The movement of heat between two surfaces that are exposed to each other but are not touching, and that have very different temperatures. …
The transfer of heat and other energy by means of electromagnetic waves. The Earth is warmed by shortwave radiant energy from the Sun, and it warms the overlying atmosphere by longwave radiation. This heating process operates in much the same way as a domestic central heating radiator heats a room. Also known as radiant energy . …
The balance on Earth between incoming shortwave solar radiation and outgoing longwave radiation. Also known as radiative balance . …
A measure of all the inputs and outputs of radiation relative to a particular system, such as the Earth. …
The amount of radiation that is absorbed by a material, system, or tissue in a given amount of time, expressed in roentgens. See also absorbed dose. …
Most (82%) of the radiation to which people are exposed comes from natural sources, including radioactive elements in the Earth and in our bodies, cosmic radiation from space, and radon gas. Of the 18% that comes from human activities, most is from medical X‐rays and nuclear medicine. …
An increase in temperature with height in the atmosphere that is caused by radiational cooling of the ground surface. Also known as nocturnal inversion . …
The syndrome associated with intense acute exposure to ionizing radiation, symptoms of which include nausea, diarrhoea, headache, lethargy, and fever. …
Regulations that define maximum exposure limits for protection of the public from radioactive materials. …
The process by which the surface of the Earth, and the air in contact with it, cools by the emission of longwave radiation, which usually happens at night. …
The increase or decrease in the radiation balance of the Earth, which is caused by the presence of a particular atmospheric constituent, such as carbon dioxide or aerosol. An increase leads to heating of the Earth's surface, while a decrease leads to cooling. Also known as forcing or external forcing . …
Any gas (such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and ozone) that absorbs incoming solar radiation or outgoing infrared radiation. …
The movement of heat in the form of long‐wavelength infraredradiation. …
The view that environmental problems can only be solved by a radical revision of attitudes and values, rather than through economic and political reform. See also deep ecology, ecofeminism, social ecology. …
Giving off or capable of giving off radiant energy (radiation) in the form of particles or rays, as in alpha particles, beta particles, and gamma rays. …
The natural, spontaneous decay of the nucleus of an atom to form another nucleus, which releases alpha or beta particles and/or gamma rays at a fixed rate. …
A substance that emits ionizing radiation, and is thus radioactive. …
Waste material that is radioactive, is produced as a byproduct of nuclear reactions through power generation and nuclear research, and is classified into low‐level waste, intermediate‐level waste, and high‐level waste. Also known as nuclear waste . …
The spontaneous decay or disintegration of an unstable atomic nucleus, which is accompanied by the emission of radiation. …
The study of the principles, mechanisms, and effects of radiation on living things. See also radioecology. …
A radioactiveisotope of carbon that is generated naturally in the atmosphere, has a half‐life of nearly 6000 years, and is used in carbon dating. …
Individual radioactive elements that produce radioactivity, such as radium‐226, cobalt‐60, strontium‐90, and tritium. …
The study of the effects of radiation on plants and animals in natural communities. See also radiobiology. …
A radioactiveisotope. Also known as radionuclide . …
Marine protozoa that have skeletons made of silica. …
A silica‐rich deep‐sea sediment that is composed largely of the skeletons of radiolaria. See also pelagic sediment. …
A lithified sedimentary rock formed from radiolarian ooze. …
Locating and measuring radiation using instruments that can detect and measure ionizing radiation. …
A precise method of determining the absolute age of rocks by measuring the different isotopes of elements within the rocks (such as carbon‐14, uranium‐238, and uranium‐235), and comparing them with known rates of decay of radioisotopes. Also known as radioisotope dating . …
An instrument that is attached to a weather balloon and transmits measurements of pressure, humidity, temperature, and winds as it ascends up to about 30?000 metres. See also rawinsonde. …
The science and technology of gathering and transmitting data automatically over great distances, for example from an artificial satellite to a monitoring station on Earth. …
A type of radiant energy, with a wavelength of 3 to 30?GHz within the electromagnetic spectrum, that is used to transmit radio and television signals. …
A rare radioactive isotope (radium‐266) which occurs in uranium ores, such as pitchblende, and has a half‐life of 1622 years. …
The maximum distance from a well over which vacuum or pressure occurs, which influences the movement of soil gas or groundwater. The distance between a water well and the limit of the cone of depression. …
