UNIT 1: What is Environmental Science? P.6-8
Biosphere p. 6: (n) the part of the Earth's environment where life exists.
Example: Our biosphere is the global sum of all ecosystems.
Chain p. 6: (n) a set of related things.
Example: A food chain is the flow of energy from one organism to the next.
Deposit p. 6: (n) a natural accumulation especially of oil.
Example: Huge coal deposits have been found in western Africa.
Ecosystem p. 6: (n) all the living things in an area and the way they affect each other and the environment.
Example: Pollution can have disastrous effects on the delicately balanced ecosystem.
Greenhouse p. 6: (n) relating or caused by the greenhouse effect.
Example: Greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise as the world economy grows.
Green belt p. 6: (n) an area outside the city where development is restricted to protest the environment.
Example: The green belt was created to stop urban areas spreading into the countryside.
Plant p. 6: (n) a construction that is designed to use the available resources of the environment to create something new or useful.
Example: They haven't built any new nuclear power plants since the late 1980s.
Ultraviolet p. 6: (adj) describes light that has a wavelength which is after the violet end of the range of colours that can be seen by humans.
Example: The sun emits ultraviolet light.
Web p. 6: (n) things which are linked to each other; a complex of interrelated things.
Example: A food web extends the food chain concept from a simple pathway to a complex network of interactions.
Atmospheric science p. 8: (n) study the different types of gasses in the atmosphere.
Example: Atmospheric Science is an umbrella term for the study of the atmosphere.
Aquifer p. 8: (n) a layer of rock, sand or earth that contains water or allows water to pass through it.
Example: An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials.
Ecology p. 8: (n) the relationships between the air, land, water, animals, plants, etc., usually of a particular area, or the scientific study of this.
Example: The oil spill caused terrible damage to the fragile ecology of the coast.
Environmental assessment p. 8: (n) a process of appraisal through which environment protection and sustainable development are considered.
Example: Environmental assessments are key vehicles for promoting the science.
Environment chemistry p. 8: (n) studies the chemical alterations in the environment.
Example: Environmental chemistry involves understanding how the uncontaminated environment works.
Filtration process p. 8: (n) Water management equipment.
Example: The filtration process involves the flow of water through a granular bed, of sand or another suitable media, at a low speed.
Example: The formal discipline of geosciences may include the study of the atmosphere, oceans and biosphere, as well as the solid earth.
Reservoir p. 8: (n) a place for storing liquid, especially a natural or artificial lake providing water for a city or other area.
Example: Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam.
Water treatment plant p. 8: (n) describes those processes used to make water more acceptable for a desired end-use.
Example: The goal of all water treatment plants is to remove existing contaminants in the water.
UNIT 2: What Do Environmental Scientists Do? P.14-19
Avert p. 17: (v) to prevent something bad from happening; avoid.
Example: They tried to avert the disaster.
Combination p. 17: (n) the mixture you get when two or more things are combined.
Example: This drug can be safely used in combination with other medicines.
Compile p. 17: (v) to collect information from different places and arrange it in a book, report or list.
Example: We're compiling some facts and figures for a documentary on the subject.
Compliance p. 17: (n) when people obey an order, rule or request.
Example: The company said that it had always acted in compliance with environmental laws.
Confront p. 17: (v) to face, meet or deal with a difficult situation or person.
Example: It's an issue we'll have to confront at some point, no matter how unpleasant it is.
Drought p. 17: (n) a long period when there is little or no rain.
Example: This year a severe drought has ruined the crops.
Fauna p. 17: (n) all the animals that live wild in a particular area.
Example: An expedition to explore the flora and fauna of Hornchurch Wood.
Flora p. 17: (n) all the plants of a particular place or from a particular time in history.
Example: The scientists will explore the flora of the Balearic Islands.
Hazardous p. 17: (adj) dangerous.
Example: This journey in the Amazon is hazardous.
