| A | B |
|---|
| Acid Rain | Precipitation with a pH of less than 6-7 |
| Acid Rain Cause | Sulfur dioxide and Nirtrogen oxide emissions from coal burning mixing with precipitation |
| Loss of Biodiversity definition | fewer and fewer different species present within ecosystems in the biosphere |
| Cause of Loss of biodiversity | Destruction of habitats-esp. those with undiscovered species, invasive species, and climate change |
| Consequence of Acid Rain | lowering of pH in waterways and damaging of biotic factors in an environment |
| Eutrophication | Excess nutrients causing an excess of algae growth in water systems |
| Cause of Eutrophication | Runoff of fertilizer and animal waste into water systems |
| Consequences of Eutrophication | Overgrowth of algae film at top of water blocks sunlight-->kills bottom algae-->decomposers use Oxygen for respiration-->lack of O2 kills fish |
| Invasive Species | Organisms introduced into an environment where it is not native |
| Cause of Invasive species | Species either accidentally introduced through transportation or purposefully introduced for sport, biological control, or a food source |
| Consequence of Invasive species | Introduced species outcompetes native species due to having no natural predators |
| Biological control | Using living organisms-Bacteria or diseases, or predators to control the population of another organism |
| Ozone Depletion | The decrease of the layer of O3 surrounding the earth that is responsible for blocking UVC and B rays |
| Cause of Ozone Depletion | Release of Aerosols, CFC's and other chemicals that react with O3, turning it into CO2 and O2 |
| Consequence of Ozone Depletion | Higher incidence of skin cancer, cataracts, and plant damage |
| Desertification | semi-arid land becoming desert-like from exploitation |
| Cause of Desertification | Vulnerable land being overfarmed and exploited. Climate change may exasperate problem. |
| Consequence of Desertification | Land may permanently become unfarmable, forcing often already impoverished peoples to relocate |
| Solution for Desertification | Rotate crops each year to help soil nutrients and general condition "replenish" |
| Global Warming | The overall warming of the earth |
| Cause of Global Warming | Increase in concentrations of greenhouse gases, like CO2, in the atmosphere |
| Consequences of Global Warming | Melting of Ice caps, increase in amount of heat trapped due to less ice reflection, rising sea level, increase in water temps alter ecosystems |
| Photosynthesis | Process of plants that takes CO2 out of atmosphere and uses it to make glucose |
| Deforestation | Cutting down of trees and general destruction of forests |
| Consequence of Deforestation | Causes erosion |
| Erosion | Washing away of top soil |
| Cause of Erosion | Deforestation takes away roots of plants that stop soil from being washed away |
| Biomagnification | Methyl Mercury and pesticides, specifically DDT, have become notable problems through this |
