Vocab

• Abiotic factors are physical factors such as light, temperature, and water
• Acidification is a process in which the pH drops as the conditions become more acidic
• An acidophile is an organism that thrives under acidic conditions, with many acidophiles being bacteria or archaea
• Acoustic deterrent devices are used to deter mammals by using sound, such as deterring small cetaceans from fishing nets or seals from fish farms
• Acoustic fatigue is the stress cracking of a material caused by repetitive vibrations induced by sound
• Acoustic monitoring involves monitoring environmental sounds to detect the presence of dolphins, whales, or bats
• An activated carbon filter reduces emissions of pollutants by adsorbing complex organic molecules onto the surface of activated carbon particles
• Activation products are atomic nuclei that become radioactive by absorbing neutrons, changing them into less stable nuclei that emit ionising radiation
• Active traffic management (ATM) is a method of controlling road lane usage and speed limits to smooth traffic flow and reduce congestion
• Acute exposure refers to exposure to a substance or symptoms that appear rapidly
• Adsorption is the process where a substance fixes onto a surface
• An aerobic process takes place in the presence of oxygen
• Aerodynamics is the study of airflow over surfaces to design surfaces that reduce wind resistance, turbulence, friction, and noise generation
• Afforestation involves planting trees to increase the area of forest
• Albedo is a measure of the reflectivity of a surface, affecting the local climate
• The Antarctic Treaty (1959) is an international agreement signed by many countries to protect and manage Antarctica
• Anthropogenic describes outcomes caused by human activities
• The aphotic zone refers to deeper layers of water that receive no sunlight because it is absorbed by shallower layers
• Aquaculture is the artificial production of aquatic organisms, including fish farming
• An aquifer is a rock that contains water abstracted by humans
• Archaea are microorganisms similar to bacteria, including the first life-forms to develop on Earth
• Artificial insemination is a form of selective breeding where semen is collected from a chosen male to be inserted artificially into the chosen female to cause her to become pregnant
• As low as reasonably achievable (ALARA) is an approach to pollution control where levels are kept as low as is practically achievable, considering economic and technological factors
• The atmosphere refers to the gases surrounding the Earth, characterized by temperature, density, turbulence, and composition
• Baffle mounds are embankments that absorb and deflect noise, especially around mines, airports, and major roads
• A bag filter is a method of reducing atmospheric pollution caused by smoke and particulate matter
• A barrage is a dam built across an estuary to generate tidal power
• Barrier crops are grown around another crop to protect it, usually by producing a scent that deters pests
• A beating tray is a method of sampling invertebrates on the branches of bushes and small trees
• The Becquerel (Bq) is the unit of activity of a radioactive source, with 1 Bq equal to 1 nuclear decay per second
• Best available technology not entailing excessive cost (BATNEEC) is an approach to pollution control using technology that achieves the lowest emission levels without excessive cost
• Bioaccumulation is the increase in concentration of a substance in living tissue as it is absorbed and stored faster than it is broken down and excreted
• Biocapacity is a measure of the biological productivity of an area
• Biodegradable materials can be broken down by living organisms, usually bacteria
• Biodiversity is a measure of the variety and abundance of wildlife species
• A biogeochemical cycle is a series of linked processes that use and re-use elements as they move between biotic and abiotic reservoirs
• Bioleaching is a method of using bacteria to dissolve metals from low-grade ores
• Biological control involves using living organisms, usually predators or pathogens, to control pests
• A biological corridor links habitats so that animals can move between them
• Biomagnification is the progressive bioaccumulation of a material along a food chain