Glossary of Environmental Terms

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--Forwarded Message Attachment--Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:03:55 -0400From: America.govCompList@...Subject: Glossary of Environmental TermsGlossary of Environmental Terms (1701) Afforestation is the planting of a forest on cleared or unforested land. Agricultural waste is waste from farming and livestock operations, including animal manure and harvest residues. Such wastes are sources of pollutions but also potential energy sources. Air pollution is the contamination of the atmosphere by substances - including emissions from manufacturing plants, construction, power plants and vehicles - detrimental to health and the environment. Air quality standards are regulatory limits set by the U.S. government for the maximum safe levels of pollutants or contaminants in the atmosphere. The Arctic Council, established in Ottawa in 1996, is a high-level forum created to protect the Arctic environment and promote the economic, social and cultural well-being of northern peoples. Its members include Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. Atmosphere includes all the layers of gases that surround Earth, protect it from solar radiation and help create conditions conducive to life. Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapor are among the gases in the atmosphere. The Bali Strategic Plan for Technology Support and Capacity Building, adopted in Bali, Indonesia, on December 4, 2004, seeks to support environment-related technology and build capacity for effective environmental management in developing countries and in countries whose economies are in transition. The Berlin Mandate is a "decision of the parties" reached at the first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-1) to begin a process to strengthen the commitments of industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond the year 2000 through the adoption of a protocol or other legal instrument. Biodegradable refers to the ability of a substance to be broken down over time by sun, wind, water and microorganisms. Most products derived from plants and animals - like paper, fabric and food - are biodegradable. Biodiversity refers to the variety of living organisms, from single-celled to complex life forms, in the ecosystems where they naturally occur. Biofuel is any liquid, solid or gas fuel refined in whole or in part from sustainable biological materials, usually plants. Some biofuels, like ethanol, are refined from food plants such as corn, but technologies are being developed to use nonfood plants and crop residue from food plants. Biomass is organic material from plants or animals that can be used to produce biofuels. Examples include switchgrass, miscanthus, corn, sugarcane and oil palm. Bioremediation is the use of living organisms such as bacteria to remove pollutants from water or land. Biosphere encompasses all areas of the Earth - land, air and water - that support life. Biota refers to all living plants and animals in a defined area. Carbon cycle is the cycle by which carbon compounds are exchanged among earth, atmosphere, oceans, plants and animals. Carbon sequestration is a method that reduces carbon dioxide emission into the atmosphere by capturing carbon dioxide where it is generated and storing it underground. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are a class of chemicals - once commonly used as coolants, fire retardants and aerosol propellants - that depleted the protective ozone layer in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Most uses of CFCs were banned under a 1987 international agreement known as the Montreal Protocol. CFCs are also greenhouse gases. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are light bulbs that use far less energy and last up to 10 times longer than standard incandescent light bulbs. CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is a 1973 international agreement that restricts trade in wild animals, plants and any products derived from them to ensure such trade does not threaten their survival. Clear cutting is the felling of large forest tracts for agriculture or development, a practice that destroys habitat, kills flora and fauna and can lead to erosion, flooding and sedimentation of streams and lakes. Climate refers to temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, winds, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elements in a given region over long periods of time, centuries or longer. Climate change is the gradual, long-term alteration of weather patterns on a planetary scale, occurring over centuries or longer. Scientists believe human activities are accelerating the speed at which climate change is occurring. Conservation is the preservation and renewal of natural resources through good management for use by future generations. Ecology is the study of ecosystems to examine how all living organisms relate to each other and the environment. Ecosystem refers to the interaction of plants and animals and their physical environment. Ecosystems may be as small as organisms living under a rock or involve large geographic areas. Emission standards are regulatory limits set by governments on the pollutants that can be released into the atmosphere from sources like motor vehicles or manufacturing plants. Endangered species is a variety of animal or plant in danger of extinction. Endangered Species Act is a 1973 U.S. federal law that protects endangered species (likely to become extinct in the foreseeable future) and threatened species (likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future) by safeguarding habitats as well as the plants and animals themselves. Erosion is the loss of soil and wearing away of rock, often by