Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
GLOSSARY
GLOSSARY
atmosphere:
The envelope of air
that surrounds the planet.
basin:
A section of Earth that
dips lower than the surrounding
area, where water can be easily
trapped. Also the area of land that
surrounds a river or lake, from
which water drains into the river
or lake.
buoy:
A device that l oats on
water while attached to a cable
that keeps it in one spot.
carbon dioxide:
A gas formed
when fossil fuels are burned; also
written as CO
2
.
channel:
A stretch of water
connecting two areas of land.
climate:
The weather and overall
environmental conditions in a
place as measured over a long
period of time.
converter:
A device that changes
one form of energy into another.
corrosion:
The act of eating
away at something, destroying it
little by little.
ecological:
Concerned with
the relationships between living
things and their environment.
environment:
The land, water,
and air in a particular area.
environmentalist:
A person who
cares about and seeks to protect
nature and the environment.
equator:
An imaginary circle
around the middle of Earth,
halfway between the North and
South Poles.
fossil fuels:
Fuels, such as coal,
natural gas, or oil, that were
formed underground over millions
of years from the remains of
prehistoric plants and animals.
Such fuels are not renewable.
glacier:
A large body of ice that
moves slowly across land.
global warming:
The gradual
warming of Earth's atmosphere
and surface, caused by the
buildup of carbon dioxide and
other greenhouse gases that trap
heat.
greenhouse gases:
Gases that
trap heat from the Sun within the
atmosphere; carbon dioxide is
one of the most common.
hydropower:
Power created from
the energy in moving water.
irrigate:
To supply water to land
so that crops can grow.
kinetic:
Relating to motion.
laboratory:
A place where
scientists do research and conduct
experiments.
natural resources:
Minerals,
plants, or other items that are
found in nature and are taken and
used to make products or produce
energy.
