The IPCC was established jointly by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization in 1988. A capability to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from significant multi-hazard threats with minimum damage to social well-being, the economy, and the environment. The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor. Climate change is a proven fact.Global warming has caused serious changes to the planet, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, deforestation, disappearance of species...But, as individuals we can slow down global warming by implementing small more sustainable actions within our community. New users enjoy 60% OFF. [1]. Nitrogen takes on a variety of chemical forms throughout the nitrogen cycle, including nitrous oxide (N2O) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Intergovernmental Panel on climate Change (IPCC) Nitrogen, oxygen, and argon make up more than 99 percent of the Earth's atmosphere. See ozone depleting substance. Ocean acidification is increasing. [1]. Borehole Relative sea level rise is measured with respect to a specified vertical datum relative to the land, which may also be changing elevation over time. Nitrogen oxides are produced in the emissions of vehicle exhausts and from power stations. Coal Mine Methane [1]. Compounds containing only hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon atoms. Chemical compounds, such as carbon monoxide, methane, non-methane hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides, which in the presence of solar radiation react with other chemical compounds to form ozone, mainly in the troposphere. climate change n noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc. [4], Energy Efficiency Atmospheric Lifetime Its first session was held in Berlin, Germany, in 1995 and it is expected to continue meeting on a yearly basis. See greenhouse effect. [8], Infrared Radiation These gases are emitted in small quantities compared to carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), or nitrous oxide (N2O), but because they are potent greenhouse gases, they are sometimes referred to as High Global Warming Potential gases (High GWP gases). Metric Ton [4]. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) The COP's role is to promote and review the implementation of the Convention. The most recent GCMs include global representations of the atmosphere, oceans, and land surface. This GWP is from the IPCC's Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). They do not significantly deplete the stratospheric ozone layer, but they are powerful greenhouse gases with global warming potentials ranging from 140 (HFC-152a) to 11,700 (HFC-23). See General Circulation Model. [4], Habitat Fragmentation Too much ultraviolet radiation can burn the skin, cause skin cancer and cataracts, and damage vegetation. [5], Residence Time In addition the atmosphere contains water vapor, whose amount is highly variable but typically 1% volume mixing ratio. The eruption of Mount Pinatubo ejected enough particulate and sulfate aerosol matter into the atmosphere to block some of the incoming solar radiation from reaching Earth's atmosphere. Indirect Emissions Natural events such as volcanoes and solar flares can produce changes in ozone concentration, but man-made changes are of the greatest concern. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem. Models can range from relatively simple to quite comprehensive. Preliminary Review of Adaptation Options for Climate Sensitive Ecosystems and Resources. The foods we eat and take for granted are threatened. Phenology is the study of such important seasonal events. Fluorinated Gases A short ton is equal to 2,000 lbs or 0.907 metric tons. Coral Bleaching The reservoirs are the atmosphere, terrestrial biosphere (usually includes freshwater systems), oceans, and sediments (includes fossil fuels). They have been introduced as temporary replacements for CFCs and are also greenhouse gases. We’re at a historic moment with the UNFCCC COP 21, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, 21st Conference of the Parties, in Paris set to begin next month. Amount of a chemical in a particular volume or weight of air, water, soil, or other medium. Biofuels Natural variations in climate over time are caused by internal processes of the climate system, such as El Niño as well as changes in external influences, such as volcanic activity and variations in the output of the sun. The gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth. They … [8], Oxidize Depletion of stratospheric ozone, due to chemical reactions that may be enhanced by climate change, results in an increased ground-level flux of ultraviolet (UV-) B radiation. Energy derived from nontraditional sources (e.g., compressed natural gas, solar, hydroelectric, wind). [10], Renewable Energy An estimate of Earths mean surface air temperature averaged over the entire planet. The wobble over thousands of years of the tilt of the Earths axis with respect to the plane of the solar system. The process whereby living organisms convert organic matter to CO2, releasing energy and consuming O2. Learn our top climate terms below. A major component of the terrestrial biosphere pool in the carbon cycle. The supreme body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Although ozone depleting substances, they are less potent at destroying stratospheric ozone than chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). [9]. Concentration Radiative Forcing Compounds containing either chlorine, bromine or fluorine and carbon. See aerosol, sulfate aerosols. [1], Trace Gas Carbon Cycle HFCs are emitted as by-products of industrial processes and are also used in manufacturing. These chemicals (predominantly CF4 and C2F6) were introduced as alternatives, along with hydrofluorocarbons, to the ozone depleting substances. With the UN climate talks coming up quickly, it’s important to understand climate science basics. