense thermal heating at or near the Equator; the location of the ITCZ shifts throughout the year resulting in wet and dry seasons in countries located in

the tropics.

J

Term Definition

jet streama current of fast moving air in the upper levels of the troposphere. Its position and strength relate to the surface temperature contrast between warm and cold areas on Earth.

K

Term Definition

keystone speciesa species that is critical to the functioning of the ecosystem in which it lives because it affects the survival and abundance of many other species in its community.

Kyoto Protocolan international treaty according to which developed countries that signed the treaty agree to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases that may contribute to global warming

L

Term Definition

La Nina

the cool phase of the El Nino Souther Oscillation; a periodic occurrence in the eastern Pacific Ocean in which the surface water temperature becomes unusually cool; the term used to identify opposite conditions from an El Nino when the Trade Winds strengthen and colder ocean surface water extends off the coast of Equador and Peru into the central Pacific Ocean.

LAI

Leaf Area Index is a satellite measurement of vegetation density and greenness. It is generally aimed to analyze forested areas where trees create a canopy over the ground (agricultural areas can also be detected during the growing season). LAI is the ratio of the one-sided green broadleaf area (or needleleaf area) per unit ground area. LAI significantly varies seasonally for deciduous trees, but varies little for coniferous forests as expected. Values typically range from zero (no vegetation) to 5-7 (very dense forest).

land mask

identifies the parts of Earth's surface that are land-covered for data analysis purposes. This allows other Earth science parameters, such as snow and cloud cover, to be averaged separately for land vs water areas. Typically, a resolution and land percentage are chosen based on the intended data use. For example, a 1 degree resolution gridbox area that contains greater than 90 percent land may be considered as land and analyzed as land even though water may be present in the form of rivers and lakes. Often, the number 1 is used for a land gridbox (white in the figure) and the number 0 is used for a water gridbox (blue in the figure). Coastal areas may be noted using the number 2 (black in the figure). These identify gridbox areas that are partially land, for example between 10 and 90 percent land. Note the areas of permanent sea ice around Antarctica that are denoted as land.

land use planninga set of policies and activities related to potential uses of land that is put in place before an area is developed

landfillan area of land or an excavation where wastes are placed for permanent disposal

land-use planningdetermining in advance how land will be used--where houses, businesses, and factories will be built, where land will be protected for recreation and so on.

latent heatthe energy required to change a substance to a higher state of matter (solid to liquid to gas). This same energy is released from the substance when the change of state is reversed (gas to liquid to solid).

latitude the distance north or south from the equator; expressed in degrees

law of supply and demand

a law of economics that states that as the demand for a good or service increases, the value of the good or service also increases

leachatea liquid that has passed through soild waste and has extracted dissolved or suspended materials from that waste, such as pesticides in teh soil

leaching the extraction of certain materials from a carrier into a liquid (usually, but not always a solvent). Specifically, it may refer to: -Leaching (agriculture), the loss of water-soluble plant nutrients from the soil; or applying a small amount of excess irrigation to avoid soil salinity -Leaching (chemical science), the

process of extracting minerals from a solid by dissolving them in a liquid -Leaching (metallurgy), a widely used extractive metallurgy technique which converts metals into soluble salts in aqueous media -Dump leaching, an industrial process to extract metals from ore taken directly from the mine and stacked on the leach pad without crushing -Heap leaching, an industrial process to extract metals from ore which has been crushed into small chunks -Tank leaching, a hydrometallurgical method of extracting valuable material from ore -In-situ leaching, a process of recovering minerals such as copper and uranium through boreholes drilled into the deposit -Leaching (pedology), the loss of mineral and organic solutes due to percolation from soil -Bioleaching, the extraction of specific metals from their ores through the use of bacteria

least developed countries

countries that have been identified by the United Nations as showing the fewest signs of development in terms of income, human resources, and economic diversification

legumeplants that bear seeds in a pod. Typically have characteristics that allow them to improve the fertility of the soil. Some examples are alfalfa, clover, soybeans, and peas.

Less Waste– It’s not enough for a marketer to claim its product or package is made with “less waste.” The company must have specifics about the comparison. For example, a company could say a product has 10% less waste than a previous product.

lichena plant cross of moss and algae commonly found in tundra; indicator plant of tundra

life expectancy the average length of time that anindividual is expected to live

limiting factora factor which limiting the amount of growth in a biome such as rainfall or temperature

limiting resourcea particular natural resource that, when lmited, determines the carrying capacity of an exosystem from a particular species

lithospherethe solid, outer layer of the Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle

littoral zonea shallow one in a freshwater habitat where light reaches the bottom and nurtures plants

livestockdomesticated animals that are raised to be used on a farm or ranch or to be sold for profit

lobbying an attempt to influence the decisions of lawmakers

M

Term Definition

Macro-invertebratesanimals without backbones of a size large enough to be seen by the unaided eye.

malnutritiona disorder of nutrition that results when a person does not consume enough of each of the nutrients that are needed by the human body.

mangrove swampa tropical or subtropical marine swamp that is characterized by the abundance of low to tall trees, especially mangrove trees.

