CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html lang="en" class="topicbrowse-desktop ui-ie7 ui-ie"> <head prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns# fb: https://ogp.me/ns/fb#"> <base href="https://www.britannica.com/browse/Environment"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js"> <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.png"> <meta name="description" content="Biological diversity is key to a healthy ecosystem, whether it’s a small biological community or the global biosphere. Ecology, which studies the relationships between organisms and their environment,..."> <meta name="keywords" content="Environment"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.britannica.com/browse/Environment"> <title>Environment Portal | Britannica</title> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel"> window.$UI = {}; window.Constants = {"LICENSE_URL": "/bps/license","DEFAULT_TEST_VERSION": "A","DEFAULT_STATE": "XX","QUIZ_URL": "/quiz","SPOTLIGHT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/spotlight","CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT": "text/plain;charset=UTF-8","TOPIC_FACTS_DATA_URL": "/facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_IMAGE_QUIZZES": "images","TOPIC_MEDIA_PATH": "/images-videos","USER_PROFILE_URL": "/user","DEBUG_URL": "/debug","ONE_GOOD_FACT_URL": "/one-good-fact","ERROR_404_URL": "/error404","PROCON_CITED_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/ProCon-in-the-News","PROCON_URL": "/procon","TOPIC_PAGE_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/page","INFINITE_SCROLL_PREFIX_URL": "/scroll","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_BROWSE_URL": "/questions","CC_USD": "USD","domain": "britannica.com","SURVEY_URL": "/survey","CATEGORY_BROWSE_URL": "/browse","STORY_BROWSE_URL": "/stories","COUNTRY_US": "US","OPEN_MEDIA_OVERLAY_PARAMETER": "/media","NEWSLETTER_SUBSCRIPTION_URL": "/newsletter-subscription","MAINTENANCE_ERROR_URL": "https://maintenance.eb.com","IMARS_EDITOR_ID": "12365882","PROFILE_EB_EDITOR_URL": "/editor","WEB_INF_RESOURCES_PATH": "WEB-INF/resources","AI_ABOUT_PAGE_URL": "/about-britannica-ai","TOPIC_ADDITIONAL_INFO_PATH": "/additional-info","SUDOKU_GAME_URL": "/games/sudoku","CC_INR": "INR","ARTICLE_PRINT_URL": "/print/article","FIRST_EDITION_URL": "/subscriber/firstedition","WW1_PORTAL_URL": "/discover/World-War-I","MENDEL_COOKIE": "__mendel","DEMYSTIFIED_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/demystified","LIST_BROWSE_URL": "/list/browse","PROFILE_EXPERT_URL": "/contributor","ASSEMBLY_IMAGE_URL": "/image/assembly","DAY_IN_HISTORY_URL": "/on-this-day","DEFAULT_CURRENCY": "USD","CONTENT_TYPE_XML": "text/xml;charset=UTF-8","PORTAL_FINANCE_BROWSE_URL_PREFIX": "/money/browse","MONEY_IMARS_CATEGORY": "13000","AJAX_PREFIX_URL": "/ajax","TOPIC_BROWSE_URL": "/topic-browse","MARKETING_CONTENT": "/marketing-content","ENV_RUNTIME": "runtime","GALLERY_URL": "/gallery","topicUrlClassesList": "topic|animal|art|biography|event|place|plant|science|sports|technology|procon","CONTENT_TYPE_HTML": "text/html;charset=UTF-8","ENV_LOCAL": "override","MEDIA_OVERLAY_URL": "/media-overlay","CHATBOT_PAGE_URL": "/chatbot","NEWSLETTER_PAGE_URL": "/newsletters","ENV_DEV": "development","MEDIA_URL": "/media","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_URL": "/question","PORTAL_FINANCE_URL_PREFIX": "/money","PODCASTS_URL": "/podcasts","STAND_ALONE_VIDEO_URL": "/video","MORE_ON_THIS_DAY_URL": "/more-on-this-day","TOPIC_QUOTES_URL": "/quotes","SEARCH_PAGE_URL": "/search","PROCON_CLASS": "PROCON","KUSTOM_MENDEL_APPLICATION_ID": "1","TOPIC_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/topic","ENV_BRANCH": "branch","ERROR_URL": "/error","MAIN_VERSION": "mainVersion","DEFAULT_S3_REGION": "US_EAST_1","TOPIC_COLLECTION_URL": "/summary","LOGINBOX_URL": "/auth/loginbox","ONE_GOOD_FACT_BROWSE_URL": "/one-good-fact/all-good-facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_URL": "/quiz/browse","BIO_BROWSE_URL": "/browse/biographies","LIST_URL": "/list","TIGHTROPE_QUIZ_URL": "/quiz/tightrope","ALPHA_BROWSE_URL": "/sitemap","CONTENT_TYPE_JSON": "application/json","DICTIONARY_URL": "/dictionary","COBRAND_IMAGE_URL": "/image/cobrand","PROCON_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/pro-and-con-issues-in-the-news","PROCON_BROWSE_URL": "/procon","QUIZ_BROWSE_VOCAB_QUIZZES": "vocabulary-quizzes","SUBMISSION_URL": "/submission","EB_LOG_OUT": "/auth2/logout","ENV_PRODUCTION": "production","EXPLORE_PORTAL_URL": "/explore","TOPIC_AJAX_URL": "/ajax/topic","TOPIC_SUMMARY_BROWSE_URL": "/summaries","WTFACT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/wtfact","VIDEO_CHANNEL_URL": "/videos","GALLERY_BROWSE_URL": "/gallery/browse","CACHE_URL": "/cache","PROCON_ABOUT_URL": "/procon/About-ProCon","COMPANION_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/companion","MEDIA_FOLDER": "/eb-media","SHOW_ALL_CONTRIBUTORS": "/additional-info#contributors","BRITANNICA_EDITORS_ID": "4419","ENV_CACHE_DISABLED": "mendelCache","CALCULATORS_BROWSE_URL": "/calculators","STORY_URL": "/story","DEFAULT_COUNTRY": "US","NAVBAR_URL": "/ajax/navbar","EB_LOGIN_URL": "/auth/eb-login","NEW_ARTICLES_URL": "/new-articles",}; window.CDN = "https://cdn.britannica.com"; window.CAM_LOGIN_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com"; window.CAM_SIGN_UP_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/registration" window.Mendel = { "config" : { "domain": "britannica.com", "page": "TopicBrowse", "videoPlayerId": "UyMCoK2v", "sharedUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/browse/Environment", "amuselabsUrl": "https://cdn3.amuselabs.com", "resourcesPrefixUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/[url]?v=3.130.14", "date": 20241129, "userInfo": { "type": "ANONYMOUS" ,"currency": "USD" ,"country": "US" ,"state": "CA" ,"timezone": "America/Los_Angeles" ,"bcomId": "-6622661065929916181" ,"hasAds": true ,"testVersion": "D" ,"adsTestVersion": "D" ,"consumerId": "" ,"instId": "" ,"consumerUserName": "" ,"instUserName": "" ,"cognito": null }, "tvs":{ "r":[25,25,25,25], "a": [25,25,25,25]}, "isLoggedInAsUser": false, "isPhone": false, "isDesktop": true, "logoutUrl": "/auth2/logout", "selfServiceUrl": "https://myaccount.britannica.com", "cdnUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com", "chatbotApi": "https://www.britannica.com/chat-api", "fetchOffset": 800, "mendelCookieName": "__mendel", "mendelCookie": {"surveyShown":false,"visitedTopicId":0,"currentDate":20241129}, "autocompleteToSearchPage": false,"categoryId": 1032 }, "GA": {"leg":"D","adLeg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"TopicBrowse","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} }; </script> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1887621861548296"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@britannica"> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/social/eb-thistle-social-image.jpg?v=3.130.14"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Biological diversity is key to a healthy ecosystem, whether it’s a small biological community or the global biosphere. Ecology, which studies the relationships between organisms and their environment,..."> <meta property="og:type" content="WEBSITE"> <meta property="og:title" content="Environment Portal | Britannica"> <meta property="og:description" content="Biological diversity is key to a healthy ecosystem, whether it’s a small biological community or the global biosphere. Ecology, which studies the relationships between organisms and their environment,..."> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Encyclopedia Britannica"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.britannica.com/browse/Environment"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/social/eb-thistle-social-image.jpg?v=3.130.14"> <meta property="og:image:type" content=""> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="init opengraph"> Mendel.openGraph = {"type":"WEBSITE","title":"Environment Portal","description":"Biological diversity is key to a healthy ecosystem, whether it’s a small biological community or the global biosphere. Ecology, which studies the relationships between organisms and their environment,...","imageUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/social/eb-thistle-social-image.jpg?v=3.130.14","pageUrl":"https://www.britannica.com/browse/Environment"}</script> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/icon?family=Material+Icons"> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/vendor-bundle.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/mendel-css.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-browse-page.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet"> <script type="text/javascript"> if (self !== top) { top.location = self.location; } // if ('scrollRestoration' in history) { history.scrollRestoration = 'manual'; } </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/at.js?v=3.130.14" async></script> <script> dataLayer = []; </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5W6NC8'); </script> <meta http-equiv="X-Translated-By" content="Google"> <meta http-equiv="X-Translated-To" content="en"> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.gstatic.com/_/translate_http/_/js/k=translate_http.tr.en_GB.omlEigW4xY8.O/am=DgY/d=1/rs=AN8SPfpjsL9kUWY0h-sp7Ilu7hZWGwEmeg/m=corsproxy" data-sourceurl="https://www.britannica.com/browse/Environment"></script> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css2?family=Material+Symbols+Outlined:opsz,wght,FILL,GRAD@20..48,100..700,0..1,-50..200" rel="stylesheet"> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.gstatic.com/_/translate_http/_/js/k=translate_http.tr.en_GB.omlEigW4xY8.O/am=DgY/d=1/exm=corsproxy/ed=1/rs=AN8SPfpjsL9kUWY0h-sp7Ilu7hZWGwEmeg/m=phishing_protection" data-phishing-protection-enabled="false" data-forms-warning-enabled="true" data-source-url="https://www.britannica.com/browse/Environment"></script> <meta name="robots" content="none"> </head> <body data-leg="D" class="subcategories-browse user-ANONYMOUS user-ads md-desktop leg-db-ie"> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://www.gstatic.com/_/translate_http/_/js/k=translate_http.tr.en_GB.omlEigW4xY8.O/am=DgY/d=1/exm=corsproxy,phishing_protection/ed=1/rs=AN8SPfpjsL9kUWY0h-sp7Ilu7hZWGwEmeg/m=navigationui" data-environment="prod" data-proxy-url="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog" data-proxy-full-url="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" data-source-url="https://www.britannica.com/browse/Environment" data-source-language="auto" data-target-language="en" data-display-language="en-GB" data-detected-source-language="en" data-is-source-untranslated="false" data-source-untranslated-url="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://www.britannica.com/browse/Environment&anno=2" data-client="tr"></script> <script>Mendel.config.adProvider='ay';</script> <script async src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/CMP_1x1', [1, 1], 'div-gpt-ad-1709766812090-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script async defer src="https://launchpad-wrapper.privacymanager.io/0ccc6fe8-1870-4ad8-b47b-6d029ac116fc/launchpad-liveramp.js"></script> <script async src="https://JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs.ay.delivery/manager/JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs" type="text/javascript" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade"></script> <div class="ie-warning d-flex align-items-center align-self-center justify-content-center site-alert bg-orange"> <div> You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. Please <a class="text-white text-underscore" href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://browsehappy.com/">upgrade