Human Impacts on Earth Environment Crossword Puzzle

QUESTIONS LIST:

• deforestation: the clearing of forests on a massive scale
• desertification: the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of deforestation.
• depletion: the reduction in the number or quantity of something.
• pollution: the presence or introduction into the environment of a harmful substance.
• runoff: the draining away of water (or substances carried in it) from the surface of an area of land.
• atmosphere: the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.
• watershed: an area or ridge of land that separates waters flowing to different rivers, basins, or seas.
• invasive species: a species that is not native to a specific location.
• climate: the weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period.
• global warming: a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere.
• ozone: a gas that is present in the earth's atmosphere that absorbs ultraviolet radiation, which is harmful to life on earth.
• chlorofluorocarbons: a group of compounds consisting of chlorine, fluorine, and carbon.
• waste water: water that has been used in homes, businesses, and industries that is not suitable for drinking or other uses without treatment.
• biodiversity: the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
• urbanization: the process by which towns and cities are formed and become larger.
• recycling: the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects.
• disposal: the act of getting rid of something, especially by throwing it away.
• mining: the process or industry of obtaining coal or other minerals from a mine.
• poaching: the illegal hunting, killing, or capturing of wild animals.
• oil spill: an accidental release of oil into a body of water.
• landfill: a site for the disposal of waste materials by burying them.