🔬 Science & Environment · Vocabulary for Specific Fields · 150 words

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climate change n	long-term changes in global temperatures and weather patterns Climate change is causing more frequent floods in the Mekong Delta.
global warming n	the gradual rise in the Earth's average temperature Scientists link global warming to the burning of fossil fuels.
greenhouse gas n	a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide Agriculture is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
greenhouse effect n	the warming caused when gases trap the sun's heat near Earth Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be too cold for life.
carbon dioxide n	a colourless gas produced by burning fuels and by breathing Forests absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide every year.
methane n	a powerful greenhouse gas released by cattle, landfills and wetlands Rice paddies release methane when the fields are flooded.
carbon footprint n	the total greenhouse gases caused by a person or activity Flying less is one way to reduce your carbon footprint.
emission n	gas or substance released into the air The factory must cut its sulphur emissions by half before 2030.
net zero n	a balance where emissions released equal emissions removed Vietnam has pledged to reach net zero by 2050.
carbon neutral adj	causing no overall increase in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere The company became carbon neutral by investing in reforestation.
carbon offset n	an action that reduces emissions to compensate for emissions elsewhere The airline sells carbon offsets that fund mangrove planting.
carbon capture n	technology that traps carbon dioxide before it enters the air The power plant is testing carbon capture to store emissions underground.
fossil fuel n	fuel such as coal, oil or gas formed from ancient organisms The country still relies on fossil fuels for most of its electricity.
renewable energy n	energy from sources that are naturally replaced, like sun and wind Investment in renewable energy has grown rapidly in Southeast Asia.
solar power n	electricity produced from sunlight Many farms in Ninh Thuan now generate solar power.
wind turbine n	a tall machine that uses wind to produce electricity Offshore wind turbines can produce power even on cloudy days.
hydropower n	electricity generated by the movement of water Hydropower dams provide energy but can harm river ecosystems.
geothermal energy n	energy obtained from heat inside the Earth Iceland heats most of its homes with geothermal energy.
biofuel n	fuel made from plants or organic waste Some buses in the city run on biofuel made from used cooking oil.
energy efficiency n	using less energy to perform the same task LED lighting greatly improves energy efficiency in offices.
pollution n	harmful substances in the air, water or soil Pollution from motorbikes is a major problem in Hanoi.
air quality n	how clean or polluted the air is The air quality index warned residents to stay indoors.
particulate matter n	tiny particles in the air that can damage the lungs Particulate matter levels exceeded safe limits for three days.
smog n	a thick, dirty fog caused by pollution Thick smog delayed flights and closed schools in the capital.
acid rain n	rain made acidic by pollution, harming plants and buildings Acid rain has damaged forests downwind of the coal plants.
contamination n	making something dirty or harmful by adding dangerous substances Tests found arsenic contamination in several village wells.
pollutant n	a substance that pollutes air, water or land Nitrogen dioxide is a common pollutant from traffic.
toxic waste n	waste material that is poisonous to people or the environment The company was fined for dumping toxic waste into the river.
hazardous waste n	waste that is dangerous because it is toxic, flammable or corrosive Hospitals must separate hazardous waste from ordinary rubbish.
wastewater n	water that has been used in homes or industry All industrial wastewater must be treated before discharge.
sewage n	waste water and human waste carried away in drains Untreated sewage from nearby houses flows directly into the canal.
landfill n	a site where waste is buried under the ground The city's main landfill will reach full capacity next year.
recycling n	processing used materials so they can be made into new products Recycling rates for plastic bottles remain disappointingly low.
waste management n	the collection, treatment and disposal of waste Better waste management could reduce plastic in the ocean.
microplastic n	a tiny piece of plastic less than five millimetres long Researchers found microplastics in the stomachs of most fish sampled.
single-use plastic n	plastic items designed to be used once and thrown away Several provinces have banned single-use plastic bags in markets.
