Of or relating to deep open waters, such as large lakes. …
The open water zone to the depth of effective light penetration. …
The study of the physical, chemical, hydrological, and biological properties of freshwater. …
An organochlorinepesticide that is slowly biodegradable, can be distributed through domestic water supplies, damages human health, and is toxic to freshwater fish and aquatic life. …
The offspring or descendants of one individual. Also known as line . …
A protective layer, often made of plastic or dense clay, that is installed along the bottom and sides of a landfill in order to prevent or reduce the flow of leachate into the environment. …
The act of removing (thinning) particular rows of trees in a forest or plantation, for example every fifth row. See also mechanical thinning, selective thinning. …
A hierarchical method (developed by Linnaeus ) for naming organisms in which each individual is assigned to a species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, and kingdom, and some intermediate classificatory levels. See also Latin name, taxonomy. …
A Swedish botanist ( 1707 ? 78 ) who developed the hierarchical system of biological classification that groups similar‐looking species into genera, genera into families, families into orders, and so on. He also established the Latin name system for giving species names which is used around the world. …
A group of organic substances (such as fats and steroids) that are insoluble in water but soluble in solvents such as alcohol and ether. …
The maximum concentration of a chemical that will dissolve in fatty substances, and that can disperse through the environment via uptake in living tissue. …
The process by which soil or sediment is transformed temporarily from a solid into a fluid state, when the cohesion of particles is lost, for example during and immediately after an earthquake. …
Natural gas (usually methane) that has been converted to a liquid state, either by refrigeration or by pressure, in order to reduce its volume and thus make it easier to store or transport. …
A mixture of light hydrocarbons (such as propane and butane) that has been converted to a liquid state, either by refrigeration or by pressure, in order to reduce its volume and thus make it easier to store or transport. …
A substance in the fluid state whose shape alters to that of the container it is in, but whose volume does not change. …
Any species of fish, wildlife, or plant that has been officially designated by an agency (such as a government department) as being endangered or threatened, and is therefore given enhanced protection. …
In the USA, wastes that are listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as hazardous by definition, even if they do not always exhibit the defined characteristics of hazardous waste. …
The formal process by which an agency adds species to the list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. …
The cementation of sediment after deposition. See also diagenesis. …
The description of the mineral composition and texture of rocks and sediments. …
The outer, solid part of the Earth, including the continental crust, oceanic crust, and uppermost mantle, which is generally around 100 kilometres thick and is where faulting and earthquakes occur. …
The organization of rock or sedimentstrata into units based on their lithology and stratigraphic position relative to other units. Contrast biostratigraphy. …
An organism that synthesizes all of its organic molecules from inorganic sources, such as carbon dioxide or bicarbonate. …
A unit of volume that is equal to one cubic decimetre, roughly 1.76 pints. …
Organic matter in the form of plant debris such as leaves and twigs that falls off living and dead plants, accumulates on the soil surface, and is broken down by soil organisms to become humus within the soil. See also decomposition. …
Leaves, twigs, and other plant material that falls to the ground and contributes to the litter layer. …
A period of relatively mild, warm, dry climate between ad 900 and 1300 and the warmest period since the Climatic Optimum. Vineyards flourished in southern England and the seas around Iceland and Greenland were relatively ice‐free. Also known as the Medieval Warm Period . …
A period of very cold climate that lasted from about ad 1550 to about 1850 in Europe, North America, and Asia, as climate became much cooler after the Medieval Warm Period. During this period, global temperatures were at their coldest since the beginning of the Holocene, valley glaciers grew rapidly, and there was renewed periglacial activity, especially in the Alps, Scandinavia, and Greenland…
Of or relating to the the side of a waterbody, such as a lake or the intertidal zone. See also shore. …
The movement of sand and other material along the shoreline, in the littoral zone, under the influence of waves and currents. …
1 The margin of a freshwater body, extending out from the shore to the limit of attached or rooted plants, where light can penetrate to the bottom. 2 The area between the high‐ and low‐water marks on the seashore. Also known as intertidal zone . …
A fieldboundary formed by planting a line of closely spaced trees or shrubs. Also known as living fence . See also hedge, hedgerow. …
Domesticated animals (such as beef cattle, dairy cows, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, and turkeys) that are kept for meat or dairy production, usually on a farm or smallholding. …
A method for describing different types and age groups of livestock, based on energy requirements, using standard ratios; one livestock unit is equal to one Friesian dairy cow. …
