Key Concepts in Climate Science and Cultural Movements

Biological Carbon Pump

A natural process by which carbon is absorbed by marine organisms and transferred to deeper ocean layers, thereby removing CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Bridgetown Initiative 3.0

A call for debt restructuring and climate finance reform, especially for developing nations facing climate-related challenges.

Carbon Cycle

The process by which carbon is exchanged between the atmosphere, oceans, soil, plants, and animals.

Chattel Slavery

A form of slavery where individuals are considered the personal property of their owners, who have the right to buy, sell, and trade them.

Colonial Hyphens

The concept of colonial legacies that have created hybrid identities in post-colonial societies.

Colonialism

The control or governing influence of a nation over a dependent country or territory.

Conference of Parties (COP)

The annual meeting of countries that are parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

African Futurism

A speculative, science-fiction genre that incorporates African culture, traditions, and history into future visions, distinct from Afrofuturism.

Afrofuturism

A cultural, artistic, and intellectual movement that combines African heritage with science fiction, technology, and futuristic themes.

Albedo

The measure of how much sunlight is reflected by a surface, usually expressed as a percentage.

Commons

Resources that are shared and accessible to all members of a community.

Consumerism

A cultural and economic ideology that encourages the acquisition of goods and services in ever-increasing amounts.

Coverture

A legal doctrine in which a married woman's legal rights and obligations were subsumed by her husband's identity.

Crawford Lake

A lake in Canada that serves as an important ecological indicator.

Cuba's Disaster Preparedness

Cuba has a well-known system for managing natural disasters, particularly hurricanes.

Model (4 things)

A theoretical representation or simulation of a real-world process or system.

Cycle

A series of events or processes that repeat in a predictable manner.

Daisyworld

A conceptual model used to explain how life on Earth may regulate the planet's temperature.

Disciplinary

Pertaining to a specific field of study or practice.

Dynamic Equilibrium

A stable state in which processes or forces are balanced, yet the system is still in flux.

Earth's Global Magnetic Field

The magnetic field generated by the movement of molten iron within Earth's outer core.

Earth's Long-Term Thermostat

The Earth's natural mechanisms that regulate and maintain its long-term climate stability.

Emergent Properties

Characteristics or behaviors of a system that arise from the interactions of its components.

Feedback (Positive and Negative)

Positive feedback amplifies a process or condition, while negative feedback stabilizes a system.

Film Grammar (Close-up, Establishing shot)

Close-up: A shot focusing tightly on a subject. Establishing shot: A wide-angle shot that sets the scene.

Forcing and Response

A concept in climate science where a change in one factor leads to a response in the system.

Gaia Hypothesis

The theory that Earth and its biological systems behave as a complex, self-regulating organism.

Gender

Social, cultural, and behavioral characteristics associated with being male, female, or other identities.

Geologic Time

The vast time scale over which Earth's geological processes and evolutionary history unfold.

Geologic Time Scale (new divisions)

The division of Earth's history into eons, eras, periods, and epochs.

Golden Spike

A specific point in the geological record that marks the beginning of a new geological epoch or era.

Hadley Cells

Large-scale atmospheric convection cells near the equator.

Hegemony

Dominance or control of one group over others.

Hidden Figures

The untold stories of African American women mathematicians and engineers who contributed to NASA's space programs.

Holism

The idea that systems should be viewed as wholes, rather than just as a collection of parts.

Homeostasis

The process by which a system maintains stability and balance despite external changes.

Hurricanes and the Effects of Climate Change

Climate change can intensify hurricanes, increasing their frequency, strength, and rainfall.

Hurricane Factors of Formation

Factors like warm ocean waters, low vertical wind shear, and a pre-existing weather disturbance contribute to hurricane formation.

Hurricane Season

The time of year (usually June to November) when hurricanes are most likely to form in tropical regions.

Hurricane Global Travel Paths

The typical trajectories that hurricanes follow, influenced by the Coriolis effect and ocean currents.

Hyper-Intensification

A rapid increase in the strength of a hurricane, sometimes leading to unexpected levels of damage.

Hysteresis

The lag between cause and effect in a system.

Interdisciplinary

Involving or combining methods and insights from multiple academic disciplines or fields of study.

