BioWare: future friendly

A

Acid rain

The precipitation of dilute solutions of strong mineral acids, formed by the mixing in the atmosphere of various industrial pollutants — primarily sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides — with naturally occurring oxygen and water vapor.

Aerosol

A suspension of small liquid or solid particles in gas.

Air pollution

Toxic or radioactive gases or particulate matter introduced into the atmosphere, usually as a result of human activity.

Alternative energy

Energy that is not popularly used and is usually environmentally sound, such as solar or wind energy (as opposed to fossil fuels).

Alternative fibers

Fibers produced from non-wood sources for use in paper making.

Alternative fuels

Transportation fuels other than gasoline or diesel. Includes natural gas, methanol, and electricity.

Ancient Forest

A forest that is typically older than 200 years with large trees, dense canopies and an abundance of diverse wildlife.

Aquaculture

The controlled rearing of fish or shellfish by people or corporations who own the harvestable product, often involving the capture of the eggs or young of a species from wild sources, followed by rearing more intensively than possible in nature.

Aquifer

Underground source of water.

Ash

Incombustible residue left over after incineration or other thermal processes.

Atmosphere

The 500 km thick layer of air surrounding the earth which supports the existence of all flora and fauna.

Atomic Energy

Energy released in nuclear reactions. When a neutron splits an atom's nucleus into smaller pieces it is called fission. When two nuclei are joined together under millions of degrees of heat it is called fusion.

B

Biodegradable

Materials capable of undergoing biological anaerobic or aerobic decomposition by the action of micro-organisms such as bacteria,fungi and algae under conditions naturally occurring in the biosphere.

biodiversity

A large number and wide range of species of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms. Ecologically, wide biodiversity is conducive to the development of all species.

Biomass

1. The amount of living matter in an area, including plants, large animals and insects;
2. Plant materials and animal waste used as fuel.

Biosphere

1. The part of the earth and its atmosphere in which living organisms exist or that is capable of supporting life;
2. The living organisms and their environment composing the biosphere.

Biotic

Of or relating to life.

Brownfields

Abandoned, idled, or under-used industrial and commercial facilities where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived environmental contamination.

C

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

A naturally occurring greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, concentrations of which have increased (from 280 parts per million in preindustrial times to over 350 parts per million today) as a result of humans' burning of coal, oil, natural gas and organic matter (e.g., wood and crop wastes).

Carbon Tax

A charge on fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) based on their carbon content. When burned, the carbon in these fuels becomes carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the chief greenhouse gas.

Carcinogens

Substances that cause cancer, such as tar.

Carpooling

Sharing a car to a destination to reduce fuel use, pollution and travel costs.

CFC

see chlorofluorocarbons.

Chlorination Byproducts

Cancer-causing chemicals created when chlorine used for water disinfection combines with dirt and organic matter in water.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Stable, artificially-created chemical compounds containing carbon, chlorine, fluorine and sometimes hydrogen. Chlorofluorocarbons, used primarily to facilitate cooling in refrigerators and air conditioners, have been found to damage the stratospheric ozone layer which protects the earth and its inhabitants from excessive ultraviolet radiation.

Clean fuel

Fuels which have lower emissions than conventional gasoline and diesel. Refers to alternative fuels as well as to reformulated gasoline and diesel.

Clearcutting

A logging technique in which all trees are removed from an area, typically 20 acres or larger, with little regard for long-term forest health.

Climate change

A regional change in temperature and weather patterns. Current science indicates a discernible link between climate change over the last century and human activity, specifically the burning of fossil fuels.

Commercial extinction

The depletion of a population to the point where fisherman cannot catch enough to be economically worthwhile.

Compost

Process whereby organic wastes, including food wastes, paper, and yard wastes, decompose naturally, resulting in a product rich in minerals and ideal for gardening and farming as a soil conditioners, mulch, resurfacing material, or landfill cover.

Compostable

Materials that undergo degradation by biological processes during composting to yield CO2, water, inorganic compounds and biomass at a rate consistent with other compostable materials in commercial/industrial composting conditions and leave no visible, distinguishable or toxic residue.

Contamination

Pollution.