An approach to the conservation of biodiversity that is based on using off‐site methods (such as zoos, botanical gardens, arboretums, and captive breeding programmes) to protect and maintain biodiversity. …
A landscape that changes with the changing needs of people and wildlife for space and resources. …
Any genetically modified organism that has been produced through the use of recombinant DNA technology, whose genetic material does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination. …
The rate at which materials (such as suspended sediment, nutrients, or contaminants) are transported into a waterbody. …
A loose, permeablesoil composed of clay, sand, and silt, that is often very fertile and good for growing most crops. …
Activities engaged in by individuals or organizations which are designed to influence the thinking and voting of legislators or other public officials for or against a specific cause. See also environmental activism. …
A programme of action by local government in the United Kingdom that is designed to promote sustainable development at a local community level, under Agenda 21. …
An administrative unit of local government in the United Kingdom that governs local services such as education, housing, and social services. …
The number of different species in a particular area at a particular point in time. See also biodiversity. …
A biodiversity action plan (BAP) that is produced for an area, within an overall national BAP. …
A local, diurnal, thermally driven wind that is generated over a relatively small area and is influenced by local terrain. Examples include sea breezes and land breezes, lake breezes, diurnal mountain wind systems, and convection currents. …
The administrative functions of regional areas which are carried out by locally elected political bodies, under the overall authority of central (national) government. …
A nature reserve in the United Kingdom which has been designated by a local authority under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act ( 1949 ). …
A detailed land use plan that is prepared and adopted by a local planning authority in the United Kingdom, is accordance with the policies of a Structure Plan. …
A wind that blows over a relatively small area, often caused by factors such as mountain barriers or large waterbodies. …
Scottish word for a freshwaterlake, or a long narrow inlet of the sea. …
A clearly defined vein of rich ore within a rock formation, which extends through a continuous zone or belt. Also known as mining lode . See also mother lode. …
The mining of a valuable mineral lode which is found between other distinct mineral or rock units, and consists of several veins that are spaced closely enough together so that all of them, together with the intervening rock, can be mined as a single unit. …
A soil or deposit composed of small silt‐sized particles that were transported by the wind to their present location, for example after a glacial period. See also aeolian. …
1 A cut segment of the trunk of a tree. 2 A record, for example a daily record of a ship's speed and progress or a record of geological data collected in a borehole. …
A North American term for a forest in which most or all of the commercially valuable timber has been removed. …
1 Cutting down trees for timber. See also aerial logging, cable logging, ground‐lead logging, high‐lead logging, skyline logging, tractor logging. 2 Storing information about events, or storing the record of a log. …
The residue that is left on the ground after timber cutting, which includes unused logs, uprooted stumps, broken branches, bark, and leaves. Also known as logging debris or slash . …
Growth rates that are regulated by internal and external factors which establish an equilibrium with environmental resources. See also S‐curve. Contrast J‐curve. …
See Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (1972). …
The lifespan of an organism, or age at death. See also survivorship. …
Distance on the Earth's surface east or west from a reference line (usually the Greenwich Meridian), measured in degrees. The International Date Line is longitude 180? east or west. Contrast latitude. …
A long sand dune that is aligned parallel to the direction of the prevailing wind. …
A park‐like type of vegetation, shaded by tall pines, kept open by frequent wildfires, with a diverse layer of grasses and flowering plants including rare orchids, which was once common along the gulf coastal plain of Louisiana in the USA but has been reduced to isolated fragments as a result of land use changes. …
A long fishing line at sea, that stretches for tens of kilometres and is baited with hundreds of hooks and held by floats. This type of line often catches many non‐target species (such as tuna, sharks, and dolphins) so has a large unplanned bycatch. …
A section along a river channel which shows how the slope of the river changes downstream. Many rivers have concave long profiles because headwaters are steep and slope decreases downstream. Also known as longitudinal profile . See also base level, waterfall. …
A current that moves parallel to the shore, and is formed from the momentum of breaking waves that approach the shore at an angle. …
The processes by which sediment is transported along the coast by wave action and longshore currents. See also spit, tombolo. …
An extended period of time; in environmental terms often defined as of the order of 10?15 years. Contrast medium term, short term. See also long‐range planning. …
