Chapter 13: Global Change

Stratospheric ozone layer

The protected layer of our atmosphere that absorbs UV light

Chlorofluorocarbons

A man-made chemical that works its way through the troposphere and into the stratosphere where it can destroy ozone molecules

Ozone depletion

caused by chemicals like CFCs breaking down ozone in the stratosphere. This means less natural ozone to absorb UV light coming to Earth.

Greenhouse effect

The natural ability of Earth to absorb heat from the sun (infrared) and keep our planet warm enough to live on

Global climate change

As more and more greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere, we are trapping more heat from the sun and the temperature of the Earth is getting warmer. Sea levels are rising, estuaries are getting deeper, storms get stronger, insects are moving farther away from the equator, ice caps are melting, and permafrost is melting.

Positive feedback loop

When one thing causes something else to get progressively worse. An example is as the Earth warms, the ice caps melt, causing the water to be warmer, causing more ice to melt, causing the water to be warmer, and so on and so on.

Coral bleaching

When the algae that lives in the coral animals dies or leaves the coral and causes the coral to die and turn white

Ocean warming

When the Earth is getting warmer the oceans are also getting warmer. This is causing ice to melt, sea levels to rise, etc.

Ocean acidification

As more carbon dioxide is added to the atmosphere it gets into the ocean causing the ocean to have a lower pH and harming things like coral animals

Invasive species

Nonnative species that are introduced to an environment and might outcompete the native species

Endangered species

Any species that is threatened to go extinct

Habitat fragmentation

When a habitat is split up into smaller areas with roads, homes, and more in the middle, it leads to loss of biodiversity