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