Definitions and ExplanationsIn the recent past there have been a number of high level meeting called to address the impacts of human activity on the environment. The most serious of these impacts is global warming. Over the years man has engaged in activities that have led to the depletion of the ozone layer and a high concentration [...]
What is Ecology? – An Introduction Ecology came from the words eco, which means “house” and logy, which means, “study of”. Ecology is defined as a scientific study of living organisms and their relation with each other and their environment. A German scientist named Ernst Haeckel coined the word ecology. Haeckel is not just a [...]
What is Hurricane? A hurricane, also called a tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center. This spiral mass of clouds originate from warm waters near the equator and gradually gather force as it moves. It moves at a speed of at least 74 miles per second or 119 km per [...]
What is Composting? The process of composting is the breaking down of organic wastes by adding it to soil and letting it sit for at least a year. Composting can be as easy as just digging then dumping organic waste and covering it with soil then letting it sit. But there is also a multi-step [...]
Geography is the study of the Earth, its physical properties, its orientation, places, landscape, environment and people. The term “geography” was first used by Greek scholar Eratosthenes at around 200 BC. Eratosthenes, known as the father of geography, was also the first to study the Earth in the geographic sense as we know it today. [...]
What is Polar Amplification? Polar amplification is a climate term which means that climate change is happening faster and is more pronounced in the North Pole or the Arctic faster than anywhere else in the world. Polar amplification is caused by a number of things, and it only applies to the North Pole because the [...]
What Is Earth Science? Earth Science is the study of our planet and our neighbors in space. Knowledge of the earth is important as it may lead to discoveries of new energy sources. It may also help predict weather and climate patterns that affect the entire planet. Many branches of science are used to study [...]
What is Natural Selection? There is no doubt that the world has changed ever since it came into being. Whether it came from by creation or through the other theories that are advanced, the world is definitely a very different place from its first day of existence. There have been millions of different species that [...]
What is Hoar Frost? Frost is defined by many as the deposit of small ice crystals that form whenever water vapor is condensed at a temperature below freezing point. It happens whenever a solid surface freezes below the dew point of the air that surrounds it, and the surface becomes colder than freezing point, making [...]
What is Recycling? Recycling is the process of re-using products that already served its purpose. It basically involves a three-part cycle of collection of materials considered as waste, manufacture of these materials into new items, and the re-use of these new items a.k.a. recycled items. Recycling can be done by anyone and usually the purpose [...]
What is Hurricane Season? Hurricanes refer to tropical cyclones that occur over the Atlantic Ocean. They are the same as “typhoons”, which is the term used for cyclones that form in the Pacific Ocean. In other areas or parts of the world, these violent storms are simply called cyclones with variations according to wind speed. [...]
What is a LTU? LTU or Land Treatment Units are basically locations wherein the land is treated to reduce its toxic contents. Typically hazardous wastes are dumped and incorporated in these land areas to degrade over a period of time. The typical process involved in handling bio-hazard wastes is called bioremediation. This process involves the [...]
What is Myrtle? Myrtle is an aromatic evergreen shrub coming from the genus Myrtus. It is also called a tree because it could grow up to 15 feet. Much of myrtle can be seen in the Mediterranean area, particularly the southern parts of Europe and northern Africa. Myrtle shrubs also grow flowers and berries especially [...]
What is Global Climate Change? A remarkable change in the temperature of the Earth is commonly known as global climate change. Over time, people experience extreme change in climate. A little alteration in temperature may cause extensive impact on the organisms living on Earth. A sudden drop or increase in the Earth’s temperature, no matter [...]
What is Kelp? Kelp is a seaweed usually found in the shallow and cooler parts of the seas. It grows rapidly into thick-like vegetation underwater, resulting to the term “kelp forest”. It can be found almost anywhere in the world, usually around coastal waters. They are said to need some form of sunlight for photosynthesis; [...]
What is a Joshua Tree? Joshua trees are trees that grow in America’s Southwest region, particularly in the Mojave Desert. It comes from the genus “yucca” and species “brevifolia”, so many also call it “yucca tree”. It is said to be the largest in the “yucca” genus and usually grows up to 49-feet tall. The [...]
What is Bermuda Grass? Bermuda grass is a grass or weed that originally came from African savannas, but can be found mostly in dry and warmer countries of the world. Sometimes bermuda grass is called Bahama grass, couch grass in Australia and Africa, wire grass, or devil’s grass in India. This particular grass was introduced [...]
What is Cypress? Cypress is an evergreen tree that is native to the Northern hemisphere though currently found in almost all parts of the world. The cypress plant belongs to the Cupressaceae family and is a conifer. There are a number of species of cypress with most of the being trees while a few are [...]
What is Air made of? Atmosphere is the covering of the earth which protects it from all harmful radiations. It is made up of five different layers of gases and held together by means of gravity. It also plays a role in maintenance of the temperature on the planet. The variety of gases present in [...]
What is Atmospheric Pressure? Atmospheric pressure is a force of a weight of air applied to a surface below it. In simple terms, atmospheric pressure is also the same as air pressure. To imagine clearly, what atmospheric pressure is, simply think of a force in the atmosphere that is applied to a specific area. A [...]
What is Coal made of? Coal is made from trees or plants that decayed on the ground for millions of years. The remains of various plants and trees then mixed with the other components of the ground and eventually going through several natural processes making them more like solid rocks. Over time, the plant remains [...]
Over the last few decades, there have been two very serious concerns as regards the way we power our economies. The first and most sever has been the environmental issue. Pollution has steadily increased and is today one of the leading threats to the future of the planet earth and everything that lives in it. [...]
What is Watershed? A watershed is a piece of land where water drains off of it and goes into the same place. Watersheds come in a bunch of different forms and sizes. Just in the United States alone there are more than two thousand different water sheds. In North America a watershed is known as [...]
What are Lupins? Lupins are plants that belong to the Fabaceae legume family. This particular plant is said to have about 280 species and varieties with much of them found in the southern and western parts of the North American continent. It is said to be cultivated as early as 2000 years ago with probable [...]
What is Environmental Sustainability? Environmental Sustainability refers to actions and/or projects done by people that can be performed or done continuously or for long periods of time with little or no adverse impact to the environment. This is the typical “mantra” of various environmental groups all over the world not only to protect resources for [...]
What is Biodiversity? When we say biodiversity, it actually refers to the genetic make up of the varied species living in a certain community. It allows everyone to live together and make use of each other, either positively or “selfishly”. To make things simpler, biodiversity allows life to strive and continue. Without biodiversity, one will [...]
What is Atmosphere? An atmosphere refers to the blanket-like layer of gaseous materials that surrounds a celestial body like the Earth. It represents a layer of air that is maintained by a celestial body because of its gravitational force. In layman’s terms, the atmosphere pertains to the air or the climate of a particular area [...]
