Climate Change

Solar Radiation

The energy emitted from the sun that influences Earth's temperature.

Milankovitch Cycles

Long-term changes in Earth's orbit and tilt that affect climate; includes eccentricity, obliquity, and precession.

Eccentricity

The shape of Earth's orbit around the sun, changing every 95,000 years.

Obliquity

The tilt of Earth’s axis, changing every 42,000 years.

Precession

The wobble of Earth's axis, occurring every 21,000 years.

Greenhouse Effect

The process by which gases trap heat in the atmosphere.

CH4

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas produced by agriculture and livestock.

CO2

Carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels.

Thermal Expansion

The phenomenon of warmer oceans causing sea levels to rise.

Coral Bleaching

A process where stressed corals expel algae, causing them to turn white and potentially die.

Ocean Acidification

The decrease in pH of the ocean due to increased CO2 absorption, affecting marine life.

Kyoto Protocol

An international agreement signed in 1997 aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions globally.

Copenhagen Accord

A 2009 agreement where 111 countries set new targets for emission reductions.

Paris Agreement

A 2015 treaty where all countries pledged to reduce emissions to limit global temperature rise.

Carbon Tax

A tax imposed on products based on their carbon content to encourage reduced emissions.

Cap and Trade

An environmental policy that sets limits on emissions and allows companies to trade emission credits.

Federal Policies

Government measures, such as tax credits, aimed at reducing climate impact.

Carbon Capture

Technological methods for capturing and storing carbon emissions to prevent them from entering the atmosphere.