your browser</a> to improve your experience and security. </div> </div> <script id="json-navbar-info" type="application/json"> {"topSectionLinks":[{"title":"Ask the Chatbot","url":"/chatbot","navbarId":"CHATBOT"},{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse","navbarId":"QUIZZES"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon","navbarId":"PROCON"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society","navbarId":"HISTORY"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech","navbarId":"SCIENCE"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies","navbarId":"BIOS"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature","selected":true,"navbarId":"ANIMALS"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel","navbarId":"GEOGRAPHY"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture","navbarId":"ART"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money","navbarId":"MONEY"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos","navbarId":"VIDEOS"}],"selectedSuperCategory":{"id":1,"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"Animals-Nature","description":"Explore animals and nature; animal facts and stats, mammals, marsupials, birds, insects, reptiles, dinosaurs, megafauna, fossils, environment, plants, trees, bacteria, fungi","keywords":"animal facts and stats, mammals, marsupials, birds, insects, reptiles, dinosaurs, megafauna, fossils, environment, plants, trees, bacteria, fungi","classId":"ANIMALS","sortOrder":4},"selectedNavbarLink":{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature","selected":true,"navbarId":"ANIMALS"}} </script> <script id="json-hamburger-menu" type="application/json"> {"britannicaMenu1":[{"title":"Home","url":"/"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money"}],"britannicaMenu2":[{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos"},{"title":"On This Day","url":"/on-this-day"},{"title":"One Good Fact","url":"/one-good-fact"},{"title":"Dictionary","url":"/dictionary"},{"title":"New Articles","url":"/new-articles"}],"browseByCategory":[{"title":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},"links":[{"title":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","url":"/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues"},{"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"/browse/Philosophy-Religion"},{"title":"Politics, Law & Government","url":"/browse/Politics-Law-Government"},{"title":"World History","url":"/browse/World-History"}]},{"title":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},"links":[{"title":"Health & Medicine","url":"/browse/Health-Medicine"},{"title":"Science","url":"/browse/Science"},{"title":"Technology","url":"/browse/Technology"}]},{"title":{"id":3,"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},"links":[{"title":"Browse Biographies","url":"/browse/biographies"}]},{"title":{"id":1,"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},"links":[{"title":"Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates","url":"/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates"},{"title":"Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates","url":"/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates"},{"title":"Environment","url":"/browse/Environment"},{"title":"Fossils & Geologic Time","url":"/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time"},{"title":"Mammals","url":"/browse/Mammals"},{"title":"Plants","url":"/browse/Plants"}]},{"title":{"id":4,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},"links":[{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/browse/Geography-Travel"}]},{"title":{"id":2,"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},"links":[{"title":"Entertainment & Pop Culture","url":"/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture"},{"title":"Literature","url":"/browse/Literature"},{"title":"Sports & Recreation","url":"/browse/Sports-Recreation"},{"title":"Visual Arts","url":"/browse/Visual-Arts"}]}],"browseByFeature":[{"title":"Companions","url":"/stories/companion"},{"title":"Demystified","url":"/stories/demystified"},{"title":"Image Galleries","url":"/gallery/browse"},{"title":"Lists","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Podcasts","url":"/podcasts"},{"title":"Spotlight","url":"/stories/spotlight"},{"title":"Summaries","url":"/summary"},{"title":"The Forum","url":"/stories/the-forum"},{"title":"Top Questions","url":"/question"},{"title":"#WTFact","url":"/stories/wtfact"}],"moreFromBritannica":[{"title":"Britannica Kids","url":"https://kids.britannica.com/","newTab":true}],"menuType":"DEFAULT"} </script> <header id="header" class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="global-nav-top-bar"> <div class="grid gx-0 h-100 justify-content-between align-items-center container-lg mx-auto p-0 position-relative"> <div class="d-flex align-items-center"><button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-self-start js-toggle js-toggle-hamburger btn btn-link link-white btn-sm rounded-0 p-10"> <div class="hamburger-tooltip"><em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24" id="nav-toggle" data-icon="menu"></em> </div><em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24 global-nav-search-icon" id="nav-search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> <a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center ml-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-logo global-nav-logo-left"> </a> <div class="global-nav-top-search-bar global-nav-top-search-container global-nav-search-container" id="global-nav-top-search-bar"> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"><label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica"> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> </div> </div><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-center global-nav-logo non-homepage-logo"> </a> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small