Interpreting Graphs

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Ecolabeling Noun

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[ee-koh-ley-buh-ling]

Back

Ecolabeling

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A voluntary method of environmental performance certification identifying products or services proven to be environmentally preferable within a specific category.

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Example: An ecolabel on a product rates its environmental impact, like carbon footprint and water use. This label is a simple graph showing these ratings.

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Economic Incentives Noun

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[ek-uh-nom-ik in-sen-tivs]

Back

Economic Incentives

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Financial motivations, such as tax breaks or grants, offered to businesses or individuals to encourage environmentally friendly activities.

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Example: This bar chart shows how an economic incentive, a tax credit for installing solar panels, decreases over time, encouraging people to invest sooner.

Front

Subsidies Noun

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[suhb-si-dees]

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Subsidies

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A sum of money granted by the government to assist an industry so a service may remain low-priced.

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Example: This bar chart shows government farm spending (subsidies) in billions of dollars, comparing different categories between 2022 and 2023, teaching how to interpret data.

Front

Water Quality Noun

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[waw-ter kwol-i-tee]

Back

Water Quality

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The measure of water's condition relative to the requirements of one or more species or for any human purpose.

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Example: This diagram categorizes water quality into three types: chemical, physical, and biological, but it is not a graph and does not show data.

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Infrastructure Noun

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[in-fruh-struhk-cher]

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Infrastructure

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The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities, like buildings and roads, needed for a society's operation.

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Example: This diagram shows that public infrastructure consists of essential facilities (like power and water) that are maintained by the government for community use.

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Sanitation Noun

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[san-i-tey-shuhn]

Back

Sanitation

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The provision of facilities and services for the safe disposal of human waste and maintenance of hygienic conditions.

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Example: This photo shows children washing their hands, a key practice in sanitation, but it does not illustrate how to interpret data or graphs about sanitation.

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Wastewater Noun

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[weyst-waw-ter]

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Wastewater

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Water that has been adversely affected in quality by human influence, comprising liquid waste from various sources.

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Example: This diagram shows the urban water cycle, where water from homes and industry becomes wastewater, is sent to a collection system, and then cleaned at a wastewater treatment plant.

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Cumulative Adjective

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[kyoo-myuh-luh-tiv]

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Cumulative

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Increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions over a period of time.

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Example: This graph shows cumulative snowfall, where the line goes up as the total amount of snow adds up over the winter season.