Earth's Changing Climate - Test Review Flashcards
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
trend
overall tendency in a set of data over time
fluctuation
short term variations in a set of data
energy
the ability to make things move or change
temperature
a measure of how hot or cold something is
absorb
to take in energy
atmosphere
the mixture of gasses
carbon dioxide
a greenhouse gas molecule made of carbon and oxygen atoms
methane
a greenhouse gas molecule made of carbon and hydrogen atoms
change
when something becomes different over time
stability
when something stays mostly the same over time
Temperature ________ if more energy enters than exits.
increases
A change to either the amount of energy entering or exiting the Earth system affects how much energy is absorbed by the Earth’s ________.
surface
A system can be _______, even as something flows in and out of the system. If this balanced flow is disrupted there might be changes to the system.
stable
Global average temperature ________ when energy absorbed by the surface increases.
increases
Human activities
things that people do that affect Earth’s systems
combustion
the process of burning fuels that produces heat and, for many fuels, carbon dioxide
While human activities are causing the current long-term trend of increasing temperatures, other factors, like ______________, can have smaller effects on the climate in the short-term.
volcanic activity
If there is an increase in the amount of _________ or __________ in the atmosphere then more energy enters than exits the Earth system.
carbon dioxide or methane
If there is a ________ in carbon dioxide or methane then less energy enters than exists.
decrease