mantle in Earth science, the layer of rock between the Earth's crust and core.

material economicsfrom the Story of Stuff DVD--extraction, production, distribution, consumption and disposal

mathematical model one or more equations that represent the way a system or process works

MCSST

acronym for the Multi-Channel Sea Surface Temperature, a product derived from NOAA\'s AVHRR instrument. The data provide vital water surface temperature information in near real-time for a variety of applications such as offshore fishing operations, hurricane monitoring, El Nino and other climate studies.

meanthe number obtained by adding up the data for a given characteristic and dividing this sum by the number of individuals

meander meander - a bend or curve, as in a stream or river

Megacity an urban area with a population of at least 10 million people (for example:

New York City, Mexico City, Bombay, Dhanghai, Beijig, Los Angelos, Seouel, Buenos Aires, Lagos, Calcutta, Manila, Tinanjin)

methaneAn odorless, colorless, flammable gas, the major constituent of natural gas. It is a major greenhouse gas that occurs naturally. It consists of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms.

migrationin general, any movement of individuals or populations from one location to another; specifically, a periodic group movement that is characteristic of a given population or species

minerala natural, usually inorganic, solid that has a characteristic chemical composition, an orderly internal structure, and a characteristic set of physical properties.

modela pattern, plan, representation, or description designed to show the structure or workings of an object, system or concept.

Montane pertaining to a mountainous region

MOPITT

MOPITT, which stands for Measurements Of Pollution In The Troposphere, is an instrument flying on NASA\'s EOS Terra spacecraft, measuring the global distributions of carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) in the troposphere. MOPITT is a joint effort between the US and Canada..

MoraineAny glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris (soil and rock) which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past ice age.

moraine

A moraine is any glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris (soil and rock) which can occur in currently glaciated and formerly glaciated regions, such as those areas acted upon by a past ice age. This debris may have been plucked off the valley floor as a glacier advanced or it may have fallen off the valley walls as a result of frost wedging or landslide. Moraines may be composed of debris ranging in size from silt-sized glacial flour to large boulders. The debris is typically sub-angular to rounded in shape. Moraines may be on the glacier’s surface or deposited as piles or sheets of debris where the glacier has melted. Moraines may also occur when glacier- or iceberg-transported rocks fall into a body of water as the ice melts.

mortality the number of deaths in a population in proportion to the total population.

moulinan ice tunnel or water chute created by flowing glacier melt water within a glacier. The Moulin allows water to flow to the basal level enhancing the "slip-sliding" of the glacier and increasing its speed of decent.

Muir, John

an American naturalist, explorer, and writer; known as the Father of Forests. His conservation efforts included persuade Congress to establish both Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in 1890 and establishing the Sierra Club in 1892

municipal solid waste waste (that is not a liquid) produced by households and businesses.

mutualism a relationship between two species in which both species benefit

N

Term Definition

natalitythe number of offspring per female over a given time period, often expressed per 100 females per year.

natural resourcepart of earth's environment that supplies materials useful or necessary for the survival of living organisms

natural selectionthe process by which individuals that are better adapted to their environment survive and reproduce more successfully than less well adapted individuals do; a theory to explain the mechanism of evolution.

NCDC

The National Climatic Data Center, operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), maintains and provides access to a resource of global climate- and weather- related data and information, and assesses and monitors climate variation.

NDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index is a measurement of vegetation from satellite. NDVI is calculated by using the amount of visible light and near-infrared light reflected from Earth's surface. Healthy and dense vegetation will absorb most visible light and reflect near-infrared light, whereas unhealthy or sparse vegetation will reflect more visible light and less near-infrared. Low values of NDVI (0 - 0.1) indicate barren or snow-covered land.

Middle values (0.2 - 0.5) indicate shrubs and grasslands, and high values (0.6 - 0.9) indicate temperate and dense tropical forests.

neap tideEarth, Moon and Sun form right angles; high tides are lower and low tides are higher than normal

nekton free swimming organisms such as fish, turtles, and whales

neritic zone

The neritic zone, also called coastal waters, the coastal ocean or the sublittoral zone,[1] is the part of the ocean extending from the low tide mark to the edge of the continental shelf, with a relatively shallow depth extending to about 200 meters (100 fathoms). The neritic zone has generally well-oxygenated water, low water pressure, and relatively stable temperature and salinity levels. These, combined with presence of light and the resulting photosynthetic life, such as phytoplankton and floating sargassum[2], make the neritic zone the location of the majority of sea life.

net radiationthe amount of radiation that actually is added to a surface, taking into account all wavelengths and incoming as well as outgoing radiation.

nichethe unique position occupied by a species, both in terms of its physical use of its habitat and its function within an ecological community.

nitrients chemicals required for plants and animals to grow and exist.

nitrogen cyclethe process in which nitrogen circulates among the air, soil, water, plants, and animals in an ecosystem. Remember: nitrogen must be "fixed" by bacteria on the roots of plants or through lightening

nitrogen fixing bacteria

bacteria that convert atmospheric nitrogen into ammonia

Nitrogen Oxiderefers to a family of oxygen compounds of nitrogen (NOx) that are produced by combustion and result in harmful chemical reactions that produce smog, tropospheric ozone and acid rain.

