Chapter 7

Seismic Activity

• activity within the earth such as earthquakes and volcanoes

Tsunami

• Giant wave that is caused by tectonic plate movements near oceans such as along the boundary of the Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean.

El Nino/La Nina

• warming on the surface of the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Which in turn affect precipitation along the eastern coastline of Asia and the western coastline of North and South America. La Nina Brings heavier than normal rainfall to Southeast Asia

Climate Change

• measurable changes to the environment and climate patterns over periods of time based on either by natural forces or as a result of the actions of humans

Renewable Resources

• Any natural resource that can replenish itself in a relatively short period of time, usually no longer than the length of a human life.

Non-renewable resource

• resources which can only be used once. Once they are consumed they are irreplaceable

Biodiversity

• the amount of variety of both plant and animal species. Tropical rainforests have some of the greatest levels of diversity on earth.

GIS

• graphic information systems are spatial information systems which combine information gathered from satellites and land based sources. They use global data from satellite photography, land based maps, statistics, computers and other sources.

Sustainable Development

• using resources in a way in which people can make sure that they can meet both present and future human needs or demand for a given product or species.

Desertification

• The process by which an area turns into a desert

Pollution

• Release of harmful materials into the environment

Greenhouse effect

• The trapping of heat near a planet's surface by certain gases in the planet's atmosphere.

Pesticides

• Chemicals intended to kill insects and other organisms that damage crops

Ozone Layer

• Protective layer in atmosphere that shields earth from UV radiation.

Acid Rain

• Rain containing high amounts of chemical pollutants.