AQA GCSE Geography - Climate Change

Adaptation

Adaptation

Action taken to adjust to natural event such as climate change

Alternative energy

Sources of energy that are not produced from the burning of fossil fuels e.g. HEP, nuclear, solar

Carbon capture and storage

Technology that captures CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels and then stored in geological reservoirs

Carbon sink

The removal of CO2 from the atmosphere e.g. trees, peat, oceans

Climate Change

A long term change in the earth's climate

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

Increased effectiveness of the greenhouse effect

Global Warming

The increase of global temperatures

Greenhouse Effect

The blanketing effect of the atmosphere in retaining heat given off from the earth's surface

Greenhouse gases

Atmospheric gases such as CO2 and methane that can absorb heat

Milankovitch cycle

The 3 cycles of the Earth's orbit which are believed to affect the timing and seasons of the Earth's climate

Quaternary period

The geological time period that covers the last 2.6m years

Renewable energy

A resource that cannot be exhausted e.g. wind, solar, tidal

Sunspots

A dark patch which occurs on the sun's surface

Volcanic eruption

When volcanoes blast ash, gases and liquid on to the Earth's surface and atmosphere

Mitigation

Action taken to reduce the long term risk from natural hazards

Fossil fuels

A natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms

Deforestation

A human cause of climate change as trees are chopped down, carbon is released into the atmosphere and not absorbed back into the vegetation