APES Vocab

This Act establishes a program for regulating surface coal mining and reclamation activities. It establishes mandatory uniform standards for these activities on state and federal lands, including a requirement that adverse impacts on fish, wildlife and related environmental values be minimized. The Act creates an Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund for use in reclaiming and restoring land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining practices.

The principle that energy may not be created or destroyed but is always conserved.

A fundamental principle of energy that states that energy always tends to go from a more usable (higher equality) form to a less usable (lower quality) form. When we say that energy is converted to a less useful form we mean that entropy (a measure of the energy unavailable to do useful work) of the system has increased.

Carbon Dioxide + Water = Glucose + Oxygen

Horizon that is composed of both mineral and organic materials. The color is often light black to brown. Leaching, defined as the process of dissolving, washing, or draining earth materials by percolation of groundwater or other liquids, occurs in the A horizon and moves clay and other materials, such as iron and calcium, to the B horizon.

The nonliving components of an ecosystem.

The ability of matter to absorb light energy shined on it. This light energy is converted into heat.

The degree of conformity of an indicated value to an accepted standard value, or ideal value.

A comprehensive term for the various ways acidic compounds precipitate from the atmosphere and deposit onto surfaces. It can include: 1) wet deposition by means of acid rain, fog, and snow; and 2) dry deposition of acidic particles (aerosols).

Does not refer to an acid mine but to acidic water that drains from mining areas (mostly coal but also metal mines). The acidic water may enter surface water resources, causing environmental damage.

Rain made artificially by pollutants, particularly oxides of sulfur and nitrogen. (Natural rainwater is slightly acidic owing to the effect of carbon dioxide dissolved in the water.)

Solar radiation used by special equipment to provide space heating, hot water or electricity.

Effects usually immediate, obvious, short-term responses to exposure to a hazard; they can be localized to one part of the body or they can be systemic.

Living or occurring only in the presence of oxygen.

An argument for the conservation of nature on the grounds that nature is beautiful and that beauty is important and valuable to people.