Environmental Science

Greenhouse gases absorb and re-emit infrared radiation (heat), preventing it from escaping into space and warming the planet.

Secondary pollutants are formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions between primary pollutants; PAN is a classic example formed in photochemical smog.

CFCs release chlorine atoms when exposed to UV radiation, which catalyze the breakdown of ozone molecules.

Biomagnification is the process where persistent chemicals (like DDT or mercury) increase in concentration at higher trophic levels in a food chain.

While CO2 is the most discussed anthropogenic greenhouse gas, water vapor is the most abundant natural greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

The IUCN Red Data Book provides a global list of species that are at risk of extinction.

Eutrophication is caused by the excess inflow of nitrates and phosphates, leading to algal blooms and oxygen depletion in water bodies.

Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas produced when carbon-based fuels are burned in an environment with limited oxygen supply.

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water vapor in the atmosphere to form sulfuric and nitric acids, resulting in acid rain.

The Montreal Protocol (1987) is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances responsible for ozone depletion.

Tropical rainforests have optimal temperature and precipitation conditions, leading to the highest biological productivity per unit area.

A carbon sink (like oceans, forests, or soil) is a natural reservoir that absorbs and stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

In-situ conservation involves protecting species within their natural habitats, such as National Parks, Sanctuaries, and Biosphere Reserves.

The Kyoto Protocol was an international treaty that extended the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Chlorine is widely used as a disinfectant in municipal water treatment plants to kill harmful bacteria and microorganisms.

The nitrogen cycle involves processes like nitrogen fixation, nitrification, and denitrification to convert nitrogen into forms usable by living organisms.

Nuclear energy relies on uranium, a finite mineral resource, unlike wind, solar, or biomass, which are considered renewable.

Global dimming is the reduction in the amount of direct irradiance reaching the Earth's surface caused by aerosols (like soot and ash) reflecting sunlight.

The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere where almost all weather and cloud formations occur.

Lichens are highly sensitive to sulfur dioxide and do not grow in polluted areas, making them excellent bio-indicators.

Denitrification is the microbial process of reducing nitrate and nitrite into gaseous nitrogen (N2).

A keystone species has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance, often keeping ecosystem structure intact.

BOD measures the amount of dissolved oxygen needed by aerobic biological organisms to break down organic material present in a given water sample.

The Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) focused on access and benefit-sharing.

Ex-situ conservation involves protecting species outside their natural habitats, such as in seed banks, zoos, and botanical gardens.

An ecotone is a transition area between two biological communities (ecosystems), where species from both communities often overlap.

Minamata disease was first discovered in Minamata, Japan, caused by the release of methylmercury into wastewater.

Nitrous oxide (N2O), commonly known as laughing gas, is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential significantly higher than CO2.

Auroras (Northern and Southern lights) occur in the thermosphere due to interactions between solar wind and Earth's magnetic field.

An ecological footprint measures human demand on nature, representing the biologically productive area needed to provide resources and absorb waste.

Wetlands are known as the kidneys of the Earth because they filter pollutants and sediments from water passing through them.

Thermal inversion occurs when a layer of warm air traps cooler air near the surface, often leading to the concentration of pollutants.

Blue Baby Syndrome (methemoglobinemia) is caused by high levels of nitrates in drinking water, which interfere with oxygen transport in the blood.

The Basel Convention was created to prevent the transfer of hazardous waste from developed to less developed countries.

Phosphorus is typically the limiting nutrient in freshwater, and its excess often leads to eutrophication.

The Amazon Rainforest is often called the lungs of the planet due to its massive role in carbon sequestration and oxygen production.

The Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out substances like CFCs.

Primary consumers are herbivores that feed directly on producers (plants). A rabbit is an herbivore.

Bioaccumulation refers to the build-up of chemicals, like pesticides, in an individual organism's tissues over its lifetime.

Nitrogen Dioxide reacts with volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight to produce ground-level ozone and photochemical smog.

The Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) that provides a framework for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources.

Detritivores and decomposers break down dead organic material, which is essential for nutrient cycling in an ecosystem.

The Ramsar Convention (Convention on Wetlands of International Importance) provides the framework for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

Upwelling occurs when winds push surface water away from an area, causing deeper, colder, and nutrient-rich water to rise to the surface, supporting high biological productivity.

Total coliform bacteria are commonly used as indicators of the sanitary quality of water, as they are found in the intestines of humans and other warm-blooded animals.

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, and photosynthesis is a primary natural method for achieving this.

According to the 10% law of ecology, only about 10% of the energy is transferred to the next trophic level, while the rest is lost as heat.

Methane (CH4) is a potent greenhouse gas produced by anaerobic decomposition of organic matter, common in rice paddies and the digestive systems of ruminants.

CITES aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.