The maximum distance from the point of release of a hazardous substance, over which the concentration in the air could reach the level of concern under specified weather conditions. …
A short‐lived radioactive decay product of radon that decays into lead isotopes, which can be spread through the air and cause health problems (particularly lung damage if inhaled) in humans. Also known as radon decay product or radon progeny . …
A naturally occurring, colourless, odourless radioactive gas (radon‐222) which is about eight times denser than air, is formed by the radioactive decay of radium, and has a half‐life of 3.82 days. It is one of the more important natural sources of radioactivity in the environment, and causes health problems (including cancer) in humans. Radon is released naturally from rocks, soils, and minera…
Liquid precipitation that falls as droplets of water. See also convection rain, frontal rain, orographic precipitation, rainfall. …
An arc of coloured light that is formed in the sky when the Sun's rays are reflected and refracted (bent) by drops of water in rain or mist, and display the colours of the visible light part of the electromagnetic spectrum in sequence: violet (0.390?0.455 micrometres), blue (0.455?0.492 micrometres), green (0.492?0.577 micrometres), yellow (0.577?0.597 micrometres), orange (0.597?0.622 micrometres…
A ship that is operated as a campaigning and research vessel by Greenpeace; the first Rainbow Warrior was sunk by the French secret service in Auckland harbour, New Zealand, on 10 July 1985 . …
Erosion of exposed soil on a bare, sloping surface that is caused by the impact of raindrops, which loosens and splashes particles and moves them downslope. Also known as rainsplash or splash erosion . …
1 A form of precipitation in which rain falls as raindrops. 2 The quantity of precipitation that falls as rain in a given period of time, usually expressed as depth of water (millimetres). …
The rate at which rain is falling at any given point in time, usually expressed in millimetres per hour (h-1). …
Growing crops or animals under conditions of natural rainfall, without the use of irrigation. …
A large, dense, evergreen forest that grows in a climate which has high humidity, constant temperature, and abundant rainfall (generally over 380 centimetres per year). There are both tropical rainforests (such as the Amazon) and temperate rainforests (such as in the Pacific Northwest of North America). …
An international environmental group that works to protect the Earth's rainforests and support the rights of their inhabitants. …
An international environmental group whose objective is to protect rainforestecosystems and the people and wildlife that depend on them by transforming land use practices, business practices, and consumer behaviour. …
An instrument that is used to measure the amount of rainfall over a given period of time. …
The processes by which rain is formed in the atmosphere. …
The removal of a pollutant within clouds by precipitation scavenging. …
The dry leeward slope beyond a mountain barrier that gives rise to orographic precipitation. …
A former beach that is now situated above the present sealevel as a result of earth movement or changes in global sea level. …
A type of bog that has a shallow dome‐shaped cross‐section, so that the bog surface (at least in the centre) is raised above the normal level of the groundwater. …
An international convention on wetlands of international importance ( 1971 ), which was designed to promote the conservation of internationally important wetlandhabitats, particularly in order to protect waterfowl and other migratory water birds. …
A wetland that is of international importance and has been designated under the Ramsar Convention. …
1 See rangeland. 2 See natural range. 3 See statistical range. …
The status of the vegetation and soil of a particular area of rangeland, compared with the natural potential (climax) for that site. …
A large area of grassland or open woodland on which livestock can graze and browse. See also open range, primary range, secondary range. …
The management of rangeland in order to sustain maximum livestock production and conserve the natural resources. …
The observed limits of change in the composition, structure, and function of an ecosystem over a given period of time, which results from both natural and human factors. …
A person who is responsible for managing and protecting a forest or park (such as a national park), enforcing the laws that apply there, and offering information to visitors. …
Grassland or marsh vegetation that has grown abundantly without being cut or grazed for some time, and as a result has become tall, tussocky, and dominated by coarse species of grass. …
A group of techniques that are designed to document community needs (such as for food, shelter, healthcare, electricity, radio, and telephones) following a natural disaster, usually within 48 hours. …
A section of a river where slope and flow velocity both increase, so there is much white water and many exposed rocks. …
A bird of prey (such as a falcon, hawk, eagle, or owl) that hunts and eats meat. …
