APES Withgott and Laposata Chapter 18 Global Climate Change

Global climate change

Increase in temperature and change in weather patterns all around the planet,

Greenhouse gases

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

Greenhouse effect

The warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of Earth that occurs when water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other gases absorb and reradiate thermal energy.

Milankovitch cycles

Climate cycles that occur over tens to hundreds of thousands of years, because of changes in Earth's orbit and tilt.

La Nina

An event during which normal tropical Pacific atmospheric and oceanic circulation strengthens and the surface temperature of the eastern South Pacific drops below average values; usually occurs at the end of an ENSO event. Strong upwellings of nutrient rich water on the wester coast of S. America

El Nino

an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes affecting the equatorial Pacific region and beyond every few years, characterized by the appearance of unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador, typically in late December.

Proxy indicators

A type of indirect evidence that serves as a proxy, or substitute, for direct measurement and that sheds light on conditions of the past.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Scientific intergovernmental body set up by the World Meteorological Organzation and UNEP to provide an objective source of information about the causes of climate change.

Kyoto protocol

1997 international treaty where all participating nations agreed to reduce their emission of greenhouse gases by set amounts during the coming decades.

radiative forcing

the amount of change in energy that a given factor, such as aerosols, albedo, or greenhouse gases, exerts over Earth's energy balance

albedo

Ability of a surface to reflect light

aerosols

tiny solid particles or liquid droplets that remain suspended in the atmosphere for a long time

anthropogenic

caused by humans

anomaly

Deviation from what is normal

scenario

a description of possible actions or events in the future

jet stream

a high-speed high-altitude airstream blowing from west to east near the top of the troposphere

storm surge

a local rise in sea level near the shore that is caused by strong winds from a storm, such as those from a hurricane

COP21

international meeting in Paris to discuss climate change - will start at the end of November

400 ppm

current level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

mitigation

The act of minimizing risks by reducing them or avoiding them, or planning a strategy for recovery if an event occurs.

adaptation

A change to fit new conditions

carbon capture and sequestration

technology trying to prevent large release of CO2 from fossil fuels by capturing it and transporting it underground

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

An amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, adopted in 1997 and entered into force in 2005, that establishes specific targets for reducing emissions of CO2 and five other greenhouse gases.

efficiency

The use of resources in such a way as to maximize the output of goods and services

Energy Star

______ is a joint program of the EPA that attempts to help businesses and consumers save money and protect the environment by identifying energy efficient products and practices.

carbon offset

A voluntary payment made to compensate for greenhouse gas emissions

carbon neutrality

the state in which an individual, business, or institution emits no net carbon to the atmosphere

carbon footprint

The total carbon dioxide emissions produced by an individual, group, or location

geoengineering

Manipulation of earths climate system to counteract the effects of climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions.

black soot

Particles of soot (black carbon) gets released into the air and can travel long distances. Soot absorbs heat and increases melting of ice.

sulfate aerosols

reflect incoming sunlight which tends to lower the earth's surface temp during the day and modify clouds by increasing their reflectivity