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Albedo Portion of solar radiation reflected by an object or surface
Algae A variety of plant without distinguishable tissues
Algal bloom Sudden rise algal growth
Alkali rain Atmospheric precipitation with elevated pH
Allergen Material that cause an allergic reaction
Alpha particle A particle charged positively released by atoms undergoing radioactive decay
Alternating electric current (normally termed as alternating current) Electric
current that reverses its direction numerous times a time period
Ambient air quality Outdoor air quality in the environment
Ambient air Any unconfined part of the atmosphere
Amensalism Interaction in which one organism has a negative effect on another,
while another organism species is unaffected
Ampere Unit of electric current
Amplitude of wave The maximum displacement of a vibrating particle
Anaerobic Absence of oxygen
Anaesthesiology Science as well as practice of giving anaesthetics (substances to
stop patients feeling pain)
Anatomy Specialty of medical science which deals with the bodily structure of
living beings
Animalia (animals) Eukaryotic multicellular organisms that obtain nutrition from
organic sources
Anion Negatively charged ions
Anthropogenic Anything consequential from human activity
Anthropogenic emissions Emissions due to human activity
Aquifer A geological formation which has ability that can transmit/store water
Archaebacteria/Archaea Group of prokaryotic organisms that have different
molecular characteristics making them different from bacteria and eukaryotes
Archipelago Cluster of islands formed tectonically
Arid region Area with low rainfall (usually less than 250 mm per year)
Arithmetic mean An average of values in a dataset
Ash Non-combustible residue generated in combustion process
Asthma A lung disease that causes the bronchial tubes of lungs narrow and making
it difficult to breathe
Atmosphere The layer of gas surrounding the Earth
Atom Smallest component unit of matter that has the same properties of a chemical
element
Atomic mass number Sum of the numbers of protons and neutrons
Atomic number Atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an
atom of the element
Avalanche Snow ice that slides down a mountainside due
Avogadro’s number (Avogadro’s constant) Each mole will have approximately
the same number of elementary entities which is called Avogadro’s number
Background level Concentration of a chemical in the environment
Bacteria A type of unicellular microscopic living organisms
Glossary
Albedo Portion of solar radiation reflected by an object or surface
Algae A variety of plant without distinguishable tissues
Algal bloom Sudden rise algal growth
Alkali rain Atmospheric precipitation with elevated pH
Allergen Material that cause an allergic reaction
Alpha particle A particle charged positively released by atoms undergoing radioactive decay
Alternating electric current (normally termed as alternating current) Electric
current that reverses its direction numerous times a time period
Ambient air quality Outdoor air quality in the environment
Ambient air Any unconfined part of the atmosphere
Amensalism Interaction in which one organism has a negative effect on another,
while another organism species is unaffected
Ampere Unit of electric current
Amplitude of wave The maximum displacement of a vibrating particle
Anaerobic Absence of oxygen
Anaesthesiology Science as well as practice of giving anaesthetics (substances to
stop patients feeling pain)
Anatomy Specialty of medical science which deals with the bodily structure of
living beings
Animalia (animals) Eukaryotic multicellular organisms that obtain nutrition from
organic sources
Anion Negatively charged ions
Anthropogenic Anything consequential from human activity
Anthropogenic emissions Emissions due to human activity
Aquifer A geological formation which has ability that can transmit/store water
Archaebacteria/Archaea Group of prokaryotic organisms that have different
molecular characteristics making them different from bacteria and eukaryotes
Archipelago Cluster of islands formed tectonically
Arid region Area with low rainfall (usually less than 250 mm per year)
Arithmetic mean An average of values in a dataset
Ash Non-combustible residue generated in combustion process
Asthma A lung disease that causes the bronchial tubes of lungs narrow and making
it difficult to breathe
Atmosphere The layer of gas surrounding the Earth
Atom Smallest component unit of matter that has the same properties of a chemical
element
Atomic mass number Sum of the numbers of protons and neutrons
Atomic number Atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of an
atom of the element
Avalanche Snow ice that slides down a mountainside due
Avogadro’s number (Avogadro’s constant) Each mole will have approximately
the same number of elementary entities which is called Avogadro’s number
Background level Concentration of a chemical in the environment
Bacteria A type of unicellular microscopic living organisms
Glossary