Glossary of Climate and Weather Terms

Glossary of Terms Related to Climate and Weather

  • Climate

    • Definition: The average weather in a place over many years, typically defined as 20 years or more.

  • Climate Change

    • Definition: Long-term changes in Earth's climate, particularly the warming of the planet primarily caused by human activities that release heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.

  • Weather

    • Definition: Short-term daily atmospheric conditions such as rain, wind, temperature, and humidity.

  • Fossil Fuels

    • Definition: Natural fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas formed from ancient plants and animals.

  • Flooding

    • Definition: A condition where water covers land that is typically dry.

  • Sea Level

    • Definition: The increase in the average height of the ocean water around the world.

  • Water Vapor

    • Definition: Water in the form of gas present in the atmosphere.

  • Greenhouse Effect

    • Definition: The process through which heat is trapped in Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases.

  • Albedo

    • Definition: The amount of sunlight that a surface reflects. Different materials have varying capacities to reflect or absorb light energy and heat energy.

  • Drought

    • Definition: An extended period with little or no rainfall, leading to water shortages.

9. Climate change is mostly due to:
greenhouse gases produced mostly by humans ✔

10. One difference between climate and weather is that:
Climate is over the span of 20+ years, weather is daily. ✔

11. What causes the seasons on Earth?
The tilt of Earth’s axis and its orbit around the sun makes seasons. ✔

12. What is the greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is the process of the world heating by harmful gases being overly produced and heating the planet.
(Teacher note: The GHGs absorb more heat)

13. Name the three major greenhouse gases

  1. Methane ✔

  2. Water vapor ✔

  3. Carbon dioxide ✔

14. What are the 4 main ways that we know that climate change is happening? How do we collect climate data? List the ways and EXPLAIN what information they give us

  1. Dendrochronology: the study of tree rings which tells us past growing conditions (past climate)

  2. Ice cores: tiny bubbles in the ice has bits of past atmospheric gases

  3. Pollen and sediment: tells us about the environment

  4. Weather data: temperature, wind, precipitation, humidity
    (#1 on class poster)

15. What is the difference between a renewable and nonrenewable energy source?

Renewable:
Can be used forever and it will never run out.
Wind, hydro, solar, geothermal ✔

Non Renewable:
Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever and not able to come back.
Oil, coal, natural gas (fossil fuels) ✔

Part 2: Short Answers

What is one way climate change can affect people around the world? Name and explain
One way that climate change can affect people all around the world is flooding because it carries diseases, and swallowing or touching this water can make you sick.

Part 3: Thinking Question

Explain why melting ice in the Arctic can make climate change worse.
Melting ice in the Arctic can make clima