Climate Change Key Words

Question 1

Climate Change

Answer 1

Changes in long term:
*temperature
*precipitation patterns
Can either be either:
*natural
*linked to human activity

Question 2

Greenhouse Gas

Answer 2

Contributes to greenhouse effect (absorb infared radiation)
Eg
CO2
Chloroflorocarbons

Question 3

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 3

Exaggerated warming of the atmosphere - caused by human activities - natural greenhouse effect becomes more effective

Question 4

Glacial periods

Answer 4

Historic cold periods associated with:
Build up of snow and ice
Growth of ice sheets and glaciers

Question 5

Global warming

Answer 5

A warming trend associated with climate change (0.85 °C since 1880)

Question 6

Greenhouse effect

Answer 6

Natural warming of the atmosphere as heat given off from the earth is absorbed by liquids and gases (e.g. CO2)

Question 7

Hydroelectric power

Answer 7

Electricity generated by rapid movement of water through turbines (renewable)

Question 8

Interglacial periods

Answer 8

Historic warm periods in between glacial periods (conditions like today)

Question 9

Milankovitch cycles

Answer 9

Cyclical time periods relating to Earth’s orbit round the sun

Question 10

quaternary geological period

Answer 10

The most recent geological period (2.6 million years) during which time there were several cold and warm periods.

Question 11

Sunspot

Answer 11

A spot or dark patch intermittently appearing on the surface of the sun associated with outbursts of energy from the sun

Question 12

Sunspot cycle

Answer 12

11 year period during which sunspot activity increase from min-max then max-min

Question 13

Volcanic winter

Answer 13

Cooling trend caused by volcanic particles in the atmosphere blocking some of the sun’s radiation