APES climate change vocab

Question 0

Troposphere

Answer 0

Bottom layer of the atmosphere. Provides air.

Question 1

Atmosphere

Answer 1

The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth.

Question 2

Stratosphere

Answer 2

The layer above the troposphere.

Question 3

Ozone layer

Answer 3

A portion of the Stratosphere above sea level

Question 4

Convective circulation

Answer 4

Warm air rises, making vertical currents. Air regions into regions of lower atmospheric pressure, and expands and cools. Descends and becomes more dense, replaces warm air rising. Picks up heat and moisture and begins to rise again .

Question 5

Weather

Answer 5

Specifies atmospheric conditions over short periods of time.

Question 6

Climate

Answer 6

Describes atmospheric conditions across large geographic regions over long periods of time.

Question 7

Temperature (thermal) inversion

Answer 7

The departure of the normal temp. profile when a layer of cool air occurs under a layer of warm air.

Question 8

Convective cells

Answer 8

When density difference occurs within a body of liquid or gas.

Question 9

Coriolis effect

Answer 9

Currents of convective cells appear to be deflected from a straight path as some portions of the globe beneath them move more quickly than others.

Question 10

Greenhouse gas

Answer 10

Mostly human-made gases which tend to absorb infrared radiation effectively

Question 11

Greenhouse effect

Answer 11

Some re emitted energy travels back toward the surface, warming it.

Question 12

Aerosols

Answer 12

Microscopic droplets and particles

Question 13

Milankovitch cycle

Answer 13

Variations in Earth’s rotation, which alters the way solar radiation is distributed on the surface.

Question 14

Solar output

Answer 14

Radiation given off by the sun

Question 15

Ocean absorption

Answer 15

The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide when the gas dissolves directly in water.

Question 16

Ocean circulation

Answer 16

Ocean exchanges heat with the atmosphere, ocean currents move energy from place to place.

Question 17

Paleoclimate

Answer 17

Climate in the geological past

Question 18

IPCC

Answer 18

Intergovernmental panel on climate change

Question 19

Thermohaline circulation

Answer 19

A worldwide current system. Warmer, fresher water moves along the surface and colder, saltier water (denser) moves deeper below.

Question 20

El Niño southern oscillation

Answer 20

A systematic shift in atmospheric pressure, sea surface temperature, and ocean circulation in the tropical Pacific ocean.

Question 21

Anthropogenic climate change

Answer 21

Increased air and ocean temperatures, altered rainfall and ENSO patterns.

Question 22

Mitigation

Answer 22

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Question 23

Adaptation

Answer 23

Find ways to cushion from blows.

Question 24

Carbon capture

Answer 24

Technologies or approaches that remove carbon dioxide from power plant emissions.

Question 25

Carbon sequestration

Answer 25

Carbon is stored underground under pressure in rock formations where it will not seep out

Question 26

Kyoto protocol

Answer 26

Mandates signatory nations to reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases to levels below those of 1990

Question 27

Cap and trade emissions

Answer 27

Govt. sets cap on emissions. The plant which fails to cut emissions will pay money to the one that succeeds, to purchase allowances that the successful plant is not using.

Question 28

Carbon tax

Answer 28

Governments charge polluters a fee for each unit of greenhouse gases they emit.

Question 29

Carbon offsets

Answer 29

Voluntary payments to enable another entity to reduce emissions that one is unable to reduce oneself.

Question 30

Carbon neutral

Answer 30

A state in which no net carbon is emitted.

Question 31

Carbon footprint

Answer 31

The amount of carbon we emit.