Key Terms 2 Flashcards
Industry
The production of goods and services, including manufacturing, energy, and construction.
Interglacial
A warmer period between ice ages when glaciers melt and sea levels rise.
Land use planning
The process of managing land resources to balance development, conservation, and sustainability.
Long-term evidence
Data collected over thousands or millions of years to show climate or environmental changes.
Malnutrition
A condition caused by a lack of proper nutrients, leading to health problems.
Megafauna
Large animals, often extinct, such as mammoths or giant sloths.
Methane
A greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming, released from sources like livestock and wetlands.
Mitigation
Actions taken to reduce or prevent the effects of climate change, such as reducing emissions.
Natural greenhouse effect
The process where gases in the atmosphere trap heat, keeping Earth warm enough for life.
Nitrous oxide
A powerful greenhouse gas released from agriculture and burning fossil fuels.
Orbital theory
The idea that changes in Earth’s orbit affect climate over thousands of years.
Permafrost
Ground that remains frozen for at least two consecutive years, mostly found in polar regions.
Renewable energy
Energy from sources that naturally replenish, such as solar, wind, and hydro power.
Sea level rise
The increase in ocean levels due to melting ice caps and thermal expansion of water.
Short-term evidence
Climate data observed over years or decades, such as temperature records or satellite images.
Solar radiation
Energy from the sun that heats the Earth and drives weather and climate.
Sunspot theory
The idea that changes in sunspot activity can influence Earth’s climate.
Sustainable development
Development that meets present needs without harming future generations.
Thermohaline circulation
The global ocean current system driven by temperature and salt differences.
Tree rings
Growth rings in trees that provide evidence of past climate conditions.
Volcanic eruption theory
The idea that large eruptions release gases and particles that can temporarily cool the climate.
