Key Concepts in Climate Change and Carbon Cycle

Albedo

A measure of how much incoming radiation a surface reflects. Albedo ranges from 0 to 1.

Carbon Cycle

The movement of carbon within and between all four Earth systems.

Carbon Dioxide

The primary greenhouse gas emitted by human activities.

Carbon Footprint

The amount of carbon dioxide released by a human activity.

Carbon Sink

Part of the Earth that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Climate

Average weather conditions of a region over a long period of time.

Climate Change

Any change in the climate of a region or the entire planet.

Electromagnetic Radiation

A type of energy that moves in waves at the speed of light.

Energy Budget

The balance between how much energy enters and leaves Earth.

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

A warming of a planet's surface by increased levels of greenhouse gases.

Fossil Fuel

An energy source from the remains of ancient organisms.

Global Warming

A gradual increase in global mean surface temperature.

Greenhouse Effect

A natural warming of a planet's surface and lower atmosphere.

Greenhouse Gas

A gas that can absorb and re-emit infrared radiation.

Negative Feedback

A change in a system that causes another change with the opposite effect.

Ozone Layer

A region of the atmosphere with higher concentrations of ozone gas.

Positive Feedback

A change in a system that causes another change with the same effect.

Terrestrial Radiation

Heat emitted from the Earth's surface and atmosphere.

Thermal Expansion

The increase in a substance's volume when it is heated.

Weather

Atmospheric features that change on a day-to-day basis.