Dr. Overy's KBase: Resources for Teaching and Learning - Glossary

• Toxic
  Describes something that can be poisonous or deadly if it is eaten touched, or inhaled in large enough amounts.
• Toxicity
  The quality or degree of being poisonous or harmful to plant or animal life.
• Geothermal
  Heat energy obtained from the hot areas under the surface of the earth.
• Global Warming
  Increase in the average temperature of the earth's surface.
• Habitat
  The natural home of an animal or plant
• Hydroelectric
  Electrical energy produced by moving water
• Hydropower
  Energy or power produced by moving water.
• Nitrogen Oxides
  Harmful gases which contribute to acid rain and global warming. They are emitted as a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion.
• Ozone
  A naturally occurring, highly reactive gas comprising triatomic oxygen formed by recombination of oxygen in the presence of ultraviolet radiation. 
• Ozone Depletion
  The reduction of the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere by chemical pollution.
• Ozone Hole
  A hole or gap in the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere.
• Over-Development
  Expansion or development of land to the point of damage
• Solid Waste
  Non-liquid, non-gaseous category of waste from non-toxic household and commercial sources.
• Sulfur Dioxide
  The chemical compound with the formula SO2. At standard atmosphere, it is a toxic gas with a pungent, irritating, and rotten smell
• Noise Pollution
  Noise pollution or noise disturbance is the disturbing or excessive noise that may harm the activity or balance of human or animal life
• Water Pollution
  Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and oceans.
• Pathogens
  Disease-causing microorganisms.
• Nanotechnology
  The manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale.
• Land Degredation
  A process in which the value of the biophysical environment is affected by a combination of human-induced processes acting upon the land
• Air Pollution
  The release of chemicals and particulates into the atmosphere. Common gaseous pollutants include carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and nitrogen oxides produced by industry and motor vehicles. Photochemical ozone and smog are created as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons react to sunlight. Particulate matter, or fine dust is characterized by their micrometre size PM10 to PM2.5.  
  
  Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution#Forms_of_pollution
• Visual Pollution
  An aesthetic issue and refers to the impacts of pollution that impair one's ability to enjoy a vista or view. Visual pollution disturbs the visual areas of people by creating negative changes in the natural environment. Examples could include: the presence of overhead power lines, motorway billboards, scarred landforms , open storage of trash, and municipal solid waste .
• Soil Pollution
  Soil pollution is caused by the presence of  human-made chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment.
• Air Quality
  A measurement of the pollutants in the air
• Wilderness
  Land remaining in an undisturbed condition, with few if any traces of human activities.
• Wind Power
  Power (energy per second) derived from the wind .
• Wildlife
  Animals living in the wilderness without human intervention
• Waste
  Garbage, trash, rubbish
• Utilities
  Companies (usually power distributors) permitted to provide important public services (such as energy or water) to a region.
• Joule
  A unit of energy.
• Calorie
  A unit of energy (heat)