Unit 7 Set 2

Greenhouse effect

Natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases

Greenhouse gases

Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and ozone in the atmosphere which are involved in the greenhouse effect

Methane

Simplest hydrocarbon, CH4; greenhouse gas

Global warming

An increase in the average temperature of the earth's atmosphere; one aspect of climate change

Climate change

Increase in temperature and change in weather patterns all around the planet, due mostly to increasing atmospheric CO2 levels from the burning of fossil fuels.

Carbon sequestering

Any process by which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere; can involve technology or be as simple as planting trees

Carbon tax

A fee that the government charges polluters for each unit of greenhouse gas they emit

Cap-and-trade

Allows businesses to buy and sell permits that entitle the bearer to emit a certain amount of pollution. The government issues these permits and caps the total amount of pollution that may be produced.

Kyoto Protocol

Agreement among 150 nations requiring greenhouse gas emission reduction; U.S. has not signed

Hybrid car

Car powered by an electric motor and an internal combustion engine

Fossil fuel

Coal, oil, natural gas, and other fuels that are ancient remains of plants and animals; all are forms of hydrocarbons

Hydrocarbon

Compounds composed of only carbon and hydrogen; what fossil fuels are made of

Coal

Nonrenewable resource that is mined. Derived from the ancient remains of plants; cheap to use but burns dirty.

Natural gas

Nonrenewable resource that is found in the gaseous form in pockets on top of petroleum. Derived from ancient remains of marine organisms. It is the cleanest of the fossil fuels.

Subsurface mining

The extraction of mineral and energy resources from deep underground deposits

Strip mining

A process whereby miners strip away at the surface of the earth to lay bare the mineral deposits

Petroleum

Nonrenewable resource that is oily, dark-colored, flammable liquid found in the earth. Gasoline, kerosene, fuel oil, paraffin, and lubricants are made from petroleum. Derived from ancient remains of marine organisms.

Nuclear energy

Nonrenewable energy released by a fission or fusion reaction using uranium in a nuclear power plant

Fission

The splitting of an atomic nucleus to release energy; used in nuclear power plants

Fusion

Creation of energy by joining the nuclei of two atoms; used by sun and stars