agriculture: The cultivation of plants, animals, and fungi to fulfill human needs, such as food, fuel, chemicals, and medicines.
atmosphere: The layer of gas enveloping the Earth, another planet, or the Moon.
average: The mean of a group of numbers calculated by dividing the sum of the group by its size.
bacteria: (singular: bacterium) a single-celled organism that thrives in various environments on Earth, from the ocean floor to the insides of other living organisms. Bacteria belong to one of the three domains of life on Earth.
canopy: The uppermost layer of a tree or forest where the tallest branches interlock.
carbon: An essential chemical element forming the basis of all life on Earth. Carbon is a key component of coal, limestone, and oil. In climate research, carbon is often used interchangeably with carbon dioxide to signify the potential impact of an action, product, policy, or process on long-term atmospheric warming.
carbon dioxide:(or CO2) A colorless, odorless gas produced by animals during respiration when oxygen reacts with carbon-rich food. It is also emitted when organic materials, including fossil fuels like oil and gas, are burned. Carbon dioxide functions as a greenhouse gas, trapping heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Plants convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through photosynthesis to produce their own food.
climate: The average weather conditions prevailing in an area over an extended period.
climate change: Significant long-term alterations in Earth’s climate, which can be natural or induced by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
ecologist: A biologist who studies the relationships between living organisms and their physical environment.
forest: A land area predominantly covered by trees and other woody plants.
fossil fuel: Resources like coal, petroleum, and natural gas that have formed within the Earth over millions of years from the decay of bacteria, plants, and animals.
greenhouse gas: A gas that absorbs heat and contributes to the greenhouse effect, with carbon dioxide being a prime example.
hypothesis: A proposed explanation for a phenomenon, which must be rigorously tested in scientific research to validate or invalidate it.
landfill: A site for dumping waste and covering it with soil to manage odors. Without proper lining, rainwater runoff from landfills can carry toxic substances downstream or contaminate groundwater. The lack of sunlight and microorganisms in landfills slows down waste decomposition, leading even newspapers to persist for decades before breaking down.
laser: A device generating a powerful, focused beam of light used for various applications like cutting, drilling, data storage, and medical procedures.
methane: A hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH4, commonly found in natural gas and released during plant decomposition in wetlands and animal digestion. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, around 80 times more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.
microorganisms: Tiny organisms like bacteria, fungi, and amoebas that are invisible to the naked eye and often consist of single cells.
oxygen: A gas comprising about 21% of Earth’s atmosphere, essential for the growth and metabolism of animals and many microorganisms.
powerful: Describing something with immense strength or force, like bacteria, poisons, drugs, or acids.
rainforest: A dense, biodiverse forest typically found in tropical regions with constant rainfall.
recollection: The act of remembering.
skeptical: Not easily convinced, characterized by doubts or reservations.
seed: A reproductive structure capable of producing offspring that can further reproduce.
tropical: Pertaining to areas near the Earth’s equator with generally warm temperatures throughout the year.
United Kingdom: A nation comprising England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Over 80% of the UK population resides in England. There is ongoing debate whether the UK constitutes a single country or a union of four distinct countries, with various entities treating it differently.
wetland: Low-lying land that remains submerged or water-covered for a significant part of the year, providing habitats for water-adapted plants and animals.
Source: www.snexplores.org