global-nav-center search global-nav-center-search-container"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"><label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica"> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> <div class="col-35 col-sm-auto text-right order-3 mr-lg-15 align-items-center d-flex justify-content-end"> <div class="d-none d-md-inline-block"><span class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2 marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2"><a href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source%3Dpremium%26utm_medium%3Dglobal-nav%26utm_campaign%3Dblack-friday-2024" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5 mr-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></span> </div> <div class="d-inline-block d-md-none mr-5 mr-sm-10"><span class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE"><a href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source%3Dpremium%26utm_medium%3Dglobal-nav-mobile%26utm_campaign%3Dblack-friday-2024" class="subscribe-link btn btn-xs btn-orange-dark p-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></span> </div><button class="js-toggle-user-dropdown js-toggle btn btn-sm btn-link link-white rounded-0 px-md-15 pl-5 pr-5"> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block mr-5">Login</span> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block d-md-none font-16 font-sm-20" data-icon="account_circle"></em> <div class="d-none dropdown-menu-subscription-link"> https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=nav-login-box&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024 </div><em class="material-icons inactive-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_down"></em> <em class="material-icons active-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_up"></em> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none hamburger-menu-subscription-link"> <div class="marketing-HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA"> <a href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source%3Dpremium%26utm_medium%3Dhamburger-menu%26utm_campaign%3Dblack-friday-2024" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5" target="_blank"> Subscribe <span class="d-none d-md-inline"> Now</span> </a> </div> </div> <div id="global-nav-react"> <div class="d-none"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Home</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/procon?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">ProCon</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/History-Society?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">History & Society</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Science-Tech?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Science & Tech</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Biographies?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Biographies</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Animals-Nature?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Animals & Nature</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Geography-Travel?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Geography & Travel</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Arts-Culture?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Arts & Culture</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/money?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Money</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/quiz/browse?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Games & Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/videos?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Videos</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/on-this-day?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">On This Day</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/one-good-fact?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">One Good Fact</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/dictionary?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/new-articles?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">New Articles</a></li> </ul><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/History-Society?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">History & Society</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Lifestyles & Social Issues</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Philosophy-Religion?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Philosophy & Religion</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Politics-Law-Government?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Politics, Law & Government</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/World-History?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">World History</a></li> </ul><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Science-Tech?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Science & Tech</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Health-Medicine?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Health & Medicine</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Science?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Science</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Technology?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Technology</a></li> </ul><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Biographies?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Biographies</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/biographies?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Browse Biographies</a></li> </ul><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Animals-Nature?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Animals & Nature</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Environment</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Fossils & Geologic Time</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Mammals?