Environment, WHA-ĂVR
Biological diversity is key to a healthy ecosystem, whether itâs a small biological community or the global biosphere. Ecology, which studies the relationships between organisms and their environment, is an invaluable science that helps us understand what allows an ecological community to thrive.
Environment Encyclopedia Articles By Title
What Is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencyâs Endangerment Finding?
In everyday usage endanger is a loaded word that evokes images of people being exposed to disease, workers at risk......
What Makes a Species Endangered?
Over 7,000 species around the world are considered endangered. That number doesnât even include the plants, animals,......
What Purposes Do Mosquitoes Serve in Ecosystems?
All of us have experienced this: Itâs nighttime, and weâre drifting off to sleep when we think we hear something......
What Was the Little Ice Age?
When most people think of ice ages, or âglacial ages,â they often envision cavemen, woolly mammoths, and vast plains......
Whatâs the Difference Between Global Warming and Climate Change?
People often confuse the concepts of global warming and climate change, and it doesnât help that media companies......
Whatâs the difference between urban and rural?
The primary difference between areas defined as urban (Latin: urbanus, ârelated to the cityâ) and rural (Latin:......
When Does Summer Start?
Many climate scientists define the start of summer in terms of meteorological phenomena and the calendar year.......
When Katrina Struck
Between August 23 and 29, 2005, a tropical depression called âKatrinaâ grew into one of the most destructive storms......
White Sands National Park
White Sands National Park, an expanse of dazzling white gypsum sands in south-central New Mexico, U.S., covering......
Why are bugs attracted to light?
There are many theories that attempt to explain why the proverbial moth, among other insects, is drawn to a flame,......
Why are rainforests so important?
The Earthâs magnificent tropical rainforests represent a treasure trove of biological heritage. They not only retain......
Why Are Spotted Lanternflies Bad?
Originally from China, India, and Vietnam, the spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is considered a harmful......
Why do we have seasons?
Seasons occur due to the tilt of Earthâs axis, which is approximately 23.5°. Because of this tilt, each hemisphere......
Why is Antarctica a desert?
Antarctica can be classified as a desert because it receives very little precipitation. The average amountâwhich......
Why is it illegal to touch a manatee?
Touching a manatee is illegal in the United States. The banâs aim is to protect these vulnerable marine mammals......
Why Is Japanâs Population Decreasing?
Japanâs population has been declining steadily since 2005 primarily because of a decrease in births, which have......
Why is nitrogen essential to life?
Nitrogen is fundamental to life because it is needed to make DNA and RNA, which carry genetic information, and......
Why is summer warmer than winter?
The temperature people feel outside is largely based on the absorption of radiant energy from the Sun. Differing......
Why is the Gobi Desert called a cold desert?
The Gobi Desert, spanning parts of northern China and southern Mongolia, is famously known as a âcold desertâ due......
Why is the Huang He river known as Chinaâs Sorrow?
The Huang He, also known as the Yellow River, is often referred to as âChinaâs Sorrowâ due to its long history......
Wilderness Act
Wilderness Act, U.S. environmental protection legislation (1964) that created the National Wilderness Preservation......
Wildfire
Wildfire, uncontrolled fire in a forest, grassland, brushland, or land sown to crops. These fires may also spread......
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, The
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, centre of the worldâs largest collection of waterfowl. It was established in 1946......
Willem Pretorius Game Reserve
Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, game sanctuary in Free State province, South Africa, adjoining Allemanskraal Dam......
Wind Cave National Park
Wind Cave National Park, scenic area in southwestern South Dakota, U.S., about 35 miles (56 km) south-southwest......
Winter
Winter, coldest season of the year, between autumn and spring; the name comes from an old Germanic word that means......
Women in the United States by the Numbers: 1920 Versus 2020
This infographic shows graphs that compare aspects of the lives of women in the United States over a century. Spotlight,......
World Resources Institute
World Resources Institute (WRI), research institute established in 1982 to promote environmentally sound and socially......
WrangellâSaint Elias National Park and Preserve
WrangellâSaint Elias National Park and Preserve, vast natural area in southeastern Alaska, U.S., on the Canadian......
WWF
WWF, international organization committed to conservation of the environment. In North America it is called the......
Yankari National Park
Yankari National Park, park in Bauchi state, east-central Nigeria, southeast of Bauchi town. It was established......
Yoho National Park
Yoho National Park, national park in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. The park occupies 507 square miles......
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park, scenic mountain region in east-central California, U.S. It is situated about 140 miles......
Younger Dryas
Younger Dryas, cool period between roughly 12,900 and 11,600 years ago that disrupted the prevailing warming trend......
YukonâCharley Rivers National Preserve
YukonâCharley Rivers National Preserve, protected river-basin region in east-central Alaska, U.S. Proclaimed a......
Zion National Park
Zion National Park, dramatic landscape of colourful deep canyons, high cliffs, mesas, and forested plateaus in......
Ăvre Anar River National Park
Ăvre Anar River National Park, national park in the southeastern Finnmark Plateau region, northern Norway, bordering......
Ăvre Divi Valley National Park
Ăvre Divi Valley National Park, national park in the eastern part of the Divi valley, Troms county, northern Norway.......