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| the ocean's benthic environment that extends from a depth of 4000 to 6000 meters. |
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| a type of air pollution that includes acid that falls from the atmostphere as precipitation or as dry acidic particles |
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| pollution caused when sulfuric acid and dangerous dissolved materials such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium wash from coal and metal mines into nearby lakes and streams. |
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| precipitation that is acidic as a result of both sulfur and nitrogen oxides forming acids when they react with water in the atmosphere- partially due to the combustion of coal |
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| a system in which a series of collection devices mounted on a roof or in a field are used to absorb solar energy. Pumps or fans distribute the collected heat. |
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| adverse effects that occur within a short period or after exposure to a toxicant |
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| an evolutionary modification that improves the chances of survival and reproductive success of a population in a given environment |
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| the evolution of a large number of related species from an unspecialized ancestral organism |
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| a phenomenon in which two or more pollutants interact in such a way that their combined effects are what one would expect given the individual effects of each component of the mixture |
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| the process by which cells use oxygen to break down organic molecules into waste products (CO2 and H2O) with the release of energy that can be used for biological work |
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| tiny particles of natural and human-produced air pollution that are so small they remain sustpended in the atmosphere for days or even weeks |
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| atmospheric cooling that occurs as a result of aerosol pollution |
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| the number and proportion of people at each age in a population |
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| forestry and agricultural techniques that are used to improve degraded areas; in this practice, tree and crops are often planted together |
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| the topsoil;; located just beneath the O-horizon of the soil. Rich in various kinds of decomposing matter |
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| various chemicals present in high enough levels in the atmosphere to harm humans, other naimals, plants, or materials. |
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| the proportional reflectance of Earth's surface; glaciers and ice sheets have high numbers of this |
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| a liquid fuel such as methanol or ethanol which may be used in internal combustion engines; mixing gasoline with 10 % ethanol produces a cleaner-burning mixture known as gasohol |
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| unicellular or simple multicellular photosynthetic organisms; important producers in aquatic ecosystems |
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| a distinctive ecosystem located in the higher elevations of mountains, above the tree line, characteristic vegetation includes grasses, sedges, and small tufted plants |
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| the height of a thing above sea level |
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| organic compounds that are linked together to form proteins |
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| the conversion of nitrogen-containing organic compounds to ammonia and ammonium ions by certain bacteria in the soil. Part of the nitrogen cycle |
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| a plant that grows, reproduces, and dies in one growing season |
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| a phenomenon in which two or more pollutants interact in such a way that their combined effects are less severe than the sum of their individual effects |
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| the highest grade of coal; has the highest known heat content and burns the cleanest of any crade of coal. Also known as hard coal |
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| an upward folding of rock layers or strata |
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| food additive that prevents oxidation of food molecules |
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| the rearing of aquatic organisms, either freshwater or marine, for human consumption. |
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| a large pipe or conduit constructed to carry water from a distant source |
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| the underground caverns and porous layers of underground rock in which groundwater is stored |
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| the removal by humans of more groundwater than can be recharged by precipitation or melting snow |
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| a fragile ecosystem in which lack of precipitation limits plant growth. Arid lands are found in both temperate and tropical regions |
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| artificial eutrophication |
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| overnourishment of an aquatic ecosystem by nutrients such at nitrates and phosphates. accelerated due to human activities such as agriculture and discharge from sewage treatment plants |
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| a technique in which sperm collected from a suitable male of a rare species is used to artificially impregnate a female |
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| the incorporation of a substance into the cells of an organism |
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| the gaseous envelope surrounding Earth |
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| the smallest quantity of an element that retains the chemical properties of that element; composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons. |
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| a number that represents the sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom. Represents the relative mass of an atom. |
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| a number that represents the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom. Each element has its own. |
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| a substance that releases hydrogen ions (protons) in water. It has a sour taste and turn blue litmus paper red. |
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