Crop Dusting

The application of pesticides to plants by a low-flying plane.

Cryptosporidium

A protozoan (single-celled organism) that can infect humans, usually as a result of exposure to contaminated drinking water.

D

diesel

A petroleum-based fuel which is burned in engines ignited by compression rather than spark; commonly used for heavy duty engines including buses and trucks.

dioxin

A man-made chemical by-product formed during the manufacturing of other chemicals and during incineration. Studies show that dioxin is the most potent animal carcinogen ever tested, as well as the cause of severe weight loss, liver problems, kidney problems, birth defects, and death.

dredge

A fishing method that utilizes a bag dragged behind a vessel that scrapes the ocean bottom, usually to catch shellfish. Dredges are often equiped with metal spikes in order to dig up the catch.

driftnet

A huge net stretching across many miles that drifts in the water; used primarily for large-scale commercial fishing.

E

Ecologist

A scientist concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environment.

Ecology

A branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their environment.

Eosystem

An interconnected and symbiotic grouping of animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms.

Emissions Cap

A limit on the amount of greenhouse gases that a company or country can legally emit.

Endangered Species

Species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant part of its range.

Energy Conservation

Using energy efficiently or prudently; saving energy.

Energy Efficiency

Technologies and measures that reduce the amount of electricity and/or fuel required to do the same work, such as powering homes, offices and industries.

Estuary

A bay or inlet, often at the mouth of a river, in which large quantities of freshwater and seawater mix together. These unique habitats are necessary nursery grounds for many marine fishes and shellfishes.

F

Fauna

The total animal population that inhabits an area.

Fisheries

An established area where fish species are cultivated and caught.

Fission

The process whereby the nucleus of a particular heavy element splits into (generally) two nuclei of lighter elements, with the release of substantial amounts of energy.

Flora

The total vegetation assemblage that inhabits an area.

Forest Certification

A process of labeling wood that has been harvested from a well-managed forest.

Forests

Lands on which trees are the principal plant life, usually conducive to wide biodiversity.

Fossil Fuel

A fuel, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, produced by the decomposition of ancient (fossilized) plants and animals; compare to alternative energy.

G

Gas

Natural gas, used as fuel.

Geothermal

Literally, heat from the earth; energy obtained from the hot areas under the surface of the earth.

Global Warming

Increase in the average temperature of the earth's surface.

Greenhouse

A building made with translucent (light transparent, usually glass or fiberglass) walls conducive to plant growth.

Greenhouse Effect

The process that raises the temperature of air in the lower atmosphere due to heat trapped by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons, and ozone.

Greenhouse Gas

A gas involved in the greenhouse effect.

Greenway

Undeveloped land usually in cities, set aside or used for recreation or conservation.

H

Habitat

1. The natural home of an animal or plant;
2. The sum of the environmental conditions that determine the existence of a community in a specific place.

Harpooning

A surface method of fishing that requires considerable effort in locating and chasing individual fish. Harpoons are hand-held or fired from a harpoon gun and aimed at high-value fish, such as giant tuna and swordfish.

Haze

An atmospheric condition marked by a slight reduction in atmospheric visibility, resulting from the formation of photochemical smog, radiation of heat from the ground surface on hot days, or the development of a thin mist.

Hydroelectric

Relating to electric energy produced by moving water.

Hydrofluorocarbons

Used as solvents and cleaners in the semiconductor industry, among others; experts say that they possess global warming potentials that are thousands of times greater than CO2.

Hydropower

Energy or power produced by moving water.

I

Incinerators

Disposal systems that burn solid waste or other materials and reduce volume of waste. Air pollution and toxic ash are problems associated with incineration.

Insecticides

Substances used to kill insects and prevent infestation.

J

No definitions.

K

No definitions.

L

Lakes

Substantial inland bodies of standing water.

Landfill

Disposal area where garbage is piled up and eventually covered with dirt and topsoil.

Lead

A naturally-occurring heavy, soft metallic element; human exposure can cause brain and nervous system damage, especially in children.

Lead Poisoning

Damaging the body (specifically the brain) by absorbing lead through the skin or by swallowing.