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Mammals</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Plants?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Plants</a></li> </ul><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Geography-Travel?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Geography & Travel</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Geography-Travel?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Geography & Travel</a></li> </ul><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Arts-Culture?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Arts & Culture</a> <ul> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Entertainment & Pop Culture</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Literature?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Sports-Recreation?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Sports & Recreation</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Visual-Arts?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Visual Arts</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/stories/companion?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Companions</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/stories/demystified?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Demystified</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/gallery/browse?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Image Galleries</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/list/browse?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/podcasts?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Podcasts</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/stories/spotlight?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Spotlight</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/summary?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Summaries</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/stories/the-forum?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">The Forum</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/question?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Top Questions</a></li> <li><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/stories/wtfact?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">#WTFact</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://kids.britannica.com/">Britannica Kids</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </header> <div class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="container-lg p-0 d-flex justify-content-center global-nav-categories-bar overflow-hidden"> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 global-nav-slider category-snap-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex font-14 overflow-hidden text-nowrap mx-5"><a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-CHATBOT " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/chatbot?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Ask the Chatbot</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-QUIZZES " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/quiz/browse?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Games & Quizzes</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-PROCON " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/procon?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">ProCon</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-HISTORY " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/History-Society?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">History & Society</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-SCIENCE " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Science-Tech?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Science & Tech</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-BIOS " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Biographies?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Biographies</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ANIMALS selected selected" href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Animals-Nature?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Animals & Nature</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-GEOGRAPHY " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Geography-Travel?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Geography & Travel</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ART " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/Arts-Culture?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Arts & Culture</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-MONEY " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/money?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Money</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-VIDEOS " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/videos?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Videos</a> </div><button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="bg-navy-dark text-white text-center pt-30 pb-20"> <div class="container"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 1, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/browse/Science", "name": "Science" } } , { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 2, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/browse/Environment", "name": "Environment" } } ] } </script> <nav class="breadcrumb justify-content-center"><span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="link-white">Home</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="link-white" href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Science?