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Ecology and the Environment Ch 4
Interactive Science Series
32
Science
7th Grade
09/29/2017

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Cards

Term
litter
Definition
the top layer of soil that consists of dead leaves and grass
Term
topsoil
Definition
mixture of rock fragments, nutrients, water, air, and decaying animal and plant matter
Term
subsoil
Definition
contains rock fragments, water, and air, but less animal and plant matter
Term
bedrock
Definition
rock that makes up Earth's crust
Term
erosion
Definition
the process by which water, wind, or ice moves particles of rock or soil.
Term
nutrient depletion
Definition
when the soil becomes less fertile
Term
fertilizers
Definition
include nutrients that may help crops grow
Term
desertification
Definition
the advance of desert like conditions into areas that were previously fertile
Term
drought
Definition
a period when less rain than normal falls in an area
Term
land reclamation
Definition
the process of restoring land to a more productive state
Term
municipal solid waste
Definition
waste produced in homes, businesses, schools, and the community
Term
incineration
Definition
the burning of solid waste
Term
pollutant
Definition
any substance that causes pollution
Term
leachate
Definition
a polluted liquid
Term
sanitary landfill
Definition
holds municipal solid waste, construction debris, and some types of agricultural and industrial waste
Term
recycling
Definition
the process of reclaiming raw materials and reusing them to create new products
Term
biodegradable
Definition
materials that can be broken down and recycled by bacteria and other decomposers
Term
hazardous waste
Definition
and materials harmful to human health or the environment
Term
emissions
Definition
pollutants in the air
Term
photochemical smog
Definition
a thick, brownish haze formed when certain gases in the air react with sunlight
Term
ozone
Definition
a toxic form of oxygen
Term
temperature inversion
Definition
a layer of warm air prevents the rising air from escaping
Term
acid rain
Definition
precipitation that is more acidic than normal because of air pollution
Term
radon
Definition
colorless, odorless gas that is radioactive
Term
ozone layer
Definition
a layer of the upper atmosphere about 15-30 km above Earth's surface
Term
chlorofluorocarbons
Definition
human made gases that contain chlorine and fluorine
Term
groundwater
Definition
water stored in soil and rock beneath Earth's surface
Term
pesticides
Definition
chemicals that kill crop-destroying organisms
Term
sewage
Definition
water and human wastes that are washed down sinks, showers, and toilets
Term
sediment
Definition
particles of rock and sand
Term
nodules
Definition
a lump on the ocean floor that forms when metals build up around pieces of shell
Term
upwelling
Definition
the movement of cold water upward from the deep ocean
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