Leukemia

A form of bone marrow cancer marked by an increase in white blood cells.

Logging

Cutting down trees for commodity use.

Low-emission Vehicles

Vehicles which emit little air pollution compared to conventional internal combustion engines.

M

Malthusian

Based on the theories of British economist Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834), who argued that population tends to increase faster than food supply, with inevitably disastrous results, unless the increase in population is checked by moral restraints or by war, famine, and disease.

Mammal

An animal that feeds its young with milk secreted from mammary glands and has hair on its skin.

Marine Mammal

A mammal that lives in the ocean, such as a whale.

Mater-bi

A raw material made from annually renewable resources such as cornstarch.

Megalopolis

A large city expanding so fast that city government cannot adjust to provide services (such as garbage disposal).

Methyl bromide

The gaseous compound CH3Br used primarily as an insect fumigant; found to be harmful to the stratospheric ozone layer which protects life on earth from excessive ultraviolet radiation.

Mining

The removal of minerals (like coal , gold, or silver) from the ground.

Mulch

Leaves, straw or compost used to cover growing plants to protect them from the wind or cold.

N

Nitrogen Oxides

Harmful gases (which contribute to acid rain and global warming) emitted as a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion.

Noise Pollution

Environmental pollution made up of harmful or annoying noise.

Nuclear Energy

Energy or power produced by nuclear reactions (fusion or fission).

Nuclear Reactor

An apparatus in which nuclear fission may be initiated, maintained, and controlled to produce energy, conduct research, or produce fissile material for nuclear explosives.

Nuclear Tests

Government tests carried out to supply information required for the design and improvement of nuclear weapons, and to study the phenomena and effects associated with nuclear explosions.

O

Oeanography

The study of the ocean and ocean life.

Oil

A black, sticky substance used to produce fuel (petroleum) and materials (plastics).

Oil Spills

The harmful release of oil into the environment, usually in the water, sometimes killing area flora and fauna. Oil spills are very difficult to clean up.

Old Growth Forests

see Ancient Forests.

Over-development

Expansion or development of land to the point of damage.

Over-fishing

Fishing beyond the capacity of a population to replace itself through natural reproduction.

Over-grazing

Grazing livestock to the point of damage to the land.

Ozone

A naturally occurring, highly reactive gas comprising triatomic oxygen formed by recombination of oxygen in the presence of ultraviolet radiation. This naturally occurring gas builds up in the lower atmosphere as smog pollution, while in the upper atmosphere it forms a protective layer which shields the earth and its inhabitants from excessive exposure to damaging ultraviolet radiation.

Ozone Depletion

The reduction of the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere by chemical pollution.

Ozone Hole

A hole or gap in the protective layer of ozone in the upper atmosphere.

P

PLA*

Polylactic acid or Polylactide (PLA) is a biodegradable, thermoplastic, aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources. Corn starch (in the U.S.) or sugarcanes (rest of world) are the common feedstock.

* NatureWorks PLA is a trademark of NatureWorks LLC

Renewable resources

A renewable resource is any natural resource that is depleted at a rate slower than the rate at which it regenerates, or a natural resource that is depleted at such a rate that it is unlikely to be depleted in the conceivable future.

Paper

Thin sheet of material made of cellulose pulp, derived mainly from wood, but also from rags and certain grasses, and processed into flexible leaves or rolls. Used primarily for writing, printing, drawing, wrapping, and covering walls.

Passive Solar

Using or capturing solar energy (usually to heat water) without any external power.

Pesticides

Chemical agents used to destroy pests.

Plastics

Durable and flexible synthetic-based products, some of which are difficult to recycle and pose problems with toxic properties, especially PVC plastic.

Plutonium

A heavy, radioactive, man-made, metallic element (atomic number 94) used in the production of nuclear energy and the explosion of nuclear weapons; its most important isotope is fissile plutonium-239, produced by neutron irradiation of uranium-238.

Poison

A chemical that adversely affects health by causing injury, illness, or death.

Power Plants

Facilities (plants) that produce energy.

Pulp

Raw material made from trees used in producing paper products.

Q

No definitions.

R

Radioactive

Of or characterized by radioactivity.