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Science</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> Environment </span> </nav> <h1 class="font-serif mt-30 mb-20">Environment</h1> <div class="font-serif grid"> <div class="col-sm-70 col-sm-offset-15"> Biological diversity is key to a healthy ecosystem, whether it’s a small biological community or the global biosphere. Ecology, which studies the relationships between organisms and their environment, is an invaluable science that helps us understand what allows an ecological community to thrive. </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <h2 class="label my-30">Environment Encyclopedia Articles</h2> <div class="grid top g-10 mb-40"> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/1?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">-CHI</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/2?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">CHI-FLI</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/3?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">FLO-JEW</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/4?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">JOH-NER</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/5?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">NEU-SEA</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/6?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">SEC-WAT</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/7?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">WAT-ØVR</a> </div> </div> </div> <h2 class="label my-30 text-center">Featured Articles</h2> <div class="js-pinboard grid gy-20"> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/conservation-ecology?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/102009-050-81C6D817/Earths-hot-spots-of-biodiversity.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="terrestrial hot spots of biodiversity" class="col-100"> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/conservation-ecology?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">conservation</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Conservation, study of the loss of Earth’s biological diversity and the ways this loss can be prevented. Biological diversity, or biodiversity, is the variety of life either in a particular place or on... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/topic/Environmental-Protection-Agency?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/141122-050-4CA8A447/headquarters-Environmental-Protection-Agency-Washington-DC.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Environmental Protection Agency" class="col-100"> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/topic/Environmental-Protection-Agency?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">Environmental Protection Agency</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), agency of the U.S. government that sets and enforces national pollution-control standards. In 1970, in response to the welter of confusing, often ineffective environmental... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/hydrosphere?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/20/114420-050-81BCBCE0/environment-Earth-hydrosphere-atmosphere-biosphere-lithosphere.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Earth's environmental spheres" class="col-100"> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/hydrosphere?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">hydrosphere</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Hydrosphere, discontinuous layer of water at or near Earth’s surface. It includes all liquid and frozen surface waters, groundwater held in soil and rock, and atmospheric water vapour. Water is the most... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/environment?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.130.14" class="default col-100"> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/environment?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">environment</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Environment, the complex of physical, chemical, and biotic factors that act upon an organism or an ecological community and ultimately determine its form and survival. The Earth’s environment is treated... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/recycling?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/25/109325-050-E833ECE5/glass-containers-recycling-bin.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Plastic, glass, and metal containers in a recycling bin." class="col-100"> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/recycling?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">recycling</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Recycling, recovery and reprocessing of waste materials for use in new products. The basic phases in recycling are the collection of waste materials, their processing or manufacture into new products,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/atmosphere?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/98/74598-050-C98CDE77/atmospheres-planets-solar-system-places-particulates-gases.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="feathery cirrus clouds over Pinawa Dam Provincial Park" class="col-100"> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/atmosphere?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">atmosphere</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Atmosphere, the gas and aerosol envelope that extends from the ocean, land, and ice-covered surface of a planet outward into space. The density of the atmosphere decreases outward, because the gravitational... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/climate-change?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/50/112550-050-D7D94E18/Grinnell-Glacier-series-photographs-summit-Mount-Gould-2006.