Abhirami Sriganeshan

An area that contains a high proportion of all the species found on Earth. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd… Read More »Biodiversity hotspot

The diversity of life forms in an environment. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd Edition) by Andrew Friedland, Rick Relyea

A diesel substitute produced by extracting and chemically altering oil from plants. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd Edition) by… Read More »Biodiesel

Organic waste, typically coming from plant or animal sources (for example food scraps and paper), which other living organisms can break down — Source: Environmental… Read More »Biodegradable Waste

The amount of oxygen a quantity of water uses over a period of time at specific temperatures — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course… Read More »Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)

A worldview that holds that humans are just one of many species on Earth, all of which have equal intrinsic value. — Source: Environmental Science… Read More »Biocentric worldview

An increased concentration of a chemical within an organism over time. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd Edition) by Andrew… Read More »Bioaccumulation

The muddy bottom of a lake, pond, or ocean. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd Edition) by Andrew Friedland, Rick… Read More »Benthic zone

Unit that measures the rate at which a sample of radioactive material decays; 1 Bq = decay of 1 atom or nucleus per second —… Read More »Becquerel (Bq)

An illegal method of getting rid of household waste, possibly in an attempt to save on bin charges, that releases levels of pollutants into the… Read More »Backyard Burning

The average rate at which species become extinct over the long term. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd Edition) by… Read More »Background extinction rate

An organism that uses the energy of the Sun to produce usable forms of energy. Also known as producer. — Source: Environmental Science for the… Read More »Autotroph

Global patterns of air movement that are initiated by the unequal heating of Earth. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd… Read More »Atmospheric convection current

The layer of Earth located in the outer part of the mantle, composed of semi-molten rock. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd… Read More »Asthenosphere

The residual nonorganic material that does not combust during incineration. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd Edition) by Andrew Friedland,… Read More »Ash

A permeable layer of rock and sediment that contains groundwater. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd Edition) by Andrew Friedland,… Read More »Aquifer

A canal or ditch used to carry water from one location to another. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd Edition)… Read More »Aqueduct

An aquatic region characterized by a particular combination of salinity, depth, and water flow. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd… Read More »Aquatic biome

Farming aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and seaweeds. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd Edition) by Andrew Friedland, Rick… Read More »Aquaculture

The deeper layer of ocean water that lacks sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis. — Source: Environmental Science for the AP® Course 3rd Edition (3rd Edition) by… Read More »Aphotic zone