Global Climate Change

Vocabulary flashcards related to global climate change and its impact on oceans.

Weather

The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place, including temperature, cloudiness, and rainfall.

Climate

The long-term prevalent weather conditions of an area; the statistical properties of the atmosphere.

Lithosphere

The Earth's crust and upper mantle.

Cryosphere

Ice caps, glaciers, and sea ice.

Biosphere

Living organisms, both terrestrial and marine.

Hydrosphere

Encompasses all gaseous, liquid, and solid phase water including oceans, lakes, groundwater, ice and snow, water vapor.

Greenhouse Effect

A process where CO2 in the atmosphere allows sunlight to pass through and heat the Earth's surface, but absorbs and traps heat radiated from the ground and ocean.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that absorb and trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, and nitrous oxide.

Global Warming

The rise in global temperatures, partly due to increasing greenhouse gas levels.

Sea Level Rise

Potential consequence of melting polar ice caps caused by global warming.

Ocean Acidification

This is the process where increased CO2 in the atmosphere dissolves into the ocean, forming carbonic acid and lowering the pH of the seawater.

Salt Marshes and Mangrove Swamps

Provide natural protection from storm surges and coastal flooding and serve as critical nurseries for many species of shellfish and finfish.

Thermohaline Circulation

A global system of water movement driven by temperature and salinity differences.

Coral Bleaching

Occurs when corals are stressed and release the zooxanthellae, often due to temperature change, UV light, or ocean acidification.