Definitions - o

Ocean fertilization is a proposed form of geo-engineering that involves the introduction of iron particles to the upper ocean to stimulate a phytoplankton bloom.

In theory, the phytoplankton will then absorb CO2 before dying and sinking to the bottom of the ocean where the carbon will be sequestered.

An experiment in early 2009 in the Southern Ocean dampened hopes for widespread uptake of the technology after crustacean zooplankton fed on the bloom before it died and reintroduced the extracted CO2 into the atmosphere.

However, some scientists maintain that ocean fertilization could prove a cost effective means of reducing concentrations of CO2 in the atmosphere. Environmental groups counter that large scale ocean fertilization projects could have unexpected consequences on maritime food chains.

The living place or "home" of a particular organism or biological community.

Materials may give off gases, some of which are toxic. Implicated in a variety of ailments, some people are more sensitive than others to these gases.

Deep clear lakes with few nutrients, little organic matter and a high dissolved-oxygen level.

The capacity to induce cancer.

A system capable of rotating about one axis to track the sun.

Rewilding is the act of reintroducing species to areas where they previously went extinct. The assumption being that by them being reintroduced it makes the areas more 'wild' and therefore natural compared to what it was previously.

Theory that proposes large scale climate changes are due in part to the variations in precession, eccentricity and obliquity that affects the amount of solar radiation received by the earth.

A twisting, spinning funnel of low pressure air. The most unpredictable weather event, tornadoes are created during powerful thunderstorms. As a column of warm air rises, air rushes in at ground level and begins to spin. If the storm gathers energy a twisting, spinning funnel develops. Because of the funnel's cloud and rain composition and the dust, soil, and debris it draws up, the funnel appears blackish in color. The most energetic storms result in the funnel touching the ground. In these tornadoes, the roaring winds in the funnel can reach 300 mph, the strongest winds on Earth. Funnels usually travel at 20 to 40 mph, moving toward the northeast. When tornadoes form over lakes or oceans they suck water into the funnel cloud and are called waterspouts.

Compared to traditional aqueous inorganic redox flow batteries such as vanadium redox flow batteries and Zn-Br2 batteries, that have been developed for decades, organic redox flow batteries have emerged in last few years (since 2009) and hold great promise to overcome major drawbacks preventing economical and extensive deployment of traditional inorganic redox flow batteries. The primary merit of organic redox flow batteries lies at using sustainable and tunable organic redox active molecules, free of resources limit and enabling unlimited combinations of anode and cathode materials.

A twisting, spinning funnel of low pressure air. The most unpredictable weather event, tornadoes are created during powerful thunderstorms. As a column of warm air rises, air rushes in at ground level and begins to spin. If the storm gathers energy a twisting, spinning funnel develops. Because of the funnel's cloud and rain composition and the dust, soil, and debris it draws up, the funnel appears blackish in color. The most energetic storms result in the funnel touching the ground. In these tornadoes, the roaring winds in the funnel can reach 300 mph, the strongest winds on Earth. Funnels usually travel at 20 to 40 mph, moving toward the northeast. When tornadoes form over lakes or oceans they suck water into the funnel cloud and are called waterspouts.

Precipitation that results when moist air is lifted over a topographic barrier such as a mountain range.

Cyclic movement of oxygen in different chemical forms from the environment, to organisms, and then back to the environment.

This is usually defined as the act of replacing stale or noxious air with fresh air.

In the eco field it is also important to differentiate between what are termed passive ventilation and active ventilation. Passive ventilation is where no additional electrical or mechanical energy is required to make the ventilation work. Active ventilation on the other hand won't work without using additional energy.

Passive ventilation is an aspect of passive building design and often utilizes heat chimneys and natural air flows across the land to achieve adequate ventilation.

A family of man-made compounds that includes, but are not limited to, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), bromofluorocarbons (halons), methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, methyl bromide, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These compounds have been shown to deplete stratospheric ozone, and therefore are typically referred to as ODSs.

Chemical compounds, such as carbon monoxide, methane, non-methane hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides, which in the presence of solar radiation react with other chemical compounds to form ozone, mainly in the troposphere.