Environmental Science

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Environmental Science Noun

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[en-vahy-ruhn-men-tl sahy-uhns]

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Environmental Science

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The objective, unbiased pursuit of knowledge about the workings of the environment and our interactions with it.

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Example: This image shows scientists collecting data by measuring a tree in a forest, a key activity in environmental science to monitor ecosystem health.

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Environmentalism Noun

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[en-vahy-ruhn-men-tl-iz-uhm]

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Environmentalism

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A social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world from the negative impacts of human activities.

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Example: This image shows a bird harmed by an oil spill, representing how environmentalism is a movement to protect nature from the negative effects of human pollution.

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Renewable Resources Noun

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[ri-noo-uh-buhl ree-sawr-siz]

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Renewable Resources

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Natural resources, such as sunlight and wind, that are naturally replenished over short periods of time.

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Example: This image shows how wind, a renewable resource, is captured by turbines to generate electricity, which is then sent to homes and businesses through power lines.

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Nonrenewable Resources Noun

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[non-ri-noo-uh-buhl ree-sawr-siz]

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Nonrenewable Resources

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Natural resources, such as fossil fuels, that are naturally formed much more slowly than they are used.

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Example: This image shows examples of nonrenewable resources like coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy, which are resources that cannot be easily replaced once used.

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Meteorology Noun

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[mee-tee-uh-rol-uh-jee]

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Meteorology

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The scientific study of atmospheric conditions and phenomena, especially as a means of forecasting the weather.

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Example: This diagram shows that as a parcel of air rises in the atmosphere, its temperature drops. When the air temperature cools to the dew point, condensation occurs and a cloud forms.

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Climate Noun

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[klahy-mit]

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Climate

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The long-term weather conditions in a particular area, typically averaged over a period of 30 years or more.

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Example: This diagram shows Earth's main climate zones, like Tropical, Temperate, and Polar, are arranged in bands based on their distance from the equator.

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Climatology Noun

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[klahy-muh-tol-uh-jee]

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Climatology

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The scientific study of climate, which is defined as weather conditions averaged over an extended period of time.

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Example: This graph shows that over hundreds of thousands of years, Earth's temperature (red line) and atmospheric CO2 levels (blue line) have risen and fallen together.

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Convection Noun

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[kuhn-vek-shuhn]

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Convection

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The movement within a fluid where hotter, less dense material rises and colder, denser material sinks.

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Example: This diagram shows how the sun heats the ground, causing less dense hot air to rise. As the air cools higher up, it becomes denser and sinks, creating a circular convection current.

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Pressure-Gradient Force Noun

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[presh-er grey-dee-uhnt fawrs]

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Pressure-Gradient Force

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The force resulting from a difference in pressure across a surface, causing air to move toward lower pressure.

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Example: The pressure-gradient force pushes air from high-pressure (H) to low-pressure (L) areas; the force is stronger where pressure lines are packed closely together.

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Condensation Nuclei Noun

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[kon-den-sey-shuhn noo-klee-ahy]

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Condensation Nuclei

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Microscopic particles in the atmosphere onto which water vapor condenses to form water droplets and clouds.

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Example: This diagram shows tiny water molecules in the air gathering on a larger particle, called a condensation nucleus, which is the first step in forming a cloud droplet.