C12: L14, L15, L16 Flashcards
(27 cards)
refers to the long-term increase in Earth’s average surface
temperature.
global warming
primary culprit for global warming is the enhanced ___
greenhouse
effect.
is the long-term heating of Earth’s
surface since the late 1800s, mainly caused by
burning fossil fuels
Global warming
This increases heat-trapping
gases in the atmosphere.
global warming
Humans have warmed the
planet by about ___ degree Celsius, and it’s rising by
over ___ degrees Celsius each decade.
1; 0.2
refers to the long-term shifts in
temperatures and weather patterns.
climate
change
is a critical component of climate change,
acting as the primary driver for a cascade of other changes within the Earth’s climate system.
Global warming
___ is the rise in temperature, while ___encompasses all the
resulting changes.
global warming; climate change
are gases in Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat.
Greenhouse gases (GHGs)
Greenhouse gases derive their name from the concept of a ___, a structure
made primarily of glass that allows sunlight to enter and warm the interior
greenhouse
This natural process, the ___, is essential for
maintaining a stable and habitable climate. Without it, Earth’s average temperature would be
significantly lower, making life as we know it impossible.
greenhouse effect
It is the gaseous form of water. It is found in the atmosphere and condenses
back as liquid water, causing rain on Earth.
Water vapor (H2O)
It is found naturally on Earth as it comes from the decays and living
organisms, as well as from volcanoes
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
is released when
burning fossil fuels like coal and oil. It is the most important contributor to
human-caused global warming.
Carbon dioxide
It is a gas released from wetlands, growing rice, raising cattle, using natural
gas, and mining coal
Methane (CH4)
It traps a lot of heat, which is why it is considered to be
the second most important contributor to human-caused global warming out of
all the greenhouse gases.
Methane (CH4)
A layer of the atmosphere where planes fly, and blocks the radiation of the
sun, which can also be formed from burning gas in cars and factories.
Ozone (O3)
This gas is a natural part of the nitrogen cycle. It is made by the bacteria in the
soil and the ocean.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
t is also released by some types of factories, power plants,
and plant fertilizers. It can damage the useful and protective ozone layer, and
thus, is considered to be a powerful greenhouse gas.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O)
This is an example of fluorinated gases, which are not created by nature and
are man-made.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Natural GHGs (4)
carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), nitrous
oxide (N₂O) and water vapor
do not occur in nature and are produced through
industrial processes.
Hydrofluorocarbons
Scientists explain the ___ by looking at where carbon comes from (__,
adding it to the air) and where it goes (___, taking it out).
carbon cycle; sources; sinks
, a long-term shift in temperatures and weather patterns, caused by
human activities that release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, trapping
heat and leading to a gradual increase in the average temperature of the Earth.
Climate change
