Global Climate Change and Earth Systems Study Guide

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Earth's atmospheric layers, the carbon cycle, the greenhouse effect, and climate change evidence and mitigation strategies.

Global Warming

The rapid long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature, primarily caused by the enhanced greenhouse effect from human activities increasing greenhouse gases.

Troposphere

The lowest atmospheric layer ($0-15\,km$) where humans live, most atmospheric gases and water vapor are found, and weather occurs.

Stratosphere

The second atmospheric layer ($12-50\,km$) which contains the ozone layer and shows a temperature increase with altitude.

Mesosphere

The third layer of the atmosphere ($50-85\,km$); it is the coldest layer and where most meteors burn up.

Thermosphere

The fourth atmospheric layer ($85-600\,km$) characterized by high temperatures and the occurrence of the aurora borealis.

Exosphere

The outermost layer of the atmosphere ($600+\,km$) that merges into space.

Ozone Layer

A layer within the stratosphere that functions as the main protection for life on Earth by absorbing harmful solar radiation.

Carbon Cycle

The natural process by which carbon moves between Earth's atmosphere, biosphere (living organisms), hydrosphere (oceans), and geosphere (crust/rocks).

Carbon Reservoir

Storage locations for carbon, including the atmosphere, oceans, plants, animals, soil, fossil fuels, and rocks/sediments.

Carbon Sink

A natural environment, such as a forest or ocean, that absorbs more carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) from the atmosphere than it releases.

Respiration

A carbon cycle process by which carbon enters the atmosphere from living organisms.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants remove carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) from the atmosphere.

Weather

Short-term atmospheric conditions that change daily and are localized to specific areas.

Climate

Long-term patterns of temperature and precipitation measured over decades on a regional or global scale.

Greenhouse Effect

A natural process where gases in the atmosphere trap heat to keep Earth warm enough for life.

Greenhouse Gas

Atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide ($CO_2$), methane ($CH_4$), water vapor ($H_2O$), and nitrous oxide ($N_2O$) that absorb infrared radiation.

Ice Cores

Cylinders of ice drilled from glaciers that provide information about past temperatures, atmospheric gases, and volcanic activity.

Deforestation

The large-scale cutting or burning of forests, which reduces carbon absorption and releases stored carbon into the atmosphere.

Mitigation

Actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere to lessen the impacts of climate change.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon through methods like reforestation or carbon capture technology.

Acid Precipitation

Rain, snow, or fog that becomes acidic when compounds like sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides combine with water vapor.

Bioindicator

An organism sensitive to environmental conditions that serves as an early warning sign of changes in an ecosystem.

Nitrate

A nitrogen-based compound often used in fertilizers that can contribute to water pollution if present in excess.

Remote Sensing

The collection of data about Earth's surface or atmosphere from a distance, typically using satellites or aircraft.

Water Quality

The chemical, biological, and physical status of a body of water relative to its intended use or ecosystem health.