Unit 9 Vocab

apes unit 9 vocab :)

Carbon sequestration

An approach to stabilizing greenhouse gases by removing CO₂ from the atmosphere.

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Organic compounds made up of atoms of carbon, chlorine, and fluorine which are often used as refrigerants and can damage the ozone layer in gaseous form.

Endangered species

A species that is in danger of extinction within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.

Global climate change

Changes in the average weather that occurs in an area over a period or decades.

Global warming

The warming of the oceans, land, masses, and atmosphere of Earth.

Greenhouse effect

Absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases and reradiation of the energy back toward Earth.

Greenhouse gases

Gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat near the surface.

Greenhouse warming potential

An estimate of how much a molecule of any compound can contribute to global warming over a period of 100 years relative to a molecule of CO₂.

Invasive species

A species that spreads rapidly across large areas and causes harm.

Kyoto Protocol

An international agreement that sets a goal for global emissions of greenhouse gases from all industrialized countries to be reduced by 5.2 percent below their 1990 levels by 2012.

Negative feedback loop

A feedback loop in which a system responds to a change by returning to its original state, or by decreasing the rate at which the change is occuring.

Paris Climate Agreement

A pledge by 195 countries to keep global warming less than 2°C above pre industrial levels. Also known as the Paris Climate Accord.

Positive feedback loop

A feedback loop in which change in a system is amplified.