Climate Change Glossary

Haboob Definition 
A haboob is a type of intense dust storm that is carried by an atmospheric gravity current. Haboobs occur regularly in arid regions throughout the …

Carbon Intensity 
Carbon intensity refers to the carbon emission per unit of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Climate Change and Carbon Intensity In the Copenhagen Accord …

Wildfire Definition 
A wildfire is any uncontrollable fire ignition that may take place in the countryside or in the wilderness. There are certain factors that may cause …

Glacier Definition 
A glacier is a huge mass of ice that originated from an accumulation of snow over many years. It moves very slowly over land and is formed when snow …

Perennial Definition 
Perennial refers to something that lasts throughout the year, or for many years. For instance, permafrost is ground that stays perennially frozen …

Global Warming Potential Definition 
The global warming potential (GWP) of a gas is measure of its total contribution to global warming . More specifically, it measures the warming impact …

Tornado Definition 
A tornado is a localized, violently destructive windstorm that occurs over land. The powerful column of wind spirals around a center of low atmospheric …

Climate Definition 
Climate refers to the average weather of an area over a period ranging from a few months to thousands or even millions of years. The World Meteorological …

Atmosphere Definition 
An atmosphere is a gaseous envelope that surrounds a material of sufficient mass and is held in place by gravity. When discussing climate change or …

Thermal Expansion Definition 
Thermal expansion can be defined as the increase in volume of matter when it is exposed to an increase in temperature. This phenomenon occurs because …

Weather Definition 
Weather refers to the atmospheric condition at a certain time or place. Typically, weather is measured in terms of: wind temperature humidity …

Trace Gas Definition 
A trace gas is a gas that makes up an extremely small portion of a mixture of gases. Trace Gas and Climate Change When discussing climate change , …

Sulfur Hexafluoride Definition 
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 ) is a very powerful greenhouse gas . In accordance with the IPCC ’s Fourth Assessment Report in 2007, sulfur hexafluoride …

Perfluorocarbons Definition 
Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are powerful greenhouse gases . Essentially, perfluorocarbons are chemicals composed only of the elements carbon and fluorine. …

Hydrofluorocarbons Definition 
Hydrofluorocarbons are compounds consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon atoms. Also known as HFCs, hydrofluorocarbons were first introduced …

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons Definition 
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons are compounds consisting of hydrogen, fluorine, chlorine, and carbon atoms. Although hydrochlorofluorocarbons are ozone depleting …

Chlorofluorocarbons Definition 
Chlorofluorocarbons are compounds containing only carbon, chlorine, hydrogen, and fluorine. Also known as CFCs, chlorofluorocarbons are greenhouse …

Ozone Definition 
Ozone (O 3 ) is the triatomic form of oxygen. First and foremost, ozone plays an important role in our atmosphere . Essentially, ozone is created …

Nitrous Oxide Definition 
Nitrous oxide (N 2 O) is a powerful greenhouse gas . In accordance with the IPCC ’s Fourth Assessment Report in 2007, nitrous oxide has a global …

Methane Definition 
Methane (CH 4 ) is a hydrocarbon and an important greenhouse gas . According to the IPCC ’s Fourth Assessment Report in 2007, methane has a global …

Water Vapour Definition 
Water vapour , also spelled water vapor , is the gaseous form of water. In an environmental context, this term is used to refer to the water vapour …

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , abbreviated as UNFCCC , establishes a global framework for countries around the world to …

Ultraviolet Radiation Definition 
Ultraviolet radiation is an electromagnetic wave that lies just outside of the violet end of the visible spectrum. An estimated 5% of the total energy …

Stratosphere Definition 
The stratosphere is a region within the atmosphere that lies between the troposphere and the mesosphere. Its upper boundary is at about 50 kilometers. …

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Troposphere Definition 
The troposphere is the lowest layer of the atmosphere , extending from the surface of the Earth to about 10 kilometres in altitude, on average. Essentially, …

Sink Definition 
When discussing climate change or environmental issues, a sink refers to any process, activity or mechanism that could remove an aerosol , a greenhouse …

Alternative Energy Definition 
Alternative energy refers to energy that is derived from non-traditional sources. Hence, alternative energy includes compressed natural gas, solar …

Recycling Definition 
Recycling refers to collecting a waste product and reprocessing it so that it can be consumed once again. Recycling can also be defined as returning …

Photosynthesis Definition 
Photosynthesis is an endergonic (energy requiring) process by which plants take in water, minerals, and carbon dioxide from the air (or bicarbonate in …

Permafrost Definition 
Permafrost refers to ground that stays perennially frozen. In other words, it is ground that will remain frozen throughout the year. Typically, …

Particulate Matter Definition 
Essentially, particulate matter refers to tiny pieces of solid or liquid substances. Examples include particles of aerosols, dust, fumes, mists, or …

Ocean Acidification Definition 
Ocean acidification refers to the increase in acidity of sea water due to increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide . Essentially, not all of the …