A collaborative scientific programme in the USA, funded by the National Science Foundation, which brings together scientists and students who are studying ecological processes over long time and broad geographical scales. …
A system of navigation over long distances, in which latitude and longitude are determined from the time displacement of radio signals from two or more fixed transmitters. …
Strategic planning over an extended time period, usually at least 50 years. Contrast short‐range planning. See also long term. …
A major international research programme that was launched in 1972 by the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development and is designed to measure air quality at 70 sites in order to develop a better understanding of the dispersion (particularly the trans‐frontier movement) of air pollutants such as acid rain. …
An effect that generally occurs after a lag of about 20 years. …
An environmental monitoring system that is designed to continue over a period of decades. …
A scenic drive which begins and ends at the same place, in the form of a circuit (which is not necessarily circular). …
A town in New Mexico, USA, which in 1942 was chosen as a nuclear research site where the first atomic bombs were produced. …
Relating to flowing water such as rivers and streams. See also lentic water. …
An area near Niagara Falls, New York State, USA, which between 1920 and 1953 was used as a site to dump hazardous wastes. In 1953 , the canal area was covered with soil and presumed safe, but officials began to investigate the dumping of the hazardous wastes and local residents started to report serious health problems. The site was declared to be a health hazard, and the area was evacuated. …
The British engineer and science writer (born 1919 ), who was the first to measure ozone‐depletingCFCs in the air at very low concentrations, and proposed the Gaia hypothesis. …
The centre of an area of low pressure in the atmosphere. Also known as a depression . …
A measure of the stability and dryness of the air, which is used to indicate the potential for wildfire to grow and spread through an area. …
The lowest possible rate of emission for a particular type of facility and a specific air pollutant. …
The lowest concentration of a hazardous substance at which it is possible to detect a statistically or biologically significant increase in the frequency or severity of an adverse effect between an exposed population and a control group. …
Below‐average depth or volume of water in a river, as occurs for example during a drought or prolonged dry period. …
Close to the equator, away from the poles. Contrast high latitude. …
A species that is regarded as having a relatively low risk of extinction. Also known as near threatened . Contrast endangered, vulnerable species, rare. …
Low water; the lowest level to which the tide falls within the daily tidal cycle. Contrast high tide. …
The line along the coast to which the sea drops at low tide. Contrast high water mark. …
Vehicles which emit relatively little air pollution compared with conventional internal combustion engines. …
Radioactive waste that is generated by hospitals, research labs, and some industries, and is less hazardous than high‐level radioactive wastes that are generated by nuclear reactors. Also known as low‐level waste . …
Locally unwanted land uses such as toxic waste dumps, incinerators, smelters, airports, freeways, and other sources of environmental, economic, or social degradation. See also Nimby. …
The way that light is reflected from the surface of a mineral. Some minerals have a glassy (vitreous) lustre, some have a metallic lustre (like polished metal), and some have a dull (earthy) lustre. …
A device for measuring potential and actual evapotranspiration in a column of soil. …
A flat‐bottomed volcanic crater that was formed by an explosion of trapped gases and is often filled with water. …
A Kenyan environmental and political activist (born 1940 ) who helped to establish the Greenbelt Movement, and in 2004 became the first African woman to receive a Nobel Peace Prize for ?her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace?. …
See marginal abatement cost, maximum allowable concentration. …
A measurement of speed relative to the speed of sound. 1 Mach is the speed of sound, which varies from about 1225 kilometres per hour (km h-1) in warm air at sea level to about 1060 kilometres per hour in very cold air at altitude. …
An appearance of the sky, caused by altocumulus clouds, which is greenish‐blue in colour and wavy in form, and looks like the markings on a mackerel fish. …
The larger organisms of the benthos, generally longer than 0.5 millimetres. Contrast meiobenthos, microbenthos. …
A large scale downburst of wind in the atmosphere, which usually lasts for 5?20 minutes and has a radius of more than four kilometres. Strong macrobursts can cause damage similar to that of an F2 tornado on the Fujita Scale. Contrast microburst. …
The climate of a large area (up to hundreds of square kilometres), as distinguished from the smaller scale microclimates and mesoclimates within it. Also known as regional climate. …
The study and analysis of the whole economy of a country or region, that considers issues such as such as economic growth, inflation, unemployment, and economic fluctuations. Contrast microeconomics. …
Large scale biological evolution, that extends over geological eras and results in the formation of new taxonomic groups through adaptive radiation. …
