The causes of global climate change Definitions

Question 1

Adaptation

Answer 1

initiatives and measures to reduce the vulnerability of human and natural systems to climate change

Question 2

Albedo

Answer 2

the amount of incoming solar energy reflected by a surface

Question 3

Anthropogenic

Answer 3

referring to human-related processes and/or impacts

Question 4

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 4

the increasing amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, as a result of human activities, and their impact on atmospheric systems(including global warming)

Question 5

Global warming

Answer 5

the increase in temperatures around the world that have been noticed since the 1960s, and in particular since the 1980s

Question 6

Greenhouse effect

Answer 6

the process by which greenhouse gases allow short-wave radiation from the sun to pass through the atmosphere and heat up the Earth, but trap an increasing proportion of long-wave radiation from the Earth(this leads to a warming of the atmosphere)

Question 7

Resilience

Answer 7

the ability of a population or a human or natural system to absorb change without having to fundamentally alter itself

Question 8

Vulnerability

Answer 8

the degree to which a human or natural system is susceptible to, and unable to cope with, the adverse impacts of climate change

Question 9

Altitude

Answer 9

the height of a point in relation to sea level

Question 10

Insolation

Answer 10

the amount of solar radiation that reaches the Earth

Question 11

Radiation

Answer 11

the emission of electromagnetic waves(e.g. X-rays, short waves. etc.)

Question 12

Convection

Answer 12

the transfer of heat by the movement of a gas or liquid

Question 13

Conduction

Answer 13

the transfer of heat by contact

Question 14

Re-radiation

Answer 14

the process by which the Earth absorbs solar radiation and then emits back into the atmosphere as infrared radiation

Question 15

Planetary albedo

Answer 15

the amount of incoming solar energy reflected back into the atmosphere by the Earth’s(or another planet’s) surface

Question 16

Long-wave radiation

Answer 16

the radiation of energy from the Earth(a cold body) into the atmosphere, and, for some of it, eventually into space

Question 17

Short-wave radiation

Answer 17

high-energy radiation emitted by the Sun

Question 18

Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs)

Answer 18

synthetic chemicals that destroy ozone as well as absorbing long-wave radiation

Question 19

Global dimming

Answer 19

a reduction in the amount of solar radiation(sunlight) reaching the Earth’s surface(caused by air pollution)

Question 20

Positive feedback loop

Answer 20

a process in which an initial change or effect is amplified by subsequent changes, leading to an increasing response in the same direction

Question 21

Negative feedback loop

Answer 21

a process in which a change in a system triggers a response that counteracts or dampens that change

Question 22

Enhanced greenhouse effect

Answer 22

the impact of increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere as a result of human activities

Question 23

Climate change

Answer 23

long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns

Question 24

Atmosphere

Answer 24

a mixture of solids, liquids and gases that envelop and are held near to the Earth by gravitational force

Question 25

Aerosols

Answer 25

small particles suspended in the atmosphere

Question 26

Latitude

Answer 26

the angular distance north or south from the equator of a point on the Earth’s surface