With Flying Colours 11 Unit 2: The Environment

Environmental Terminology

• Fossil Fuels: Energy sources derived from biological materials found underground, such as coal, oil, and natural gas.
• Exhaust Fumes: Gaseous waste emitted from engines, contributing to air pollution.
• Emission: The process where toxic gases are released into the atmosphere, impacting air quality.
• Ozone Depletion: The breakdown of the ozone layer, which protects Earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
• Overconsumption: The excessive consumption of goods and services, leading to resource depletion and environmental strain.
• Overpopulation: A condition where the human population surpasses the environment’s carrying capacity, causing negative effects like resource scarcity.

Atmospheric and Climate Concepts

• Oxygen (O2): Essential gas for life, produced mainly by plants through photosynthesis.
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A greenhouse gas released through human activities like burning fossil fuels, contributing to global warming.
• Greenhouse Effect: A natural process where certain gases trap heat in the atmosphere, maintaining Earth’s temperature.
• Global Warming: The long-term increase in Earth's average temperature due to rising greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental Issues and Solutions

• Contamination: The introduction of harmful chemicals into natural resources such as water and soil, endangering ecosystems and human health.
• Bio-degradable: Materials that can naturally decompose through biological processes, reducing landfill waste.
• Renewable Energy: Energy gathered from resources that are replenished naturally, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, aiming for sustainable energy use.
• Herbicide: Chemicals used to eliminate unwanted or invasive plant species in agriculture, affecting biodiversity.
• Deforestation: The clearing of forests for agriculture, urban development, or mining, leading to habitat loss and climate change.
• Pollution: The introduction of harmful substances into the environment, including air, water, and soil pollution, causing ecological damage.
• Endangered Species: Organisms at risk of extinction due to factors like habitat destruction, climate change, and overexploitation.