Definitions

• Acidification:

  The gradual reduction of pH of

  the oceans, due to dissolving carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Afforestation is...


  The planting of trees and vegetation, aiming to increase forest cover.
• An anticyclone is a system of high pressure, causing high temperatures and unseasonably high evaporation rates.
• Aquifer is a permeable or porous rock which stores water.
• Biofuel refers to...

  The burning of crops and vegetation for electricity and heat.
• CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage):

  The capture of carbon dioxide emissions directly from factories, pumped into disused mines opposed to the atmosphere
• Carbon Fluxes is...


  Movement of carbon between stores.
• Carbon Neutral is...


  A process that has no net addition of carbon dioxide to the environment.
• Carbon Stores are...


  Places where carbon accumulated for a period of time- such as rocks or plant matter.
• Channel flow is the water flowing in a rivulet, stream or river.
• Choke Points:

  Points in the logistics of energy and fuel that are prone to restriction.
• Combustion:

  The process of burning a substance, in the presence of oxygen, to release energy.
• Convectional Precipitation entails...


  Solar radiation heating the air above the ground, which causes it to rise, then cool and condense forming precipitation (often as thunderstorms).
• Cryosphere is...


  The global water volume locked up within a frozen state- i.e. snow and ice.
• Decomposition:

  The break down of matter, often by a decomposer which releases carbon dioxide through their own respiration.
• The geographic definition of depression is..


  A system of low pressure, with fronts of precipitation where low and high pressure air masses meet.
• Desalination Plant:

  The conversion of seawater to freshwater- suitable for human consumption.
• Desublimation is...


  The change of state of water from gas to solid, without being a liquid- the opposite to sublimation.
• Drainage Basin:

  The area of land drained by a river and its tributarie.
• Drainage Density:

  The total length of all rivers and streams, divided by the area of the drainage basin.
• A Drought is...


  An extended period of deficient rainfall relative to the statistical average for the region (UN).
• Economic Water Security:

  When water resources are available but insufficient economic wealth limits access to it.
• Energy Mix:

  The composition of a country's energy sources.
• Energy Security refers to...


  The ownership and full control of a country's energy source, production and transportation.
• Energy Pathway:

  The movement of energy from its extraction or source, through pipes, freight logistics or cabling.
• Energy players are the key companies and individuals who own, distribute and sell energy and energy sources.
• Enhanced Greenhouse Effect is..


  The build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, reducing the amount of solar radiation reflected into space. Influenced by human factors.
• ENSO Cycles:

  El Niño Southern Oscillations- naturally occurring phenomena involving the movement of warm water in the Equatorial Pacific. Happens every 2-7 years.
• Evapotranspiration is...


  The combined total moisture transferred from the Earth to the atmosphere, through evaporation and transpiration.
• Frontal Precipitation:

  Where air masses of different temperatures meet at a front, one mass will be forced over another, causing precipitation beneath the front.
• Global Hydrological Cycle is...

  The continuous transfer of water between land, atmosphere and oceans. Earth is a closed system.
• Groundwater Flow:

  Water moving horizontally through permeable or porous rock due to gravity.
• Hydrological Drought means...


  Insufficient soil moisture to meet the needs of vegetation (crops, trees, plants) at a particular time
• Infiltration is...


  The movement of water vertically through the pores in soil.
• Integrated Drainage Basin Management:

  Establishing a frame of coordinated efforts between administrations (e.g. local governments) and stakeholder to achieve balanced management of a basin (World Bank).
• Inorganic Carbon is...


  Carbon stored in carbonated rocks.
• Interception is where...


  Raindrops are prevention from falling directly onto the ground, instead hitting things like the leaves of a tree.
• Meteorological Drought:

  When long-term precipitation trends are below average.
• Monsoons are...


  The drastic variatoon between wet and dry seasons for sub-tropical areas, caused by a changed prevailing wind. Can lead to annual flooding.
• Non-Renewable refers to...


  A source of energy that can only be used once to generate electricity or takes thousands of years to replace.