The ability of the chemical environment to counteract acidity, associated with concentrations of base cations, including Ca2+, Mg2+, and K+.
anthropogenic
Of, relating to, or caused by humans or their activities.
Arctic ozone dent
An area of the stratosphere over the Arctic region where ozone concentrations are low, but have not dropped below 220 Dobson units.
climate change
Directional change in climate over a period of several decades or longer.
desertification
Degradation of formerly productive land in arid regions resulting in loss of plant cover and acceleration of soil erosion.
greenhouse effect
The warming of Earth by gases in the atmosphere that absorb and reradiate infrared energy emitted by Earth’s surface.
ozone hole
An area of the stratosphere with an ozone concentration of less than 220 Dobson units (= 2.7 × 1016 molecules of ozone) per square centimeter; found primarily over the Antarctic region.
