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| Languages Directory>English>for Specific Purposes>Environmental English Terms,ESL Definitions |
English for Science & Nature Glossary of Terms
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salvage logging -
the logging of dead or
diseased trees in order
to improve overall
forest health; used by
timber companies as a
rationalization to log
otherwise protected
areas.
second-growth forests
- forests that have
grown back after being
logged.
sick building
syndrome - a human
health condition where
infections linger,
caused by exposure to
contaminants within a
building as a result of
poor ventilation.
silos - fixed
vertical underground
structures made of steel
and concrete that house
an
ICBM and its launch
support equipment.
smog - a
dense, discolored
radiation fog containing
large quanities of
soot,
ash, and gaseous
pollutants such as
sulfur dioxide and
carbon dioxide,
responsible for human
respiratory ailments.
Most industrialized
nations have implemented
legislation to promote
the use of smokeless
fuel and reduce emission
of
toxic gases into the
atmosphere.
solar energy -
energy derived from
sunlight.
solid waste -
non-liquid, non gaseous
category of waste from
non-toxic household and
commercial sources.
soot - a fine,
sticky powder, comprised
mostly of carbon, formed
by the burning of
fossil fuels.
spotted owl -
reclusive bird, found in
the American West,
requiring old-growth
forest habitat to
survive.
sprawl - the
area taken up by a large
or expanding development
or city.
state land -
land owned and
administered by the
state in which it is
located.
state parks -
parks and recreation
areas owned and
administered by the
state in which they are
located.
straddling stocks
- fish populations that
straddle a boundary
between domestic and
international waters.
stratosphere -
the upper portion of the
atmosphere
(approximately 11 km to
50 km above the surface
of the earth).
strip mining -
mining technique in
which the land and
vegetation covering the
mineral being sought are
stripped away by huge
machines, usually
damaging the land
severely and limiting
subsequent uses.
sulfur dioxide
(SO2) - a heavy,
smelly gas which can be
condensed into a clear
liquid; used to make
sulfuric acid, bleaching
agents, preservatives
and refrigerants; a
major source of air
pollution in industrial
areas.
surface water
- water located above
ground (e.g., rivers,
lakes).
sustainable
communities -
communities capable of
maintaining their
present levels of growth
without damaging
effects. |
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