Glossary of Environmental Science - O

O

  • Ocean acidification - reduction in pH. Caused by their uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • Oceania - the islands of the southern, western, and central Pacific Ocean, including Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Sometimes extended to encompass Australia, New Zealand, and Maritime Southeast Asia.
  • old growth forest - an area of forest that has attained great age and so exhibits unique biological features.
  • omnivore - a species of animal that eats both plants and animals as its primary food source.
  • open-pit mining (opencast mining, open-cut mining) - a method of extracting rock or minerals from the earth by their removal from an open pit or borrow.
  • old growth forests - forests dominated by mature trees and with little or no evidence of any disturbance such as logging, ground clearing and building.
  • organic agriculture - a holistic production management system that avoids the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and GM organisms, minimises pollution of air, soil and water, and optimises the health and productivity of interdependent communities of plants, animals and people.
  • organic gardening – gardening that follows, in general principle, the philosophy of organic agriculture
  • organic – derived from a living organism.
  • organics - plant or animal matter originating from domestic or industrial sources, e.g. grass clippings, tree prunings, food waste.
  • overshoot- growth beyond an area’s carrying capacity; ecological deficit occurs when human consumption and waste production exceed the capacity of the Earth to create new resources and absorb waste. During overshoot, natural capital is being liquidated to support current use so the Earth's ability to support future life declines.

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