Adapted for catching and holding prey, often by having sharp claws and spines or bristles. …
A threatened category of species defined by the IUCN (Red Data Book) as ?taxa with small world populations that are not at present endangered or vulnerable, but are at risk. These taxa are usually localized within restricted geographical areas or habitats or are thinly scattered over a more extensive range?. …
Species that have small populations, either naturally or as a result of human impacts. …
A gas (such as helium or neon) that is inert or unreactive, does not readily take part in chemical reactions, and is thus very stable. See also inert gas, noble gas. …
In conservation assessment, seldom found or occurring. …
A rank (G‐rank, N‐rank, or S‐rank) that is assigned to a species or ecological community to indicate its degree of rarity at the global, national, or subnational level, respectively. …
Making something valid by formally ratifying or confirming it, for example after a country has signed a particular convention, protocol, or treaty. …
A climbing palm that has very long tough stems and is used for making baskets and furniture. …
A deep, narrow, steep‐sided valley that has been eroded by running water. …
Humus that consists mainly of well preserved but fragmented plant remains. …
A radiosonde that is tracked to measure variations in temperature, pressure, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction at different levels within the atmosphere. …
A North American term for undeveloped land or land that has not been subdivided in preparation for development. Also known as undeveloped land . …
Natural, unprocessed material or resources that are converted by a manufacturer into a final product. …
Scattering within the atmosphere that is caused by gas molecules and fine particles of dust, which reflects radiation in all directions and makes the sky appear blue. …
A stretch of stream or river that lies between inflowing tributaries. …
1 A chemical change: the interaction of two or more substances to form new substances. 2 The fourth stage in plant succession. …
Hazardous waste which is normally unstable, reacts violently with water, can give off toxic fumes, and can explode if heated under pressure. …
The ability of a material to undergo a chemical reaction with the release of energy, for example as a result of mixing or reacting with other materials, application of heat, or physical shock. One of the four characteristics that is used to define hazardous waste in North America. …
The innermost part of a nuclear reactor that consists of the fuel, the moderator (in a thermal reactor), and a coolant, where the fission reaction takes place and the level of radiation is highest. Also known as the core . …
In disaster management, the phase of preparations that is designed to deal with an accident or incident. …
The absorption of oxygen into water from the atmosphere. …
A substance that is used to cause a reaction, especially to detect another substance. …
The actual distribution of an organism in the environment. Contrast potential niche. …
Monitoring and measuring events, processes, or changes as they are happening. …
The maximum exposure to a particular pollutant that is reasonably expected to occur at a particular site, such as a Superfund site, combining all relevant pathways. …
The likely future use of a site or facility given current use, local government planning, and zoning. …
A broad term that is used in the USA to refer to technological and other measures for pollution control that are reasonably available for use, technologically feasible, and economically viable. …
Pollution control technology that is reasonably available for use, technologically feasible, and economically viable. …
A recoil or movement back from an impact, particularly the upwarping of the Earth's crust after additional weight (for example during glaciation) is removed from it. Contrast subsidence. …
A pollutant or substance that is not biodegradable or is only biodegradable with difficulty, and that therefore accumulates in water, soil, and vegetation. …
Seed that does not survive drying and freezing for long‐term storage. …
A process in which carbon dioxide is added to water that is being treated to lower the pH. …
Any body of water into which wastewater or treated effluent are discharged. …
A species, population, community, habitat, or ecosystem that may be exposed to one or more particular contaminants or agents. …
The site to which individuals of an introduced species are taken in order to be introduced from another place (the donor site). …
To refill a waterbody or an aquifer with water by natural or artificial processes. See also groundwater recharge. …
An area across which water enters (recharges) an aquifer via infiltration. Also known as recharge zone . …
The quantity of water per unit of time that refills an aquifer. …
To return something (such as land) to its original condition. …
Land that has been brought into new productive use through reclamation. …
1 See land reclamation. 2 See waste reclamation. …
