Heat, a History — Introduction Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms introduced in the Introduction of Heat, a History by On Barak.

Heat

The physical high ambient temperature experienced by people; treated in the book as a lived, local phenomenon rather than a distant planetary trend.

Global warming

The long-term, planetary-average increase in Earth's surface temperature due to anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.

Global heating

A term stressing urgent, planetary-scale heating and sometimes used to emphasize immediacy beyond the slow average implied by 'global warming.'

Heating

The more immediate, local, and short-term warming of environments, contrasted with the abstract notion of global warming.

Anthropogenic

Caused by human activity, especially through greenhouse gas emissions.

Anthropocene

The proposed geological epoch characterized by dominant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems.

Capitalocene

A term highlighting capitalism as the primary driver of environmental change.

Plantationocene

A term highlighting plantation economies and related social-environmental orders as drivers.

Oligarchocene

A term emphasizing oligarchic power and wealth concentration as drivers of ecological change.

Gaia hypothesis

James Lovelock’s idea that Earth is a self-regulating, living holistic system.

Earth System Science (ESS)

A holistic, planetary-scale framework for studying climate as an integrated Earth system.

Planetarism

An overarching view that situates climate science from a planetary, outside-in perspective.

Methodological planetarism

A critique and alternative to the outside-looking planetary stance, advocating attention to local specifics.

Remote sensing

Observing climate from a distance (e.g., satellites, infrared data) that turns heat into measurable data.

The planetary view

Seeing the Earth as a single, external object or system, often associated with an alien or outside perspective.

James Hansen

Climate scientist whose 1987 congressional testimony helped publicize anthropogenic global warming.

Hothouse Earth

A scenario of runaway, self-reinforcing warming leading to extreme climate change.

Net-zero

A policy/goal to balance greenhouse gas emissions with removals, often by 2050.

Fasl

Astronomical season defined by the Earth’s position relative to the sun (in Arabic: season by celestial orientation).

Mawsim

Season defined by local social, economic, and cultural practices, not just astronomical position.

Munakh

Arabic term for climate, used to discuss how climate was historically conceived and later standardized.

Nabi Musa

A major seasonal/holiday period around the Nabi Musa site near Jerusalem, tied to pilgrimage and summer activities.

Nabi Rubin

Season around the Nabi Rubin shrine near Jaffa, which evolved into a summer/beach-centred festival.

Mawsim al-burtuqal

The orange season along Palestine’s coastal plain, linked to citrus cultivation and trade.

Mawsim rubin

The Rubin season, associated with Nabi Rubin and transformed into a beach-tourism context.

Masyaf

A summer resort/tent city near Nabi Rubin, part of seasonal leisure and tourism.

Shorts

Women's or men's shorts introduced by Eastern European Jewish immigrants; symbolized labor politics, gender norms, and intercultural tension.

Mashrabiyas

Decorative latticed wooden screens that shade interiors and aid evaporative cooling.

Qaylula

Midday siesta, a traditional cooling practice in hot climates.

Evaporative cooling

The body's or environment’s cooling achieved through evaporation of sweat or water.

Urban heat island

Urban areas becoming significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to surfaces and human activity.

Air conditioning (AC)

Fossil-fuel–driven cooling technology that enables indoor comfort but increases energy use and emissions.

Sphering (sphering)

Insulating oneself in a closed, climate-controlled bubble to avoid heat and avoid political engagement.