Measures p. 17: (n) Dimensions, quantity, or capacity as ascertained by comparison with a standard.
Example: The standard kilogram is maintained as a measure of mass.
Nuclear p. 17: (n) being or using the power produced when the nucleus of an atom is divided or joined to another nucleus.
Example: Nuclear power is generated using Uranium.
Soil p. 17: (n) the material on the surface of the ground in which plants grow.
Example: Soil is a natural body consisting of layers.
Sustainable p. 17: (adj) causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time.
Example: A large international meeting was held with the aim of promoting sustainable development in all countries.
UNIT 3: The Atmosphere P. 22
Aerosol p. 22: (n) a metal container in which liquids are kept under pressure and forced out in a spray.
Example: An aerosol is a suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas.
Altitude p. 22: (n) height above sea level.
Example: We are currently flying at an altitude of 15 000 meters.
Atom p. 22: (n) the smallest unit of any chemical element, consisting of a positive nucleus surrounded by negative electrons. Atoms can combine to form a molecule.
Example: A molecule of carbon dioxide (CO2) has one carbon atom and two oxygen atoms.
Bromine p. 22: (n) a chemical element that occurs as a strong-smelling, corrosive dark-red liquid that changes easily into a gas, used in photographic materials and other industries.
Example: Bromine is rarer than about three-quarters of elements in the Earth's crust.
Composition p. 22: (n) the parts, substances; that something is made of.
Example: The composition of the atmosphere.
Exhaust p. 22: (v) use something completely.
Example: How long will it be before the world's fuel supplies are exhausted?
Molecule p. 22: (n) the simplest unit of a chemical substance, usually a group of two or more atoms.
Example: Molecules are made up of atoms that are stuck together in a particular shape or form.
Pesticide p. 22: (n) a chemical substance used to kill harmful insects, small animals, wild plants and other unwanted organisms.
Example: The pesticides that farmers spray on their crops kill pests but they can also damage people's health.
Pollutant p. 22: (n) a substance that pollutes.
Example: Sulphur dioxide is one of several pollutants that are released into the atmosphere by coal-fired power stations.
Radiation p. 22: (n) a form of energy that comes from a nuclear reaction and that can be very dangerous to health; energy from heat or light that you cannot see.
Example: Many servicemen suffered radiation sickness after the early atomic tests.
Smog p. 22: (n) air pollution, especially in cities, that is caused by a mixture of smoke, gases and chemicals.
Example: As we flew into the airport, we could see a murky yellow smog hovering over the city.
Ultraviolet p. 22: (adj) describes light that has a wavelength which is after the violet end of the range of colours that can be seen by humans.
Example: The sun emits ultraviolet light.
UNIT 7: Recycling waste P. 54-59
Deal with p. 54: (phrasal verb) to talk to someone or meet someone, especially as part of your job.
Example: She's used to dealing with difficult customers.
Evolution p. 55: (n) the way in which living things change and develop over millions of years; a gradual process of change and development.
Example: The evolution of language.
Handle p. 55: (n) a part of an object designed for holding, moving or carrying the object easily.
Example: She turned the handle and slowly opened the door.
Initiative p. 55: (n) a new action or movement, often intended to solve a problem.
Example: The peace initiative was welcomed by both sides.
Leaflet p. 55: (n) a piece of paper which gives you information or advertises something.
Example: A leaflet about the new bus services came through the door today.
Recycling p. 55: (n) when paper, glass, plastic, etc. is put through a process so that it can be used again.
Example: Some ways to encourage recycling.
Simultaneously p. 55: (adv) happening or being done at exactly the same time.
Example: Two children answered the teacher's question simultaneously.
Variety p. 54: (n) the characteristic of often changing and being different.
Example: When preparing meals, you need to think about variety and taste as well as nutritional value.
Waste p. 55: (n) an unnecessary or wrong use of money, substances, time, energy, abilities.
Example: That meeting achieved absolutely nothing - it was a complete waste of time.
