Environmental Science

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Biodiversity

Back 1

Refers to the variety of life forms that exist now or in the past

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Extremophiles

Back 2

Animals who can survive in “extreme” conditions

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Natural Selection

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A process by which organisms are altered over time to produce offspring with better survival traits

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Species

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A classification of organisms that have common characteristics

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Adaptation

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How life forms change over time and learn to adapt to continue living in the environment

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Atmosphere

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The air or climate in a given place Layers of gasses around the Earth that shield it from outer space and create weather and climate

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Biology

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The study of all the living plants, animals, microbes, and diseases that exist in the environment

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Dormant

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When growth and development slow or cease in order to survive adverse environmental conditions

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Extinct

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Having died out or ceased to exist

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Geography

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Parts of the environment, such as mountains, beaches, or valleys

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Geology

Back 11

The study of the Earth’s crust layers, minerals, and soils

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Hydrology

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The study of the behavior of water in rain, rivers, and lakes

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Ice Age

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Periods in the Earth’s history when temperatures fell and large areas of the Earth’s surface were covered with glaciers

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Monsoonal Rains

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Any period of heavy rainfall

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Oceanography

Back 15

The study of the behavior of the ocean

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Ozone Layer

Back 16

The layer of the upper atmosphere where most atmospheric ozone collects and absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the Sun

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Agronomist

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A scientist who studies the variety of plants, pests, diseases, and pesticide chemicals found in agricultural crops

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Acheologist

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A scientist who studies the history of mankind, material relics, and civilizations

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Biologist

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A scientist who studies living things in the environment

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Botanist

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A scientist who studies the plant life in an environment

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Chemist

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A scientist who studies chemicals and the effects of pollution in the air, water and soil

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Conservationist

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A scientist who studies a location and determines the steps needed to protect the area from being destroyed or polluted

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Ecologist

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A scientist who studies the whole environment as a working unit, and the issues that can arise when part of the environment is jeopardized

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Entomologist

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A scientist who studies insects, spiders, snails and other “bugs” of an environment

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Geologist

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A scientist who studies the process of the Earth’s crust, including earthquakes. Geologists also study the formation of rocks, minerals, soils, and the Earth’s geology.

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Hydrologist

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A scientist who studies rain, lakes and rivers

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Ichthyologist

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A scientist who studies fish and their diseases

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Marine Biologist

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A scientist who studies life in the oceans

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Meteorologist

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A scientist who studies the climate, and weather patterns of the area

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Microbiologist

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A scientist who studies the tiny microorganisms of the environment and chemical toxins that affect it

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Ornithologist

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A scientist who studies birds and their diseases

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Paleontologist

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A scientist who studies fossils of ancient life forms, and how they survived in different time periods

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Volcanologist

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A scientist who studies volcanoes and their effects on the environment

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Zoologist

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A scientist who studies the variety of animals in the environment and their life processes on a particular environment. An example is the animals living around a pond, including frogs, snakes, mice, hawks, fish, and turtles.

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Bioremediation

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Using enzymes or microorganisms to restore a contaminated environment to its original state

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Contaminate

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To poison or make impure by mixing with; to introduce unwanted and harmful substances into an environment

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Meltdown

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Overheating of a nuclear reactor core, resulting in a release of radiation

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Atoms

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The smallest units of matter; made up of protons, neutrons & electrons

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Biome

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A large area of land that is characterized by the plant and animal communities that live there

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Biosphere

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All the areas of the planet that will support life

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Cell

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The smallest structure that makes up a living organism

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Community

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Several populations coming together in the same environment

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Earth

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Planet that sustains life in its biosphere

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Ecosystem

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Groups of communities living together in the same geographic location

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Galaxy

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A system of stars orbiting a common center of gravity

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Hierarchy

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An organizational system of ranking things or people

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Molecules

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Groups of atoms

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Organ

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A group of tissues that work together to perform a similar function

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Organelles

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Proteins that have come together to create the inner components of a cell

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Organism

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A group of systems that work together to create a life form

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Population

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A group of organisms living and working together for survival

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Solar System

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The group of nine planets and other matter that orbits the sun

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Tissue

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A group of cells that work together in a similar function

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Universe

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Everything in outer space, including stars, planets, galaxies