1.2.1.6 Productive Capacity

Definition: The ability of an ecosystem to produce the raw materials necessary for economic activities. This includes all renewable resources, such as agricultural products, fibers, foodstuffs, timber, water, etc. This includes all renewable resources found both on and below the surface of the Ecosystem.

Definition Source: None

Productive Capacity Categories:

1.2.1.6.1 Renewable Subsurface Resources: The ability to provide renewable resources as raw material for economic activities found beneath the soil, within the geologic strata for land ecosystems or beneath the water surface for ocean ecosystems. For land ecosystems, this covers renewable water resources. For ocean ecosystems this includes all fisheries. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.6.2 Renewable Surface Resources: The ability to provide renewable resources as raw material for economic activities found above the soil, within the land ecosystem or on the water surface for ocean ecosystems. This includes all agricultural products, fibers, foodstuffs, timber, water, etc. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.7.1 Heavy Metals in Soil: Metallic elements in the soil that have a high molecular weight, such as Lead, Mercury and Cadmium. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.7.2 Nitrous Oxides in Soil: Those compounds in the soil formed by a combination of nitrogen and oxygen (NOx). (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.7.3 Nutrients in Soil: Substances in the soil that aid the growth and the health of living animals and/or plants. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.7.4 Other Toxics in Soil: Substances in the soil that can kill or harm the health of living animals and/or plants. This includes the over 600 chemicals in the Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.7.5 Radioactives in Soil: All substances in the soil that emit radiation. This includes both man-made substances such as waste from nuclear power plants and hospitals, as well as naturally occurring radioactive substances such as Radon. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.7.6 Salts in Soil: Chemical compound in the soil formed by the combination of sodium (a metal) and an acid. The most common salt is sodium choride, but also includes other salts such as sodium bromide. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.7.7 Sulphur Oxides in Soil: Those compounds in the soil formed by a combination of sulphur and oxygen (SOX) (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.7.8 Volatile Organic Compounds in Soil: Easily evaporated compounds in the soil of or formed from living things. Typically these compounds originate from petroleum, coal tar, solvents, fuel and the manufacture of plastics. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.1 Dissolved Oxygen: The Oxygen contained in water that is available for use by biota. Typically levels of dissolved Oxygen are depleted when a body of water is supporting more than normal levels of microorganisms, or there is an algae bloom that consumes more than normal amounts of dissolved Oxygen. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.2 Dissolved Solids: Particulates in water dispersed in water that is not visible to the naked eye. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.3 Heavy Metals in Water: Metallic elements in water that have a high molecular weight, such as Lead, Mercury and Cadmium. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.4 Nitrous Oxides in Water: Those compounds in water formed by a combination of nitrogen and oxygen (NOx). (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.5 Nutrients in Water: Substances in water that aid the growth and the health of living animals and/or plants. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.6 Other Toxics in Water: Substances in water that can kill or harm the health of living animals and/or plants. This includes the over 600 chemicals in the Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.7 Radioactives in Water: All substances in water that emit radiation. This includes both man-made substances such as waste from nuclear power plants and hospitals, as well as naturally occurring radioactive substances such as Radon. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.8 Salts in Water: Chemical compound in water formed by the combination of sodium (a metal) and an acid. The most common salt is sodium choride, but also includes other salts such as sodium bromide. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.9 Sulphur Oxides in Water: Those compounds in water formed by a combination of sulphur and oxygen (SOX) (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.10 Suspended Solids: Particulate dispersed in water that is visible to the naked eye. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.11 Volatile Organic Compounds in Water: Easily evaporated compounds dissolved in water of or formed from living things. Typically these compounds originate from petroleum, coal tar, solvents, fuel and the manufacture of plastics. (Definition Source: None)

1.2.1.8.12 Waste Heat: The heat that eminates from discharged waste, most commonly into water. This heat may raise the temperature of the body of water above the ambient or normal temperature. Typically waste heat is generated when industrial and power plants use water for cooling and then discharge the heated water. (Definition Source: None)