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Grinnell Glacier shrinkage" class="col-100"> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/climate-change?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">climate change</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Climate change, periodic modification of Earth’s climate brought about as a result of changes in the atmosphere as well as interactions between the atmosphere and various other geologic, chemical, biological,... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/tropical-rainforest?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/90/3890-050-F451C580/rainforest-coast-lowland-rainforests-Ecuador-tropics-evergreen.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Ecuador: rainforest" class="col-100"> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/tropical-rainforest?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">tropical rainforest</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Tropical rainforest, luxuriant forest found in wet tropical uplands and lowlands around the Equator. Tropical rainforests, which worldwide make up one of Earth’s largest biomes (major life zones), are... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/sustainability?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/19/196519-050-E9EE2978/Wind-turbines-field.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="renewable energy" class="col-100"> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/science/sustainability?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">sustainability</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Sustainability, the long-term viability of a community, set of social institutions, or societal practice. In general, sustainability is understood as a form of intergenerational ethics in which the environmental... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="p-10 d-inline-flex js-pin col-100 col-sm-33 col-md-25 "> <div class="card text-normal col-100 "> <div class="card-media position-relative"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/topic/environmental-law?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/images/shared/default3.png?v=3.130.14" class="default col-100"> </a> </div> <div class="col"> <div class="card-body text-hyphenate"><a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/topic/environmental-law?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="font-weight-bold font-16 lh-sm">environmental law</a> <div class="font-serif mt-10 font-14"> Environmental law, principles, policies, directives, and regulations enacted and enforced by local, national, or international entities to regulate human treatment of the nonhuman world. The vast field... </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="adm my-30"></div> <div class="marketing-CATEGORY_PAGE_SUBSCRIPTION marketing-content" data-marketing-id="CATEGORY_PAGE_SUBSCRIPTION"> <style> .student-promo-banner-wrapper { container-type: inline-size; margin-bottom: 15px; } @container (min-width: 475px) { .student-promo-banner { flex-direction: row; } .student-promo-banner-img-wrapper { margin-bottom: 0; margin-right: 10px; justify-content: flex-start; } .student-promo-banner-text-wrapper { text-align: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 10px; } .student-promo-banner-button-wrapper { margin-right: 0; } }</style> <div class="student-promo-banner-wrapper"> <div class="student-promo-banner d-flex flex-column align-items-center bg-blue rounded p-20"> <div class="student-promo-banner-img-wrapper mb-20 mr-0 d-flex justify-content-center"><img class="rounded" style="max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/marketing/BlueThistle.webp"> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-text-wrapper ml-0 mb-10 text-center text-white"> <div class="h2 mb-10"> Britannica Premium </div> <div class="h4 font-weight-semi-bold"> Did you know you're not getting the full Britannica experience? Access unlimited content with none of the ads by becoming a Britannica Premium subscriber. </div> </div> <div class="student-promo-banner-button-wrapper d-flex justify-content-center align-items-center ml-auto mr-auto"><a class="btn btn-m btn-orange" href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source%3Dpremium%26utm_medium%3Dcategory-browse%26utm_campaign%3Dblack-friday-2024">Subscribe</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2 class="label my-30">Environment Encyclopedia Articles</h2> <div class="grid bottom g-10 mb-40"> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/1?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">-CHI</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/2?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">CHI-FLI</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/3?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">FLO-JEW</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/4?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">JOH-NER</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/5?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">NEU-SEA</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/6?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">SEC-WAT</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-33 col-sm-20 col-md-16 col-lg-10"> <div class="border shadow p-10 text-center "><a class="font-weight-bold font-14 " href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Environment/7?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">WAT-ØVR</a> </div> </div> </div> <nav class="breadcrumb my-30"><span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB" class="">Home</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="" href="https://www-britannica-com.translate.goog/browse/Science?