The definition of species as a set of organisms that recognize one another as potential mates, through a shared mate recognition system (such as a particular bird song). See also biological species concept, cladistic species concept, ecological species concept, phenetic species concept. …
Micro‐organisms whose genetic makeup has been altered by the deliberate introduction of new genetic elements, so that their offspring also contain these new genetic elements. …
DNA that has been genetically engineered, such as new DNA produced by joining together pieces of DNA from different sources. …
The formation of new combinations of genes, which occurs naturally in plants and animals during the production of sex cells (sperm, eggs, pollen) and their subsequent joining in fertilization. It also occurs artificially, through genetic engineering. …
The maximum level of a contaminant in drinking water at which no known or anticipated damage to human health would occur. …
A preliminary inspection or survey of an area (such as a forest, range, watershed, or wildlife area), usually executed rapidly and at a relatively low cost, in order to gain general information that will be useful for future management. …
Rebuilding structures that have been damaged or destroyed, for example by a natural hazard or disaster. …
A document, associated with an environmental impact statement (EIS), that publicly and officially discloses the decision of the responsible official concerning which alternative assessed in the EIS is to be implemented. …
The ability of a habitat, community, or individual to recover from damage that is caused by an external factor. …
Capable of being recovered, regained, or restored. …
A resource that can be recovered with current technology, but whose recovery is not economical under current conditions. …
Waste materials and byproducts which have been recovered or diverted from solid waste. …
1 Return to an original state, such as the natural capacity of an open system for self‐repair. 2 In conservation, the process by which the decline of an endangered or threatened species is arrested or reversed, and threats neutralized, so that its survival in the wild can be ensured. 3 In mineral processing, the amount of mineral that is separated and recovered in a mill, as a percentage of that…
1 A plan to restore areas that have been affected by a particular disaster. 2 A plan for the conservation of an endangered or threatened species. …
The percentage of usable materials in a solid waste stream that is recovered and recycled, as a percentage of the total waste. …
Any activity that refreshes, satisfies, and brings enjoyment to people, in which they engage on a voluntary basis during leisure time. See also concentrated recreation, dispersed recreation, intensive recreation, primitive recreation. …
An area of land or water that has been set aside for use by the public for recreation activities and enjoyment. …
An area of land and water that is used primarily for recreation. …
A continuum of land types that is used in the USA to characterize recreation opportunities in terms of setting, activity, and experience opportunities. The spectrum contains six classes: primitive area, semi‐primitive non‐motorized area, semi‐primitive motorized area, roaded natural area, rural area, and urban area. …
A scenic or wilderness feature or setting that has significance or value for recreation, or a recreation facility. …
The addition of new individuals to a population by reproduction, which is commonly measured as the proportion of young in the population just before the breeding season. …
A drainage pattern that is similar to the trellis pattern, but with the pattern largely controlled by faults or joints that intersect at high angles. …
The average period of time, usually measured in years, between two successive floods of a given size (discharge) at a particular location within a river system, as calculated by flood frequency analysis. Also known as return period . …
A breeding method that is designed to increase the frequency of favourable genes within a species, via repeated cycles of selection and selected crossing of individuals. …
Any material (such as glass, paper, aluminium, and some plastics) that can be collected and sold for recycling at a net cost no greater than the cost of collection and disposal. …
To reclaim or reuse old materials in order to make new products. …
The reprocessing of discarded waste materials for reuse, which involves collection, sorting, processing, and conversion into raw materials which can be used in the production of new products. …
A facility where recovered (recycled) materials are reprocessed into new products. …
An organized scheme for recycling solid waste materials. See also kerbside recycling scheme. …
A global list (Red List) of endangered and threatened species, which is produced and regularly updated by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). It contains colour‐coded information sheets arranged by species: red for species that are endangered, amber for vulnerable, white for rare, green for out of danger, and grey for species that are indicated to be endangered, vulnerable, or rare but with in…
A term used by weather forecasters to alert land managers to weather conditions that could lead to extensive wildlandfires. …
