Environmental Terms Glossary & Definitions

Eager to understand the wide variety of environmental terms used in modern society? You’ve come to the right place! Check out our glossary below to stay on top of all things environmental.

A

Autotrophic

An autotroph is an organism (life form) that is able to produce nutritional organic substances such as proteins, fats and carbohydrates, from simple inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide. Green plants, certain algae, and bacteria are considered to be autotrophic.

Acid deposition

Acid deposition occurs when acidic substances from the atmosphere are deposited on the Earth’s surface. These deposits include both wet deposition, where acidic compounds become incorporated into precipitation such as rain or snow, and dry deposition, where particles and gasses settle on surfaces without precipitation.

B

Biodiversity

The term biodegradable has become a common term for consumers as well as environmental scientists. Scientifically, it refers to materials or substances that can be broken down, and then decomposed by natural processes into simpler, non-harmful compounds. Microorganisms such as bacteria or fungi carry out this decomposition into organic matter. For consumers, it means choosing biodegradable packaging where possible to reduce environmental impact.

Biodegradable

C

Conservation

Conservation refers to the intentional and sustainable management of natural resources, ecosystems, and biodiversity to ensure their preservation for present and future generations. The goal of conservation is to strike a balance between human activities and the protection of the environment, promoting responsible use and stewardship of natural resources to prevent degradation and loss.

Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ)

In 1970 the U.S. Congress passed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which recognized the impact of human activity – urbanization, industrialization, growth in technology and population and industrial processes on the environment. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), a division of the Executive Office of the President, was tasked by NEPA with ensuring all federal environmental efforts in the United States.

D

Distillation

Distillation is a process that causes the physical separation of the components of a liquid. It involves the heating of a liquid to create vapor, and then cooling the vapor to obtain a purified liquid or substance. Distillation is commonly used in various industries, including chemistry, petrochemicals, and the production of alcoholic beverages.

E

Effluent

Effluent refers to liquid waste from wastewater treatment plants, sewers, industry or agricultural runoff that flows into surface waters such as rivers and seas. This liquid waste may contain various pollutants, chemicals, or contaminants, and its proper management is crucial to prevent environmental harm. It should be noted that even treated effluent may be harmful to the environment depending on the treatment process it has undergone.

Environmental remediation

Environmental remediation refers to the process of mitigating or reversing environmental damage to restore ecosystems, soil, water, or air to acceptable and sustainable conditions. This interdisciplinary field employs various techniques and technologies to address pollution, contamination, or other forms of environmental degradation caused by human activities or natural disasters.

F

Fast Fashion

The demand for trendy and inexpensive fashion by consumers has led to the concept of “fast fashion.” Fast fashion involves the rapid production and quick turnover of cheap clothing frequently outsourced to factories in countries without legislation preventing the exploitation of workers or prohibiting child labor. The use of low-cost material raises questions over sustainability of the environment. Exploitation of adults and children to produce this clothing brings into question ethical practices in the fashion industry.

Fracking

The term ‘fracking’ is derived from hydraulic fracturing. It refers to a process to extract gas and oil from deep underground. First, high-pressure fluid is injected into rock formations which fractures the rock, releasing trapped hydrocarbons (e.g oil and gas). While fracking has increased domestic energy production in the U.S., it has raised environmental and health concerns due to water contamination, air pollution, and the large volumes of wastewater generated by the process.

G

Great Pacific Garbage Patch

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a vast area in the North Pacific Ocean characterized by a high concentration of marine debris, consisting largely of plastic. It is not a solid mass but rather a collection of microplastics, debris, and larger items brought together by ocean currents. The patch is a striking example of the environmental impact of plastic pollution and highlights the challenges of managing waste in the oceans.

Green architecture

With greater understanding of and concern for environmental sustainability, the idea of green architecture has become a feature of modern society. Also referred to as sustainable or eco-friendly architecture, it is an approach to designing buildings to minimize their environmental impact.

H

Habitat Destruction

Any changes to or destruction of a species’ natural habitat is known as habitat destruction. These changes or destruction of natural habitats is usually caused by human activities. Once there are changes to a species’ habitat there is, by extension, a danger to biodiversity. Human activities that drive changes to or destruction of natural habitats include deforestation, growing urbanization, and agricultural practices. Habitat destruction of natural habitats undermines conservation efforts and environmental sustainability.

Half-life

The term half-life is usually associated with fields like nuclear physics, chemistry and medicine. However, reducing a quantity by half its initial value is a simple definition of the term.

