Climate Change and Impacts

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to climate change and its impacts based on the lecture notes.

Greenhouse gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Kaya Identity

An equation that relates carbon emissions to population, GDP, energy intensity, and carbon intensity.

Thermal inertia

The tendency of the oceans to resist temperature change due to high heat capacity.

Nuisance flooding

Flooding that causes public inconvenience, such as road closures and damage to infrastructure.

Positive feedback

A process where an increase in a phenomenon leads to further increases, such as the ice-albedo effect.

Ocean acidification

The process by which excess CO₂ in the atmosphere dissolves in ocean water, lowering the pH.

Abrupt climate change

Rapid shifts in climate conditions, often referenced in paleoclimate records.

Sea level rise

An increase in the level of the world's oceans due to climate change, primarily from thermal expansion and ice melting.

Precipitation patterns

Changes in the amount, intensity, and distribution of rain and snow due to climate change.

Cap and Trade

A market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for reducing emissions.

Adaptation

Adjusting practices, processes, and structures to minimize vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.

Mitigation

Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases.

Ecosystem shifts

Changes in the structure and functioning of ecosystems as a result of climate change.

Glacier mass balance

The difference between the amount of ice gained and lost from a glacier over time.

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels

The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, a key indicator of climate change.

CO₂ concentrations

The amount of carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere, typically measured in parts per million (ppm).