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APES Climate Change
Global climate change key concepts
26
Environmental Studies
11th Grade
02/15/2012

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Term
Proxy Indicators
Definition
types of indirect evidence that serve as substitutes for direct measurements from a different time or place
Term
Ice Core Data
Definition
A type of proxy indicator -- scientists examine air bubbles from ancient atmospheres that are trapped in deep layers of ice by extracting columns from the ice, or "ice columns"
Term
Climate Models
Definition
programs that combine what is known about atmospheric circulation, ocean circulation, atmosphere-ocean interactions, & feedback loops.
Term
IPCC
Definition
an international panel of scientists established by UNEP that issued the Fourth Assessment Report
Term
Fourth Assessment Report
Definition
consensus of scientific climate research that documents observed trends in climate change factors and predicts future changes based on further greenhouse gas emissions
Term
United States Global Research Program
Definition
created by congress to coordinate federal climate research. predicts many things, including:(1)average temps will rise 3-5˚(2)droughts and floods will worsen (3) snowpack will decrease--> water shortage (4)Sea level rise will cause loss of coastal wetlands and real estate
Term
Hadley vs. Canada Model
Definition
Hadley Model estimates less drastic temperature increases than Canadian Model, which estimates increases of up to 25˚ F.
Term
Electricity Generation is...
Definition
the number 1 largest contributor to US CO2 emissions (about 40%)
Term
Sources of Electricity
Definition
Fossil Fuel Combustion
-50% of electricity comes from coal
we can change to cleaner sources, but haven't yet
Term
Automobile Effectiveness
Definition
-62% lost to friction/engine heat
-17% idling
-5% inefficiencies
-2% radio/AC appliances
=_________________________
only 14% of fuel input goes toward movement
Term
2 main ways to reduce emissions
Definition
-conservation and efficiency
-switching to cleaner renewable sources
other notable ways include:
-agricultural sustainablilty
-sustainable forestry
-waste management
Term
UN FCCC
Definition
Outlined a plan for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to levels back in 1990s by 2000. It was on a voluntary basis, so many nations didn't comply
Term
Kyoto Protocol
Definition
unlike the FCCC which was voluntary, this was a COMPULSORY agreement for signatories of the treaty to bring emission levels back down. US didn't sign -__-
Term
Addressing Climate Change
Definition
Because Bush Admin. didn't take action, states and local governments responded to popular desire for limiting greenhouse emissions by signing US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement; they would meet or beat Kyoto Protocol.
Term
Carbon Offset
Definition
practice used in Cap n' Trade policy. It is a voluntary payment to another entity intended to enable that entity to reduce the greenhouse emissions that one is unable or unwilling to reduce on their own. Basically, pay to be allowed more emissions
Term
Global Climate Change
Definition
trends and variation in Earth's climate, involving aspects such as temperature, precipitation, and storm frequency/intensity.
Term
Global Warming
Definition
increase in Earth's average surface temperature (just one aspect of Global Climate Change)
Term
Factors Influencing Climate Change
Definition
there are natural effects, i.e. the sun, but primarily Fossil Fuel Combustion and Deforestation.
Term
Greenhouse Gases
Definition
Gases that absorb infrared adiation very effectively: Carbon Dioxide, Methane, Nitrous Oxide, Ozone, CFCs
Term
Greenhouse effect
Definition
the warming of Earth's surface and atmosphere (especially trophosphere) caused by the energy emitted from greenhouse gases
Term
CO2 spike caused by...
Definition
Burning Fossil Fuels, Deforestation
Term
Aerosols
Definition
Microscopic droplets and particles that have either a warming or cooling effect.
Term
Milankovitch Cycles
Definition
Three periodic changes in the Earth's rotation (axial wobble, variation of tilt, variation of orbit) that alter the way solar radiation is distributed on Earth's surface
Term
El Nino
Definition
conditions are triggered when air pressure increases in western Pacific and decreases in easter Pacific. ( I like to think "El Nino=East, No.) ^_^
Term
La Nina
Definition
opposite of El Nino
Term
NADW
Definition
North Atlantic Deep Water: Created by the loss of heat from warm currents arriving at Europe, which become colder and denser and sink.
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