NOAA

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a federal government agency formed to provide real-time information related to, for example, daily weather forecasts, severe storm warnings and climate monitoring, fisheries management, and coastal restoration.

non-point source pollution

polluktion that comes from many sources rather than from a single specific site; an example is pollution that reaches a body of water from streets and storm sewers.

Non-renewable resource

natural resources:petroluem, minerals, and matels, that are used more quickly than they can be replaced by natural proceses

nonrenewable resources

those natural resources that are finite or limited, for example fossil fuels

Non-Toxic Marketers who say a product is “Non-Toxic” must have proof that the product is safe for both humans and the environment. If it’s safe for humans or the environment, the product or package should say which one.

nuclear energyenergy produced from the splitting apart of billions of vcanlum nuclie by a nuclear erossion reaction

nuclear fissionthe process by which the nucleus of a neavy atom splits into two or more fragments (producing energy); the process releases neutrons and energy.

nuclear fusionthe process by which nuclei of small atoms combine to form a new, more massive nucleus; the process releases energy.

nunataks exposed mountain peaks of mountains buried in ice in Antarctica

O

Term Definition

observationthe process of obtaining information by using the senses; the information obtained by using the senses.

ocean thermal energy conversion

the use of temperature differences in ocean water to produce electricity (abbreviation OTEC)

oceanic zone The oceanic zone begins in the area off shore where the water measures 200 meters (656 feet) deep or deeper. It is the region of open sea beyond the edge of the continental shelf and includes 65% of the ocean’s completely open water. The oceanic zone has a wide array of undersea terrain, including

crevices that are often deeper than Mount Everest is tall, as well as deep-sea volcanoes and ocean basins. While it is often difficult for life to sustain itself in this type of environment, some species do thrive in the oceanic zone

oil reserves oil deposits that are discovered and are in commercial production

OMIThe Ozone Monitoring Instrument, flying aboard NASA\'s Aura satellite, collects data for total ozone and other atmospheric parameters related to ozone chemistry and climate.

ore mineral a mineral that contains one or more elements of economic value

organism a living thing; anything that can carry out the processes indepently.

overgrazingallowing more animals to graze in an area than the range can cupport. When animals overgraze, too many of the plants are eaten, and the land can become degraded.

overharvestingcatching or removing from a population more organisms than the population can replace

ozonea gas molecule that is made up of three oxygen atoms; resulting from poor air quality and pollution.

Ozone Depletionthinning of earth's ozone layer caused by chlorofluoracarbons leaking into the air and reacting chemically with ozone, breaking the ozone molecules apart

ozone hole a thinning of stratospheric ozone that occurs over the poles during the spring.

ozone layera region within the stratosphere that contains a high amount of ozone. This layer provides a protective shield againist harmful UV radiation from the Sun.

ozonesondean instrument carried on board a weather ballon. It contains an ozone sensor that measures ozone in the vertical air column.

P

Term Definition

Paleo Proxie Tree rings and cores from corals, ice caps and glaciers that provide data on

oscillations in global temperatures

paleo proxiestree rings and cores from corals, ice caps and glaciers that provide data on oscillations in glboal temperatures.

PAR

acronym for Photosynthetically Active Radiation, energy in the visible light region of the electromagnetic spectrum (400 - 700 nanometer wavelength) that plants use for photosynthesis, measured in watts per meter squared. PAR is an important parameter of interest for ecological and hydrological climate studies (carbon, oxygen and water cycles).

parasitisma relationship between two species in which one species, the parasite, benefits from the other species, the host, which is harmed.

particulatesfine particles that are suspended in the atmosphere and that are associated with air pollution; also referred to as particulate matter (abbreviated PM)

Parts Per Million (ppm)

This is a way to describe a highly diluted concentration of substances, usually the concentration of something in water, air or soil. One ppm is equivalent to one milligram of a substance per liter of water.

passive solar heating the use of sunlight to heat buildings directly

pathogena microorganism, another organism, a virus, or a protein that casues disease; an infectious agent.

pavement base level rock found in deserts

perceived obsolenence

marketing so that you think you need the product and if you don't have it "you suck"; for example: changing hem lines force you to purchase new clothing or shoe styles, latest apps on an electronic device or an upgrade on telephone.

perennial a plant that lives for several years. Having a life span of more than two years.

permafrost In geology, permafrost or permafrost soil is soil at or below the freezing point of water (0 °C or 32 °F) for two or more years. Ice is not always present, as may be in the case of nonporous bedrock, but it frequently occurs and it may be in amounts exceeding the potential hydraulic saturation of the ground material. Most permafrost is located in high latitudes (i.e. land close to the North and South poles), but alpine permafrost may exist at high altitudes in

much lower latitudes. Permafrost accounts for 0.022% of total water and exists in 24% of exposed land in the Northern Hemisphere.

permeabilitythe ability of a rock or sediment to let fluids pass through its open spaces or pores

pervious surfacea surface that allows inflow of rainwater into the underlying construction or soil. This surface can be above or below the ground when using this term in a geologic context.

