LivingEarth

The build-up of sediments to form land or shoaling in coastal waters or waterways. It may be either natural or artificial. Natural accretion is the build-up of land on the beach, dunes, or in the water by natural processes, such as waves, current and wind. Artificial accretion is a similar build-up of land resulting from built structures such as groynes or breakwaters, or activities such as filling and beach nourishment, or also aggradation.

A sudden proliferation of algae (microscopic plants) that occurs near the surface of a body of water. Blooms can occur due to natural nutrient cycles, or can be in response to eutrophication or climate variations.

Loss of algae (microscopic plants) that occurs near the surface of a body of water.

Appearance of underlying soil following human or natural disturbance, such as removal of top soil prior to urban construction or grazing of natural vegetation.

When organic material is inundated or washed into waterways and consumed by bacteria, leading to a sudden depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water.

A decrease in the amount or loss of photosynthetically active pigments (primarily chlorophylls) in vegetation.

Buildings dehabited or no longer in use.

Process that brings about an increase in soil density or unit weight, accompanied by a decrease in air volume.

When the coral host expels its zooxanthellae (marine algae living in symbiosis with the coral) in response to increased water temperatures, often resulting in the death of the coral.

Physical damage or loss of a coral reef that is not the result of changes in water temperature.

Re-instatement of the previous extent or health of reef-building corals.

Replacement of one crop type by another.

Loss of or harm to crops during or following a disturbance.

Planting of crops in an area on ploughed land.

Increase of total cropping area or total area sown.

Decrease of total cropping area or total area sown.

The uncovering of glaciated land because of melting or sublimation of the glacier.

The process of soils becoming less salty; the reduction of soluble salts in water bodies.

Reduction in the productivity of the land that is not reversible. In other words, land is desertified when it can no longer support the same plant growth it had in the past, and the change is permanent on a human time scale.

Change in the altitude above sea or ground level.

Geological process in which earthen materials are worn away and transported by natural forces such as wind or water.

Inundation of water over an area.

A geomorphic adjustment that changes the geometry of landforms. Examples include estuarine evolution and beach rotation in coastal areas and mountain uplift.

Expansion of ice or glacier cover.

An increase in the amount of photosynthetically active pigments (primarily chlorophylls) in vegetation.

Increase in the amount of a substance discharged into a body of water (e.g. salt or sediment).

Progressive submergence of land or structures through flooding.

A plant or animal that has been introduced into a region (terrestrial or aquatic) in which it does not naturally occur and that becomes established and spreads, displacing naturally occurring species.

A mass of molten rock produced during the eruption of a volcano and moving down its sides.

A non-infectious, physiological condition caused by unfavorable environmental situations. It is not caused by fungus, bacteria, or virus. The problem may appear on almost any plant if weather conditions are favourable, such as high temperatures, dry winds, salt carrying winds and low soil moisture.

Land formally used for extractive industry but no longer in use and no new use observed.

Creation of infrastructure in preparation for mining.

Design and construction of landforms as well as the establishment of sustainable ecosystems or alternative vegetation, depending upon desired post-operational land use.

Increase in the area occupied by a natural surface.

Decrease in area of natural surface.

Progressive gain of snow extent.

The increase in the residence time of snow cover, often expressed as a percentage of a year.

Loss of snow cover through melt resulting in exposure of the underlying surface.

The decrease in the residence time of snow cover, often expressed as a percentage of a year.

Alteration in the timing of natural lifecycle events.

Transport infrastructure no longer in use and no new use observed.

Building of a land cover that consists of a combination of materials to form a linear structure for the purpose of road or railroad transportation.

Movement of water away from an area after a flood.

The process of soils becoming more salty; the accumulation of soluble salts in water bodies.

Decrease in the extent and/or volume of frozen marine water.

Increase in the extent and/or volume of frozen marine water.

A decrease in the mean level of the oceans. Relative sea level occurs where there is a local increase in the level of the ocean relative to the land, which might be caused by ocean falling, the land rising, or both.

An increase in the mean level of the oceans. Relative sea level occurs where there is a local increase in the level of the ocean relative to the land, which might be caused by ocean rising, the land subsiding, or both. In areas with rapid land level uplift (e.g. seismically active areas), relative sea level can fall.

Deposition of sediment from flowing water (in channels or floodplains) or standing water (in wetlands, lakes, or oceans).

A sinkhole is a closed natural depression in the ground surface caused by removal of material below the ground and either collapse or gradual subsidence of the surface into the resulting void.

Gradual gathering of snow over an area already covered in snow.

Loss of snow cover due to heat.

Damage to urban buildings and infrastructure.

The process of deterioration in the integrity of buildings and infrastructure.

Increases in the number of buildings and associated infrastructure as human populations move into an area to live or work.

Economic, social and political changes that improve the wellbeing of people in an urban setting.

Increase in extent of urban land cover through the construction of buildings and associated infrastructure.

Removal of all settlements above a certain minimum population size and minimum population density that are within a certain travel time by road.

Redevelopment of a built environment to address urban decay.

Unplanned low-density development surrounding an urban area that often starts as rural land. Also called suburban sprawl.

Physical harm that impairs the value, usefulness, or normal function of plants or plant communities.

Mortality of all or part of plant components, either singularly or en masse.

Expansion of whole plant communities into an area. This includes native vegetation.

An increase in the area occupied by plants.

Deterioration in the state or function of plants or plant communities.

Improvement in the state or function of plants or plant communities.

Loss of vegetation communities from an area.

Reduction in the diversity, abundance and/or coverage of plants within an area.

Reduction in the diversity, abundance and/or coverage of subcanopy plants within an area.

Changes in the floristic and or structural composition of vegetation in an area.

Decrease in the amount of water from an existing water body.

Increase in the amount of water within an existing water body.

Increase in the extent of water from the bounds of an existing water body.

Decrease in the extent of water from the bounds of an existing water body.

A change in the direction of flow of a body of water that might be accompanied by a change in velocity, turbulence and/or discharge.

Change in the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water and the measure of its condition relative to the requirements for one or more biotic species and/or to any human need or purpose.

Disturbance on the surface of a liquid body, as the sea or a lake, in the form of a moving ridge or swell that impacts on the structure of land elements.