biodegradable adj	able to break down naturally through the action of bacteria The restaurant switched to biodegradable straws made from rice.
compost n	decayed plant material used to improve soil Kitchen scraps are turned into compost for the school garden.
circular economy n	an economic system that reuses materials and minimises waste A circular economy keeps materials in use for as long as possible.
sustainability n	meeting present needs without damaging resources for the future Sustainability is now a key factor in corporate decision-making.
sustainable development n	economic growth that protects the environment for future generations The conference focused on sustainable development in coastal cities.
ecosystem n	all living things and their environment in a particular area Mangroves form a rich ecosystem that protects the coastline.
biodiversity n	the variety of plant and animal life in an area The national park is famous for its exceptional biodiversity.
habitat n	the natural home of a plant or animal Road construction has destroyed the habitat of many rare birds.
habitat loss n	the destruction of places where wildlife naturally lives Habitat loss is the main threat to the Javan rhino.
endangered species n	a type of animal or plant at risk of disappearing The saola is one of the world's rarest endangered species.
extinction n	the complete disappearance of a species Overfishing has pushed some sharks close to extinction.
conservation n	protecting nature, wildlife and natural resources Local communities play a key role in forest conservation.
deforestation n	cutting down large areas of forest Deforestation in the highlands has increased the risk of landslides.
reforestation n	planting trees in an area where forests were destroyed The reforestation project planted one million trees in five years.
desertification n	the process of fertile land becoming desert Desertification increasingly threatens farmland and water supplies in the south-central provinces.
soil erosion n	the removal of the top layer of soil by wind or water Terraced fields help prevent soil erosion on steep hillsides.
drought n	a long period with little or no rain The drought left thousands of hectares of rice without water.
saltwater intrusion n	seawater moving into rivers, soil or groundwater inland Saltwater intrusion has reduced rice yields in coastal districts.
sea level rise n	the increase in the average height of the ocean Sea level rise could flood large parts of the delta by 2100.
extreme weather n	unusual and severe weather such as storms or heatwaves Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense.
natural disaster n	a sudden event in nature causing great damage The province prepared evacuation plans for natural disasters.
heatwave n	a period of unusually hot weather The heatwave pushed temperatures above forty degrees for a week.
adaptation n	adjusting to new conditions such as a changing climate Climate adaptation includes building higher dykes along the coast.
mitigation n	actions that reduce the severity of a problem Mitigation focuses on cutting emissions at their source.
resilience n	the ability to recover quickly from difficulties or shocks Mangrove restoration improves the resilience of coastal communities.
environmental impact assessment n	a study of how a project may affect the environment The port cannot be built until the environmental impact assessment is approved.
ozone layer n	a layer of gas high in the atmosphere that blocks UV radiation The ozone layer is slowly recovering thanks to global agreements.
atmosphere n	the layer of gases surrounding the Earth Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for hundreds of years.
ocean acidification n	the ocean becoming more acidic as it absorbs carbon dioxide Ocean acidification makes it harder for corals to build skeletons.
coral bleaching n	corals turning white after losing algae due to heat stress Warm water caused widespread coral bleaching near Nha Trang.
glacier n	a large mass of ice that moves slowly over land The glacier has shrunk by forty percent since 1980.
permafrost n	ground that remains frozen throughout the year Thawing permafrost releases methane trapped for thousands of years.
water scarcity n	a lack of enough clean water to meet demand Water scarcity affects billions of people during the dry season.
groundwater n	water held underground in soil and rock Over-extraction of groundwater is causing the city to sink.
watershed n	an area of land that drains into a particular river Protecting the upper watershed keeps the reservoir clean.
wetland n	land covered by water for much of the year, like marshes Tram Chim is a protected wetland home to the sarus crane.
mangrove n	a tropical tree that grows in coastal salt water Mangrove forests reduce wave energy and protect villages during storms.
food chain n	a series of organisms each eaten by the next Pesticides can build up as they move up the food chain.
