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The gaseous envelope
surrounding the Earth, held in place by gravity.
Atmosphere
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When an aquifer is under pressure, a pipe drilled into the aquifer will flow without the
use of pumps, producing a naturally flowing watersource.
Artesian Well
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Groundwater resorces in some defined area
Aquifer
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The concentration of toxic compounds is sequentially increased as an organism moves up the food chain. The lower forms of life may accumulate the toxic compounds into their tissues
Bioaccumulation
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The tendency for top predators in a food web to have the highest residues of certain chemicals, especially organochlorines.
Biomagnification
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The breakdown of organic molecules into simpler compoudns through the metabolic actions of microorganisms
Biodegradation
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All life on Earth, plus their ecosystems and environments.
Biosphere
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Occurs when water table in the area immediately surrounding the well is lowered
Cone of depression
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Increased primary productivity of an aquatic ecosystem, resulting from nutrient inputs.
Eutrophication
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The movement between, and storage of water in, various compartments of the hydrosphere.
Hydrologic Cycle
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The parts of the planet
that contain water, including the oceans, atmosphere, on land, in
surface water bodies, underground, and in organisms.
Hydrosphere
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An approximately 80-km thick region of rigid, relatively light rocks that surround Earth’s plastic mantle.
Lithosphere
-
The tendency to remain
chemically unchanged in the environment.
Persistence
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The exposure of organisms to chemicals or energy in quantities that exceed their tolerance, causing toxicity or other ecological damages.
Pollution
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An area of land in which water can infiltrate the surface and replenish an aquifer below.
Recharge Zone
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Below the water table, all pores of rocks and soil are filled with
water.
Saturated Zone
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The downward shift of a land mass due to removal of groundwater below. (a sinkhole)
Subsidence
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Above the water table, pores in rocks and soil are only partially filled with water.
Unsaturated Zone
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The top surface of groundwater.
Water Table
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Two or more substances combined whose effect is greater than their individual effects
Synergistic
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Two types of pollution sources
- 1. Point Source
- 2. Non Point Source
-
A term for the 'sphere' of people on earth
Anthrosphere
-
Name the 5 spheres
- Atmosphere
- Geosphere (or Lithosphere)
- Hydrosphere
- Biosphere
- Anthrosphere
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A poisonous compounds that is produced in anoxic conditions
methyl mercury
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