Climate words

yuhina

A small, insectivorous songbird belonging to the family Leiothrichidae, typically…

hydrofluorocarbons

A group of synthetic chemical compounds commonly used as refrigerants in cooling systems…

lionfish

A venomous marine fish native to the Indo-Pacific that has become an invasive species in…

highline

A sport or activity involving walking across a narrow, flat strap rigged at a significant…

highliners

Athletes who practice highlining, a sport that involves walking or running across a…

glaciologist

A scientist who specializes in the study of glaciers and the physical and chemical…

germination

The process by which a seed begins to grow, sprout, or develop into a new plant.

lodgepole

A type of slender, straight-growing pine tree (Pinus contorta) historically used by…

firebreaks

A gap in vegetation or other combustible material designed to stop or slow the spread of…

billowed

To move or flow outward in a large, surging, or swelling cloud-like mass, especially of…

dystopic

Relating to or characteristic of a society characterized by great suffering, oppression,…

coolcation

A vacation taken in a destination with a mild or cool climate, specifically chosen to…

corrugated

Shaped into alternate ridges and grooves, typically used for strength or flexibility in…

freediver

A person who engages in the sport of diving underwater without the use of self-contained…

manatee

A large, plant-eating aquatic mammal with a paddle-shaped tail, often found in coastal…

impound

To collect, store, or confine a substance, typically water, in a reservoir or similar…

overallocated

Describes a resource that has been assigned or committed for use in an amount that…

overappropriation

The act of allocating, granting, or claiming more water rights than are physically…

practicability

The quality or state of being capable of being done, executed, or put into practice;…

sequestered

To set apart, isolate, or set aside a portion of a resource for a specific, exclusive…

portage

The act of carrying a boat or its cargo overland between two navigable bodies of water.

sturgeon

A large, primitive, long-lived bony fish found in fresh and saltwater, often prized by…

acclimate

To become accustomed to a new climate or to a new environment or set of conditions.

gametes

Mature reproductive cells, such as sperm or egg cells, capable of fusing with another…

benthic

Relating to or occurring at the bottom of a body of water, such as a lake, river, or…

macroinvertebrates

Small animals without a backbone that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye,…

plasticizers

Chemical additives incorporated into materials, especially plastics, to increase their…

thermochemical

Relating to or involving the chemical processes that involve the absorption or release of…

eutrophic

Characterized by an abundance of nutrients, which can lead to excessive plant or algae…

mesocosms

Controlled, outdoor experimental enclosures used to study how organisms interact within a…

oligotrophic

Relating to a body of water that is relatively low in plant nutrients and contains an…

statesmanship

The skilled, visionary, and responsible conduct of government affairs and public policy.

thermocol

A lightweight, expanded polystyrene material commonly used for packaging, insulation, and…

interglacial

A warmer geological period of time that occurs between two colder glacial periods (ice…

glaciation

The process or geological period during which the Earth's surface is covered by glaciers…

precessional

Relating to the slow, conical movement of the Earth's axis of rotation, which changes the…

cllr

An elected member of a local government council.

uncoupling

The process of breaking or separating a connection or relationship between two things…

supernovae

The plural of supernova, which is a powerful and luminous stellar explosion occurring at…

cloudbursts

A sudden, intense, and extremely heavy downpour of rain, typically of short duration,…

superimposed

Placed or layered on top of something else, especially so that both elements are still…

estuarine

Relating to or found in an estuary, which is the tidal mouth of a large river where the…

revetment

A strong, protective wall or embankment, often made of stone or concrete, built along a…

escarpment

A long, steep slope or cliff that separates two areas of land at different heights.

corncrake

A ground-dwelling, insect-eating rail bird known for its distinctive, raspy, repetitive…

megadrought

A prolonged and extensive drought that persists for many years or decades, causing severe…

honeydew

A sticky, sugary substance excreted by aphids and certain other sap-sucking insects that…

leeward

The side of an island or landmass that is sheltered from the wind, positioned away from…