what is climate?
an area’s long-term atmospheric
conditions
what is weather?
short-term conditions at localized sites
what is global climate change?
describes trends and
variations in Earth’s climate
what is global warming?
an increase in Earth’s average
temperature
what are greenhouse gases?
atmospheric gases that
absorb infrared radiation
what is greenhouse effect?
phenomenon in which energy
travels downward, warming the atmosphere and the
planet’s surface
what is Anthropogenic intensification?
Human activities increased atmospheric CO2 from 280
parts per million (ppm) to 396 ppm in 2013
what are aerosols?
microscopic droplets and particles
what are Milankovitch cycles?
periodic changes in Earth’s
rotation and orbit around the sun
what is oceanic circulation?
ocean water exchanges heat with
the atmosphere
what is paleoclimate?
climate of the geological past
Gives a baseline to compare to today’s climate
what are proxy indicators?
indirect evidence that serve as
substitutes for direct measurements
what are climate models?
programs that simulate climate
processes by combining what is known about:
Atmospheric and ocean circulation
Atmosphere-ocean interactions
Feedback mechanisms
what is the IPCC?
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
what is albedo?
the capacity to reflect light
what is ocean acidification?
dissolved CO2 makes ocean water more acidic
what is mitigation?
strategy of pursuing actions that
reduce greenhouse gas emissions to lessen severity
of future climate change
what is adaptation?
strategy of cushioning ourselves from
the impacts of climate change
what is carbon capture?
technologies that remove CO2
from emissions
what is Carbon sequestration (storage)
storing carbon
underground where it will not seep out
what was the Kyoto protocol?
between 2008 and 2012, signatory nations
must reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases to levels
below those of 1990
what is a cap and trade system?
industries and utilities compete to reduce
emissions for financial gain (it did not pass the
Senate)
what is carbon tax?
governments charge polluters a fee
for each unit of greenhouse gases they emit
what is fee and dividend?
governments charge polluters a fee
for each unit of greenhouse gases they emit