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB">Science</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> Environment </span> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <footer class="md-footer footer-wrapper hide-on-edit"> <div class="footer-bck"> <div class="marketing-FOOTER_NEWSLETTER marketing-content" data-marketing-id="FOOTER_NEWSLETTER"> <div class="md-footer-newsletter-form pt-10 mb-30 mx-15 mx-sm-120"> <div class="font-18"><strong>History at your fingertips –</strong> Sign up here to see what happened On This Day, every day in your inbox! </div> <div class="p-30"> <div class="newsletter-form-container"> <form class="newsletter-form" method="post" action="/newsletter-subscription/EB_ON_THIS_DAY"> <div class="form-group grid d-flex justify-content-center"> <div class="col-sm-50 col-100"><label class="sr-only" for="enter-your-email">Enter your email</label> <input id="enter-your-email" type="email" name="email" class="form-control font-18 p-10" placeholder="Enter your email" pattern="[a-z0-9._%+-]+@[a-z0-9.-]+\.[a-z]{2,4}$" required> </div> <div class="col-sm-auto col-100 mt-5 mt-sm-0"><button type="submit" class="btn btn-outline-white" style="width: 100%; height:100%;">Subscribe</button> </div> </div> <div class="text-white pt-30 text-opacity"> By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.<br> Click here to view our <a class="link-white text-decoration-underline" href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy2" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Privacy Notice</a>. Easy unsubscribe links are provided in every email. </div><input type="hidden" name="source" value="Footer"><input type="hidden" name="campaign" value="Mendel"><input type="hidden" name="medium" value="Box"> </form> <div class="md-subscribed hidden text-white"> <div class="my-10"> Thank you for subscribing! </div> <div> Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex justify-content-center colored" data-value="connect"> <div class="share-label text-uppercase hidden-xs"> Stay Connected </div><a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> <a class="social-icon youtube justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="youtube" href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://www.youtube.com/c/encyclopaediabritannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>YouTube</span></a> <a class="social-icon instagram justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="instagram" href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://www.instagram.com/britannica/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Instagram</span></a> <a class="social-icon pinterest justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="pinterest" href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://www.pinterest.com/britannica/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <svg height="30" width="30" viewbox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true" aria-label="" role="img"> <path d="M0 12c0 5.123 3.211 9.497 7.73 11.218-.11-.937-.227-2.482.025-3.566.217-.932 1.401-5.938 1.401-5.938s-.357-.715-.357-1.774c0-1.66.962-2.9 2.161-2.9 1.02 0 1.512.765 1.512 1.682 0 1.025-.653 2.557-.99 3.978-.281 1.189.597 2.159 1.769 2.159 2.123 0 3.756-2.239 3.756-5.471 0-2.861-2.056-4.86-4.991-4.86-3.398 0-5.393 2.549-5.393 5.184 0 1.027.395 2.127.889 2.726a.36.36 0 0 1 .083.343c-.091.378-.293 1.189-.332 1.355-.053.218-.173.265-.4.159-1.492-.694-2.424-2.875-2.424-4.627 0-3.769 2.737-7.229 7.892-7.229 4.144 0 7.365 2.953 7.365 6.899 0 4.117-2.595 7.431-6.199 7.431-1.211 0-2.348-.63-2.738-1.373 0 0-.599 2.282-.744 2.84-.282 1.084-1.064 2.456-1.549 3.235C9.584 23.815 10.77 24 12 24c6.627 0 12-5.373 12-12S18.627 0 12 0 0 5.373 0 12"></path> </svg></a> </div><br> <div class="container"> <ul class="list-unstyled legal-links"> <li><a href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://corporate.britannica.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">About Us & Legal Info</a></li> <li><a href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://corporate.britannica.com/contact/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://corporate.britannica.com/privacy-policy2" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://corporate.britannica.com/termsofuse.html2" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Terms of Use</a></li> <li><a href="https://translate.google.com/website?sl=auto&tl=en&hl=en-GB&u=https://corporate.britannica.com/diversity" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">Diversity</a></li> </ul> <div class="mt-20"> ©2024 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. </div> </div> </div> </footer> <noscript> <iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe> </noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script> <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"TopicBrowse","templateName":null,"pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":null,"pageLength":null,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":true} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-browse-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","adLeg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"TopicBrowse","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":null,"gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> <script defer src="https://static.cloudflareinsights.com/beacon.min.js/vcd15cbe7772f49c399c6a5babf22c1241717689176015" integrity="sha512-ZpsOmlRQV6y907TI0dKBHq9Md29nnaEIPlkf84rnaERnq6zvWvPUqr2ft8M1aS28oN72PdrCzSjY4U6VaAw1EQ==" data-cf-beacon="{"rayId":"8ea472702d87835c","version":"2024.10.5","serverTiming":{"name":{"cfExtPri":true,"cfL4":true,"cfSpeedBrain":true,"cfCacheStatus":true}},"token":"5cc7d7124de641b181da990fc8c9a0b6","b":1}" crossorigin="anonymous"></script> <script>function gtElInit() {var lib = new google.translate.TranslateService();lib.translatePage('en', 'en', function () {});}</script> <script src="https://translate.google.com/translate_a/element.js?cb=gtElInit&hl=en-GB&client=wt" type="text/javascript"></script> </body> </html>