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , often abbreviated as IPCC , was established in 1988 by both the United Nations Environment Programme …

Greenhouse Gas Definition 
A greenhouse gas is a gas that can absorb infrared radiation in the atmosphere . As these gases take in infrared radiation, they trap heat within …

Greenhouse Effect Definition 
The Greenhouse Effect refers to both the trapping and accumulation of the sun's heat within the troposphere , the layer of the atmosphere closest …

Enteric Fermentation Definition 
Enteric fermentation is the process in which livestock produce methane via digestion. In fact, as much as one third of the emissions from the agricultural …

Climate Feedback Definition 
A climate feedback is a process that will either amplify or reduce climate forcing . Climate forcing, also known as radiative forcing, refers to …

Feedback Mechanism Definition 
Feedback mechanisms are factors which will alter the rate of a process. Those that will increase or amplify a process are known as positive feedback …

Energy Efficiency Definition 
Energy efficiency is using less energy while providing the same products and services. Energy efficiency is an important step in helping stop climate …

Climate Model Definition 
A climate model is essentially a representation of the many interactions within the climate which includes the atmosphere , oceans, land surface, …

Coral Bleaching Definition 
Coral bleaching refers to the process in which a coral colony loses zooxanthellae, the microscopic algae, when under some form of environmental stress. …

Carbon Sequestration Definition 
Terrestrial or biologic carbon sequestration refers to the process in which carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants. Subsequently, trees and other …

Carbon Dioxide Definition 
Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is the primary anthropogenic greenhouse gas responsible for global warming . Although carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring …

Carbon Cycle Definition 
The carbon cycle refers to the flow of carbon through the biosphere , pedosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere. There are five main reservoirs of carbon …

Biomass Definition 
Biomass is a renewable energy source that consists of organic materials. These organic materials can be either living or dead, below or above ground. …

Biofuel Definition 
Biofuel is essentially a liquid or gas fuel made from biomass . There are many types of biofuels including: agricultural waste ethanol blended …

Albedo Definition 
Albedo is the amount of solar radiation reflected from an object or surface, usually expressed as a percentage. In the context of climate change …

Global Warming Definition 
Global warming is the increase in the average atmospheric temperature across our planet. Global warming is caused by greenhouse gases via the greenhouse …

Climate Change Definition 
Climate change may refer to three different things: Firstly, climate change could be used to denote the study of the variations within the climate …

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Abrupt Climate Change Definition 
Abrupt climate change essentially refers to both rapid and significant changes in at least one climatic element (wind, temperature, or precipitation). …

Aerosols Definition 
Aerosols are small liquid or solid particles that are suspended in gas. Depending on their composition, this dispersion of small particles can absorb …

Anthropogenic Definition 
Anthropogenic refers to what is caused or influenced by humans. When discussing climate change , it is often used to refer to emissions produced as …

Biosphere Definition 
The biosphere is the sum of all ecosystems worldwide. An ecosystem consists of all living organisms and the abiotic or nonliving environment which supplies …

Deep Ecology Definition 
Deep ecology (a term coined by Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss) considers the deep philosophical causes to the environmental crisis and that the cure …

Sustainable Development Definition 
Sustainable development is development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. …

Hybrid Vehicle Definition 
Often simply called a hybrid , a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that is powered by more than one distinct source. For example, an automobile that combines …

Heat Wave Definition 
A heat wave is a prolonged period of extremely high temperatures for a particular region. A Relative Term However, there exist no universal definitions …

Desertification Definition 
Desertification is the degradation of land that could be used for agriculture or habitats, and is one of the most important environmental problems we are …

Drought Definition 
A drought is a long period of abnormally low rainfall, especially one that is harmful to agriculture and the ecosystem. In some cases, it may have a devastating …

Tropical Storm Definition 
A tropical storm is a cyclonic storm which originates from the tropics and has sustained winds ranging between 39 and 73 miles/hour (34 to 63 knots; 63 …

Hurricane Definition 
A hurricane is a tropical cyclone with a wind velocity greater than 74 miles per hour (it is stronger than a tropical storm ). In order to specify …

Ozone Layer Definition 
The ozone layer is the part of our atmosphere that traps heat from the sun and protects us from ultraviolet radiation . More specifically, the …

Reforestation Definition 
Reforestation consists of planting trees or entire forests on terrain that used to contain them. Essentially, reforestation is used to bring back the …

Fossil Fuel Definition 
Fossil fuels are hydrocarbon deposits that are burned for fuel. Fossil fuels play an important role in: Food Production Heating (in some communities) …

Carbon Footprint Definition 
The carbon footprint is the total set of greenhouse gas emissions we individually cause. Often, when considering someone's carbon footprint, it …

Renewable Energy Definition 
Renewable energy includes all forms of energy obtained from a natural and recurring force. Essentially, renewable energy will help stop climate change …