pesticidea poison used to destroy pests, such as insects, rodents, or weeds; examples include insecticides, rodenticides, and herbicides

petroleuma liquid mixture of complex hydrocarbon compounds; used widely as a fuel source

Petroleumnonrenewable resource formed over hundreds of millions of years, mostly from the reamins of microscopic marine organisms buried in earth's crust

pHa value that is used toexpress tshe acidity or alkalinity (basicity) of a system; each whole number on teh scale indicates a tenfold change in acidity; a pH of 7 is neutral, a pH of less than 7 is acidic, a pH of greater than 7 is basic

Phenology

Phenology is the timing of life cycles of living organisms—it’s nature’s calendar. Plants and animals synchronize their life events (birth, growth, reproduction, etc.) with climatic seasons and resource availability. This enables them to conserve energy, maximize resources, and thrive as a species. Flowering is an example of a phenological event. Not all flowers emerge and bloom in spring, but several species do. Many wildflower species emerge as snow starts to melt, just in time for birds, insects and other animals to pollinate them.

phosphorous cyclethe cyclic movement of phosphorous in different chemical forms from teh environment to organisms and then back to the environment; cycles mainly by weathering (erosion) of rock, mining, poop.

Photic Zone The photic zone or euphotic zone (Greek for "well lit”: εὖ “good” + φῶς “light") is the depth of the water in a lake or ocean that is exposed to sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis to occur. The depth of the photic zone

can be affected greatly by seasonal turbidity.

photosynthesis

the process by which plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce carbohydrates and oxygen; the chemical process by which plants and some bacteria capture the energy of the Sun, and convert it to food. This chemical reaction combining carbon dioxide and water is catalyzed by chlorophyll, a green pigment in plant cells. The main product of photosynthesis is a carbohydrate, such as the sugar glucose, and oxygen which is released to the atmosphere

physical weathering the erosion of surfaces such as rocks from wind or sand.

Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton are the autotrophic component of the plankton community. The name comes from the Greek words meaning "plant", and planktos, meaning "wanderer" or "drifter".[1] Most phytoplankton are too small to be individually seen with the unaided eye. However, when present in high enough numbers, they may appear as a green discoloration of the water due to the presence of chlorophyll within their cells (although the actual color may vary with the species of phytoplankton present due to varying levels of chlorophyll or the presence of accessory pigments such as phycobiliproteins, xanthophylls, etc.).

phytoplanktonmicroscopic floating and suspended aquatic plants. Are the first step of the food chain in many aquatic systems.

pioneer species the first plant species that appear during the initial phase of succession.

placer deposita deposit that contains a valuable mineral that has been concentrated by mechanical action

planktonthe mass of mostly microscopic organisms that float or drift freely in the waters of aquatic (freshwater and marine) environments.

Plankton organisms that cannot swim against currents, so they are drifters

planned obsolenence"deisgned for the dump"--manufacturing designing a product that will gain brand loyality but then break in a few months or need a new part in less than 2 years to maintain a buyers market for their product.

poaching the illegal harvesting of fish, game, or other species

PodozolationAcidic leaching of coniferous organic matter through the active zone of a soil profile.

point source pollution pollution that comes from a specific site

polar stratospheric cloud

a cloud that forms at altitudes of of about 21,000m during the Arctic and Antarctic winter or early spring, when air temperatures drop below -80 degrees C

pollutionan undesirable change in the natural environment that is caused by teh introduction of substances that are harmful to living organisms or by excessive wastes, heat, noise, or radiation

polyp

The animal found in coral; A polyp in zoology is one of two forms found in the phylum Cnidaria, the other being the medusa. Polyps are approximately cylindrical in shape and elongated at the axis of the body. In solitary polyps, the aboral end is attached to the substrate by means of a disc-like holdfast called the pedal disc, while in colonies of polyps it is connected to other polyps, either directly or indirectly. The oral end contains the mouth, and is surrounded by a circlet of tentacles.

populationa group of organisms of the same species that live in a specific geographical area and interbreed

population density number of people per unit area.

porositythe percentage of the total volume of a rock or sediment that consists of open spaces.

potable suitable for drinking, e.g. potable water

prairie

1:land in or predominantly in grass 2: a tract of grassland: as a : a large area of level or rolling land in the Mississippi River valley that in its natural uncultivated state usually has deep fertile soil, a cover of tall coarse grasses, and few trees b : one of the dry treeless plateaus east of the Rocky Mountains that merge on their east side with the prairies proper and are characterized by shorter grasses and drier less fertile soil. Biome that is characterized by rolling hills, plains and tall grasses.

precipitation any form of water that falls to the Earth's surface from teh clouds; includes

rain, snow, sleet, and hail

Predationa relationship between animals in which one organism captures and feeds on others.

predationan interaction between two organisms in which one organism, the predator, kills and feeds on the other organism

predictiona statement made in advance that expresses the results that will be obtained from testing a hypothesis if the hypothesis is supported; the expected outcome if a hypothesis is accurate.

