Glossary D
Deutsch: Trockengebiet / Español: Zona árida / Português: Região árida / Français: Zone aride / Italiano: Zona arida
Dryland in the environmental context refers to regions with low and erratic rainfall, typically receiving less than 500 mm of Precipitation annually. These areas include deserts, semi-arid regions, and grasslands, where Water scarcity heavily influences both natural ecosystems and human activities. Drylands are home to unique Plant and Animal Species adapted to drought conditions, but they are also vulnerable to Degradation due to Climate Change and unsustainable Land use practices.
Deutsch: Ente / Español: pato / Português: pato / Français: canard / Italiano: anatra
Duck refers to any Member of the family Anatidae, which also includes swans and geese. These waterfowl are widespread across the world and inhabit a variety of Freshwater and sea environments.
see also:
Deutsch: Düne / Español: Duna / Português: Duna / Français: Dune / Italiano: Duna
A dune is a natural landform consisting of a hill or ridge of sand built up by wind processes. Dunes typically form in coastal, desert, and other sandy environments where loose sand is transported and deposited by wind. The shape, size, and movement of dunes are influenced by wind direction, wind speed, sand availability, and vegetation.
English: Dark doldrums / German: Dunkelflaute / Spanish: Calma oscura / Portuguese: Calmaria escura / French: Calme sombre / Italian: Calma scura
Dunkelflaute in the environmental context refers to a meteorological weather condition where there is simultaneously little to no wind (wind lull) and low solar radiation (darkness) over an extended period. This phenomenon poses a central challenge for energy systems heavily reliant on renewable energy sources like wind power and photovoltaics, as it leads to a significant reduction in electricity generation from these sources.
Deutsch: Haltbarkeit / Español: Durabilidad / Português: Durabilidade / Français: Durabilité / Italiano: Durabilità
Durability in the environmental context refers to the ability of products, materials, or systems to withstand wear, degradation, and environmental factors over time without losing their functionality or requiring excessive maintenance. Emphasising durability in design and manufacturing helps reduce waste, conserve resources, and lower the environmental impact associated with frequent replacements, repairs, and disposal of goods. Durable products contribute to Sustainability by extending the lifecycle of items, thereby reducing the need for raw materials and energy in production.