Glossary
Environmental Education Guide Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
- Acid Rain
- precipitation that is more acidic than normal, usually caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides (Air).
- Air Pollution
- any particles or gases that are in the air, but not part of the air's natural composition (Air).
- Assimilation
- process through which plants absorb ammonia and nitrate into their roots from soil or water (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
B
- Best Management Practices (BMP)
- mandatory and voluntary practices farmers and others use to reduce erosion and prevent or control NPS pollution (Agriculture).
- Biodiesel
- a conventional diesel fuel mixed with biologically derived oils in order to cut down on the use of fossil fuels (Energy).
- Biodiversity
- many varieties of plants and animals (Forestry and Wildlife).
- Biofuels
- a conventional gasoline fuel mixed with biologically derived alcohols in order to cut down on the use of fossil fuels (Energy).
- Biome
- geographic area characterized by certain types of plant and animal communities that contains smaller ecosystems (Forestry and Wildlife).
- Boreal
- pertaining to the arctic and Antarctic tundras (Forestry and Wildlife).
- Brownfield
- a term used to classify abandoned or under-used plots of land or buildings (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
C
- Carbon Cycle
- the combined processes, including photosynthesis, decomposition, and respiration, by which carbon as a component of various compounds cycles between its major reservoirs (Energy).
- Cluster Zoning
- planning development to be concentrated and dense in some areas, leaving open space and environmentally sensitive lands undisturbed (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
- Cogeneration
- a process in which an industrial facility uses its waste energy to produce heat or electricity (Energy).
- Conservation Easements
- arrangement where the owner of a piece of property donates the development rights to that property to the government, thereby preventing development on the land (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
D
- Deciduous
- type of trees found in temperate forests that shed their leaves seasonally (Energy).
- Deforestation
- cutting or over-harvesting of trees, in which case the cutting down of trees occurs at a rate that surpasses re-growth (Forestry and Wildlife).
- Denitrification
- process in which bacteria turn nitrate back into atmospheric nitrogen (Land Use and Natural Hazards)
E
- Electricty
- electric current used or regarded as a source of power (Energy).
- Endangered Species
- organisms that face extinction, often because of loss of habitat (Curriculum Overview).
- Erosion
- wearing away of soil caused by wind or rain (Water).
- Eutrophication
- the buildup of nutrients in freshwater lakes and ponds that leads to an increase in algae growth (Forestry and Wildlife).
F
- Fecal Coliform
- bacteria that live in the intestines of humans and animals and become infectious when released through feces (Water).
- Fertilizer
- nutrients added to the soil to increase productivity (Water).
- Fossil Fuel
- ancient underground deposits of organic matter, such as coal or oil (Energy).
G
- Generator
- a machine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy (Energy).
- Geothermal Reservoirs
- underground pools of water heated by the earth (Energy).
- Green Building Design
- process of using "green" features such as recycled materials and energy efficient heating systems when planning buildings (Green Building).
- Green Roof
- relatively flat roof with plants growing on it; the plants serve as a natural source of insulation (Energy).
- Greenfield
- open, natural, or agricultural lands that provide habitats for wildlife, ecosystem benefits, timber and food production, and aesthetics of a community (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
- Greenhouse
- structure designed to collect heat from the sun's rays (Green Building).
- Greenhouse Gases
- any of the atmospheric gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect, i.e., global warming (Energy).
- Groundwater
- water beneath the earth's surface, often between saturated soil and rock, that supplies wells and springs (Water).
- Growth Management
- using government policies to plan development in a community (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
H
- Habitat
- living area that includes the resources necessary to support wildlife (Forestry and Wildlife).
- Hydric
- characterized by, relating to, or requiring an abundance of moisture (Water).
- Hydrophytic
- adapted to grow in water (Water).
I
- Impervious Surfaces
- surfaces that water cannot penetrate (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
L
- Land Trust
- non-profit organizations that work to conserve land by purchasing or accepting donations of land or conservation easements (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
M
- Methane
- an odorless, colorless, flammable gas, CH4, the major constituent of natural gas, that is used as a fuel and is an important source of hydrogen and a wide variety of organic compounds (Energy).