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect [8], Evapotranspiration A simple way of remembering the difference is that climate is what you expect (e.g. Any natural unit or entity including living and non-living parts that interact to produce a stable system through cyclic exchange of materials. A technique that uses soil moisture conservation and seed selection to optimize production under dry conditions. General Circulation Models which incorporate the effects of sulfate aerosols more accurately predict global temperature variations. Nitrous oxide is mainly removed from the atmosphere through destruction in the stratosphere by ultraviolet radiation and associated chemical reactions, but it can also be consumed by certain types of bacteria in soils. Parts Per Million by Volume (ppmv) Whether you use word of mouth or social media, there are always ways to educate others on what climate change is doing to our planet. (Los Angeles Times) Climate Investment Funds The $8.3 billion Climate Investment Funds (CIF) is providing 72 developing and middle income countries with urgently needed resources to manage the challenges of climate change and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Over the last 50 years, human activities – particularly the burning of fossil fuels – have released sufficient quantities of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to trap additional heat in the lower atmosphere and affect the global climate. a blizzard). Depending upon latitude and season, the temperature in the lower stratosphere can increase, be isothermal, or even decrease with altitude, but the temperature in the upper stratosphere generally increases with height due to absorption of solar radiation by ozone. Carbon Footprint A multi-year surplus accumulation of snowfall in excess of snowmelt on land and resulting in a mass of ice at least 0.1 km2 in area that shows some evidence of movement in response to gravity. [8], Soil Carbon [4], Vulnerability A unique value for scaling emissions to activity data in terms of a standard rate of emissions per unit of activity (e.g., grams of carbon dioxide emitted per barrel of fossil fuel consumed, or per pound of product produced). Greenhouse gas lifetimes can range from a few years to a few thousand years. It also includes greenhouse gases that come from producing the goods or services that the individual uses, including emissions from power plants that make electricity, factories that make products, and landfills where trash gets sent. Global Average Temperature Ice Core The volume of water that moves over a designated point over a fixed period of time. 100-Year Flood Levels cold winters) and 'weather' is what you get (e.g. See radiation, infrared radiation, radiative forcing. The highest natural concentration of ozone (approximately 10 parts per million by volume) occurs in the stratosphere at approximately 25 km above Earth. Climate in a narrow sense is usually defined as the "average weather", or more rigorously, as the statistical description in terms of the mean and variability of relevant quantities over a period of time ranging from months to thousands or millions of years. This fraction will continue to decrease in an exponential way, so that about 15 percent of the quantity will remain at the end of two times the atmospheric lifetime, etc. The amount of solar radiation reflected from an object or surface, often expressed as a percentage. Learn more about ENERGY STAR. Geologic sequestration is one step in the process of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), and involves injecting carbon dioxide deep underground where it stays permanently. (Some compounds, most notably carbon dioxide, have more complex lifecycles, and their atmospheric lifetimes are not defined by a simple exponential equation.) These surfaces absorb more solar energy, which can create higher temperatures in urban areas. Natural emissions of N2O are mainly from bacteria breaking down nitrogen in soils and the oceans. Underground deposits of gases consisting of 50 to 90 percent methane (CH4) and small amounts of heavier gaseous hydrocarbon compounds such as propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10). Organic compounds, other than methane, that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions. Greenhouse Effect Abrupt Climate Change Climate Change There are several pathways of photosynthesis with different responses to atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Lines of latitude are parallel to the equator and circle the globe. See chlorofluorocarbons, hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, ozone depleting substance. Infrared radiation can be perceived as heat. See concentration. See weather. Ozone, the triatomic form of oxygen (O3), is a gaseous atmospheric constituent. This effectively cooled the planet from 1992 to 1994, masking the warming that had been occurring for most of the 1980s and 1990s. The location north or south in reference to the equator, which is designated at zero (0) degrees. [3]. Climate in a wider sense is the state, including a statistical description, of the climate system. 