Glossary

Category: Environmental Science (Select letter)

Looking in Category Environmental Science for letter E

ecosystems
ecological units comprised of complex communities of organisms and their specific environments.
CIA World Factbook 2000

effluents
waste materials, such as smoke or sewage, which are released into the environment, subsequently polluting it.
CIA World Factbook 2000

Electricity - production by source
This entry indicates the percentage share of annual electricity production of each energy source. These are fossil fuel, hydro, nuclear, and other (solar, geothermal, and wind).
CIA World Factbook 2000

elevation
The height of a point on the Earth's surface above sea level.
http://www.geographic.org

Emergent Coastline
A shoreline resulting from a rise in land surface elevation relative to sea level.
http://www.geographic.org

Enclave
A tract or territory enclosed within another state or country.
http://www.geographic.org

endangered species
a species that is threatened with extinction either by direct hunting or habitat destruction.
CIA World Factbook 2000

Equator
An imaginary circle around the Earth halfway between the North Pole and the South Pole; the largest circumference of the Earth.
http://www.geographic.org

Erratic
A boulder that has been carried from its source by a glacier and deposited as the glacier melted. Thus, the boulder is often of a different rock type from surrounding types.
http://www.geographic.org

Escarpment
A long cliff or steep slope separating two comparatively level or more gently sloping surfaces and resulting from erosion or faulting.
http://www.geographic.org