Weather, Nature & Environment

Weather, Nature & Environment

Weather Vocabulary

airconditioner / airconditioning precipitation

avalanche puddle: collection of rain water
below freezing rain / raining / rainy
blizzard: a storm with lots of snow and raindrop: a single measurement of rain
rainbow
wind raining cats and dogs: raining heavily
boiling hot scorching / a scorcher: extremely hot
breeze: light wind temperature/a very hot day
chilly: cold dry/ hurricane / monsoon season
clear
cloud / cloudy shower: quick/light rainstorm
sleet: rain that freezes as it falls
cold spell: a period of colder tan
slush / slushy: snow that is melting
average weather smog: heavy, dark cloud cover caused by
cool: temperature in between warm pollution
and cold snow / snowy / snowing
degrees centigrades or Farenheit snowstorm: large amounts of wind and snow
drizzling: raining slightly sun / sunshine / sunny
drought: a long period with no rainfall sunglasses / shades
suntan / tanned
flood
sunscreen / suntan lotion
flurries: very light snowfall
a below-normal chilly freezing frigid low sub-
fog / foggy
freezing sub-zero temperature
forecast
freezing cold thermometer
frost: ice crystals on a frozen surface
frostbite: a skin condition caused by thunder/thunderstorm
over exposure to the cold tornado / cyclone
UV (ultra violet) rays
hail: small pieces of ice that fall during a
wind / windy
storm wind chill factor: when the wind makes the air
heat stroke: a flu-like condition one can feel colder than the actual temperature
acquire after spending too wind turbines / energy
long in the sun
heat-wave
humid / humidity
hurricane
icy
lightning
mild: temperature that is warmer than
average
meteorologist
minus / negative
overcast: no sun is visible
partly cloudy

By Patricia Sanchez
Weather, Nature & Environment

Environment Vocabulary

The polar bear was placed on the endangered species list.

An endangered species is an animal that is likely to face extinction in its
natural habitat.
Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
that become trapped in the atmosphere.
The polar bear's habitat is more vulnerable to global warming than many other
species.
Environmentalist groups such as the World Wildlife Fund often study large
carnivores in order to assess the health of an ecosystem.
People in general are less interested in conservation efforts that protect small
wildlife, such as plants or insects.
By using donor money to protect the habitat of the larger animals
(reforestation programs), entire ecosystems can be protected.
Agencies also receive money and tools to protect the habitat and recover the
species.

Pollution is an environmental concern for people throughout the world.

Water in many third world countries is contaminated with toxic chemicals,
also known as toxins.
In many of these regions the water that is used for drinking, cooking, and
washing is the same water that is used for dumping sewage and hazardous
waste.
Outdoor pollution also causes disease and illness, especially in industrial cities
such as Beijing, China, where cancer is the leading cause of death.
Neighbouring countries including Japan and Korea receive much of China's
pollution in the form of acid rain.
Pollutants such as metals and pesticides seep into the earth's soil and
contaminate the food supply.
Dumping of industrial and domestic waste products produces much of the
world's soil pollution.

Today's buzz words, which include global warming and zero emissions, are
causing everyday people to look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
Entire districts, known as eco-communities, are being designed with green
initiatives in mind.
Its goal is to become the world's first zero emissions neighbourhood.
a self sufficient community
Eco-conscious builders use bamboo wherever possible because it is durable
and does not require pesticides to grow.
Energy efficient appliances and light fixtures reduce the environmental
impact of heating and hot water.
community's car share program
renewable biomass instead of fossil fuels
Other eco-communities are also in the works.
The aim is to create the first ecocity, which hopes to operate as a zero-waste,
zero-carbon, car-free city.

By Patricia Sanchez
Weather, Nature & Environment

Environment Verbs

The school banned water bottles because they are bad for the environment.
I carpool to work with two of my neighbours who also work downtown.
It is important to plant new trees in nearby areas after clear cutting.
Since we started composting we've reduced our garbage by half.
Imagine how much pollution you cause in a lifetime by commuting two hours a
day?
Americans consume more than their share of the earth's resources.
When you donate money to this fund, the animals' habit is protected.
Cars emit harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.
If you are going to fertilize your lawn, make sure to use an organic fertilizer.
We can minimize pollution by walking instead of driving to work and school.
Fumes from factories pollute our lakes and oceans.
We need stronger laws in order to preserve our forests.
It is important to protect your skin from the harmful UV rays of the sun.
The environmentalists will protest if the road builders don't make a bicycle lane.
Please recycle your junk mail instead of throwing it in the garbage.
You can reduce your household waste by buying products with less packaging.
We reuse the inner bags from the cereal boxes inside our small garbage can.
Don't throw away your grass clippings; leave them on your lawn.
We are using up the earth's natural resources faster than ever.
Don't waste toilet paper; use one or two sheets instead of three or four.

...

By Patricia Sanchez