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can be produced or replaced by a healthy ecosystem
renewable resource
natural processes cannot replenish them within a reasonable amount of time
nonrenewable resources
In parts of the world with dry climates, a com bination of farming, overgrazing, sea- sonal drought, and climate change can turn farmland into desert.
desertification
loss of forests, can also have a negative effect on soil quality. Healthy forests not only provide wood, but also hold soil in place, protect the quality of fresh water supplies, absorb carbon dioxide, and help moderate local climate
deforestation
a harmful material that can enter the biosphere.
a pollutant
occurs if a pollutant, such as DDT, mercury, or a PCB, is picked up by an organism and is not broken down or eliminated from its body. Instead, the pol- lutant collects in body tissues.
biomagnification
a gray-brown haze formed by chemical reactions among pollutants released into the air by industrial processes and automobile exhaust. Ozone is one product of these reactions.
smog
When we burn fossil fuels in our factories and homes, we release nitrogen and sulfur compounds. When those compounds combine with water vapor in the air, they form nitric and sulfuric acids. These airborne acids can drift for many kilometer
acid rain
Give an example of a renewable resource
solar, water, wind, trees
Give an example of a nonrenewable resource.
oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy.
a layer in the earth's stratosphere containing a high concentration of ozone, which absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth from the sun.
ozone layer
Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere
greenhouse gases
What causes soil erosion?
Soil erosion occurs primarily when dirt is left exposed to strong winds, hard rains, and flowing water.
How is fresh water both a renewable and a limited resource?
Water circulates in nature in numerous states of matter, including liquid, vapor, and ice. The water that evaporates returns to the earth as precipitation.
what is habitat fragmentation?
Loss of habitat due to building, clearcutting, etc. that can lead to loss of biodiversity.
