For advanced learners — precise scientific and policy vocabulary for discussing climate systems and ecological challenges professionally.
Free Environment & Nature vocabulary flashcards at the C1 level — all 35 words with definitions and examples. Study them with spaced repetition and use these words precisely, including nuance most learners miss.
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desertification
the process by which fertile land gradually becomes dry, barren desert, usually caused by drought and overuse of the land.
photosynthesis
the process by which green plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce their own food and release oxygen.
geothermal
relating to heat energy produced by natural processes deep within the earth, used as a source of power.
ocean acidification
the ongoing decrease in the pH of the earth's oceans caused by the absorption of excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
permafrost
a layer of soil that remains frozen below the surface all year round, found mainly in polar and sub-arctic regions.
irreversible
impossible to change back to how it was before; permanent.
reforestation
the process of planting trees in areas where forests have been cut down or destroyed.
sequester
to isolate and store a substance, especially carbon dioxide, to prevent it from entering the atmosphere.
trophic cascade
a series of dramatic changes in population sizes throughout a food web triggered by the removal or addition of a top predator.
albedo
the proportion of light or radiation reflected by a surface, especially the earth's surface or a planet.
anthropogenic
relating to or resulting from the influence of human beings on the natural world.
bioaccumulation
the gradual build-up of a substance, especially a toxic chemical, in the tissues of a living organism over time.
aquifer
an underground layer of rock or soil that holds water and can supply wells and springs.
carbon sink
a natural or artificial reservoir that absorbs more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than it releases.
eutrophication
a process in which a body of water becomes excessively enriched with nutrients, causing algae growth that depletes oxygen and kills wildlife.
geoengineering
the deliberate large-scale intervention in the earth's natural systems to counteract climate change.
lithosphere
the rigid outer layer of the earth, consisting of the crust and the upper part of the mantle.
phenology
the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life.
mycorrhizal
relating to the symbiotic relationship between fungi and the roots of most plants, allowing nutrient and water exchange.
nitrification
the process by which bacteria in the soil convert ammonia into nitrates that plants can absorb as nutrients.
biomass
the total mass of organic matter produced by living organisms in a given area, or organic material used as fuel.
thermohaline circulation
a global system of ocean currents driven by differences in water temperature and salinity that regulates the world's climate.
volatile organic compounds
chemicals that easily evaporate at room temperature and can contribute to air pollution and ground-level ozone formation.
remediation
the process of cleaning up or reversing environmental contamination in soil, water, or air.
peatland
a type of wetland composed of partially decayed plant matter that stores large amounts of carbon over thousands of years.
salinisation
the build-up of salt in soil or water, often caused by irrigation, which makes land unusable for farming.
effluent
liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river, lake, or the sea from an industrial or urban source.
biome
a large ecological area on the earth's surface with a distinct climate, soil, and community of plants and animals.
sublimation
the process by which a solid, such as ice or snow, turns directly into vapour without first becoming liquid.
hydrological cycle
the continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff between the atmosphere and the earth.
net zero
a state in which the amount of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere is balanced by the amount removed from it.
invasive
describing a species that spreads aggressively in a new environment where it has no natural predators, harming local ecosystems.
stratosphere
the layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, extending from about 12 to 50 kilometres, where the ozone layer sits.
keystone species
an animal or plant that has a disproportionately large effect on its ecosystem relative to its population size.
carbon neutrality
a condition where the net amount of carbon dioxide released by an activity is zero, through reduction and offsetting.