Climate Change Key Terms Flashcards
Adaptation
Actions taken to adjust how we live to respond to the impacts of climate change
Climate change
A long term change in the earth’s climate, especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature.
Mitigation
Action taken to reduce or eliminate the chances of climate change occurring
Orbital Changes
Changes in the earth’s pathway around the sun
Quaternary Period
The period of geological time from 2.6 million years ago to the present day.
Greenhouse Effect
The natural process of heat from the sun being trapped within the earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases which keeps the planet warm and habitable
Greenhouse gases
The gases which trap in the suns heat energy, they include carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and water vapour.
Enhanced greenhouse effect
Used to refer to the increasing amounts of greenhouse gases in the earth’s atmosphere, sometimes referred to as global warming
Deforestation
The cutting down and removal of trees.
Renewable energy
Sources of energy that will not run out e.g. solar power, tidal energy, wind power
Fossil fuels
Coal, oil and gas are burnt too produce energy. These resources are finite and non renewable so will run out.
Ice cores
Samples of ice taken to show the atmospheric changes over time by studying the air bubbles trapped in the ice.
Glacial retreat
The shrinking of the size of glaciers commonly associated with warming global temperatures.
Glacial period
A period of time where the earth is predominantly covered in ice lasting around 15,000 - 20,000 years
Inter glacial period
A period of time where temperatures are warmer and ice is minimal lasting around 10,000 years