The list of endangered species that are included within a Red Data Book. …
Short for reduction?oxidation potential, which is a measure of how easy it is for organic reactions to take place and is used as an indication of water quality. …
A measurement of the state of oxidation of a system. …
A reddish‐brown discoloration of surface sea waters, usually along the coast, caused by nutrient pollution that encourages abnormally rapid growth and thus high concentrations of certain dinoflagellates that produce toxins which can be fatal to fish and other organisms. Such a tide can be red, green, or brown, depending on the coloration of the plankton; it is often transported by real tides. …
A *tillage system (such as minimum tillage) that preserves soil, saves energy and water, and increases crop yield. …
A chemical process that involves the addition of hydrogen, removal of oxygen, or the addition of electrons to an element or compound. Contrast oxidation. …
The idea, which underpins modern science, that it is possible to explain phenomena in terms of their component parts, so that complex systems can be understood in terms of their constituents. Contrast holism. …
The soft red wood of either of two species of huge coniferous sequoia trees. …
A tall, woody, perennialgrass that has a thin hollow stem. …
Wetland dominated by stands of common reed ( Phragmites australis ). …
A ridge of rocks, often made of coral, that lies submerged near the surface of the sea and can pose a hazard to passing ships. …
An artificial reef that is built to restore damaged coral reefs, and to create new fishing and scuba diving sites. …
A dome‐like mass of limestone that has grown upwards from an active coral reef. …
A sampling site that is selected for its relatively undisturbed conditions, which provides a benchmark in comparative studies. …
The benchmark year on which environmental quality targets are established. For example, the Kyoto Protocol uses 1990 as the reference year against which Annex I nations are required to control their emissions of greenhouse gases. …
To remove unwanted substances from something such as petroleum, which is refined to produce petrol, paraffin, and diesel oil. …
A factory where a substance such as petroleum is refined. See also petroleum refinery. …
The return of light or sound waves from a surface. …
Replacing forest. Also known as reafforestation . See also afforestation. …
A device that extracts pure hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels (such as natural gas, methanol, ammonia, gasoline, or vegetable oil) so it can be used in a fuel cell. …
A specially refined cleaner‐burning blend of gasoline that reduces emissions from vehicle exhausts, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants. …
The deflection or bending of the path of a wave, such as the bending of light as it passes through different parts of the atmosphere, or the deflection of a sea wave as it approaches the shore. …
A chemical that cools air as it evaporates. Many refrigerants contain CFCs and are harmful to the ozone layer in the Earth's atmosphere. …
A safe place that offers protection or shelter, such as an area (for example a nature reserve) that has been set aside for the purpose of conserving species and their habitats. …
A person who is forced to leave his/her home and seek safety in another region or country as an exile, usually as a result of persecution. …
An area that remains unchanged while the areas that surround it change a great deal, and which therefore provides a refuge for relict species or populations that require specific habitats. …
All forms of solid waste or rubbish. Also known as trash or garbage . …
Fuel that is made from the organic residue of municipal solid waste, which is shredded, formed into pellets or small briquettes, then dried to make fuel for power plants. …
A desert surface that is covered by loose stones and gravel, but with no sand. …
The process by which a substance (for example the ice in a glacier) melts under pressure and then refreezes after the pressure is released. …
The regrowth, by either natural or artificial means, of vegetation and ecological communities that have been damaged or destroyed. …
In forest management, a cutting strategy in which old trees are removed while favourable environmental conditions are maintained in order to promote and enhance the natural establishment of new trees. …
In forest management, a clearcut that removes an existing stand of trees in order to prepare the site for regeneration. …
Farming techniques and methods of land management that are designed to restore soil productivity by measures such as crop rotation, planting ground cover, protecting the surface with mulch, and reducing the input of synthetic chemicals and mechanical compaction. …
Any system of control, or more specifically a system of government. See also environmental regime. …
A treatment plan, formalized schedule, or strict, regulated plan that is designed to reach particular goals. …
A geographical area of land and/or water that is distinguished by certain natural features, climatic conditions, or fauna or flora. See also morphogenetic region, natural region, physiographic region. …
