Climate Glossary Flashcards
Climate change
any long-term trend or movement in climate detected by a sustained shift in the average value for any climatic element (for example, rainfall, drought, hurricanes).
Greenhouse gases
The atmospheric gases that absorb infrared radiation and make world temperatures much warmer than they would otherwise be
External forcing
processes that impact the earth’s climate system that originate from outside the climate system itself. Eg solar variations
global dimming
suspended particulate matter in the air that reflects solar energy back into space and has a net cooling effect. Can happen from natural events like volcanic eruptions but also pollution
Permafrost
Ground or soil that stays a temps below 0 celsius for at least 2 consecutive years
Albedo
amount of incoming solar energy reflected back into the atmosphere by the earth’s surface
Carbon footprint per capita
amount of co2 emissions an average person in a country is responsible for as they go about their daily life
Anthropogenic carbon flow
current amount of carbon emissions released by a country annually.
Anthropogenic
Human related processes and/or impacts
Anthropogenic carbon stock
the total size of the store of anthro carbon emissions released into the atmosphere since 1750 (industrialisation)
Deindustrialisation
loss of traditional manufacturing industries in HICs due to relocation elsewhere or closure
Renewable energy
Wind, solar, tidal energy that are a result of the flow of energy form the sun
El Nino Southern Oscillation
Sustained sea surface temperature anomaly that lasts around 2 to 7 years in the central tropical Pacific ocean
Greenhouse effect
the process by which certain gases allow short wave radiation from the sun to pass through the atmosphere and heat up the earth, but trap an increasing proportion of longwave radiation from the earth, leading to warming of the atmosphere
Global warming
increase in temperatures around the world, noticed since the 1960s
enhanced GG effect
increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere due to human activity and their impact on the atmospheric systems, including global warming
Cryosphere
portions of the earth where water is in solid form
Eustatic
worldwide change in sea levels resulting from a warming/cooling climate affecting volume and/or depth of volume in water
Biomes
large planetary-scale communities of plants and animals covering vast areas of the earth’s continents
Tree line
The boundary between coniferous forest and the tundra biomes
Food insecurity
When people cannot grow/buy the food they need to meet basic needs
Resilience
The capacity of individuals or organisations to resume with ‘business as usual ‘ after a hazard or system shock
Mitigation
Any action that is taken to reduce GHG emissions, helping to slow down and ultimately stop climate change. This can be from multiple stakeholders on different scales. Eg - Citizens switching off a light to govt investing in renewables
Adaptation
Any action taken to protect people from the harmful, impacts of climate change but not tackling the underlying problem of climate change
Cap and trade
an environmental policy aimed at limiting the use of a natural resource, by identifying the users, splitting a limited amount of resource into shares and allowing users to sell the share if they will not use it directly.
Geoengineering
Deliberate, large-scale manipulation of planetary environment to counteract the anthropogenic climate change
Vulnerability
the degree to which a human or natural system is susceptible to and unable to cope with the impacts of climate change