invasive species n	a non-native species that spreads and harms local ecosystems The golden apple snail is an invasive species that damages rice crops.
photosynthesis n	the process plants use to make food from sunlight During photosynthesis, leaves absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
carbon cycle n	the movement of carbon between air, land, oceans and living things Human activity has disrupted the natural carbon cycle.
water cycle n	the continuous movement of water through evaporation and rain Rising temperatures speed up the water cycle and intensify rainfall.
organism n	a single living thing such as a plant, animal or bacterium The lake supports thousands of tiny organisms that feed the fish.
species n	a group of living things that can breed together Researchers discovered three new species of frog in the forest.
population n	all the members of one species living in an area The tiger population in the reserve has slowly increased.
genetic diversity n	the variety of genes within a species Seed banks preserve the genetic diversity of traditional rice varieties.
evolution n	the gradual change of species over many generations Island birds show clear evidence of evolution over time.
natural selection n	the process by which better-adapted organisms survive and reproduce Natural selection explains why bacteria become resistant to antibiotics.
DNA n	the molecule that carries genetic information in living things DNA samples confirmed that the fish belonged to a new species.
gene n	a unit of DNA that controls a particular characteristic Scientists identified the gene that makes the rice tolerate salt.
genetically modified adj	having genes changed in a laboratory Genetically modified corn is grown widely in the Americas.
cell n	the smallest basic unit of a living organism The microscope showed each cell dividing into two.
bacteria n	very small organisms, some of which cause disease Some bacteria can break down oil spills naturally.
molecule n	the smallest unit of a substance, made of atoms A water molecule contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.
atom n	the smallest unit of a chemical element Each carbon atom can form four chemical bonds.
compound n	a substance made of two or more chemical elements combined Water is a compound of hydrogen and oxygen.
chemical reaction n	a process in which substances change into new substances Rust forms through a chemical reaction between iron and oxygen.
catalyst n	a substance that speeds up a reaction without being used up Platinum acts as a catalyst in car exhaust systems.
concentration n	the amount of a substance in a given volume of liquid or air The concentration of lead in the water exceeded safety limits.
solution n	a liquid with another substance dissolved in it The technician prepared a salt solution for the experiment.
temperature n	how hot or cold something is, measured in degrees The samples must be stored at a temperature below four degrees.
pressure n	the force applied to a surface per unit of area Water boils at a lower temperature under low pressure.
density n	how much mass is contained in a given volume Oil floats because its density is lower than water.
velocity n	the speed of something in a particular direction The probe measured the velocity of the river current.
gravity n	the force that pulls objects towards the Earth Gravity causes rainwater to flow down towards the valley.
radiation n	energy sent out as waves or particles, such as heat or light Ultraviolet radiation can damage skin cells and the eyes of field workers.
nuclear energy n	energy released by splitting or joining atomic nuclei Nuclear energy produces little carbon but creates radioactive waste.
hypothesis n	a proposed explanation that can be tested by experiment Our hypothesis is that warmer water reduces fish growth.
experiment n	a scientific test done to discover or prove something The experiment was repeated three times to confirm the results.
variable n	a factor that can change in an experiment Temperature was the only variable changed between the two tanks.
control group n	a group in an experiment that receives no treatment, for comparison Plants in the control group received no fertiliser.
sample n	a small amount taken for testing or analysis Water samples were collected from ten points along the river.
observation n	watching something carefully to gather information Field observation showed the birds feeding mainly at dawn.
measurement n	the process or result of finding the size or amount of something Accurate measurement of rainfall is essential for flood forecasting.
laboratory n	a room or building equipped for scientific experiments The soil samples were analysed in a certified laboratory.
microscope n	an instrument that makes very small objects look larger Under the microscope, the algae looked like green threads.
specimen n	an example of a plant, animal or material used for study The museum keeps thousands of insect specimens collected over a century.
data n	facts and figures collected for analysis Satellite data show a steady loss of forest cover.
