Earth Resources flashcards

0/18

18 cards remaining

Take the chapter practice test

All 18 cards in this deckShow

What is meant by “Soil horizon” in this lesson?Soil: A soil horizon is a layer with characteristics produced by soil-forming processes.
What is meant by “Soil texture” in this lesson?Soil: Soil texture describes proportions of sand, silt, and clay.
What is meant by “Soil organic matter” in this lesson?Soil: Organic matter includes living or decomposing materials that influence nutrient cycling and soil properties.
What is meant by “Soil erosion” in this lesson?Soil: Soil erosion removes surface material, potentially faster than new soil develops.
What is meant by “Soil salinization” in this lesson?Soil: Salinization is salt accumulation that can impair plant growth and soil function.
What is meant by “Soil conservation” in this lesson?Soil: Conservation practices reduce degradation through context-appropriate cover, drainage, and land management.
What is meant by “Watershed” in this lesson?Freshwater: A watershed is the land area draining surface water toward a common outlet.
What is meant by “Water withdrawal” in this lesson?Freshwater: Withdrawal is water removed from a source for use, some of which may return.
What is meant by “Consumptive use” in this lesson?Freshwater: Consumptive use removes water from immediate availability in the source system through processes such as evaporation.
What is meant by “Aquifer recharge” in this lesson?Freshwater: Recharge adds water to a groundwater system.
What is meant by “Water stress” in this lesson?Freshwater: Water stress describes pressure on usable supplies relative to demands under the chosen measure.
What is meant by “Water conservation” in this lesson?Freshwater: Conservation reduces unnecessary use or losses while considering actual system effects.
What is meant by “Ore” in this lesson?Minerals and resource use: Ore is material containing valuable substances in concentrations that can be economically extracted under current conditions.
What is meant by “Nonrenewable resource” in this lesson?Minerals and resource use: A nonrenewable resource is replenished too slowly to replace human use on relevant timescales.
What is meant by “Mining disturbance” in this lesson?Minerals and resource use: Mining can alter land, habitats, drainage, and exposure depending on the method and site.
What is meant by “Tailings” in this lesson?Minerals and resource use: Tailings are residual materials left after valuable components are separated from mined material.
What is meant by “Material recycling” in this lesson?Minerals and resource use: Recycling recovers materials for further use but involves collection, energy, and losses.
What is meant by “Life-cycle perspective” in this lesson?Minerals and resource use: A life-cycle perspective examines impacts from extraction through processing, use, and end-of-life.