Unit 2 - Global Climate

Climate Change

Any long term change in global climate

Greenhouse Gases

Atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation and cause world temperatures to be higher than they would otherwise be.

External Forcing

A term describing influences on the Earth's climate system that originate from outside of the climate system itself.

Natural Greenhouse Effect

A natural process essential for life on Earth, where incoming solar radiation is absorbed and re-emitted as infrared radiation by greenhouse gases.

Human Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

The additional warming of the Earth's atmosphere caused by increased concentrations of greenhouse gases due to human activities.

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which provides objective recommendations to combat climate change.

Epica Core

A multinational European project for deep ice core drilling in Antarctica to obtain climatic records.

CFCs

Chlorofluorocarbons, which deplete the ozone layer and act as greenhouse gases.

Global Dimming

The phenomenon where suspended particulates reflect solar energy back into space, having a net cooling effect.

Sunspots

Dark areas on the sun that occur due to intense magnetic storms and are correlated with increased solar output.

Croll/Milankovitch Cycles

Cycles of Earth's orbit that affect climate over long periods, changing solar radiation levels responsible for warming and cooling.

Permafrost

Ground that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years and contains frozen organic matter.

Positive Feedback Loop

Knock-on effects in natural systems that amplify changes and can accelerate climate change.

Albedo Effect

The amount of solar energy reflected by a surface; lighter colors reflect more sunlight compared to darker colors.

Anthropogenic Carbon Flow

The current amount of carbon emissions released annually by human activities.

Wicked Problems

Challenges that cannot be easily solved, characterized by complex interactions and uncertainty.

Mitigation

Actions intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Adaptation

Actions designed to protect people from the harmful effects of climate change without addressing the underlying causes.

Carbon Capture & Sequestration

The process of capturing carbon dioxide emissions and storing them to prevent their release into the atmosphere.

Globalization

The process where businesses and other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

Eustatic Sea Level Rise

A worldwide change in average sea level resulting from climate warming.

Extreme Weather Event

An occurrence such as drought or a storm that is unusually severe or long-lasting.

Floods

Overflow of water onto land that is normally dry, often exacerbated by climate change.

Biosphere

The regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth occupied by living organisms.

Habitat Loss

Destruction of natural habitats leading to decreased biodiversity due to human activities like land development.

Resilience

The capacity of a system to recover and maintain function after a hazard event or shock.