The causes of global climate change Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Adaptation

A

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

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2
Q

Albedo

A

the amount of incoming solar energy reflected by a surface

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3
Q

Anthropogenic

A

referring to human-related processes and/or impacts

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4
Q

Enhanced greenhouse effect

A

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

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5
Q

Global warming

A

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

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6
Q

Greenhouse effect

A

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)

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7
Q

Resilience

A

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

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8
Q

Vulnerability

A

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

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9
Q

Altitude

A

the height of a point in relation to sea level

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10
Q

Insolation

A

the amount of solar radiation that reaches the Earth

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11
Q

Radiation

A

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

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12
Q

Convection

A

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

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13
Q

Conduction

A

the transfer of heat by contact

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14
Q

Re-radiation

A

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

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15
Q

Planetary albedo

A

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

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16
Q

Long-wave radiation

A

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

17
Q

Short-wave radiation

A

high-energy radiation emitted by the Sun

18
Q

Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs)

A

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

19
Q

Global dimming

A

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

20
Q

Positive feedback loop

A

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

21
Q

Negative feedback loop

A

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

22
Q

Enhanced greenhouse effect

A

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

23
Q

Climate change

A

long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns

24
Q

Atmosphere

A

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

25
Aerosols
small particles suspended in the atmosphere
26
Latitude
the angular distance north or south from the equator of a point on the Earth's surface