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We have put some important terms here to get you started.  

When you come across a specific term relating to sustainability or earth science, please put it in our glossary.

Please describe it in YOUR OWN WORDS and INCLUDE AN EXAMPLE.

Also do the right thing and acknowledge the source of information with a link.

Contribute at least one entry?  Give yourself a check, but don't let that stop you from sharing througout the course.



Browse the glossary using this index

Special | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | ALL

A

Adaptation

a. any alteration in the structure or function of an organism or any of its parts
 that results from natural selection and by which the organism becomes better
 fitted to survive and multiply in itsenvironment.
b. a form or structure modified to fit a changed environment.
c .the ability of a species to survive in a particular ecological niche, especially 
because of alterations of form or behavior brought about through natural 
selection.
 
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/adaptation?s=t)

Anthropogenic

"caused or produced by humans: i.e. anthropogenic air pollution"
 
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Anthropogenic?s=t)
 

C

Carbon Footprint

the amount of carbon dioxide or other carbon compounds emitted into the atmosphere by the activities of an individual, company, country, etc.

 

(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/carbon+footprint?s=t)

Climate

weather conditions over a period of time

 

(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/weather?s=t)

F

Feedback Loop

"the path by which some of the output of a circuit, system, or device is returned to the input."
 
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/feedback+loop?s=t)

I

Isotope

variants of a particular chemical element such that, while all isotopes of a given element have the same number of protons in each atom, they differ in neutron number.

M

Mitigation

the act of mitigating, or lessening the force or intensity of something unpleasant, aswrath, pain, grief, or extreme circumstances

(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mitigation?s=t)

S

Sustainability

"the quality of not being harmful to the environment or depleting natural resources, and thereby supporting long-term ecological balance"
 
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/environment)
 
Living well for all, now and into the future, within the means of the environment.
 
Meeting the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

 

System

"an assemblage or combination of things or parts forming a complex or unitary whole"

(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/system?s=)

W

Weather

a measure or prediction of  temperature, moisture, wind, air pressure, and/or cloud cover conditions at a given place and time

 

(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/weather?s=t)