Environment & Climate

20 words

1. 1

   scarcitynoun/ˈskeəsəti/

   the state of being in short supply; not having enough of something (e.g., water, food)

   “Water scarcity is forcing farmers to change their crops.”

2. 2

   Anthropocenenoun/ˈænθrəpəˌsiːn/

   A proposed geological epoch marked by significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems.

   “Debates about the Anthropocene focus on when humans began to alter the planet irreversibly.”

3. 3

   anthropogenicadjective/ˌænθrəpəˈdʒɛnɪk/

   caused by human activity (used especially for environmental impacts)

   “The report concluded that most recent warming was anthropogenic.”

4. 4

   desertificationnoun/ˌdɛzəˌtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

   The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically because of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.

   “Intensive grazing and repeated droughts have accelerated desertification in the region.”

5. 5

   sprawlnoun/verb/sprɔːl/

   the uncontrolled spreading of urban development into surrounding rural areas

   “Uncontrolled sprawl has turned once-green fields into suburbs full of identical houses.”

6. 6

   wetlandnoun/ˈwɛtˌlænd/

   an area of land that is regularly covered by water, such as a marsh or swamp, important for wildlife

   “Wetlands act as natural buffers against floods.”

7. 7

   eutrophicationnoun/juːˌtrɒfɪˈkeɪʃən/

   excessive nutrient enrichment of water bodies that leads to algal blooms and oxygen depletion

   “Eutrophication caused a dramatic decline in fish populations.”

8. 8

   heatwavenoun/ˈhiːtˌweɪv/

   a prolonged period of excessively hot weather

   “The region suffered its worst heatwave in decades.”

9. 9

   stewardshipnoun/ˈstjuːədʃɪp/

   responsible management and care of resources or the environment

   “Good forest stewardship balances conservation and local livelihoods.”

10. 10

    microplasticnoun/ˌmaɪkrəʊˈplæstɪk/

    very small pieces of plastic (usually under 5 mm) present in the environment

    “Scientists have found microplastics in tap water and seafood.”

11. 11

    salinizationnoun/ˌsælɪnəˈzeɪʃən/

    The process by which water or soil becomes salty, often because of irrigation, seawater intrusion, or poor drainage.

    “Irrigation without proper drainage can lead to salinization and crop failure.”

12. 12

    remediationnoun/rɪˌmiːdɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/

    the process of cleaning up or repairing environmental contamination so that it is safe for people and ecosystems

    “Soil remediation at the old industrial site took several years and cost millions.”

13. 13

    biofuelnoun/ˈbaɪəʊˌfjuːəl/

    a fuel produced from living matter (such as plant material) used as an alternative to fossil fuels

    “Many countries encourage the production of biofuel to reduce dependence on oil.”

14. 14

    compostingnoun / gerund/ˈkɒmpɒstɪŋ/

    the process of turning organic waste (food scraps, leaves) into compost

    “Household composting reduces the amount of waste sent to landfill.”

15. 15

    biomagnificationnoun/ˌbaɪəʊˌmæɡnɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

    The process by which concentrations of toxic substances increase in organisms at higher levels of a food chain.

    “Biomagnification explains why large predatory fish often contain high levels of mercury.”

16. 16

    subsidencenoun/səbˈsaɪdəns/

    The sinking or downward settling of the ground's surface, often because of water withdrawal, mining, or soil compaction.

    “Groundwater extraction has led to subsidence in several coastal cities.”

17. 17

    greenbeltnoun/ˈɡriːnˌbɛlt/

    an area of open land around a city where building is restricted to preserve green space and limit urban sprawl

    “The council voted to expand the greenbelt to protect farmland from developers.”

18. 18

    insulationnoun/ˌɪnsjʊˈleɪʃən/

    material used to prevent the transfer of heat, sound, or electricity; in buildings, it reduces heat loss

    “Improving insulation in older houses reduces heating costs significantly.”

19. 19

    retrofittingnoun/gerund/ˌriːtrəˈfɪtɪŋ/

    the process of adding new technology or features to older systems, especially to improve energy efficiency

    “Retrofitting old council flats with double glazing cut heat loss dramatically.”

20. 20

    albedonoun/ælˈbiːdəʊ/

    The proportion of incoming sunlight reflected from a surface; surfaces with high albedo reflect more solar radiation.

    “Snow has a high albedo, which helps keep polar regions cooler.”