Human Impact Vocabulary Eighth Grade

acid rain rain containing acids produced by water chemically combined with certain gases

biodegradable material that breaks down easily

conservation wise use of natural resources

desalination process of getting fresh water from salt water

litter trash thrown into the environment

natural resource material from earth that is used by living things

pollutant harmful substance in the environment

pollution anything that harms the environment

recycling using a material over again

smog mixture of smoke, fog, and chemicals

wildlife the plants and animals that live in an area

fertilizer a substance that provides nutrients to help crops grow better

fossil fuel coal, oil, or natural gas that forms over millions of years from the remains of ancient organisms

global warming the worldwide increase in average temperature

greenhouse effect the trapping of heat by certain gases in the atmosphere

land reclamation the process of restoring an area of land

nonrenewable resource resources that are used much faster than they are replaced

ozone a form of oxygen with three oxygen atoms, helps block UV radiation in the stratosphere, is dangerous near plants and animals

pesticide a chemical that kills insects and other crop destroying organisms

renewable resources resources that are replaced as quickly as they are used

deforestation destruction of forests

ecological footprint A way of measuring how much of an impact a person or community has on the earth