Essential Science Vocabulary: Earth Science: Natural Resources and the Environment

Whether you want to brush up on biology, study space science, or prep for a physics test, this collection of science vocabulary is for you! Our lists cover essential terms and concepts from all major scientific disciplines.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. aquifer
    underground layer of rock or sand that yields groundwater
  2. biodegradable
    capable of being decomposed
  3. biodiversity
    the variety of plant and animal life in a habitat
  4. biomass
    the total amount of living matter in a given unit area
  5. biosphere
    the regions of the Earth where living organisms exist
  6. conservation
    careful management of the environment and natural resources
  7. decay
    the organic phenomenon of rotting
  8. deforestation
    the removal of trees
  9. depletion
    the state of being used up
  10. ecology
    the environment as it relates to living organisms
  11. ecosystem
    organisms interacting with their physical environment
  12. extraction
    taking out something
  13. fission
    splitting a massive nucleus with the release of energy
  14. fossil fuel
    energy-producing substance derived from preserved organisms
  15. fracking
    a method of extracting natural gas or oil from rock
  16. geothermal
    of or relating to the heat in the interior of the earth
  17. global warming
    a rise in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere
  18. irrigation
    the act of supplying dry land with water by artificial means
  19. landfill
    an area where waste is disposed of by burying it underground
  20. mineral
    a solid inorganic substance occurring in nature
  21. natural resource
    material in the environment that can be used by people
  22. nuclear
    deriving destructive energy from releasing atomic energy
  23. ozone
    a colorless gas that is a screen for ultraviolet radiation
  24. pesticide
    a chemical used to kill destructive insects or animals
  25. petroleum
    a dark oil consisting mainly of hydrocarbons
  26. pollutant
    waste matter that contaminates the water, air, or soil
  27. pollution
    contamination of the natural environment
  28. reclamation
    the conversion of wasteland into land suitable for use
  29. recycle
    use again after processing
  30. renewable
    capable of being replaced
  31. reservoir
    lake used to store water for community use
  32. salinity
    the relative proportion of salt in a solution
  33. solar
    relating to the sun or utilizing the energies of the sun
  34. sustainable
    using methods that do not cause harm to the environment
  35. turbine
    an engine that causes a bladed rotor to rotate
Created on Wed Aug 04 13:28:39 EDT 2021 (updated Wed Aug 04 14:55:19 EDT 2021)

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