Key terms

Question 1

Adaptation

Answer 1

Action taken to adjust the changing climate conditions . E.g., water conservation or flood risk management.

Question 2

Afforestation

Answer 2

Planting trees on ground that has been without forest for a while or has never had forest.

Question 3

Albedo

Answer 3

A measure of how mush sun is reflected off the earth’s surface.

Question 4

Anthropogenic

Answer 4

Action of activity associated with humans.

Question 5

Anthropocene

Answer 5

The name given to the currect geological area due to large human influence.

Question 6

biofuel

Answer 6

Fuels deriving directly from organic matter used to generate energy.

Question 7

primary biofuel

Answer 7

A biofuel deriving directly from organic matter such as wood chips, pellets, or fuelwood.

Question 8

secondary biofuel

Answer 8

A biofuel made from processed organic matter such as ethanol or biodiesel.

Question 9

biomass

Answer 9

the organic matter used to fuel the generation of electricity

Question 10

biogeochemical

Answer 10

Chemical processes which allow the transfer of organic elemements from animals to the physical environment through different compounds to enter the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.

Question 11

biological weathering

Answer 11

The weathering of rock in situ from plant roots or animal burrowing.

Question 12

carbon balance

Answer 12

the constant transfer of carbon between ecosystems, the atmosphere, and soil.

Question 13

The Carbon Cycle

Answer 13

The constant transfer of carbon to different stores in fluxes, acting a a closed system. It is a larger system with sub-systems each with its own inputs, transfers, and outputs.

Question 14

carbon pumps

Answer 14

The oceanic processes storing and circulating carbon.

Question 15

carbon fluxes

Answer 15

the movement or transfer of carbon, in different compounds, between stores in the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.

Question 16

A process or activity which involves no net carbon release into the atmosphere such as using renewable energy or planting trees.

Answer 16

carbon neutral

Question 17

the steps involved in moving carbon into a store where it is fixed.

Answer 17

carbon pathway

Question 18

carbon store or sink

Answer 18

vegetation, oceans, rock, and atmosphere are the many places where carbon can be stored for prolongued periods of time.

Question 19

Chemical weathering

Answer 19

the breakdown of rocks by carbonic acid in rain which dissolves carbon-based rocks.

Question 20

climate forcing

Answer 20

the main driving forces of climate change.

Question 21

combustion

Answer 21

burning something

Question 22

ecosystem productivity

Answer 22

The fixing of solar energy via photosynthesis to aid the production of primary consumers to then benefit herbivores (Secondary consumers) which then aids tertiary consumers (carnivores)

Question 23

ecosystem resiliance

Answer 23

the disturbance an ecosystem can withstand while keeping its original state.

Question 24

energy mix

Answer 24

the different methods by which a country or region obtains its energy, from renewables to non-renewables such as fosil fuels.

Question 25

energy intensity

Answer 25

A measure of how efficiently a country is using its energy per unit of GDP.

Question 26

energy pathway

Answer 26

the route by which an energy type is transferred from the production area to the consumption area, E.g., by shipping or by pipeline.

Question 27

energy security

Answer 27

a state where there is uninterrupted and affordable energy available to benefit all consumers.

Question 28

the enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 28

the intensification of the natural greenhouse effect where extra greenhouse gases are added to the atmosphere through combustion and deforestation.

Question 29

fluxes

Answer 29

movement of carbon and the rate of flow between stores.

Question 30

lithification

Answer 30

the process where sediment is compacted under pressure and slowly becomes rock.

Question 31

mechanical weathering

Answer 31

the breakup of rocks in situ by processes such as freeze-thaw weathering, and frost build up

Question 32

mitigation

Answer 32

the reduction or prevention of greenhouse gas emmissions through new technologies, low carbon energy, energy efficiency, and changing behaviours.

Question 33

negative feedback

Answer 33

the stabilisation of a processes affects through one state shifting and causing major changes in another state

Question 34

Ocean acidification

Answer 34

The decreasing pH of the oceans due to the uptake of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Question 35

Out-gassing

Answer 35

The release of gas that was dissolved due to a change in pressure.

Question 36

Petagrams

Answer 36

A way to measure carbon. one petagram, also known as a gigatonne, is one billion tonnes, or a trillion kilograms.

Question 37

photosynthesis

Answer 37

a process whereby carbon dioxide and water are converted into glucose and oxygen.

Question 38

Phytoplankton

Answer 38

Forming the base to the aquatic food web, phytoplankton are a microorganism that store carbon.

Question 39

Polluter Pays Principle

Answer 39

The principle that anyone who is responsible for the emissions and damage caused by those emissions should be responsible for clearing it up through taxing or finding new technology.

Question 40

Positive feedback

Answer 40

A process whereby small changes in a system lead to increased impacts, which shift a system into a different state.

Question 41

Primary energy

Answer 41

The main source of energy before the introduction of oil into alternative forms, such as crude oil or coal.

Question 42

primary producers / autotrophs

Answer 42

organisms that produce their open nutrients through converting water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen.

Question 43

recyclable energy

Answer 43

energy which can be used over and over again but must go through a process to prepare it for re-use.

Question 44

reforestation

Answer 44

the process of introducing trees to an area which just lost tree cover.

Question 45

renewable energy

Answer 45

energy taken from a source which is not depleted when in use, such as solar or wind energy.

Question 46

reservoir turnover

Answer 46

the amount of carbon entering and leaving a store measured by mass of carbon divided by exchange flux.

Question 47

respiration

Answer 47

a process in living organisms involving the production of energy through the intake of oxygen and the release of carbon dioxide.

Question 48

secondary energy

Answer 48

A more usable and efficient energy source that can be produced from primary energy such as electricity.

Question 49

sequestration

Answer 49

the process whereby carbon is taken out of the atmosphere and stored in places such as plants or soil.

Question 50

thermohaline circulation

Answer 50

the global system of surface and deep-water ocean currents driven by pumps, temperature differences, and salinity.