primary pollutanta pollutant that is put directly into the atmosphere by human or natural activity

primary production

primary production is the creation of organic matter from carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. Plants are an example of the type of organisms responsible for primary production. These organisms are called primary producers. Primary production can be categorized as Net Primary Production or Gross Primary Production. Gross Primary Production is the total amount of organic matter produced by a plant through growth and reproduction (above ground and below ground biomass). Net Primary Production is equal to Gross Primary Production after respiration.

primary successionsuccession that beings in an area that previously did not support life (e.g. lava making new land, earthquake exposes new rock)

probabilitythe likelyhood that a possible future event will occur in any given instance of the event; the mathematical ratio of the number of times one outcome of any event is likely to occur to the number of possible outcomes of the event.

produceran organism that can make organic molecules from inorganic molecules; a photosynthetic or chemosynthetic autrotroph that serves as the basic food source in an ecosystem

protists an organism that belongs to the kingdom Protista

R

Term Definition

Radiationthe energy that is tranferred as electromagnetic waves, such as visable light and infrared waves

rainshadow effect

when warm moist air comes onto land and when gaining in elevation up the windward (usually west) side of a mountain slope evaporation condenses creating clouds. As the clouds gain in altitude precipitation occurs. As the cloud advances over the mountain top it no longer has enough moisture to condense thereby drawing up moisture from the ground creating a desert like environment on the leeward side (usually east).

range another word for prairie in North America

RaparianRelated to or living or located on teh bank of a river, lake or tidewater ary; a small stream that joins a larger stream.

recharge zone an area in which water travels ownward to become part of the aquifer

reclamationthe process of returning land to its original condition after mining is completed

recyclingthe process of recovering valuable or useful materials from waste or scrap; the process of reusing some items

reforestationthe process by which trees are planted to re-establish trees that have been cut down in forest land.

remote sensing Satellite images to track environmental impacts on the planet.

renewable energy energy from sources that are constantly being formed

renewable resourcenatural resources, such as: water, sunlight, and crops, that are constantly being recycled or replaced by nature

renewable resources

natural resources that can be replenished through natural and/or human processes; for example trees die naturally or are harvested (cut down), new trees are naturally reseeded or can be replaced by humans. Solar energy and wind energy are renwable resources that are constantly or perpetually being renewed or restored.

Renewables Renewable energy sources are those energy sources that are not destroyed when their energy is harnessed. Renewable energy sources are distinct from

fossil fuels, which must be consumed to release energy. Human use of renewable energy requires technologies that harness natural phenomena, such as sunlight, wind, waves, water flow, biological processes such as anaerobic digestion, biological hydrogen production and geothermal heat.

reproductive potential the maximum number of offspring that a given organism can produce

ReservesThe quantities of resources such as crude oil, natural gas, coal, estimated to be commercially recoverable by application of development projects to known accumulations from a given date forward under defined conditions.

reservoir an artifical body of water that usually forms behind a dam

resistancein biology, the ability of an organism to tolerate a chemical or disease-causing agent

resource anything of value that can be used or sold

respirationconsuming oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide (burning sugars) to convert organic matter into energy.

renewable energyenergy that can be replenished in a short period of time such as energy from solar, wind, water or geothermal sources. Typically, there is little concern that these sources of energy will become scarce or used up, unlike fossil fuels.

riparianon or near the bank of water areas. The land area that is influenced by the adjacent water.

risk the probability of an unwanted outcome

risk assessmentthe scientific assessment, study, and management of risk; a scientific estimating of the likelihood of negative effects that may result from exposure to a specific hazard

river system a flowing network of rivers and streams draining a river basin

ruminanta cud-chewing mammal that has a three or four-chambered stomach; examples include sheep, goats, elephants, cattle

runners lateral root system common to grasslands biome. Grasses can shoot up from various points along the lateral runners to help with surviving wildfires and to

soak up water when available; underground stem that ensures a plant's survival despite grass fires.

RuralRural lands have limited population density, large areas of open space and provide various ecosystem services

S

Term Definition

salination saturation of salts within soil due to chemical or physical weathering

salinity a measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid

salinization the accumulation o f salts in the soil

salt marsha maritime habitat characterized by grasses, sedges, and other plants that have adapted to continual, periodic flooding; salt marshes are found primarily throughout the temperate and subarctic regions

samplethe group of individuals or events selected to represent a statistical population

SARB

The Surface and Atmospheric Radiation Budget (SARB) working group, part of NASA Langley Research Center's Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) mission, provides surface scene-type information over the entire glob e for use in CERES data processing.

savanna

a plain full of grasses and scattered trees and shrubs; found in tropical and subtropical habitats and mainly in regions with dry climate, such as East Africa; tropical grassland ranging from dry scrubland to wet, open woodland. Biome that is characterized by rainy seasons and long periods of drought.

savanna or savannah

A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses. Some classification systems also recognize a grassland savanna from which trees are absent.

sea ice Frozen salt water from the oceans.

sea levelthe average height or elevation of Earth's ocean surface. This height or level defines the zero value of elevation for land masses and ocean depths.

sea surface temperature

the temperature of the very top layer of water (or the effective temperature of a thicker layer that includes the top) of Earth's oceans and other large bodies of water. The satellite remote sensing method used determines which sea surface temperature (SST) can be measured. See also the definition for surface temperature.

