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Atmosphere
The layer of gases surrounding Earth.
Biosphere
The regions of Earth where life exists.
Cryosphere
Areas of Earth's surface where water is in solid form, like ice and snow.
Global energy budget
The balance between incoming and outgoing energy on Earth.
Insolation
Incoming solar radiation reaching Earth's surface.
Shortwave radiation
Solar energy with short wavelengths from the Sun.
Longwave radiation
Energy emitted by Earth back into the atmosphere, heat.
Climate forcing agents
Factors affecting Earth's energy balance.
Potential enhanced greenhouse (PEG)
Increased warming due to human activities amplifying natural effects, as described in the 80s by the oil industry.
The greenhouse effect
Trapping of heat by Earth's atmosphere to maintain temperature.
Natural greenhouse effect
Heat retention by naturally occurring gases like CO2 and water vapor.
Anthropogenic climate change
Climate changes caused by human activities.
Enhanced greenhouse effect
Additional warming due to increased greenhouse gases from human activities.
The Exxon position
Controversy around ExxonMobil's stance on climate change and fossil fuels - to emphasize uncertainty.
Fossil fuels
Non-renewable energy sources like coal, oil, and natural gas, which cannot be replenished in a human lifetime.
Energy deficit/surplus
Emitting more longwave radiation than receiving shortwave; the reverse.
Exosphere
Outermost atmospheric layer, merging into space.
Thermosphere
Layer above the mesosphere, with high temperatures.
Mesosphere
Middle atmospheric layer, where meteors burn up.
Stratosphere
Layer containing the ozone layer; above the troposphere.
Troposphere
The lowest atmospheric layer where weather occurs, as high as 20km from the Earth's surface.
Tropospheric ozone
Ozone in the troposphere, harmful pollutant contributing to smog.
Greenhouse gases
Gases like CO2, CH4, and N2O that trap heat in the atmosphere.
Ozone
A molecule of three oxygen atoms, protective in the stratosphere, harmful at ground level.
Methane
A potent greenhouse gas from agriculture and permafrost melt; GWP: 25.
Water
Essential greenhouse gas, contributing to Earth's natural warming.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Human-made chemicals damaging the ozone layer; GWP: 11,000.
Nitrous oxides
Greenhouse gases from fertilizers, agriculture, and industry; GWP: 310.
Internal forcing agents
Natural processes from within Earth's system like volcanic activity affecting climate.
External forcing agents
External factors like solar variations or asteroid impacts from outside Earth's system.
Ozone layer
Protective layer in the stratosphere absorbing harmful UV radiation, comprised of O3.
Climate
Long-term weather patterns in a region.
Weather
Short-term atmospheric conditions like temperature and precipitation.
Albedo
The reflectivity of Earth's surface.
Eustatic change
Global sea level changes due to water volume shifts.
Glacioeustatic change
Global sea level changes due to ice melt.
Sea ice
Frozen ocean water, reflective and critical for climate balance; goes through natural ablation and accumulation cycles, but melting overall, year to year.
Glaciers
Large masses of ice moving under their weight; goes through natural ablation and accumulation cycles, but melting overall, year to year.
Ice sheets
Vast layers of ice covering continents, like in Antarctica; goes through natural ablation and accumulation cycles, but melting overall, year to year.
Permafrost
Permanently frozen ground in polar regions; melting and releasing trapped methane (GWP 25).
Positive feedback loop (climate)
Processes amplifying initial climate changes, where the output accelerates the inputs.
Negative feedback loop (climate)
Processes reducing the effects of climate changes, leading to a dynamic equilibrium.
Carbon sink
Systems absorbing more carbon than they emit (e.g., forests, oceans).
Carbon source
Systems releasing more carbon than they absorb.
Carbon sequestration
The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide to reduce greenhouse gases.
Geosequestration
Storing captured carbon dioxide in underground geological formations.
Biosequestration
Capturing carbon dioxide through biological processes like tree growth or soil carbon storage.
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
Measure of a gas's heat-trapping effect over time, especially comparing greenhouse gasses heating potential and lifespan to that of carbon dioxide (GWP 1).