peer review n	evaluation of research by other experts before publication The study passed peer review and was published in Nature.
scientific method n	a systematic way of testing ideas through observation and experiment Students learn the scientific method by designing simple experiments.
theory n	a well-tested explanation of how something in nature works The theory explains how continents move over millions of years.
empirical evidence n	information gained through observation or experiment There is strong empirical evidence linking smoking to lung disease.
climate model n	a computer simulation used to predict future climate Climate models predict heavier rainfall in central Vietnam.
forecast n	a prediction of future conditions, especially weather The forecast warned of a strong typhoon later this week.
typhoon n	a violent tropical storm in the western Pacific The typhoon damaged thousands of homes along the central coast.
flash flood n	a sudden, violent flood after heavy rain A flash flood swept away the bridge in the mountain village.
landslide n	a mass of earth or rock sliding down a slope Heavy rain triggered a landslide that blocked the highway.
earthquake n	a sudden shaking of the ground caused by moving rock plates The earthquake measured 6.2 on the Richter scale.
natural resources n	materials from nature such as water, minerals and forests Overuse of natural resources threatens future economic growth.
non-renewable adj	unable to be replaced naturally once used up Coal is a non-renewable resource that will eventually run out.
overfishing n	catching too many fish so populations cannot recover Overfishing has reduced tuna stocks in the region.
pesticide n	a chemical used to kill insects or pests on crops Excessive pesticide use has harmed bees in the area.
fertiliser n	a substance added to soil to help plants grow Runoff from chemical fertiliser causes algae blooms in lakes.
runoff n	water flowing over land into rivers, often carrying pollutants Agricultural runoff carries nitrates from the fields into the river.
algal bloom n	a rapid growth of algae in water, often harmful An algal bloom turned the lake green and killed many fish.
organic farming n	farming without synthetic chemicals Organic farming gradually improves soil health and reduces chemical pollution.
emissions trading n	a market system where companies buy and sell permits to pollute Emissions trading gives companies a financial reason to cut pollution.
carbon tax n	a tax on fuels based on the carbon they emit A carbon tax would make coal power more expensive than solar.
environmental regulation n	laws controlling how businesses affect the environment Stricter environmental regulation forced the mill to install filters.
eco-friendly adj	not harmful to the environment The hotel uses eco-friendly cleaning products in every room.
green technology n	technology designed to reduce environmental harm Government grants support local start-ups developing green technology for farms.
electric vehicle n	a vehicle powered by an electric motor and battery Electric vehicle sales doubled in the country last year.
energy storage n	storing electricity for use when it is needed later Battery energy storage helps balance supply from solar farms.
life cycle assessment n	measuring the environmental impact of a product from start to finish A life cycle assessment showed glass bottles have a higher footprint.
ecological footprint n	the amount of land and resources a person or population uses Wealthy nations have a much larger ecological footprint per person.
carrying capacity n	the maximum population an environment can support sustainably Tourist numbers exceeded the carrying capacity of the small island.
indicator species n	a species whose presence shows the health of an environment Mayflies are an indicator species for clean river water.
bioaccumulation n	the build-up of toxic substances in an organism over time Bioaccumulation of mercury makes large fish unsafe to eat often.
environmental monitoring n	regularly measuring the condition of air, water and soil Environmental monitoring stations report air data every hour.
remote sensing n	collecting information about Earth from satellites or aircraft Remote sensing helps track illegal logging in protected forests.
protected area n	land or sea legally protected for nature conservation Hunting is strictly forbidden inside the protected area.
environmental degradation n	the decline in quality of air, water, soil and ecosystems Rapid industrialisation has led to serious environmental degradation in some regions.
urban heat island n	a city area much warmer than surrounding countryside Green roofs can reduce the urban heat island effect in dense cities.
aquifer n	an underground layer of rock or sand that holds water The aquifer beneath the city is being drained faster than it refills.