Unit 9 Test Review - Climate Change and Global Warming

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts related to climate change, global warming, greenhouse gases, and their impacts.

Global Change

Refers to planetary-scale changes in the Earth’s systems, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere.

Climate Change

Long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, wind patterns, and other elements of the Earth's climate system.

Global Warming

The recent increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities, particularly the emission of greenhouse gases.

Greenhouse Gases (naturally occurring)

Gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor that naturally trap heat in the atmosphere.

Anthropogenic Greenhouse Gases

Greenhouse gases that are emitted as a result of human activities, such as carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels and methane from agricultural practices.

CO2

Carbon dioxide; a greenhouse gas that contributes most to global warming, persisting long in the atmosphere.

Greenhouse Effect

The process where certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat, keeping the Earth’s surface warm.

Seasonal Variation in CO2 Levels

Fluctuations in atmospheric carbon dioxide due to seasonal patterns of photosynthesis and respiration.

Methane Emissions Sources

Human activities like agriculture (enteric fermentation in livestock), waste decomposition, and natural gas extraction leading to increased methane in the atmosphere.

IPCC Climate Models

Predictive models developed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that assess future climate conditions based on different emission scenarios.

Ocean Acidification

The decrease in pH levels of the ocean caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide, leading to harmful effects on marine life.

Biodiversity Impact of Global Warming

Global warming threatens species survival and alters biomes, with certain species adapting or moving to new areas.

Deforestation and Global Warming

The clearing of forests contributes to increased CO2 levels, as trees that absorb CO2 are removed.

Kyoto Treaty

An international agreement aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions with binding targets for developed countries.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Technologies designed to capture and store excess carbon dioxide emissions to prevent them from entering the atmosphere.

Tipping Point for CO2 Concentration

The threshold level of carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere that, when crossed, could trigger significant climate changes.

Agriculture and Climate Change Impact

Changing temperatures affect soil health, decomposition rates, and thus agricultural productivity.