Climate Change and Adaptation Lecture Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, evidence, risks, mitigation strategies, adaptation policies, and public attitudes related to climate change based on the lecture transcript.

Tree rings (climate evidence)

Growth rings in trees where wide rings indicate warm, wet, and favourable conditions, and narrow rings show colder, drier conditions or environmental stress.

Ice core chemicals

Trapped air bubbles containing carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) and methane ($CH_4$) used to measure past atmospheric composition.

Sediment cores

Geological samples preserving pollen, fossils, charcoal, dust, and minerals that reveal past vegetation, fires, and environmental conditions.

Land-cover change

The alteration of Earth's surface from one type of cover to another, usually through human activities such as deforestation, farming, and urbanisation.

Major land-cover change locations

Regions undergoing significant surface alterations, specifically the Amazon rainforest, Indonesian rainforests, the African Sahel, and rapidly urbanising parts of Asia.

Natural climate change

Climate variations resulting from natural processes such as volcanic eruptions, orbital cycles, and variations in solar radiation.

Human-induced climate change

Climate change mainly caused by burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture, which rapidly increase greenhouse-gas concentrations.

Atmospheric $CO_2$ record level

The current atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, which is at its highest level in approximately 2 million years.

Global temperature record level

The current average global surface temperatures, which are at their highest in about 125,000 years.

Sea-level rise rate

The current rate of rising sea levels, which is faster than during any century in around 3,000 years.

Arctic sea ice record level

The current coverage of Arctic sea ice, which is at its lowest level in at least 1,000 years.

El Niño

A natural climate cycle that commonly produces hotter temperatures and reduced rainfall across eastern Australia, whose impacts can be intensified by climate change.

Positive climate feedback loop

A self-reinforcing process where an initial climatic change causes further changes that amplify the original effect, such as rising temperatures melting Arctic ice and exposing darker ocean water that absorbs more solar energy.

Climate risks to Australia

Five major impacts facing Australia: more severe heatwaves, longer and more dangerous bushfire seasons, more frequent drought, more intense floods and storms, and sea-level rise with coastal erosion.

Climate-change mitigation

Actions that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions or remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Australia's Paris Agreement targets

National commitments to reduce emissions by 43% below 2005 levels by 2030, achieve net zero by 2050, and target a 62–70% reduction below 2005 levels by 2035.

Wagga Wagga community emissions targets

Local community goals to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.

Net zero

The state achieved when greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere are balanced by the amount removed.

Climate-change adaptation

Adjusting human and natural systems to reduce harm from actual or expected climate impacts.

AdaptNSW

An initiative that provides regional climate projections, risk maps, hazard preparation advice, adaptation guides, and planning support for councils, communities, and businesses.

Bushfire-resilient home modifications

Structural and property changes—such as fire-resistant roofing/walls, metal vent mesh, cleared vegetation, clean gutters, and dedicated water supplies—that reduce ignition from flames, radiant heat, and airborne embers.

Beach nourishment

Adding sand from another location to an eroding beach to replace lost sediment and widen the beach; it is costly and temporary because waves and currents eventually remove the added sand.

Six climate-attitude groups

The six public opinion categories identified in Australian research: Alarmed (26%), Concerned (31%), Cautious (28%), Disengaged (2%), Doubtful (4%), and Dismissive (8%).

Doubtful and Dismissive climate groups

Climate-attitude segments characterized by low concern for climate change impacts, containing higher proportions of older men and individuals with politically conservative views.