Climate Change Unit 2 Key Terms

Climate change

Long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns

Atmospheric system

The layers of gases surrounding Earth that regulate climate

Natural greenhouse effect

Process where gases trap heat to keep Earth warm enough for life

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Extra warming due to increased greenhouse gases

Anthropogenic climate change

Climate change caused by human activity

Anthropogenic warming

Increase in global temperatures due to human actions

Global energy balance

The balance between incoming and outgoing energy on Earth

Incoming shortwave radiation (ISWR)

Solar energy entering Earth’s atmosphere

Outgoing longwave radiation (OLWR)

Heat energy leaving Earth back into space

Feedback loops

Processes that amplify or reduce climate change effects

Solar radiation variations

Changes in solar energy output affecting climate

Global dimming

Reduction in solar radiation reaching Earth due to pollution

Volcanic eruptions

Release of ash and gases that can cool the climate temporarily

Terrestrial

Relating to land

Albedo

Reflectivity of a surface

Terrestrial albedo changes

Changes in land reflectivity affecting temperature

Methane gas

A potent greenhouse gas from agriculture and decomposition

Methane gas release

Emission of methane into the atmosphere

Emissions

Release of gases into the atmosphere

Economic development

Growth of wealth and industry increasing emissions

Globalisation

Increased global connections boosting emissions

Trade

Movement of goods contributing to emissions

Troposphere

Lowest atmospheric layer where weather occurs

Tropopause

Boundary between troposphere and stratosphere

Stratosphere

Layer containing ozone that absorbs UV radiation

Stratopause

Boundary between stratosphere and mesosphere

Mesosphere

Middle layer where meteors burn up

Mesopause

Boundary between mesosphere and thermosphere

Thermosphere

Upper layer with very high temperatures

Nitrous oxide

A greenhouse gas from agriculture and industry

Ozone

A gas that absorbs UV radiation in the stratosphere

Carbon dioxide

Main greenhouse gas from fossil fuels

Equilibrium

State of balance in a system

Solar constant

Average solar energy received by Earth

Conduction

Transfer of heat through direct contact

Convection

Transfer of heat through movement of fluids

Global mean surface temperature (GMST)

Average temperature of Earth’s surface

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

Man-made gases that damage ozone and trap heat

Peak emissions

The highest point of greenhouse gas emissions

External forcings

Factors that drive climate change from outside the system

Sunspots

Dark areas on the sun linked to solar variation

Milankovitch cycles

Orbital changes affecting Earth’s climate over time

Eccentricity

Shape of Earth’s orbit

Obliquity

Tilt of Earth’s axis

Precession

Wobble of Earth’s axis

Wicked problem

A complex issue with no simple solution

Hydrosphere

All water on Earth

Atmosphere

Layer of gases surrounding Earth

Biosphere

All living organisms on Earth

Sea level change

Rise or fall in ocean levels

Extreme weather

Unusual or severe weather events

Drought

Extended period of low rainfall

Spatial changes

Changes in geographic patterns

Biomes

Large ecosystems defined by climate and vegetation

Habitats

Natural environments of organisms

Animal migration patterns

Changes in animal movement due to climate

Crop yields

Amount of crops produced

Cultivation

Preparation of land for farming

Soil erosion

Removal of topsoil by wind or water

Health hazards

Risks to human health from climate impacts

Migration

Movement of people due to climate impacts

Ocean transport routes

Shipping paths affected by ice melt

Disparities

Differences in impact between regions

Risk

Chance of harmful outcomes

Vulnerability

Susceptibility to harm

Exposure

Extent to which something is at risk

Sensitivity

Degree to which something is affected

Adaptive capacity

Ability to adjust to climate change

Risk perception

How people view climate risks

Adaptation

Adjusting to climate impacts

Mitigation

Reducing causes of climate change

Geopolitical efforts

International cooperation on climate action

Carbon offsetting

Compensating for emissions by reducing elsewhere

Carbon trading

Buying and selling emission permits

Geo-engineering

Large-scale technological climate interventions

Civil society

Public participation in climate action

Corporate strategies

Business actions to reduce emissions

NGO

Non-governmental organisation working on issues

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change- UN body assessing climate science

UNFCCC

International treaty on climate change

COPs

Annual climate negotiation meetings

Carbon capture

Technology to trap CO2 emissions

Carbon sequestration

Long-term storage of carbon

Ocean fertilisation

Adding nutrients to oceans to absorb CO2

CarbFixx

Technology that stores CO2 in rock formations