Earth's Changing Climate Ch. 1 Flashcards
Earth's atmosphere and how the gasses that make it up interact with energy.
atmosphere
the mixture of gases surrounding a planet
carbon dioxide
a molecule made of carbon and oxygen atoms
climate
general weather patterns over a long period of time
climate change
changes in climate over a long period of time that can be caused by natural events or human activities
energy
the ability to make things move or change
evidence
information about the natural world that is used to support or go against (refute) a claim
methane
a molecule made of carbon and hydrogen atoms
model
an object, diagram, or computer program that helps us understand something by making it simpler or easier to see
Although there are many fluctuations, there is a ______ toward increasing temperatures and decreasing ice on Earth’s surface since about 1880.
trend
Global average temperature increases when energy absorbed by the Earth’s surface ________.
increases
When the amount of ______ _______ or ________ in the atmosphere changes, the amount of energy absorbed by the Earth’s surface changes.
carbon dioxide
methane
When the amount of carbon dioxide or methane increases, energy absorbed by Earth’s surface _______.
increases
When the amount of carbon dioxide or methane decreases, energy absorbed by Earth’s surface _______.
decreases
trend
overall tendency in a set of data over time
fluctuation
variations in a set of data