Small animals (such as earthworms and large arthropods) that are longer than about 1 millimetre and can thus be seen with the naked eye. Contrast mesofauna, microfauna. …
Any invertebrate that is large enough to be seen with the naked eye (with a body longer than 2 millimetres). This includes crustaceans (such as crayfish), insects, and worms. Contrast microinvertebrate. …
A method for assessing the quality of a stream or river, based on the presence or absence of particular types of invertebrate (indicator species) on the stream bed, which have different abilities to tolerate pollution. …
A nutrient or chemical element that is required in relatively large amounts by plants because it is vital for healthy plant growth. After carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen the three most important ones are nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, which are the usual ingredients of fertilizers; others include calcium, magnesium, and sulphur. Also known as macroelement or major element. Contrast micronutr…
A relatively large parasite. Contrast microparasite. …
Any plant that is large enough to be seen with the naked eye. The term is often applied to aquatic plants such as aquatic mosses, ferns, and rooted plants. …
Large enough to be visible to the naked eye, usually longer than about 1 millimetre. Contrast microscopic. …
In the UK, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, now known as Defra. …
A dark‐coloured igneous rock (such as basalt) that generally contains little silica but a great deal of magnesium and iron‐rich minerals; found mainly in oceanic crust. Contrast felsic. …
Molten rock found beneath the Earth's crust from which igneous rocks are formed, and which becomes lava when it reaches the surface via a volcanic vent. It may contain some solid particles and gases. …
A chamber or large space within the lithosphere in which magma is stored. …
A silver‐coloured, naturally occurring metallic element that is abundant in the environment (it accounts for 2.09% of the Earth's crust, particularly the oceanic crust), contributes to hard water in high concentrations, is not generally considered toxic, and is a macronutrient for animals and humans. …
Any material that has a permanent magnetic field. …
Capable of being magnetized, or having the properties of a magnet. …
Differences from place to place in the strength and direction of the magnetic field, compared to the average. …
A field of force that is generated by electric currents. The Earth's magnetic field is believed to be generated by the rotation of the molten iron?nickel outer core around the solid inner core, like a dynamo. See also palaeomagnetism. …
The direction to which the needle of a magnetic compass points, which is towards the northern pole of the Earth's magnetic field rather than towards true north. …
The direction, north (normal) or south (reversed), in which a magnetic compass needle points. …
The end of a magnet (or either end of the Earth's axis) where the strength of the magnetic field is greatest. …
The process by which the Earth's magnetic north pole and its magnetic south pole reverse their positions over time. See also palaeomagnetism. …
The study of the properties of magnets and magnetic fields. …
The process of separating ferrous materials from mixed municipal waste streams using magnets. …
A sudden, worldwide disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field that is caused by emission of particles from the Sun (sunspots). …
The degree of magnetization of a material in response to a magnetic field, which depends mostly on the concentration of ferromagnetic minerals within it. …
An instrument for measuring the magnitude and direction of the Earth's magnetic field. …
The boundary layer in space (about 63 000 kilometres from Earth in the direction of the Sun), between magnetosphere and the solar wind, where the Earth's magnetic field balances the pressure of the solar wind. …
The region of space that exists above the atmosphere and within the magnetopause, that is under the direct influence of the Earth's magnetic field. …
A redundant type of commercial nuclear reactor that used magnox as fuel cladding, was designed in the UK, and was capable of producing plutonium for nuclear weapons. A total of 26 were built in the UK. By the end of 2003 eight magnox reactors were still in operation, and all are planned to be closed by 2010 . …
The portion of the flow in a fluid that is away from the surrounding surface, and thus not under the influence of the boundary layer. …
A North American term for developed recreation facilities that are costly to build and run, and are heavily used, such as campgrounds, picnic areas, swimming areas, boating sites, and interpretation sites. Contrast minor recreation facility. …
An infectious disease that is caused by a parasite (Plasmodium) transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. It is common in hot countries, its symptoms include recurring chills, fever, and sweating, and it can be fatal. Also known as marsh fever . …
In organisms with separate sexes, the one which produces sperm. Contrast female. …
Something abnormal; in humans, a structural defect that is present at birth, occurs infrequently, and is due to abnormal development. …
Cancerous; a growth in which cells reproduce faster than normal cells. Contrast benign. …
Capable of being shaped or bent or drawn out. See also ductile. …
An Australian name for grassy, open woodlandhabitat that is found in many semi‐arid areas. …
