Amount of extracted water irretrievably lost during its use (by evaporation and goods production). Water consumption is equal to water withdrawal minus return flow.

Succulent plants, e.g., cactuses, possessing organs that store water, thus facilitating survival during drought conditions.

Microorganisms living in the upper layers of aquatic systems. A distinction is made between phytoplankton, which depend on photosynthesis for their energy supply, and zooplankton, which feed on phytop [..]

Climate during periods prior to the development of measuring instruments, including historic and geologic time, for which only proxy climate records are available.

The amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth by latitude and by season. Usually insolation refers to the radiation arriving at the top of the atmosphere. Sometimes it is specified as referring to [..]

The gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth. The dry atmosphere consists almost entirely of nitrogen (78.1% volume mixing ratio) and oxygen (20.9% volume mixing ratio), together with a number of trace [..]

A period 12.9 to 11.6 thousand years ago, during the deglaciation, characterized by a temporary return to colder conditions in many locations, especially around the North Atlantic.

Diseases and infections which are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and people.

An economic term used to describe the state of well-being of humans on an individual or collective basis. The constituents of well-being are commonly considered to include materials to satisfy basic n [..]

A transitional, regularly waterlogged area of poorly drained soils, often between an aquatic and a terrestrial ecosystem, fed from rain, surface water or groundwater. Wetlands are characterized by a p [..]