I

Invasive Species

Invasive species are organisms, usually animal or plant life that are introduced into new environments that are not their natural habitat. These species overpopulate their new habitat and cause ecological and sometimes economic harm to the environment.

Irradiated Food

Irradiated food refers to food products that have undergone a process called food irradiation. This process involves the application of ionizing radiation to food, in which bacteria, parasites, insects, and other organisms present in the food are destroyed. This process also extends the shelf life of the food. While irradiation is widely used by the food industry, there remains debate around its safety and nutritional impact by consumers and scientists.

J

Jet Stream

The jet stream is a fast flowing narrow air stream that flows from west to east around the globe. Jet streams are caused by temperature and pressure differences. They play an important role in influencing weather systems by moving air masses and storms.

Just Transition

The climate crisis currently demands that societies transition away from reliance on energy obtained from fossil fuels such as oil, petroleum and gas to clean energy like solar or wind energy. Different countries are at different stages in their ability to transition. Just transition refers to strategies that will ensure that in the transition from fossil fuels, economic losses to workers in the fossil fuel industry will be compensated or retrained for jobs in other sectors.

K

Kelp Forests

Kelp is another name for seaweed. This brown colored seaweed grows to enormous sizes and becomes known as “kelp forests”. Kelp forests are found along coasts providing both habitats and food for a variety of marine species. In this way kelp forests support the biodiversity of our planet. While normally found in colder waters, the Charles Darwin Foundation has recently discovered tropical kelp forests just south of the Galapagos Islands.

Keystone Species

In an ecosystem, a keystone species has an impact on an ecosystem that is out of proportion to its size or the quantity of that species present in the ecosystem. The presence of this keystone species is critical for maintaining the ecological balance and diversity of the ecosystem. Should this keystone species be removed the ecosystem will suffer changes that may result in the decline of the different species in the ecosystem or the destruction of the ecosystem.

L

Land Degradation Neutrality

In the fight against climate change, Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) is an internationally agreed on target to achieve a balance (neutrality) between the amount of land being degraded and the amount of land being restored. Ultimately, the goal is to reverse the loss of productive land completely and ensure the preservation of those ecosystems dependent on it. These goals and strategies are outlined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Liquefaction

Liquefaction is the term used to describe the change in soil to a liquid-like state. This change can occur during events like earthquakes because the term describes the vibrations and tremors that occur in the Earth. The breaking and cracking of rocks seismic events in turn allows for water to saturate the soil. Liquefaction can lead to ground instability, surface rupture, and damage to buildings and infrastructure.

M

Marine Pollution

When harmful substances, ranging from industrial waste to oil spills to plastic waste, enter the seas, the result is marine pollution. These substances negatively impact ocean ecosystems which in turn threaten the survival of marine life as well as the health of humans who depend on marine resources.

Microplastics

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, often measuring less than five millimeters in size, that result from the breakdown of larger plastic items or are intentionally manufactured at a microscopic scale. These particles can be found in various environments, including oceans, rivers, soil, the bodies of people and animals, and even in the air. Microplastics pose environmental concerns due to their persistence, potential for ingestion by wildlife, and the broader implications for ecosystems and human health.

N

Nuclear Winter

Nuclear winter is a theoretical climatic effect that could occur after a large-scale nuclear war. It is characterized by a significant drop in temperatures and reduced sunlight due to the injection of massive amounts of soot and debris into the upper atmosphere. The resulting atmospheric changes could lead to a global cooling effect, similar to a so-called volcanic winter. This concept has been studied to understand the potential environmental consequences and societal impacts of a large-scale nuclear conflict.

O

Organophosphates

These are a group of chemicals that contain phosphorus, oxygen, and carbon. They are widely used as pesticides in agriculture to control pests and insects. They work by stopping the proper functioning of the nervous system in both insects and humans. While effective in pest control, organophosphates have raised concerns due to their potential impact on human health and the environment.

Ozone Layer Depletion

Ozone layer depletion refers to the thinning of the stratospheric ozone layer, particularly in the region containing the ozone (O3) molecule. Human-made chemicals, such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and other ozone-depleting substances, have been identified as primary contributors to the depletion of the ozone layer in recent decades. The ozone layer plays a crucial role in blocking harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, and its depletion poses risks to human health, ecosystems, and climate.

These glossary entries have been produced by ICSD staff, with the assistance of ChatGPT v. 3.5.

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