N

N2. See nitrogen

N2O. See nitrous oxide

NaCl. See sodium chloride

Nadeau, Kari, 389, 391, 394

Nagasaki, Japan, 437

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 473–474, 476t

process, 475f

I-14

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 24

National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), 477

National Toxicology Program (NTP), 44

natural capital, 102, 104f

natural gas, 360–379

conventional reserves of, 364–367

definition, 362

formation of, 363f

fracking for, 371f

proven reserves, 364, 364f

unconventional reserves of, 365, 369–372, 373f

wells, 365–366, 366f

natural interest, 102, 104f

natural resources, 104f

as finite, 107, 157

nonrenewable, 12, 362

substitutes for, 107

natural sciences, 5

natural selection, 201–202, 203f

nature

sustainability of, 111

waste in, 130

nature-based recreation, 223–224

parks, 501–502

NCDs. See noncommunicable diseases

negative correlation, A–7

negative feedback loop, 412

Nelson, Chuck, 340

NEPA. See National Environmental Policy Act

Ness, Ron, 372

net primary productivity (NPP), 182

neuston layer, 120

neuston net, 120, 121f

neutrons, 432

Newman, Paul, 30–31, 35

New Urbanism, 502

New York City, 492, 497. See also Bronx, New York City

NH3. See ammonia

niche, 142, 143, 143f, 184

Niger, population growth, 67f

Nigeria, 82f

GWD in, 82, 94

nitrate (NO3), 152

nitric oxide (NO), 382

nitrogen (N2)

agricultural runoff and, 287, 289f

fixation, 152

in soil, 157t

water pollution, 284–286

nitrogen cycle, 151, 152f

in Biosphere 2, 152

definition, 152

nitrogen dioxide (NO2), 382

nitrogen oxides (NOx), 35, 390t

nitrous oxide (N2O)

greenhouse effect and, 410

Kyoto Protocol and regulation of, 483

NO. See nitric oxide

NO2. See nitrogen dioxide

NO3. See nitrate

NOAA. See National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), 86–87

nondegradable, definition, 122

nonpoint source pollution, 281–282, 283f, 389

lawns and, 290, 292

nonprofit organizations, 254t

nonrenewable resources, 12, 362

North Anna Nuclear Power Plant, 445

North Dakota. See also Bakken formation

Bakken boom in, 372

fracking in, 376f

oil boom in, 362, 362f, 376f

Northern Rocky Mountain Wolf Recovery Plan, 162

North Woods of Minnesota, 402f, 404, 404f

climate change and, 405–406, 424–425

tourism in, 419–420

tree migration in, 418

NOx. See nitrogen oxides

NPP. See net primary productivity

NRC. See Nuclear Regulatory Commission

NRDC. See National Resources Defense Council

NTP. See National Toxicology Program

nuclear accidents, 437–439

Chernobyl reactor meltdown, 437

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, 428–446

impact of, 443–444

responding to, 440–443

Three Mile Island plant, 437

nuclear energy

critics of, 436

definition, 430

future of, 445–446

history of, 436–437

proponents of, 436

nuclear fission, 430

reaction, 435

reactors, 438

nuclear fuel production, 434

nuclear power, 428–449

future energy and, 444–445

NRC regulation of, 449

trade-offs of, 446t

nuclear power plants

safety of, 436–437

safety procedures for, 445–446

shutdowns of Japanese, 444–445

water for, 435–436

nuclear reactions, harnessing heat of, 430–436

nuclear reactors, 436, 438f

third-generation, 445

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), 443

nuclear power regulated by, 449

nuclear waste, generation of, 439–440

Nuclear Waste Policy Act, U.S., 440

nutrient cycles, 138–157

in Biosphere 2, 149

definition, 143

in ecosystems, 149–154

human impact on, 155

nutrient pollution, 286, 305f

nutrient runoff

impact of, 288

in Mississippi River, 288

Nuttall, William, 445