Climate Change and Global Warming

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to climate change and global warming, utilizing definitions and explanations from the lecture notes.

Global Mean Temperature

An average of the Earth's surface temperature, combining land and ocean temperatures. For example, if the ocean temperature is 16°C and land temperature is 14°C, the global mean might be derived from these figures.

Instrumental Temperature Record

A collection of temperature measurements recorded from weather instruments over time, such as thermometer readings from weather stations.

Urban Heat Bias

The perceived increase in temperature readings in cities due to urbanization affecting temperature data. An example includes how cities can be several degrees warmer than their rural surroundings.

El Niño

A climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, affecting global weather patterns, such as promoting wetter conditions in South America.

La Niña

A climate phenomenon characterized by the cooling of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, influencing global weather patterns, often associated with droughts in South America and heavy rainfall in Australia.

Temperature Anomaly

The difference from a long-term average temperature for a specific time period, like how 2020 had a temperature anomaly compared to the 20th century average.

Pleistocene Glacial Epoch

A geological period characterized by repeated glaciations, or ice ages, occurring approximately 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, marked by the expansion of ice sheets.

Climate Proxy

Historical data inferred from natural records such as tree rings, ice cores, and sediment layers to reconstruct past climates; for instance, tree rings can indicate temperature and precipitation conditions.

Atmospheric Layers

Different layers of the Earth's atmosphere, including the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere, with the troposphere being where all weather occurs.

Ocean Heat Burial

The process by which the ocean absorbs and stores heat from the atmosphere, which affects global climate conditions.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). For example, CO₂ levels have increased due to fossil fuel combustion.

Deoxygenation

The process by which the oxygen content of ocean waters decreases, often leading to 'dead zones' where marine life cannot survive, such as the Gulf of Mexico.

Exosphere

The outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere, extending thousands of kilometers into space, where satellites orbit.

Sea Level Rise

The increase in the global average sea level due to the melting of ice sheets and glaciers, as well as thermal expansion of seawater, leading to flooding in coastal areas.

Drought Index

A numerical representation of drought conditions based on various indicators, like precipitation and temperature, used to assess the severity of droughts.

Cumulative Cyclone Energy

A measure of the total energy produced by tropical cyclones over their lifetime, indicating overall cyclone activity, crucial for understanding hurricane risks.

Melting Ice Caps

The loss of ice from glaciers and ice sheets, contributing to sea level rise, evidenced by the ongoing melting of the Greenland ice sheet.

Anthropocene

The current geological epoch during which human activity has been a significant influence on climate and the environment, characterized by industrialization.

Proxy Measures in Climate Science

Indirect measures, like the density of leaf pores, used to infer ancient CO₂ levels and past climate conditions, providing clues about historical climate changes.

Climate Variability

Fluctuations in climate patterns over different time scales due to natural or anthropogenic factors, such as variations due to volcanic eruptions.

Carbon Footprint

The total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product, for instance, calculated for a family's annual energy use.

Global Average Surface Temperature

The mean temperature of the Earth's surface, involving both land and ocean temperature readings, tracked annually to assess climate change.

Historical Climate Data

Records of past climate conditions, gathered from various sources, including ice cores and sediment samples, that help reconstruct climate history.

Carbon Dioxide Levels

The concentration of CO₂ in the atmosphere, significant for understanding greenhouse gas effects on climate, which have risen dramatically since the industrial era.

Climate Change Effects

The impacts of changing climate, such as extreme weather events, sea level rise, and biodiversity loss, affecting ecosystems and human societies.

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat, leading to a warming effect on Earth's surface; it's essential for maintaining temperatures suitable for life.

Ocean Currents

Large-scale movements of seawater that influence climate and weather patterns across the globe, such as the Gulf Stream warming Europe.

Tropical Cyclone

A rotating storm system formed over tropical oceans, characterized by organized thunderstorms and low pressure, often leading to severe weather events.

Temperate Zones

Regions on Earth between the tropics and polar areas, where the climate is characterized by seasonal changes, impacting agriculture and biodiversity.

Permafrost

Ground that remains completely frozen for at least two consecutive years, affected by climate warming and releasing greenhouse gases as it thaws.

Coral Bleaching

The phenomenon where corals lose their color and health due to stressors like increased water temperatures, threatening marine biodiversity.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to mitigate climate change, through methods such as afforestation.

Antarctic Ice Sheet

The massive ice covering Antarctica, which holds a significant portion of the world's freshwater, and is vulnerable to climate change.

Thermal Expansion

The increase in water volume as it warms, contributing to rising sea levels due to the heating of oceans.

Ozone Layer

A region of Earth's stratosphere that contains high concentrations of ozone, protecting the planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation.

Desertification

The process through which fertile land becomes desert, often as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture practices.

Atmospheric Circulation Patterns

Large-scale air movement patterns that distribute heat across the Earth and influence climate, such as trade winds and westerlies.

Milankovitch Cycles

Long-term variations in Earth's orbit and axial tilt that influence climate changes over millennia, affecting glacial and interglacial periods.

Weather Patterns

Typical meteorological conditions in a specific area over a given period, influenced by climate; examples include seasonal changes and storm tracks.

Fossil Fuels

Natural substances like coal, oil, and natural gas formed from ancient organic matter, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Renewable Energy

Energy derived from natural sources that are replenished at a faster rate than they are consumed, like solar, wind, and hydropower, crucial for sustainable development.

Geothermal Energy

Heat energy generated and stored in the Earth, used for electricity generation and direct heating in places like Iceland.

Climate Literacy

The understanding of climate systems and human impacts on the climate, crucial for informed decision-making about environmental policies.

Sustainable Practices

Methods of using resources in a way that meets current needs without compromising future generations, such as conservation efforts.

Net-Zero Emissions

Achieving a balance between the greenhouse gases put into the atmosphere and those taken out, a critical goal for combating climate change.

Climate Modeling

The use of computer simulations to predict future climatic conditions based on various scenarios, helping inform policy decisions.

Feedback Mechanisms

Processes that can amplify (positive feedback) or diminish (negative feedback) the effects of climate change, such as ice melt leading to further warming.