Unit 8: Climate change

ocean surface topography

the deviation of the height of the ocean surface from the geoid, or surface on which the earth's gravity field is uniform

extreme weather event

occurrences of unusually severe weather or climate conditions that can cause devastating impacts on communities and agricultural and natural ecosystems

smog

a mixture of smoke, gases, and chemicals, especially in cities, that makes the atmosphere difficult to breathe and harmful for health

melting land ice

the melt of land ice occurs during the times of year when temperatures are warmer, such as in summer

sea surface salinity

the salt concentration (e.g., sodium and chlorure) on the surface of the ocean

natural greenhouse effect

the process by which radiations from the sun are absorbed by the greenhouse gases and not reflected back into space, this insulates the surface of the earth and prevents its from freezing

global warming

a gradual increase in world temperatures caused by gases such as carbon dioxide that are collecting in the air around the earth and stopping heat escaping into space

evaporation

the process of a liquid changing to a gas, especially by heating

saltwater intrusion

the movement of saline water into freshwater aquifers

stratosphere

the layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, extending to about 32 miles (50 km) above the earth's surface ( the lower boundary of the mesosphere)

ultraviolet ray

the layer of the earth's atmosphere above the troposphere, extending to about 32 miles (50 km) above the earth's surface ( the lower boundary of the mesosphere)

sea-level rise

the increase in ocean water levels caused by melting ice caps and thermal expansion

ocean circulation

the large scale movement of waters in the ocean basins

water cycle

the continuous movement of water between the earth and the atmosphere

precipitation

water that falls from the clouds towards the ground, especially as rain or snow

expansion of seawater

thermal expansion is caused when seawater expands because of the higher temperature of the water

aerosol

a mixture of particles (= extremely small pieces of matter) and the liquid or gas that they are contained in, that can spread through the air

climate variability

the way aspects of climate (such as temperature and precipitation) differ from an average