Seals and Certifications

– You see a picture of the globe with the words “Earth Smart” on a product. What does that mean? Seals and certifications can be useful, but only if they are backed up by solid standards and give you enough information to understand what they mean. A package also should tell you about any connections the company has to the organization behind the seal, if a connection might influence your opinion about the certificate or seal. For example: a logo seal from a well-known environmental group like the Sierra Club or Green Schools.

secondary pollutanta pollutant that forms in the atmosphere by chemical reaction with primary air pollutants, natural components in teh air, or both

sedgegrass-like plant with long-narrow leaves, systems are round. Many species like wet areas.

Sediment small particles that settle to the bottom of a body of water.

selective cutting process of cutting and removing only middle-aged or mature trees

secondary successionthe process by which one community replaces another community that has been partially or totally destroyed

Shoal a shallow area or sandbar in a body of water

sick building syndrome

a set of symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, eye irritation, and dizziness, that may affect workers in modern, airtight offices; belived to be caused by indoor pollutants

Significant Figures

Science: Significant Figures - Rules and Practice

What are significant digits? Significant digits indicate how much care was taken in making a measurement. They also indicate how much precision is available in the tool used to make a measurement. For example, the triple beam balance, when used correctly, will allow you to measure an object's mass to the hundredth of a gram. Many students, however, will be careless and record the mass only to the tenths place.

Example: A student was asked to find the mass of a penny using a triple beam balance. Which measurement shows the mass recorded as accurately as the balance will allow? How many significant digits are in the measurement?

mass of copper penny = 3.15 g

or

mass of penny = 3.2 g

Answer: Since the balance can measure to hundredths, 3.15 g shows that the tool was used with care. The correct measurement has 3 significant figures. The sloppy measurement has only 2 significant figures.

The Rules:

If a number does not have a decimal point, then zeros at the end of the number are place holders. These digits are not significant.

Example: 55,000 meters

This number was measured to 2 significant digits. The zeros at the end of this measurement are just place holders.

If the number begins with a decimal, the zeros at the end are significant.

Example: 0.88000 meters

This number has 5 significant digits. The zeros at the end tell us that the measurement was done with a precise tool.

When a measurement is written down, you should be able to tell how many digits of the measurement are significant, or measured. Let's focus in this drill on numbers that begin or end with zeros.

smelting the melting or fusing of ore in order to separate impurities from pure metal

smogurban air pollution composed of a mixture of smoke and fog produced from industrial pollutants and burning fuels

Snow Packhorizontal layers of accumulated snow, affected by weather events occurring over a span of time.

sod-forming grassesorganisms that form a mat of soil and roots that helps add organic matter to prairie soils

soil profileThe vertical section of a soil showing the nature and sequence of the various layers, as developed by deposition or weathering, or both.

solar collectora device that captures the Sun's energy and focuses it in a small area as a more usable or storable form. These devices can be simple, such as a greenhouse, or complex like solar panels or solar concentrators.

solid waste a discarded solid material, such as garbage,refus, or sludges

source reductionany change in the design, manufacture, purchase, or use of materials or products to reduce their amount or toxicity before they become municipal solid waste; also the reuse of products or materials.

speciesa group of organisms that are closely related and can mate to produce fertile offspring; also the level of classification below genus and above subspecies

species richnessthe number of different species within a particular group (example, birds) within a given habitat or area.

spring tideEarth, Moon and Sun are lined up; high tides are higher and low tides are lower than normal

SRB The Surface Radiation Budget Project. The SRB data sets contain global averages of surface longwave (infrared or heat) and shortwave (solar or light) radiative properties, cloud amount, and meteorology. SRB combines long-term satellite measurements of visible and infrared images of the Earth with

weather information provided by computer models to estimate the surface radiation fluxes. The radiative energy exchanged at the surface is very important for heating and cooling of the land and ocean surfaces.

SMSE

Surface Meteorological and Solar Energy (SMSE) is a web application initiated through NASA to provide web-based access to parameters specifically tailored to assist in the design of solar and wind powered renewable energy systems.

Standing water ecosystem

This ecosystem includes lakes, ponds, marshes, swamps,, and bogs

statistics the collection and classification of data that are in the form of numbers

steppe

A vast semiarid grass-covered plain, as found in southeast Europe, Siberia, and central North America. Identified by its short bunchgrasses that get less than 50cm of rain annually; An ecological region dominated by a semi-arid climate, grasses growing on open landscapes, and animals living and feeding on the grasses. Grasslands for short bunchgrasses that get less than 50cm of rain annually.

stratospherethe region of the atmosphere located about 10-50km above the surface of the Earth. It contains the benefical ozone layer.