wind and water. A natural process, erosion can be exacerbated by agricultural practices, residential and commercial land clearing and road construction. Fossil fuels, which include coal, oil and natural gas, are nonrenewable energy sources derived from hydrocarbons formed from fossilized remains of plants and animals by the pressure and action of the Earth over millions of years. Geothermal energy is energy derived from the natural heat and water resources within the earth, such as volcanoes and hot springs. Global cooling is a decrease in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere, especially a sustained decrease resulting from climate change. Global warming is an increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere, especially a sustained increase resulting from climate change. Greenhouse effect describes a rise in temperatures on Earth due to the accumulation of certain gases in the atmosphere, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane, which trap the sun's energy and prevent the escape of heat into space. Discovered and characterized by French scientist ph Fourier, English scientist Tyndall and Swedish scientist Svante Arrhenius in the 19th century. Greenhouse gases are molecules in Earth's atmosphere, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons, that trap the sun's energy and prevent the escape of heat into space. Carbon dioxide and methane are released in large quantities by human activities and contribute to global warming. Greenhouse gas intensity is a measure of gas emissions per pound of production. Groundwater is a potential source of drinking water found beneath the Earth's surface and accessed by drilling wells or tapping underground springs. Pesticides, sewage, industrial waste and agricultural runoff can contaminate groundwater. Hydrocarbon is a chemical compound comprising hydrogen and carbon atoms found in fossil fuels. The Kyoto Protocol is an amendment to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Countries that ratified this protocol committed to reducing their emissions of carbon dioxide and five other greenhouse gases, or engage in emissions trading if they maintained or increased emissions of these gases, which have been linked to global warming. The Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 is a U.S. law that prohibits the import, export, transport, purchase or sale of fish, wildlife and plants taken or possessed in violation of federal, state or tribal law. Interstate or foreign commerce in fish and wildlife taken or possessed in violation of other nations' laws also is illegal. The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, a 1987 international agreement to which the United States is a party, called for phasing out production and consumption of compounds that deplete ozone in the stratosphere - chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride and methyl chloroform. This was accomplished in 2000 for most of the listed substances and in 2004 for methyl chloroform. Ozone is a chemical compound comprising three oxygen atoms. At ground level, ozone is an air pollutant that irritates the respiratory system. In the stratosphere, ozone is a protective layer that shields the planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation. A pesticide is a manufactured or naturally occurring substance applied to open areas, crops, storage facilities and residences to kill or repel organisms that destroy crops or spread disease. Some pesticides can be toxic to nonpest species and can persist in soil and water. Pollution is a contamination of air, land or water with substances that compromise the ecosystem; threaten human, animal or plant health; or adversely affect use of natural resources. Rain forest is a tropical or subtropical forest with a vast leaf canopy that requires an average annual rainfall of approximately 2,000 millimeters. Rain forests absorb large quantities of carbon dioxide and shelter a large percentage of the world's plant and animal species. Recycling is the practice of collecting reusable waste materials for reprocessing into new products. Glass, metal, paper and plastics can be recycled, as can salvaged construction materials. Renewable energy refers to sources of fuel and power that are sustainable resources such as geothermal, biomass, wind and sun. Smog is a cloud of air pollutants - dust, smoke, factory emissions and vehicle exhausts - usually centered on urban areas. Smog can trigger or exacerbate respiratory ailments. Typical chemical components of smog include ozone, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Surface water refers to open expanses of water such as rivers, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, streams, seas, estuaries, wetlands, springs and wells. Sustainable agriculture refers to farming methods that conserve the environment by minimizing damage to soil, water sources, species habitat and other natural resources. Examples include no-till farming, crop rotation, and prevention of runoff or leaching of fertilizers and pesticides. Weather refers to temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, winds, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elements in a given region over a short period of time, usually hours or days. Wetlands are water-saturated or frequently flooded areas like swamps, marshes, deltas and coastal zones that support flora and fauna especially adapted to a watery environment. Wetlands also purify water and absorb excess rainfall. Wildlife refuge is a tract of land or seashore legally set aside to protect wildlife and plants. (Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://www.america.gov)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SOURCE: AMERICA-GOV Digest - 29 Jun 2009 to 30 Jun 2009 (#2009-130)þ