WSC 2026 Knowledge Bank: Ecosystem Tipping Points and Climate Concepts

Vocabulary flashcards covering key climate science concepts, tipping points, and ecosystem collapse mechanisms from the WSC 2026 Knowledge Bank.

Coral Reefs

Underwater structures built by tiny animals that are home to about a quarter of all ocean species.

Coral Bleaching

The process in which corals turn white and many die after losing the algae living inside them when sea temperatures get too warm.

Global Tipping Points Report (October 2025)

A major scientific report concluded in October 2025 stating that warm-water coral reefs have likely passed their tipping point.

AMOC (Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation)

A huge system of ocean currents that carries warm water north and cold water south, helping keep Europe mild.

Amazon Rainforest Dieback

The idea that large parts of the Amazon rainforest could dry out and turn into dry grassland, like savanna, which scientists suggest could happen if about 20 to 25 percent of the forest is lost.

Solar Geoengineering

Deliberately reflecting some sunlight away from Earth to cool the planet by spraying tiny particles high into the atmosphere, copying large volcanic eruptions.

Mount Pinatubo Eruption (1991)

A large volcanic eruption in 1991 that solar geoengineering seeks to copy by spraying tiny particles high into the atmosphere to cool the planet.

Critical Slowing Down

A warning sign of ecosystem collapse where a system close to a tipping point takes longer and longer to recover from small shocks.