Radioactive Waste

The byproduct of nuclear reactions that gives off (usually harmful) radiation.

Radioactivity

The spontaneous emission of matter or energy from the nucleus of an unstable atom (the emitted matter or energy is usually in the form of alpha or beta particles, gamma rays, or neutrons).

Radon

A cancer-causing radioactive gas found in many communities' ground water.

Rainforest

A large, dense forest in a hot, humid region (tropical or subtropical). Rainforests have an abundance of diverse plant and animal life, much of which is still uncatalogued by the scientific community.

Recycling

System of collecting, sorting, and reprocessing old material into usable raw materials.

Reduce

Act of purchasing or consuming less to begin with, so as not to have to reuse or recycle later.

Renewable Energy

Energy resources such as windpower or solar energy that can keep producing indefinitely without being depleted.

Reservoir

An artificial lake created and used for the storage of water.

Reuse

Cleaning and/or refurbishing an old product to be used again.

Run-off

Precipitation that the ground does not absorb and that ultimately reaches rivers, lakes or oceans.

S

Second-growth Forests

Forests that have grown back after being logged.

Smog

A dense, discolored radiation fog containing large quanities of soot, ash, and gaseous pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, responsible for human respiratory ailments. Most industrialized nations have implemented legislation to promote the use of smokeless fuel and reduce emission of toxic gases into the atmosphere.

Solar energy

Energy derived from sunlight.

Solid Waste

Non-liquid, non gaseous category of waste from non-toxic household and commercial sources.

Soot

A fine, sticky powder, comprised mostly of carbon, formed by the burning of fossil fuels.

Sprawl

The area taken up by a large or expanding development or city.

Stratosphere

The upper portion of the atmosphere (approximately 11 km to 50 km above the surface of the earth).

Strip Mining

Mining technique in which the land and vegetation covering the mineral being sought are stripped away by huge machines, usually damaging the land severely and limiting subsequent uses.

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

A heavy, smelly gas which can be condensed into a clear liquid; used to make sulfuric acid, bleaching agents, preservatives and refrigerants; a major source of air pollution in industrial areas.

Surface Water

Water located above ground (e.g., rivers, lakes).

Sustainable Communities

Communities capable of maintaining their present levels of growth without damaging effects.

T

Thermonuclear

The application of high heat, obtained via a fission explosion, to bring about fusion of light nuclei.

Threatened Species

Species of flora or fauna likely to become endangered within the foreseeable future.

Timber

Logged wood sold as a commodity.

Toxic

Poisonous.

Toxic Emissions

Poisonous chemicals discharged to air, water, or land.

Toxic Sites

Land contaminated with toxic pollution, usually unsuitable for human habitation.

Toxic Waste

Garbage or waste that can injure, poison, or harm living things, and is sometimes life-threatening.

Toxification

Poisoning.

Trawls

Nets with a wide mouth tapering to a small, pointed end, usually called the "cod end." Trawls are towed behind a vessel at any depth in the water column.

Trolling

A method of fishing using several lines, each hooked and baited, which are slowly dragged behind the vessel.

U

Uranium

A heavy, radioactive metal (atomic number 92) used in the explosion of nuclear weapons (especially one isotope, U-235).

V

No definitions.

W

Waterborne Contaminants

Unhealthy chemicals, microorganisms (like bacteria) or radiation, found in tap water.

Water Quality

The level of purity of water; the safety or purity of drinking water.

Wetland

Land (marshes or swamps) saturated with water constantly or recurrently; conducive to wide biodiversity.

Wilderness

Land remaining in basically wild (i.e., undisturbed) condition, with few if any traces of human activities.

Wilderness Area

A wild area that Congress has preserved by including it in the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Wildlife

Animals living in the wilderness without human intervention.

Wildlife Refuges

Land set aside to protect certain species of fish or wildlife (administered at the federal level in the U.S. by the Fish and Wildlife Service).

Windpower

Power or energy derived from the wind (via windmills, sails, etc.).

X

No definitions.

Y

No definitions.

Z

Zero Emission Vehicles

Vehicles (usually powered by electricity) with no direct emissions from tailpipes or fuel evaporation.