Stressors Physical and biological factors that adversely affect aquatic organisms.

subclimaxa stage in succession that is short of the climax stage, but further development is inhibited by some factor(s) other than climate.

submergent/depositional coast

a coast in which formerly dry land has been recently covered by water, either by land subsidence or a rise in sea level

subsidencethe sinking of regions of the ground surface with little or no horizontal movement

subsoil soil level immediately below the topsoil

subsurface mining a mining method in which ore is extracted from beneath the ground surface

sulfur dioxide A heavy toxic gas that is easily condensed to a colorless liquid and is a major air pollutant. Certain large volcanic eruptions release enough aerosols in the

form of sulfur dioxide to noticeably cool the Earth System for several years. Composed of a sulfur atom and two oxygen atoms.

surface impoundmenta natural depression or a human-made excavation that serves as a disposal facility that holds an acculation of wastes

surface mininga mining method in which soil and rocks are removed to reach underlying coal or minerals

surface ozone

a trace gas consisting of three oxygen atoms that is measured at the ground to monitor pollution. Although it is the same ozone as found in the stratospheric ozone layer that beneficially blocks ultraviolet radiation, ozone at the surface is very harmful to humans and plants when its concentration exceeds natural levels. Increases often occur in urban and industrial areas during summer.

surface temperature

The temperature (may be in degrees F or C, or Kelvin) that is characteristic of the Earth's surface. While we understand this concept since we live on the surface, a little care is needed for remote sensing data. This may refer to the temperature of the air above the surface (what we typically mean by surface temperature and what is in the weather forecast). It can also mean the actual temperature of the surface (think of a black top road on a summer day). For the ocean, it can mean the temperature of the very top layer of water, or the effective temperature of a thicker layer that includes the top. The remote sensing method used determines which temperature can be measured. S

surface waterall the bodies of fresh water, salt water, ice, and snow that are found above the ground

survivorshipthe percentage of newborn individuals in a population that can be expected to survive to a given age

sustainabilitythe condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely

Sustainability Sustainability is using processes and materials, in everyday life and work, in a way which would provide the best outcomes for the human and natural environments–both now and into the future. It relates to the continuity of economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects of human society, as well as the nonhuman environment. The intention is to configure civilization and human activity so that society, its members and its economies

are able to meet their needs and express their greatest potential in the present, and in the longterm future, while preserving biodiversity and natural ecosystems. Sustainability affects every level of organization, from the local neighborhood to the entire planet.

sustainable yieldthe maximum rate at which people can use a renewable resource without reducing the ability of the resource to renew itself

symbiosisa relationshiop in which two different organisms live in close association with each other

T

Term Definition

taigaa region of evergreen, coniferous forest below the arctic and subarctic tundra regions

tctonic platea block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle; also called lithospheric plate

temperate deciduous forest

a forest (or biome) that is characterized by trees that shed their leaves in the fall

temperate grasslanda community (or biome) that is dominated by grasses, has few trees, and is characterized by cold winters and rainfall that is intermdiate between that of forest and desert (10-20 inches)

temperate rain forest

located in North America, Australia and New Zealand. Temperate rainforest have large amount of precipitation, high humidity, and moderate temperatures. Evergreens like Sitka Spruce and Douglas Fir are dominate in the forest.

temperature inversionthe atmospheric condition in which warm air traps cooler air near Earth's surface; an instance when a warm air layer overlays a cooler air layer in the atmosphere, often suppressing vertical mixing of air.

TERRAThe flagship of NASA\'s Earth Observing System (EOS), Terra is collecting a global data set to enable research into the ways that Earth\'s land, oceans, atmosphere, ice, radiant energy, and life function as a whole system.

terrain the character or topography of the land.

terrestrialof or referring to land, as opposed to water. Forests, deserts, prairies, mountain ranges and wetlands are all examples of terrestrial ecosystems.

tertiarytop of the food chain, e.g. tertiary consumer might be a shark in a marine biome

thermal expansionthe relative increase in the volume of a substance such as water or air with increasing temperature (assumes pressure stays the same).

Thermal Pollutiona temperature increase in a body of water that is cuased by human activity and that has a harmful effect on water quality and on the ability of that body of water to support life

thermal pollutiona temperature increase in a body of water that is caused by human activity and that has a harmful effect on water quality and on the ability of that body of water

thermocline

the boundary in a body of water between the top layer of warm water near the surface that is mixed and the cold deep water layer. This boundary is usually the transition zone where the greatest vertical change in temperature occurs.

threatened speciesa species that has been identified to be likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future

tidethe rise and fall in sea level; tidal range is the difference in ocean leavel between high-tide and low-tide; one low tide and one high tide cycle takes 12 hours and 25 min.

TOA all sky albeto

This parameter tells how much sunlight is reflected from the Earth system at the top of the atmosphere (see definition for TOA) under All-sky conditions (meaning the combination of clear and cloudy situations as they happen to occur). This parameter is available on a monthly timescale and a 72-day average from the older ERBE measurements..

TOA all sky LW upward flux

The amount of longwave energy (infrared or heat) leaving the top of the atmosphere (see TOA definition) under All-sky conditions (meaning the combination of clear and cloudy situations as they happen to occur). This parameter is available for daily, monthly, and 72-day averages, the latter

from the older ERBE measurements..

top soil upper most portion of soil that is exposed to physical weathering like wind

topsoilthe surface layer of the soil, which is usually richer in organic matter than the subsoil is

TORTropospheric Ozone Residual is a research technique that uses satellite data along with models to infer how much ozone is found in the Earth's troposphere.

toxicologythe study of toxic substances, including their nature, effects, detection, methods of treatment, and exposure control

transpirationThe release of water to the atmosphere from plants. Plants release water vapor from small pores (stomata) in their leaves as a part of photosynthesis..