Undernourishment caused by insufficient food and/or a diet that does not contain enough protein, essential fats, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that are required for good health. Also known as malnourishment . …
An English economist ( 1766 ? 1834 ) who argued, in An Essay on the Principle of Population ( 1798 ), that increases in the human population would outgrow increases in the resources available to support it, because populations increase geometrically while food supplies increase arithmetically, and that population is kept in check by a combination of war, famine, and disease. He assumed, based …
A pattern of growth in a population (human or animal) in which a population explosion is followed by a population crash. Also known as irruptive growth. …
A class of warm‐bloodedvertebrate animals that breathe air, have hair, feed their young with the mother's milk, have four types of well‐developed teeth, and usually have four well‐developed limbs with toes that have nails, claws, or hoofs. …
An IUCN Management Category (IV) for protected areas, designed to ensure the natural conditions necessary to protect nationally significant species, groups of species, biotic communities, or physical features of the environment. …
See Multiple‐Use Management Area/Managed Resource Area. …
The act of directing and controlling the affairs of a business, organization, or other body to ensure that they operate efficiently and effectively, in order to accomplish agreed objectives. See also resource management. …
An agreement between the owner of a property and the company or individual who is responsible for managing it. In the UK, it is a written contract agreement between an official body (such as Defra ) and landowners and tenants regarding their management of land, which is a prerequisite of certain incentive payments. See also Environmentally Sensitive Area. …
An area of land, or a group of areas which are not necessarily contiguous, which have common management objectives. …
Information that is required or useful for management decision‐making. …
A system for collecting and analysing information, usually computer‐based, that is designed to help management decision‐making. …
A high‐level statement of what is desired, or a description of an intended outcome, which is usually measurable, time limited, specific, and practical. …
A written plan that describes the overall guidelines within which an activity or project is organized, administered, and managed to ensure that agreed management objectives are achieved in a timely manner. …
A specific action, measure, or treatment which is part of a management plan and is designed to meet one or more stated management objectives. …
Definition of the most appropriate management practices for use in a specific situation, or in a specific area, in order to achieve agreed management objectives. …
The management practices that are required to achieve agreed management objectives within a management plan. …
A defined area of land or water to which specific management decisions apply. Also known as management zone . …
An approach to management (within an organization or agency) which involves the definition of goals and responsibilities, in terms of measurable results, and the use of these measures to guide the operation of the organization/agency and the assessment of the contribution of different parts of the organization/agency to meeting the specified goals. …
Looking at the behaviour of an organization or activity from the perspective of a manager who is responsible for delivering agreed management objectives, with an emphasis on measuring performance, efficiency, and effectiveness against targets. …
A book by George Perkins Marsh ( 1864 ) which described and illustrated many ways in which human activities change and damage environmental systems, and was a catalyst for the development of reforestation, watershed management, soil conservation, and nature conservation. …
An interdisciplinary programme of research and training, established by UNESCO in 1971 , designed to develop the basis for the sustainable use and conservation of biological diversity, and for the improvement of the global relationship between people and their environment. …
The lower jaw, that is used for biting or chewing. …
A brittle, silvery metal that is associated with iron ores, is used in the manufacture of steel (to improve hardness and resistance to corrosion), and is an essential element (micronutrient) for plant and animal life. …
A small, rounded concretion that is found on the deep ocean floor and may contain up to 20% manganese and smaller amounts of iron, copper, and nickeloxides and hydroxides. …
A tropical evergreen tree or shrub which grows in coastal areas, particularly on tidal flats and estuaries. It has stilt‐like roots which knit together to form dense thickets, which can trap coastal sediment and encourage coastal deposition, allowing the mangrove to extend further out from the shore. Mangrove swamps provide important habitats for aquatic and amphibious species. …
A shorelineecosystem that is dominated by mangrove trees, with associated mud flats. Also known as mangel or mangrove swamp . …
The hot, pliable zone within the Earth's interior that surrounds the partially molten core and underlies the thin, cool, outer crust. The mantle is about 2900 kilometres thick, and is made from rock that is relatively dense. It is often described as solid, but in reality it behaves like a plastic and can flow. It is composed mainly of minerals that are silicate compounds (combining silica and oxyg…
