The Environment and Weather: English Vocabulary List

a community of living organisms together with their physical environment, interacting as a system

"The forest is an ecosystem."

"A healthy ecosystem depends on the balance between living organisms and their environment."

provision of care for the environment

"Strong environmentalism needed."

"Strong environmentalism is needed to protect nature and reduce pollution in our daily life activities."

a fuel that is found in nature and obtained from the remains of plants and animals that died millions of years ago, such as coal and gas

"Coal is fossil fuel."

"Burning fossil fuel releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, which contributes significantly to global warming."

any fuel that can be used instead of fossil fuels

"Electricity is an alternative fuel."

"Many countries are investing in alternative fuel sources to reduce their reliance on petroleum products."

(of a vehicle) not producing gases harmful to the environment

"The car is zero-emission."

"The zero-emission bus runs on electricity and produces no exhaust fumes so it helps improve air quality in crowded cities."

referring to actions, products, or practices that aim to preserve or protect the natural environment

"This bag is environmentally friendly."

"This bag is environmentally friendly because it is made from recycled plastic bottles and can be reused."

(of an object) able to be broken down by living organisms such as bacteria, which is then safe for the environment

"This bag is biodegradable."

"The company switched to biodegradable packaging that decomposes naturally in the environment and does not harm wildlife or pollute the oceans."

referring to products, actions, or practices that are designed to cause minimal harm to the environment

"This bag is eco-friendly."

"The eco friendly bag is made from recycled materials and can be used many times."

the action of keeping something the way it is or in good condition

"Nature preservation important."

"Nature preservation is very important to protect endangered animals and plants for future generations to enjoy."

(of a natural resource or source of energy) existing in limited amounts and not replaceable after being used

"Oil is nonrenewable."

"Oil and coal are nonrenewable resources which means they will eventually run out and cannot be replaced quickly."

rain containing a great deal of acidic chemicals, caused by air pollution, which can harm the environment

"Acid rain damages forests and lakes."

"Acid rain is precipitation made acidic by atmospheric pollution"

the amount of carbon dioxide that an organization or person releases into the atmosphere

"Driving less reduces your carbon footprint."

"Driving a gas powered car every day can significantly increase your personal carbon footprint over time."

a permanent change in global or regional climate patterns, including temperature, wind, and rainfall

"Climate change affects everyone."

"Scientists warn that climate change is becoming more serious."

a large fire that spreads fast and causes much destruction

"The wildfire spread quickly through the dry forest and destroyed many homes."

"The wildfire forced thousands of people to leave their homes."

a very high wave or series of waves caused by an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption

"The tsunami caused terrible damage to the coastal villages after the earthquake."

"A tsunami is a series of huge ocean waves triggered by an undersea earthquake or volcanic eruption"

any substance that is harmful to the environment

"This pollutant harms the environment."

"The pollutant spread fast through the river system after the industrial accident"

a global problem that is caused by the increase of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide which results in gradual warming of the earth

"The greenhouse effect traps heat."

"The greenhouse effect is a natural process that can be intensified by human activities releasing gases."

a combination of smoke and fog that is considered a form of air pollution

"Smog covers the city skyline."

"Smog is a type of intense air pollution formed by the chemical reaction of sunlight with vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions"

a layer of gases in the earth's atmosphere that does not let the sun's ultraviolet radiation pass through

"The ozone layer protects."

"Scientists are concerned about the depletion of the ozone layer, which shields us from harmful solar radiation."

the sudden outburst of lava and steam from a volcanic mountain

"The volcano's eruption was huge."

"The sudden eruption of Mount Vesuvius buried Pompeii in ash and pumice."

the extensive removal of forests, typically causing environmental damage

"Deforestation hurts the environment."

"Deforestation is the large-scale removal of trees that destroys habitats and harms the environment."

to make a place, substance, etc. dirty or harmful by adding dangerous material

"Factory waste contaminates the nearby river water."

"The chemical spill contaminated the local river and killed thousands of fish living in the polluted water."

a storm with heavy snowfall and strong winds

"The blizzard closed all the schools."

"A blizzard is a severe snowstorm with sustained high winds and very low visibility"

related to or using a temperature scale on which water boils at 212° and freezes at 32°

"Water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit."

"Water freezes at thirty two degrees Fahrenheit and boils at two hundred twelve degrees."

related to or using a temperature scale on which water boils at 100° and freezes at 0°

"Centigrade is another name for Celsius."

"Centigrade is another name for the Celsius temperature scale used in most countries around the world."

(of the climate) having a lot of moisture in the air, causing an uncomfortable and sticky feeling

"The air is humid."

"The humid air made her hair curly and her skin feel sticky and uncomfortable."

a period in the summer during which wind blows and rain falls in India or other hot South Asian countries

"The monsoon brought heavy rain that flooded the streets for days."

"A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind bringing torrential rainfall to South and Southeast Asia"

the loud crackling noise that is heard from the sky during a storm

"A sudden crash of thunder shook the house."

"The loud clap of thunder was so powerful that it shook the windows of the entire house."

the scientific study of the environment or the interrelation of living creatures and the way they affect each other

"Ecology helps us understand nature."

"Ecology examines the intricate relationships between organisms and their physical surroundings"

an area for birds and animals to live and to be protected from dangerous conditions and being hunted

"The sanctuary protects animals."

"The wildlife sanctuary provided a safe haven for endangered species threatened by habitat loss."

a strip of open land around a city where construction is prohibited in order to protect the environment

"The green belt surrounds the city."

"A green belt is a designated area of open land surrounding a city where development is strictly controlled to prevent urban sprawl and protect the natural environment."

an area in which animals, etc. are protected

"This is a wildlife reserve."

"The national park serves as a vital reserve for numerous endangered species, protecting their natural habitats."

using natural resources in a way that causes no harm to the environment

"The project is sustainable."

"The sustainable farming practices protect the soil and water for future generations to use."

to remove unwanted or harmful substances from another substance

"Refine the oil to remove impurities."

"The company needs to refine its manufacturing process to reduce waste and increase the overall quality of its final products."

the protection of the natural environment and resources from wasteful human activities

"Conservation protects natural resources."

"Conservation efforts are essential to protect endangered animals and preserve natural resources for future generations."

consisting of poisonous substances

"The smoke is toxic."

"The toxic fumes from the factory made the workers wear masks to protect their lungs."

the act of using up something, such as resources, energy, or materials

"Water consumption is very high."

"The consumption of plastic has increased dramatically over the past few decades, causing serious environmental problems worldwide."