Intersectionality

A concept describing how different forms of social stratification intersect and impact individuals' experiences.

Insolation

The amount of solar radiation received by a given area.

Iron Fertilization

The process of adding iron to ocean waters to stimulate plankton growth.

Landscapes (Official)

Landscapes recognized and classified by institutions, such as protected national parks or designated cultural sites.

Landscapes (Vernacular)

Landscapes shaped by local knowledge and practices, often reflecting regional culture and history.

Law 116

A statute concerning climate regulations, carbon emissions reductions, or environmental impact assessments in some regions.

Lebensborn

A program initiated by the Nazi regime in 1935 to promote the growth of the 'Aryan' population in Germany.

Magical Realism

A literary and artistic genre in which magical or supernatural elements are introduced into a realistic narrative.

Miscegenation

The interbreeding of people considered to be of different racial types.

Multidisciplinary

Refers to an approach that draws from knowledge and methodologies from multiple disciplines or fields of study to address a specific problem or topic.

Natural Hazard Mitigation

The process of reducing or eliminating the risks and impacts of natural hazards (e.g., earthquakes, floods, hurricanes).

Paternalism

A practice or policy of restricting the freedoms and responsibilities of individuals or groups for their supposed benefit.

Phytoplankton

Microscopic organisms that live in water and perform photosynthesis, forming the base of the aquatic food chain.

Phytoplankton (requirements)

Their three main requirements are: 1. Light (usually sunlight for photosynthesis), 2. Nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus), 3. Carbon dioxide (for photosynthesis).

Plate Tectonics

The theory explaining the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates.

Divergent boundaries

Plates move apart, creating new crust (e.g., mid-ocean ridges).

Transformational boundaries

Plates slide past each other, leading to earthquakes (e.g., San Andreas Fault).

Convergent boundaries

Plates collide, leading to subduction or mountain formation (e.g., Himalayas).

Posthumanism

An intellectual movement that critiques humanism and examines the implications of technology and the future evolution of humanity.

Power (Weber)

Defined as the ability to impose one's will on others, even against resistance.

Power (Fox-Piven)

Refers to the work of Frances Fox Piven and Richard Cloward, focusing on how power structures are maintained through social welfare policies.

Rotarian Model

A model based on the principles of the Rotary Club, emphasizing community service, ethical practices, and social responsibility.

Scale (temporal)

Refers to the timeframe over which an event, process, or phenomenon occurs.

Scale (spatial)

Refers to the physical extent or geographic area affected by a process or phenomenon.

Science Fiction

A genre of speculative fiction that explores futuristic, scientific, or technological concepts.

Sex

The biological and physiological differences between male and female organisms.

Slow Violence

A term coined by Rob Nixon to describe environmental degradation that occurs gradually over time.

Social Location

A concept in sociology that refers to the various factors that position an individual or group within social hierarchies.

Systems Theory

A theoretical framework that studies complex systems and their behaviors.

Closed systems

Systems that do not exchange matter or energy with their surroundings.

Open systems

Systems that exchange matter and energy with their environment.

Isolated systems

Systems that do not exchange either matter or energy with their surroundings.

The Anthropocene

A proposed geological epoch that highlights the significant impact humans have had on the Earth's ecosystems.

The Bermuda High

A large, semi-permanent area of high atmospheric pressure in the subtropical Atlantic Ocean.

The Coriolis Effect

A phenomenon caused by Earth's rotation that deflects the movement of fluids.

The Faint Young Sun Paradox

A theoretical problem in climate science regarding the early Earth and the Sun's output.

Thermal Escape Velocity

The minimum velocity that a gas molecule must have to escape the gravitational pull of a planet.

Transdisciplinary

An approach to research or problem-solving that transcends the boundaries of individual academic disciplines.

Tropical Cyclone

A type of storm system originating over tropical or subtropical waters.

Types of Science Fiction

Science fiction can be categorized into several subgenres.

Hard Science Fiction

Focuses on scientifically accurate details.

Soft Science Fiction

Focuses on social sciences and speculative elements.

Wind Shear

The variation in wind speed and direction over a short distance.

Xenogenesis

A term in science fiction referring to the concept of life forms originating from completely alien sources.