#separator:tab #html:false #tags column:4 Environment Everything around a living thing environmental-science Natural resource A material from nature that people use environmental-science Renewable resource A resource that can be replaced naturally, like sunlight and wind environmental-science Nonrenewable resource A resource that cannot be replaced quickly, like oil environmental-science Conservation Protecting and using resources wisely environmental-science Reduce, reuse, recycle Use less, use things again, make new things from old ones environmental-science Recycling Turning used materials into new products environmental-science Compost Decayed food and plant waste that enriches soil environmental-science Landfill A place where trash is buried environmental-science Biodegradable Able to be broken down by living things environmental-science Pollution Harmful materials added to air, water or land environmental-science Air pollution Harmful gases and particles in the air environmental-science Water pollution Harmful substances in water environmental-science Soil pollution Harmful chemicals in the ground environmental-science Noise pollution Loud sounds that harm health or wildlife environmental-science Light pollution Too much artificial light at night environmental-science Smog Smoky fog caused by air pollution environmental-science Acid rain Rain made acidic by pollution environmental-science Ozone layer Layer high in the air that blocks harmful UV rays environmental-science Greenhouse effect Gases in the air trapping heat near Earth environmental-science Greenhouse gases Carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor environmental-science Global warming The rise in Earth's average temperature environmental-science Climate change Long-term change in Earth's weather patterns environmental-science Fossil fuels Coal, oil and natural gas environmental-science Carbon footprint The amount of carbon dioxide caused by a person or activity environmental-science Deforestation Cutting down large areas of forest environmental-science Reforestation Planting trees again environmental-science Habitat loss When animals lose their natural homes environmental-science Endangered species A species at risk of dying out environmental-science Extinction When a species dies out completely environmental-science Biodiversity The variety of life in a place environmental-science Invasive species A species that spreads and harms its new home environmental-science Overfishing Catching fish faster than they can be replaced environmental-science Overpopulation Too many people or animals for resources to support environmental-science Erosion Soil carried away by wind or water environmental-science Desertification Land turning into desert environmental-science Drought A long time without much rain environmental-science Water conservation Using water carefully environmental-science Watershed Land area that drains to a river or lake environmental-science Oil spill Oil leaking into water, harming wildlife environmental-science Plastic pollution Plastic trash in land and oceans environmental-science Microplastics Tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters environmental-science Single-use plastic Plastic items thrown away after one use environmental-science Sustainable Meeting needs without using up resources for the future environmental-science Renewable energy Energy from sources like sun, wind and water environmental-science Solar power Electricity from sunlight environmental-science Wind power Electricity from wind turbines environmental-science Hydropower Electricity from moving water environmental-science Geothermal energy Heat from within the Earth environmental-science Energy efficiency Using less energy for the same job environmental-science Organic farming Growing food without synthetic chemicals environmental-science Pesticide A chemical that kills pests environmental-science Fertilizer Material added to soil to help plants grow environmental-science Runoff Rain or irrigation water that flows over land carrying pollutants environmental-science Eutrophication Too many nutrients in water causing algae to take over environmental-science Wetlands Land covered with shallow water that cleans water and shelters wildlife environmental-science National park Protected land for nature and people to enjoy environmental-science Wildlife refuge A protected area for wildlife environmental-science Who created National Parks in the US? Congress; Yellowstone became the first in 1872 environmental-science Earth Day April 22, a day to protect the environment environmental-science EPA The US Environmental Protection Agency, founded in 1970 environmental-science Rachel Carson Wrote Silent Spring in 1962, about pesticides environmental-science Ecosystem services Free benefits nature gives us, like clean water and pollination environmental-science Pollinator An animal that helps plants make seeds, like bees environmental-science Food miles How far food travels before you eat it environmental-science Food waste Edible food that gets thrown away environmental-science Green roof A roof covered with plants environmental-science Electric vehicle A vehicle powered by electricity instead of gasoline environmental-science Public transportation Buses and trains that carry many people environmental-science Zero waste Trying to send nothing to landfill environmental-science Ecological footprint How much of Earth's resources a person uses environmental-science