Unit 4 - Climate Change

Weather

conditions of the atmosphere during a short period of time

Climate

long-term, predictable atmospheric conditions present in a specific area

Global climate change

altered global weather patterns, including a worldwide increase in temperature, due largely to rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide

Industrial Era (Industrial Revolution)

period marked by the transition in manufacturing to machines and increased use of fossil fuels. Concentrated in Great Britain, continental Europe, and the United States, and occurred during the period from around 1760 to1840

Haze-effect cooling

effect of the gases and solids from a volcanic eruption on global climate

Milankovitch cycles

cyclic changes in the Earth's orbit that may affect climate

Solar intensity

amount of solar power energy the sun emits in a given amount of time

Greenhouse effect

warming of Earth due to carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

Greenhouse gases

atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that absorb and emit radiation, thus trapping heat in Earth’s atmosphere

Keeling, Charles

ecologist that started a project that took careful measurements of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere in 2008. The project continues today and its results show a steady increase in CO2 over the past 60+ years.

Polar jet stream

strong wind separating cold polar air from relatively warmer temperate air

Phenology

study of the timing of periodic life cycle events