climate change Flashcards
weather
the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat dryness sunshine wind rain
climate
the weather condition prevailing in an area on general over a long period of time
latitude
the distance from the equator
altitude
height above sea level
temperature
the degree of heat present in a substance or object
thermal expansion of water
only begins about four degree Celsius as the global average temperature increases the water in the ocean expands occupying more volume
greenhouse gases
a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation
fossil fuel
a natural fuel such as coal or has formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms
ozone
a colourless unstable toxic gas with a pungent odour and powerful oxidizing properties formed from oxygen by electrical discharges
chlorofluorocarbons
simple gaseous compounds that contain carbon, chlorine, fluorine, and sometimes hydrogen
Carbon “sink”
a forest ocean or other natural environment viewed in terms of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
Carbon “footprint”
the amount of carbon dioxide and other compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person
greenhouse gas effect
the atmosphere of a planet traps radiation emitted by its sun caused by the gases such as carbon dioxide water vapour and methane that allows incoming sunlight to pass through but retain heat radiation back from the plants surface
CO2
present in the atmosphere and formed during respiration usually obtained from coal, coke, or natural gas but combustion from carbohydrates by fermentation by reaction of acid with limestone or other carbonates
methane (CH4)
natural gas caused by cows