- Mixed-Use Development
- occurs when buildings for different purposes (such as homes and stores) are located in the same area (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
N
- Natural Lighting & Cooling
- the use of the sunlight indoors through building design instead of relying on artificial lighting, as well as design and technology that limit the need for air conditioning (Green Building).
- Nitrification
- the formation of nitrite (NO2-) and then nitrate (NO3-) as bacteria get their energy from ammonia (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
- Nitrogen Fixation
- the process in which atmospheric nitrogen is converted into nitrate by bacteria in the soil, water, or in the roots of some plants (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
- Non-Point Source Pollution
- a form of pollution with an unidentifiable specific origin of release (Water).
- Non-Renewable Resources
- resources that are in finite supply (Energy).
- Nutrient
- substance assimilated by organisms that promotes growth (Water).
O
- Organic Matter
- relating to or derived from living organisms (Energy).
P
- Particulates
- small particles of dust and soot that may be found in the atmosphere (Air).
- Passice Solar Homes
- homes that are positioned to face southward and passively collect the sun's warmth for heat (Energy).
- Percolation
- the seeping of surface and groundwater through soil and subsurface strata (Agriculture).
- Point Source Pollution
- a form of pollution in which the specific origin of release into the environment is identifiable (Water).
- Proffers
- agreements and modifications developers make to protect the environment in order to get a permit to build a new subdivision, malls, office buildings, etc. (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
- Property Rights
- legal ownership of the rights to engage in a certain activity (Air).
- PV (Photovoltaic) Cells
- small cells or panels capable of producing a voltage when exposed to radiant energy, especially light (Energy).
R
- Radioactive Elements
- any materials of, exhibiting, or caused by radioactivity (Energy).
- Recharge
- the replenishment of groundwater or an aquifer with surface water (Water).
- Recycling
- practice of reusing materials for new purposes (Energy).
- Renewable Energy
- energy that comes from a source that is constantly renewed; e.g., the wind keeps blowing, the sun keeps shining, water continuously flows in a river (Energy).
- Renewable Resource
- a natural resource that may be replenished through natural cycles and sound management. The sun, wind, wetlands, forests, and croplands are examples of renewable resources (Energy).
- Reservoir
- natural or artificial pond or lake used for the storage and regulation of water (Energy).
- Retrofitting
- to substitute new or modernized parts or systems for older equipment (Energy).
- Rural Area
- area with a low population and building density (Agriculture).
S
- Segregated Use
- zoning by allowable land use function (Land Use and Natural Hazard).
- Smart Growth
- development that protects natural resources while creating healthier human habitat (Land Use and Natural Hazard).
- Smog
- mixture of pollutants in the air that reduces visibility and can have negative effects on health and the environment (Air).
- Solar Energy
- our ability to convert the sun's power into electricity (Energy).
- Sprawl
- the resulting spread of developed areas when metropolitan areas grow and expand at the fringes, pushing development into rural areas (Agriculture).
- Subsidize
- to provide money, or another incentive, to encourage people to engage in a particular activity, such as buying energy-efficient appliances (Air).
- Surface Water
- water that exists in bodies on the Earth such as rivers, lakes, ponds, oceans (Water).
- Sustainable Agriculture
- a production and distribution system that minimizes the negative impacts on health, safety, wildlife, water quality and the environment, as well as optimizing use of available resources (Agriculture).
- Sustainable Development
- a production and distribution system that minimizes the negative impacts on health, safety, wildlife, water quality and the environment, as well as optimizing use of available resources (Agriculture).
- Sustainability
- has enough resources and small enough impact to be used for a long time (Energy).
T
- Temperate
- area between tropical and polar zones, characterized by seasonal weather changes (Forestry and Wildlife).
- Topographic
- referring to the shape of the surface (natural features) of the land, determined by elevation, relief, and land forms (Land Use and Natural Hazards).
- Tributary
- a stream that flows into a larger stream or other body of water (Water).
- Tropical
- type of forests found in an area near the equator, receives direct sunlight all year so temperatures are warm (Forestry and Wildlife).
- Turbine
- a device with propeller blades and an axle turned by water, wind, or steam (Energy).
U
- Urban Area
- area with a higher population and building density (Agriculture).
W
- Watershed
- geographic area in which water, sediments, and other materials drain into a common body of water (Water).
- Wetland
- land areas that contain hydric soils and hydrophytic plants and are saturated with water for a portion of every year (Water).