The sorting by hand of material in waste that can be recycled or turned into compost. …
The conversion of raw materials into finished goods for sale. …
The waste products of animals that are sometimes used as a form of organic fertilizer on farms, allotments, or gardens. See also farmyard manure, green manure. …
See technological disaster. Contrast natural disaster. …
The name given to scrub vegetation, consisting of shrubs and isolated trees, in the aridbiome in France. …
A metamorphic rock that is formed by applying great heat and pressure to limestone. …
Long, white, hair‐like wisps of cirrus clouds, which are composed mainly of ice crystals. They are thicker at one end then tapering to the other and look like the tails of female horses. …
The additional cost that is associated with reducing emissions of a particular pollutant by a set amount. …
The additional cost that is associated with producing one more unit of a particular good or service. …
Land which barely pays the cost of working it because of physical limitations such as infertility, drought, or shallow soils. …
The additional value of a resource that is associated with an incremental change in the quantity of it that is available. …
Of or relating to the sea or ocean. Also known as maritime. …
A climate that is dominated by the proximity of the land to the ocean, which keeps winters relatively mild and summers cool. …
A saltwateraquaticecosystem that includes estuaries and coastal areas, along with the open sea and oceans. …
A coastalsaltwaterwetlandhabitat that is flooded by tidewaters. …
US legislation that provides for the protection and conservation of marinemammal species by prohibiting the taking (harassing, hunting, capturing, or killing) of marine mammals, and prohibiting the import of any marine mammal product or any fish that has been associated with the taking of marine mammals. …
A statutory marine protected area in Great Britain, declared under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 , which is designed to protect marine flora, fauna, or geological or physiographic features in the area, and to provide opportunities for study and research. …
An area of land or sea that is dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biodiversity, and of natural and cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means. …
US legislation that regulates the dumping of any material in the ocean which might adversely affect human health, marine environments, or the economic potential of the ocean. Also known as the Ocean Dumping Act . …
Any natural resource that is found in, on, or under the sea or ocean, including fish and minerals. …
A designated area of the sea or ocean that serves as a nature reserve, which people can access. Non‐extractive activities like boating, swimming, and snorkelling are allowed, but all types of fishing, including trawling, and all collecting and extractive activities are prohibited. …
A cold subpolarclimate zone, in which temperatures remain cold throughout the year. Natural vegetation in this zone is either tundra (where it is coldest) or boreal forest (where it is milder). …
The open ocean over the continental shelf, where conditions are affected by waves, currents, and oceanic tides. …
A mid‐latitude climate zone with a warm and wet climate, which is found at higher latitudes than the Mediterranean climate zone. Forest cover often develops because of the heavy rainfall and moderate temperatures. …
A coniferous temperate forestbiome that is found along the marine west coast of some continents, including the Pacific Northwest of North America, north‐west Europe, southern Chile, and New Zealand. The biome often includes trees that are taller than 30 metres, have diameters greater than two metres, and are well over 1000 years old. …
Air with a high moisture content, whose humid characteristics were developed over a large sea or ocean. …
A mass of cool, humid air that forms over the cold ocean waters of the North Pacific and North Atlantic. …
A mass of warm, humid air that forms over tropical and subtropical oceans. …
In economics, any factor or condition that prevents or inhibits market equilibrium. As applied to air pollution control, for example, this includes policy and legal frameworks that prevent the adoption of cost‐effective technologies or practices that could reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. …
The cost that a consumer pays to purchase a particular good or service, which usually fails to take into account environmental degradation and other externalities. See also true cost. …
An economy in which most goods and services are produced by the private sector rather than the public sector, and in which the prices of goods and services are determined by supply and demand, usually under market equilibrium. See also marketplace. …
A situation in which the quantity of a particular good or service that people are willing to buy (demand) equals the quantity that people are willing to sell (supply). This is the basis of the free market system, in which there are neither monopolies nor government interventions. See also market economy. …
Any situation where a free market fails to produce the best use of scarce resources, which arises when market prices are not equal to the social cost of resources, because of externalities. See also non‐market damage. …
The interaction of supply and demand which determines market equilibrium and shapes a market economy. …
A plot of land on which fruit and vegetables are cultivated for sale. See also horticulture, smallholding. …