C2 Level Wordlist - Natural Phenomena and Pollution

Here you will learn all the essential words for talking about Natural Phenomena and Pollution, collected specifically for level C2 learners.

Review

Flashcards

Spelling

Quiz

Start learning

calamity

[noun]

an event causing great and often sudden damage, distress, or destruction

Ex: The dam 's failure resulted in calamity, with a massive flood sweeping through the downstream areas .

cataclysm

[noun]

a sudden, violent natural disaster that drastically alters the earth's landscape

Ex: Landslides and rock avalanches are examples of relatively common cataclysms that can develop with little warning .

ravage

[noun]

action that breeds severe damage or destruction

Ex: The invasive species caused ravage of local ecosystems , impacting native flora and fauna .

conflagration

[noun]

an extremely intense and destructive fire

Ex: The museum 's archives were tragically lost in conflagration, erasing invaluable historical documents and artifacts .

scourge

[noun]

a cause of widespread suffering or affliction

Ex: Tsunamis are a scourge for coastal populations , causing immense destruction with their powerful waves .

aftershock

[noun]

a smaller earthquake or tremor that follows the main shock of a seismic event

Ex: Residents experienced anxiety aftershocks continued to shake the area , prompting some to seek temporary shelter .

temblor

[noun]

an earthquake caused by underground movement or volcanic activity

Ex: The school conducted earthquake drills to ensure students knew what to do in the event of temblor.

deluge

[noun]

a sudden and heavy rainfall

Ex: The weather forecast warned of an deluge, urging residents to prepare for potential flooding and power outages .

salvage

[noun]

the act of saving or rescuing a ship or its cargo from loss, damage, or destruction

Ex: salvage operation successfully recovered the cargo from the grounded ship , preventing environmental damage .

epicenter

[noun]

the point on the surface of the earth vertically above the focus of an earthquake where its effects are felt most strongly

Ex: During the pandemic , the city became epicenter of the outbreak , with hospitals struggling to manage the influx of patients .

waterspout

[noun]

a tornado occurring over a body of water, characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud filled with water droplets or spray

Ex: Residents along the waterfront observed waterspout moving towards the shore , causing momentary concern .

incinerator

[noun]

a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of substances contained in waste materials

Ex: incinerator in the power plant contributes to electricity generation by burning coal and other combustible materials .

biohazard

[noun]

a risk to human health or to the environment caused by a biological source, especially microorganisms

Ex: Biohazard warning signs were posted around the contaminated area to alert people of the potential danger from biological sources .

sludge

[noun]

a thick, muddy substance often found at the bottom of liquids, like wastewater or industrial fluids

Ex: Efforts to clean the oil spill involved specialized equipment to skim sludge off the water surface .

soot

[noun]

a black powdery substance produced by burning materials like wood or coal

Ex: Historic buildings may undergo periodic cleaning to remove soot from their facades .

effluent

[noun]

liquid waste or sewage discharged into rivers, lakes, or the sea

Ex: effluent from agricultural fields , rich in fertilizers and pesticides , often finds its way into nearby streams , causing pollution and ecosystem imbalances .

detritus

[noun]

waste or debris produced by the disintegration or decomposition of organic or inorganic matter

Ex: Cleanup efforts focused on detritus from the riverbanks to restore the natural habitat .

polyethylene terephthalate

[noun]

a durable and lightweight plastic widely used for making bottles and food containers due to its strength and recyclability

Ex: Polyethylene terephthalate can be identified by the number " 1 " in the recycling symbol , indicating that it is accepted by most curbside recycling programs .

hazmat suit

[noun]

a protective garment worn by workers to safeguard against exposure to hazardous substances or environments

Ex: Cleanup crews hazmat suits worked diligently to decontaminate the site after the chemical spill , ensuring no traces of the hazardous material remained .

fallout

[noun]

airborne particles, such as dust or debris, that settle after a nuclear explosion or similar event

Ex: The military conducted studies on the behavior fallout particles to better understand their dispersion .

asbestos

[noun]

a soft greyish substance that is resistant to fire and heat and was previously used in the buildings, clothing, etc.

Ex: Asbestos was once widely used for its fire-resistant properties , but its use has been largely banned due to serious health concerns .

aerosol

[noun]

a suspension of tiny particles or droplets in the air

Ex: During the allergy season , many people suffer from symptoms triggered aerosol particles like pollen and mold spores .

particulate

[noun]

a small, discrete particle or substance, especially one suspended in air, such as dust, pollen, or soot

Ex: The industrial process includes filters to particulates before releasing exhaust into the environment .

catalytic converter

[noun]

a device in a vehicle's exhaust system that reduces the emission of harmful pollutants by promoting chemical reactions that convert them into less harmful substances

Ex: Hybrid vehicles often use catalytic converters to further minimize their environmental impact .

unleaded

[Adjective]

not containing lead or other additives harmful to the environment

Ex: The automotive industry transitioned unleaded fuel to accommodate the use of catalytic converters in vehicles .

C2 Level Wordlist

Download LanGeek app

Langeek

C2 Level Wordlist - Natural Phenomena and Pollution