Environmental Indicators

noun a simple slow-growing plant that typically forms a low crusty, leaflike, or branching growth on rocks, walls, and trees.

• Lichen is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi in a mutualistic relationship.
• I found some lichen growing on the rocks near the stream.
• That lichen-covered tree stump looks pretty cool, huh?
• The relationship between the two companies can be compared to lichen, where both parties benefit from their mutual collaboration.

noun a small pit or scar on the skin, typically caused by smallpox or acne

• The archaeologist carefully examined each pockmark on the ancient artifact.
• She noticed a pockmark on her favorite mug, probably from hitting it against the sink.
• That pockmark on your face is barely noticeable, don't worry about it.
• The abandoned building was a pockmark on the otherwise pristine neighborhood.

noun the portions of the Earth's surface where water is in solid form, including sea ice, snow cover, glaciers, ice caps, ice sheets, and frozen ground

• The cryosphere is the frozen water part of the Earth's system, including snow, ice caps, glaciers, and permafrost.
• The cryosphere refers to all the frozen stuff on Earth, like ice and snow.
• When the cryosphere starts melting, that's when things get real messy.
• Her heart was as cold and frozen as the cryosphere, unwilling to thaw for anyone.

noun a person or thing that serves as a warning of a dangerous or harmful situation related to climate change

• The climate canary is used as an early warning system for environmental changes.
• The climate canary is like the canary in the coal mine, indicating when things are going wrong.
• If the climate canary starts chirping, we know we need to take action fast.
• The coral reefs are the climate canaries of the ocean, showing the effects of climate change before other ecosystems.

noun a type of worm characterized by a segmented body

• The annelid is a type of segmented worm found in marine and freshwater environments.
• I saw a cool annelid while I was fishing by the lake.
• That annelid looks gross, dude.
• The annelid of bureaucracy slowly eats away at progress.

noun a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, which are sand-sized grains of calcium carbonate

adjective relating to or consisting of oolite

• Oolite is a type of sedimentary rock formed from ooids, which are sand-sized grains of calcium carbonate.
• I found a cool piece of oolite at the beach today.
• Check out this rad oolite I picked up while snorkeling!
• The oolite of knowledge slowly built up in his mind as he continued to study.

noun a type of limestone formed from the consolidation of sand dunes by the action of the wind

• Aeolianite is a type of limestone formed from wind-blown sand and calcareous material.
• I learned in geology class that aeolianite is basically sand that got stuck together and turned into rock.
• Check out this cool rock made of aeolianite, it's like nature's sandcastle.
• Her resilience was as solid as aeolianite, standing strong against the winds of adversity.