Unit 9 Vocabulary

Stratosphere Ozone

Stratosphere Ozone

Lower, forms naturally from O2 exposure to UV radiatiom, protects from UV radiation

Chlorofluorocarbons(CFC’s)

are synthetic compounds made up of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine atoms. They were commonly used in aerosol propellants, refrigerants, and foam-blowing agents but have been phased out due to their harmful effects on the ozone layer.

UV Rays

UV radiation is a type of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. It has shorter wavelengths than visible light and can cause harmful effects on living organisms, including skin damage and increased risk of cancer.

Hydrofluorcarbons(HFCs)

HFCs are synthetic greenhouse gases commonly used as replacements for CFCs and HCFCs in various applications like air conditioning and refrigeration. They do not deplete the ozone layer but have a high global warming potential(greenhouse gas).

Ozone-Depleting Chemicals

ODS refers to chemicals or compounds that contain chlorine or bromine atoms which can deplete the ozone layer in the Earth's stratosphere.

Greenhouse Gases

rap the heat within the Earth's atmosphere. As sunlight enters the Earth's atmosphere, it passes through the gaseous layer and the Earth's surface absorbs part of the energy and reflects some energy. These reflected rays of energy get trapped between the Earth's surface and the atmosphere.

Greenhouse effect

the process by which energy from the sun is trapped in the form of heat by various types of gas. It is a natural process that helps regulate the temperature of the Earth's surface!

Permafrost

A permanent layer of solid ice just under the soil, which is present even during the summer, and found in the Tundra biome.

Climate Change

trends and variations in earth's climate; temperature, precipitation, storm frequency.

Positive feedback loop

change in a system is amplified.

Ocean acidfication(+ feedback loop)

a reduction in the pH of the ocean over an extended period of time, caused primarily by uptake of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere.

Calcium Carbonate

a chemical compound that is commonly found in rocks, shells, and the skeletons of marine organisms.

CITES Treaty

an international agreement, signed by 184 parties in 1973, designed to ensure that international trade in animals and plants does not threaten their survival in the wildE

Endangered Species Act

designed to protect species from extinction as a "consequence of economic growth and development untempered by adequate concern and conservation."

Wildfire Corridors

a link of wildlife habitat, generally native vegetation, which joins two or more larger areas of similar wildlife habitat.

Habitat Fragmentation

occurs when a large, continuous area of habitat is reduced in area and divided into smaller, more scattered and isolated patches or "habitat islands.H

HIPPCO

An acronym for the greatest threats to marine biodiversity. Habitat Loss and degradation, Invasive Species, Population Growth, Pollution, Climate Change, Overfishing.Gr

Greenhouse Warming Potential

The GWP of a gas estimates how much a molecule of any compound can contribute to global warming over a period of 100 years relative to a molecule of CO2.

Coral Bleaching

occurs when coral reefs lose their vibrant colors due to stress, such as increased water temperatures or pollution. This can lead to the death of the coral if the stress is prolonged.

Invasive Species

a non-native species that has been introduced to a new area and has the ability to establish a population and spread, often causing harm to the native biodiversity, economy, or human health.Ha

Halogenated Hydrocarbon

hydrocarbon compounds in which at least one hydrogen atom is replaced by a halogen (Group VII A of the Periodic Table) atom, such as fluorine, chlorine, or bromine.

Thermal Expansion

the tendency of matter to change its shape, area, volume, and density in response to a change in temperature, usually not including phase transitions.

Proxy Data

preserved physical characteristics of the environment that can stand in for direct measurements