Theme 3

• Abstraction


  The process of taking water from the ground by non-natural means, ie. drilling and pumping
• Afforestation


  The mass planting of trees on a large-scale. Done for a variety of reasons; to combat desertification, prevent flooding
• Agri-business


  A large business or company that deals with agriculture and/or farming
• Agro-forestry


  The process of combining agriculture and forestry
• Aquaculture


  Instead of rearing traditional cattle, farmers raise fish and other water based creatures for food
• Aquifer


  A rock structure which will hold water. Water can be abstracted from the rock by drilling boreholes
• Arable


  Farming that involves the growing and harvesting of crops
• Bio-diversity


  When there is a huge variety in plant and animal life
• Biomes


  Large ecosystems at the global scale where the climate and vegetation is uniform
• Blue water


  Water taken from the ground or surface. Is yet to be used after being stored in the ground for a significant period of time
• Cultivation


  Another name for the growing of crops for agriculture
• Deforestation


  The mass chopping down of trees, and their removal, without thought or action of replanting
• Desertification


  The process were once fertile land becomes desert. Soil structure has been weakened, and the top layer of soil and nutrients have been washed away
• Desiccation


  The drying out of the ground. Results in cracks appearing at the surface
• Discharge


  When water exits the ground. Usually due to the water table intersecting the ground
• Drought


  A period of time, longer than usual, without rain
• Ecosystem


  A system of links between plants and animals (the living community) and the habitats where they live, including the non-living environment
• Ecotourism


  A form of tourism that aims to prevent damage to the environment, and actually improve it. Can have social and economic sustainability targets too
• Fallow


  Allowing a patch of farming land to rest and regain its nutrients
• Famine


  A period of time without food. Caused by crop failure and an inability to produce the food
• Green water


  Water directly harvested from precipitation and stored. Removes the need to take even more fresh/clean water from the ground
• Grey water


  The amount of water required to safely dilute pollution to an acceptable level
• Groundwater


  Water stored under the surface. Usually found in aquifers, and can be extracted
• Impermeable


  A material that does not allow water to pass through it due to a lack of cracks or connected pore spaces. The type of material (or rock geology) can have an impact
• Infiltration


  The movement of water into the ground from the surface
• Intensive


  In the context of farming; land is continually used for farming (usually arable) without a rest period. A significant amount of nutrients are used up
• Interception


  When water is prevented from reaching the ground (by leaves), or percolating deep underground (by the roots)
• Irrigation


  The method of diverting water away from a river or stream to water crops
• ITCZ


  Inter-tropical Convergence Zone, a belt of low pressure that circles the Earth near the equator. Brings clouds and rain with it
• Monsoon


  Another name for the wet season
• Nomadic


  The lifestyle in which somebody continually moves around and does not settle down permanently in one place
• Nutrient cycle


  The continual process in which nutrients are taken up by producers (plants/trees), passed on to consumers (animals), and then returned to the ground after death through decomposition
• Over-extraction


  Too much water is removed from the ground
• Pastoral


  The form of farming which focuses on rearing and looking after animals
• Percolation


  The downward movement of water through the ground after it has infiltrated through the surface
• Permeable


  A material that does allow water to pass through it. Composed of cracks or lots of interconnected pores
• Porous


  A material that is able to hold a significant volume of water due to having lots of gaps inside it
• Recharge


  The downward movement of water deeper into the ground, effectively "refilling" the ground with water
• Salinisation


  The process, by which the ground gradually dries out, and salt and other toxic chemicals collect on the surface
• Salinity


  How salty water is (or the ground)