Tributary a small stream that joins a larger stream

TRMMTropical Rainfall Measuring Mission. Satellite launched by Japan and the United States to study rainfall and its relationship to the release of energy, especially in the Tropical regions of the Earth.

trophic levelone of the steps in a food chain or food pyramid; examples include producers and primary, secondary, and tertiary consumers

tropical rain foresta forest or jungle near the equator that is characterized by large amounts of rain and little variation in temperature and that contains the greatest known diversity of organisms on Earth

Tropical Rainforestslocated in a belt around the Earth near the equator. They help regulate world climate and play vital roles in the nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon cycles. Always humid and warm with 200-450cm of rain a year.

tropospherethe bottom layer of the atmosphere extending from the surface to an altitude between 8 kilometers (at poles) and 14 kilometers (in tropics); most weather occurs in this lay

tropospheric ozone a trace gas consisting of three oxygen atoms that exists in the troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere. Although it is the same gas found in the ozone layer of the stratosphere that beneficially blocks ultraviolet radiation,

ozone in the troposphere is harmful to humans and plants when it exceeds natural concentrations. Increases often occur seasonally and regionally due to biomass burning and industrial pollution.

trough lowest point of a wave

tufts large clump of tall, coarse grasses found in savannas

turbidity refers to the amount of particulate matter that is suspended in water

U

Term Definition

understoryunder the canopy in forests where very little light reaches; trees and shrubs adapted to shade grow here.

Upcyclingtaking a recyclable or waste product and creating a new product that has greater value

upwellingocean circulation which brings cold, nutrient-rich deep water to the surface, usually occurring along western coasts of continents

urbanland that is covered mainly with buildings and roads; Urban lands refer to areas that contain more than 2,500 people and usually have a governing body.

urban sprawl rapid expansion of a city into the countryside around the city

urbanization the movement of people from rural areas to cities

V

Term Definition

Velt African grassland

Vertical Feeding Pattern

Animals and organisms adapting to feed at different levels within a biome so they can co-exist with a large diversity of organisms. For example: grazers feed on grasses, other grazers feed on low bushes, still other grazers (life

Giraffe) feed high in trees. Behavior that enables different animal species to feed in the same area without competing.

VOCChemical compounds that contain hydrogen (H), and carbon (C), and evaporate easily. Commonly called VOC

VOC FREE

you may have seen products labeled “low-VOC” or “VOC free.” VOCs –or volatile organic compounds-are found in paint, household cleaning products, floor polishes, charcoal lighter fluid, windshield wiper fluid and some hair styling products, among other products. They are emitted as gases, and may cause smog by contributing to ground-level ozone formation, or have negative effects on your health.

volcanic aerosols

Aerosols released during volcanic eruptions, notably ash, soot, and sulfur dioxide. These aerosols reflect sunlight, reducing the amount of energy reaching the lower atmosphere and the Earth's surface, and thus have a cooling effect.

volcano A vent in the Earth's crust through which molten lava and gases are released.

W

Term Definition

waste water the water that runs off cropland,parks, yards, etc. during irrigation.

water vapor

water in its gaseous state, and one of the most important constituents of the atmosphere. Not only does water vapor contribute to cloud formation and precipitation, but it also regulates the atmospheric temperature by being a vital greenhouse gas and transporter of energy (latent heat). The amount of water vapor in the atmosphere varies by location and time due to processes of evaporation and condensation, but over half of its amount can be found close to the surface, below two kilometers.

Watershed a river system or area drained by a river and its tributaries

watt a standard unit of power. In radiation studies, watts are used to quantify the flux of shortwave or longwave energy across a unit area such as Earth's

surface (watts per meter squared).

wavea wave is a rhythmic movement (up and down, not back or forward)that carries energy through matter or space.

wave height vertical distance between the crest and trough

wave length horizontal distance between two crests or two troughs

weatherThe state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time. Weather includes variables such as temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind, cloudiness, precipitation, and relative humidity.

Wetland areas where land is periodically underwater.

Wildernessarea in which the land and the ecosystems it supports are protected from all exploitation

X

Term Definition

xeriscapinglandscaping with plants that require little to no water except that provided naturally and rock material.

Z

Term Definition

zonal banda latitudinal circle (east-west direction) having any width in degrees latitude, used for the representation of data for an area of Earth's surface or atmosphere.

zooplankton

Zooplankton, free-floating creatures ranging from microscopic foraminiferans to small fish and shrimp, live in this zone, and together with the phytoplankton form the base of the food pyramid that supports most of the world's great fishing areas.

zooxanthellae the plant (algae) found in coral that forms a symbiotic relationship with the polyp; zooxanthellae give corals their color and since they are plants it uses

sunlight and CO2 to make food for the coral