Global Climate Change and Its Impacts

Earth System

Interconnected components of Earth's environment.

Carbon Cycle

Process of carbon movement between Earth systems.

Greenhouse Effect

Heat retention by greenhouse gases in atmosphere.

Milankovitch Cycles

Long-term climate changes due to Earth's orbital variations.

Feedback Mechanisms

Processes that amplify or diminish climate change effects.

Proxy Indicators

Evidence used to infer past climate conditions.

Weather

Short-term atmospheric conditions over days or weeks.

Climate

Long-term average of weather patterns in a region.

Geosphere

Solid Earth, including rocks and soil.

Atmosphere

Gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth.

Biosphere

All living organisms on Earth.

Hydrosphere

All water bodies on Earth.

Cryosphere

Frozen water components, including ice and snow.

Biological Carbon Cycle

Carbon cycling through living organisms via photosynthesis.

Geologic Carbon Cycle

Long-term carbon storage in geological formations.

Dissolved Bicarbonate

Form of carbon stored in ocean water.

Carbonate Rocks

Rocks formed from calcium carbonate over millions of years.

Volcanic Outgassing

Release of CO2 from Earth's interior to atmosphere.

Anthropogenic Emissions

Carbon emissions resulting from human activities.

Greenhouse Gases

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere.

Trace Components

Minor gases in the atmosphere, including CO2 and methane.

Sedimentary Rocks

Rocks formed from sediment accumulation over time.

Greenhouse Effect

Trapping of heat by greenhouse gases.

Milankovitch Cycles

Earth's orbital variations affecting solar radiation.

Feedback Mechanisms

Responses within Earth System to climate forcings.

Proxy Indicators

Evidence of past climates from natural records.

Solar Radiation

Energy from the Sun, including UV and IR.

Thermal Radiation

Heat emitted by Earth's surface as infrared.

Energy Budget

Balance of incoming and outgoing energy on Earth.

Albedo Effect

Reflectance of sunlight by surfaces like ice.

Positive Feedback

Amplifies the original cause or effect.

Negative Feedback

Suppresses the original cause or effect.

Eccentricity

Shape of Earth's orbital path, cycles every 100k years.

Obliquity

Tilt angle of Earth's axis, cycles every 41k years.

Precession

Direction of Earth's axis rotation, cycles every 23k years.

Volcanic Activity

Natural process affecting greenhouse gas concentrations.

Rock Weathering

Natural process that buries CO2 in sediments.

GHG Concentrations

Levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

Climate Change

Long-term alteration in Earth's climate patterns.

Direct Measurements

Current climate data from instruments and records.

Paleo Climate Change

Historical climate changes inferred from proxies.

Thermal IR

Infrared radiation emitted from Earth's warmed surface.

Solar Heat

Energy received from the Sun influencing temperatures.

Climate Proxy Indicators

Natural records used to infer past climate conditions.

Proxy Indicators

Indirect records of past climate conditions.

Fossils

Remains of ancient organisms indicating climate.

Stable Isotopes

Isotope ratios used to infer past temperatures.

Tree Rings

Annual rings indicating climatic conditions.

Pollen

Plant pollen indicating ancient climates and environments.

Sediment Cores

Layers of sediment revealing historical climate data.

Oxygen Isotope Ratio

Ratio of 18O to 16O indicating temperature.

Deep-Sea Sediment

Sediment containing microfossils for climate analysis.

Ice Cores

Layers of ice trapping ancient atmospheric gases.

Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum

Warm period before Cenozoic cooling.

Antarctic Circumpolar Current

Current affecting global climate patterns.

Global Temperature Rise

Increase in average temperatures since ~1900.

Changes in Weather Patterns

Alterations in storm frequency and intensity.

Greater Moisture Capacity

Increased atmospheric moisture leading to extreme weather.

Microorganisms

Tiny organisms used in paleoclimate studies.

Cave Carbonates

Sediments in caves indicating past climate conditions.

Colder Times

Periods with more pine tree pollen.

Warmer Times

Periods with less pine tree pollen.

Bubbles in Ice

Trapped gases revealing ancient atmospheric composition.

δ18O

Oxygen isotope ratio used in climate studies.

Glacial Features

Geological evidence of ancient ice sheet extents.

Chemical Records

Stable isotopes indicating climate change.

Global average air temperature

Overall temperature of Earth's atmosphere over time.

Ocean warming

Increase in ocean temperatures due to climate change.

Extreme weather events

Severe weather occurrences linked to climate change.

Confirmed weather disasters

24 disasters in 2024, each over $1 billion.

Annual average disasters (1980-2023)

Average of 8.5 climate disasters per year.

Ocean acidification

Decrease in ocean pH due to CO2 absorption.

Carbonic acid formation

CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid.

Marine organism impact

Shellfish and corals suffer from acidified waters.

Melting glaciers

Alpine glaciers are retreating and thinning rapidly.

Ice sheet mass loss

Greenland and Antarctica ice sheets decreasing in mass.

Rate of ice loss

Tripled in the past decade.

Rising sea level

Sea level rise doubled compared to the last century.

Global mean sea level rise

10 cm increase since 1992.

Thermal expansion

Water volume increases as temperatures rise.

Atmospheric CO2 measurements

Continuous CO2 data from Mauna Loa since 1958.

Current CO2 concentration

419.3 ppm in 2024, highest in 400,000 years.

CO2 increase rate

~100 ppm increase in CO2 over 60 years.

Photosynthesis role

Consumes CO2 during summer months.

Decomposition role

Releases CO2 during winter months.

Greenhouse gases (GHG) correlation

GHG concentrations rise with global temperatures.

Milankovitch cycles

Natural cycles affecting Earth's climate over thousands of years.

Anthropogenic CO2 emissions

Human activities increasing atmospheric CO2 levels.

Atmospheric CO2 Concentrations

Increased by fossil-fuel burning since 1900s.

13C/12C Ratio

Indicates source of carbon in the atmosphere.

Fossil Fuels

Millions of years old organic matter used for energy.

14C

Radioactive carbon isotope absent in fossil fuels.

Negative Enrichment

Atmospheric carbon shows more 12C than 13C.

Terrestrial Plants

Primary source of carbon fingerprints in fossil fuels.

14C Decay Rate

Fast decay rate leads to low 14C in fossil fuels.

Ocean Circulation Changes

Influences climate by redistributing heat globally.

Ocean Conveyor Belt

Driven by temperature and salinity differences.

Younger Dryas

Abrupt climate change event 14,500-11,500 years ago.

Sea Level Rise

Estimated 216-foot rise if all land ice melts.

Temperature Change

Regions experience varying warming and cooling trends.