Atmospheric haze that extends over a large area and is produced by many different sources. …
In the UK, sites (other than SSSIs) that are considered worth protecting for their educational, research, historical, or aesthetic importance, because of their geology. …
Metamorphism of large areas of the Earth's crust, usually during mountain building at convergent plate margins. Contrast contact metamorphism. …
The plan for a region, for example to assist regional government or authority to manage natural resources on a sustainable basis or meet particular social or economic goals. …
The layer of unconsolidated material (soil and mineral subsoil) that lies between the soil surface and the solid bedrock below, composed mainly of weathered bedrock or sediment. Also known as regosolic soil . …
1 A statistical method for studying and expressing the nature of relationships between two or more variables. 2 A slow lowering of sea level that exposes land along the shoreline. …
Forest land that is managed to produce a sustained yield of timber. …
A river in which the natural processes and/or the river channel itself have been deliberately altered for management purposes, such as the construction of a large dam for water supply, to generate hydroelectric power, or to reduce downstream flooding. …
An authoritative rule; a principle or condition that normally governs behaviour. See also directive. …
An official or agency responsible for the control and supervision of a particular activity or area of public interest, or which oversees and applies legislation. …
To restore to a good condition or bring back to an original condition. …
The process of returning a disturbed site, habitat, or ecosystem to its original condition. …
The renewed introduction of a species to an area from which it has almost or completely disappeared within historical times. …
The process of restoring an environmental system to a more youthful condition, such as the renewed downcutting of a river system as a result of tectonicuplift. See also long profile. …
The number (abundance) of organisms of a particular kind which is present in a sample or community, relative to the total number of organisms in that sample or community. …
Age that is expressed relative to other ages (?younger than? or ?older than?), rather than in number of years. Contrast absolute age. …
The mass of an atom of a particular chemical element, relative to one atom of carbon (which has a RAM of 12). Formerly known as atomic weight . …
A chronology that determines the age of a feature or event relative to the age of other features or events (for example, younger than or older than). Contrast absolute chronology. …
A range of methods for establishing the relative age of an object or material, for example based on the relative position of individual strata within sedimentary rocks. …
The amount of water vapour that is present in the air at a particular point in time, as a percentage of the amount that the air could hold if it was totally saturated. Contrast absolute humidity. See also humidity. …
A state of poverty that is characterized by scarcity rather than lack of economic necessities, which does not immediately threaten life or health. Contrast absolute poverty. …
The difference between the highest and lowest points in a particular area. Contrast absolute relief. …
A measure of comparative risk of developing a particular disease or condition, within a defined period of time. …
A condition that exists when a particular resource is in short supply in one or more areas, because of inadequate or disrupted distribution. Contrast absolute scarcity. See also scarcity. …
A cropping system in which two or more crops are grown one after the other in the same field in the same year. …
1 In general, to discharge or liberate something. 2 In pollution control, any process (including spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing) by which a hazardous or toxic chemical, or extremely hazardous substance, is discharged into the environment. …
The removal of competing vegetation in order to allow desired tree species to grow. …
The quantity of a pollutant that is released from a source into the environment, over a given period of time. …
An organism or species that survives as a remnant of an otherwise extinct flora or fauna, in an environment that has changed much from the one in which it originated. …
The distribution area of a relict species, which is a remnant of a previously wider range. …
1 The difference in elevation between the high and low points of a land surface. 2 Assistance in time of difficulty, such as the provision of immediate shelter, life support, and human needs to people who are affected by a disaster. …
The abbreviation for roentgen equivalent man, a measurement of radiation in terms of biological effect on human tissue. See also dose equivalent. …
Long‐term cleanup activities, including the cleanup, removal, containment, isolation, treatment, or monitoring of hazardous substances that have been released into the environment, in order to reduce or eliminate the long‐term risks to human health or the environment from exposure to contaminants. …