is for A Horizon

The A Horizon is frequently the . top layer of soil. Minerals and organic material come together here. The place of this mixing is also known as the topsoil. We want the topsoil to be healthy so we can grow food and other crops

is for Biodiversity

Biodiversity is important for an ecosystem to thrive. The more species there are, the healthier the ecosystem is. The different genes they contain allow for processes such as the nutrient cycling that sustain all life.

is for Clean Water Act

The Clean Water Act is the primary federal law that protects bodies of water in the United States. Clean water is important to the healthiness of our country and people. They aim to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of water. This Act inspired more laws to protect our environment.

is for Decomposers

Decomposers are very important to the ecosystem. They are organisms that break down material that is either dead or decaying. They are heterotrophic organisms meaning that they get their energy from organic material, just like Humans. One type of decomposer are Fungi. Be careful not to eat them, not all mushrooms are edible.

is for Earthquake

Earthquakes are a type of natural disaster. They occur when the surface of the earth starts shaking. The suddenly released energy in the earth's lithosphere creates . seismic waves. Sometimes these waves can split giant cracks into the earth's surface.

is for Fossil Fuels

Most of our electricity is generated by fossil fuels. Fossil fuels themselves are generated by natural processes. One example of how they are made includes the process of decomposing and compressing dead organisms containing energy. The process takes a lot of time, sometimes exceeding 650 million years. Burning these fossil fuels is not good for the planet.

is for Global Climate Change

Global Warming is one of the biggest problems of our time. The warming of the globe changes weather patterns, and everyone on the planet is affected. Global Warming has already contributed to many extinctions of organisms, such as the death of many coral reefs. We need to counteract the pollution that contributes to these bad changes.

is for Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste is dangerous to humans and other organisms. They can come in the form of a solid, liquid, gas, or as sludge. They can be discarded commercial products like cleaning fluids found in your own home. We need to slow down on producing it to help save our environment.

is for Invasive Species

Invasive species are species that are not native to a particular location, but are introduced to it mainly by humans. They usually spread and are believed to cause damage to the environment, economy, or human health. One example includes the zebra muscles found in the Great Lakes.

is for Joule

A Joule is a unit of energy or work. It is derived from the International System of Units. One Joule is equal to one 3600th of a watt hour. James Prescott Joule founded the Joule

is for Keystone Species

A keystone species is very important to other species in its ecosystem. They are the backbone of their society, and without them the ecosystem would change drastically. One example of a keystone species is the Tiger, but the Tiger is endangered so it is very important that we protect them.

is for Leachate

Leachate is the liquid that is produced when water mixes with a solid and passes through. Leachate is found when it rains at a landfill, and the solid combined water forms when it flows out of the waste material. It is very important that landfills control and treat the leachate that is produced at their facilities.

is for Magma

Magma is the natural material from which all igneous rocks come from. It can be molten or semi molten, and the slowly moving liquid is scorching hot. It is found in large quantities below the surface of the earth, surrounding the earth's core. Magmatism has allowed scientists to discover other terrestrial planets.

is for Native Species

A Native species is one that normally lives and thrives in a particular ecosystem. Including species that developed along the surrounding habitat they live in. The Grizzly Bear is an example of a native species in the United States. Some native species are endangered because their habitats are being destroyed.

is for Oil Sands

Oil sands are also known as the tar sands, crude bitumen, or bituminous sands. They are a type of unconventional petroleum deposit. We need to limit our uses of these non-renewable resources so that we can live a more clean and renewable life.

is for Permafrost

Permafrost is any rock or solid below the freezing temperature of 0 degrees Celsius for two or more years. Permafrost is commonly found in high latitudes, or at high elevations on mountains. The melting of permafrost can result in serious erosion, and when it happens in large quantities sea levels can rise. For this reason, it is very important that we try to stop global warming to make sure that it does not melt.