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