The solar constant
Average solar energy received by Earth.
Milankovitch cycles
Orbital changes influencing Earth's climate over tens of thousands of years.
Eccentricity
Shape of Earth's orbit, cycling every ~100,000 years.
Obliquity
Tilt of Earth's axis, cycling every ~41,000 years.
Precession
Wobble in Earth's rotation, cycling every ~26,000 years.
Direct insolation
Solar radiation reaching Earth's surface directly.
Diffuse insolation
Solar radiation scattered by the atmosphere.
Oblique rays
Sunlight hitting Earth at an angle.
Vertical rays
Direct sunlight striking Earth perpendicularly.
Solar spectrum
Range of all solar radiation wavelengths.
Solar cycles
Periodic changes in the Sun's activity, roughly every 11 years.
Sunspots
Cooler, darker spots on the Sun's surface.
Solar flares
Sudden bursts of energy from the Sun.
Volcanic winter
Cooling effect after volcanic eruptions blocking sunlight.
Solar evolution
The Sun's lifecycle and its impact on Earth's climate.
The Goldilocks zone
Earth's location in the solar system, allowing liquid water and life - expected to change as the sun ages over the next several billion years.
Global dimming
Reduced sunlight reaching Earth due to atmospheric particles.
Global warming
The long-term increase in Earth's average temperatures.
Global climate change
Broad changes in Earth's climate, including temperature and precipitation shifts.
The Montreal Protocol
An agreement to phase out ozone-depleting substances (especially CFCs, or Chlorofluorocarbons).
The ozone hole
Seasonal thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica.
Year "Eighteen Hundred and Froze to Death"
1816, known for global cooling after the cataclysmic volcanic eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia, causing a year without a summer as far away as New England, where it snowed in July.
The water cycle
Movement of water through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
The nitrogen cycle
Movement of nitrogen through the atmosphere, soil, and living organisms.
The carbon cycle
Exchange of carbon between the atmosphere, biosphere, and oceans.
Deforestation
Removal of forests, impacting carbon sinks and climate.
Global agricultural system and climate change
Farming practices contributing to or affected by climate change - especially with reference to reduction of carbon sinks (deforestation) and nitrous oxide emissions.
Global transport system and climate change
Emissions from transport affecting climate.
Slash and burn
Agricultural method releasing carbon through forest clearing.
Meat production and climate change
Livestock farming contributing to greenhouse gas emissions; especially as we consider land used to supply feed, and refrigeration, processing, and logistics.
Beef production and climate change
Beef farming as a major methane and resource-intensive process; "burping cows".
The midnight sun
Continuous daylight in polar regions during summer. Also called the "polar day".
The polar night
24 hour cycles without sunlight.
Arctic and Antarctic Circle
Regions experiencing polar phenomena like the midnight sun.
Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn
Latitudes receiving direct sunlight at solstices.
Rainforests as carbon sinks
Dense forests absorbing CO2.
Phytoplankton as carbon sinks
Ocean organisms absorbing CO2 through photosynthesis.
High albedo
Surfaces like ice and clouds, deserts reflecting sunlight.
Low albedo
Dark surfaces like oceans, rainforests absorbing sunlight.
Methane sources
Permafrost melt, bogs, rice paddies, manure, cattle.
Nitrous oxide sources
Fertilizer, biomass burning, sewage treatment.
COP (Congress of Parties)
UN climate conferences addressing global warming (Started by UNFCCC after Rio '92).
Finite resource
Resources limited in supply, like fossil fuels.
Renewable energy
Energy from sources replenished naturally, like wind and solar.
Non-renewable energy
Energy from finite sources like coal and oil.
Fossil fuels
Coal, oil, and natural gas formed from ancient organic matter.
Petroleum
A liquid fossil fuel used in energy and industry.
Natural gas
A cleaner-burning fossil fuel.
Coal
A solid fossil fuel used primarily for electricity generation, especially in Asia.
Biomass
Organic material used for energy, like wood and koeng.
Biofuel
Fuel made from biological materials like corn or algae.
Biogas
Fuel made from decomposing organic material to produce methane.
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