Global Climate Change Vocabulary Week 1

Greenhouse Effect When gases in the atmosphere keep heat near Earth and prevent it from radiating into space

Greenhouse Gas Gases that keep heat in the atmosphere

Thermohaline Circulation Cooler, saltier water at the poles sink and warmer, fresher water from the equator moves to take its place

El Nino Weakening of equatorial winds making Eastern Pacific Ocean warmer than usual; changes in climatic patterns

La Nina Strengthening of equatorial winds making Eastern Pacific Ocean cooler than usual; changes climatic patterns

Topography Describes the surface characteristics of the area

Global Climate Change A change in global weather patterns; includes temperature, winds, rainfall and frequency of storms

Global Warming An increase in Earth’s average surface temperature

Proxy Indicator Type of indirect evidence that serves as a substitute for direct measurement

Climate Model Programs that combine what is known about the atmosphere and oceans to simulate climate processes.

Global Climate Change Vocabulary Week 2

Fossil Fuels Main source of extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Coral Bleaching Death of algae in corals due to temperature and pH changes

Carbon Footprint Amount of carbon dioxide emissions for which an individual or group is responsible

Carbon Tax Fee that a government chargers polluter for each unit of greenhouse gases they emit

Carbon Offset Voluntary payment made when one industry or person pays another group to reduce their carbon footprint

Carbon Sequestration Consists of ways of storing captured carbon

Kyoto Protocol International agreement that seeks to limit greenhouse gas emissions

Geoid Shape that the surface of the oceans would take under the influence of Earths gravitation and rotation alone

Permafrost Permanently frozen soil

Ice Cores A core sample that is typically removed from an ice sheet to reconstruct climatic records over the age range of the core using the annual layers.