1 trillion (1012) grams = 1 million (106) metric tons. An abnormal rise in sea level accompanying a hurricane or other intense storm, whose height is the difference between the observed level of the sea surface and the level that would have occurred in the absence of the cyclone. Group of countries included in Annex I (as amended in 1998) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including all the developed countries in the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development, and economies in transition. The recent and ongoing global average increase in temperature near the Earths surface. See radiation, greenhouse effect, enhanced greenhouse effect, global warming. Climate Changes And Climate Change 1016 Words | 5 Pages “Climate change is a reality that is happening now, and that we can see its impact across the world” (Haddrill, 2014) Climate change is the changes in the pattern of the climate due to natural and human activities that has been used inappropriately. Adjustment or preparation of natural or human systems to a new or changing environment which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. It's getting hotter... and more violent. The process of evaporation, vertical and horizontal transport of vapor, condensation, precipitation, and the flow of water from continents to oceans. [3]. Black carbon (BC) is the most strongly light-absorbing component of particulate matter (PM), and is formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels, and biomass. [1], Relative Sea Level Rise Land waste disposal site in which waste is generally spread in thin layers, compacted, and covered with a fresh layer of soil each day. Here are some terms to help you follow the debate around climate change. See ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, solar radiation, longwave radiation. Solar radiation has a distinctive range of wavelengths (spectrum) determined by the temperature of the Sun. Gases covered under the 1987 Montreal Protocol and used for refrigeration, air conditioning, packaging, insulation, solvents, or aerosol propellants. [3]. [3]. Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperature, precipitation, wind patterns and other measures of climate that occur over several decades or longer. Download here your action plan against climate change!. They were introduced as alternatives to ozone depleting substances in serving many industrial, commercial, and personal needs. A family of man-made compounds that includes, but are not limited to, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), bromofluorocarbons (halons), methyl chloroform, carbon tetrachloride, methyl bromide, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Methane is produced through anaerobic (without oxygen) decomposition of waste in landfills, animal digestion, decomposition of animal wastes, production and distribution of natural gas and petroleum, coal production, and incomplete fossil fuel combustion. Emissions A treeless, level, or gently undulating plain characteristic of the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions characterized by low temperatures and short growing seasons. Under Articles 4.2 (a) and 4.2 (b) of the Convention, Annex I countries commit themselves specifically to the aim of returning individually or jointly to their 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2000. Deforestation contributes to increasing carbon dioxide concentrations for two reasons: 1) the burning or decomposition of the wood releases carbon dioxide; and 2) trees that once removed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the process of photosynthesis are no longer present. CIimate change: Joe Biden's actions speak louder than words. [7]. It is also referred to as short-wave radiation. WHAT IS CLIMATE CHANGE AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU? Climate change refers to any significant change in the measures of climate lasting for an extended period of time. A country with low indicators of socioeconomic development and human resources, as well as economic vulnerability, as determined by the United Nations. The component of the climate system comprising liquid surface and subterranean water, such as: oceans, seas, rivers, fresh water lakes, underground water etc. [4]. The hydrologic cycle is responsible for 25 to 30 percent of the mid-latitudes' heat transport from the equatorial to polar regions. Coastal Sensitivity to Sea Level Rise: A Focus on the Mid-Atlantic Region, IPCC Fourth Assessment Report Working Group 1: The Physical Science Basis, US Climate Change Science Program. (Fahrig 2003), Halocarbons A process during which larger areas of habitat are broken into a number of smaller patches of smaller total area, isolated from each other by a matrix of habitats unlike the original habitat. See climate change and global warming. The average time spent in a reservoir by an individual atom or molecule. See carbon sequestration, carbon dioxide fertilization. Gas or liquid fuel made from plant material. [10], Sulfate Aerosols In Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports, equilibrium climate sensitivity refers to the equilibrium change in global mean surface temperature following a doubling of the atmospheric (equivalent) CO2 concentration. Those practices or processes that result in the conversion of forested lands for non-forest uses. A warming of the ocean leads to an expansion of the ocean volume, which leads to an increase in sea level. One of the interrelated components of the Earth's system, the cryosphere is frozen water in the form of snow, permanently frozen ground (permafrost), floating ice, and glaciers. [14], Reforestation Atmospheric condition at any given time or place. See greenhouse gas, anthropogenic, climate, global warming. For more information, visit the Coalbed Methane Outreach program site. A group of chemicals composed of carbon and fluorine only. These quantities are most often surface variables such as temperature, precipitation, and wind. The Convention on Climate Change sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. The carbon dioxide equivalent for a gas is derived by multiplying the tons of the gas by the associated GWP. Tundra By performing chemical analyses on the air trapped in the ice, scientists can estimate the percentage of carbon dioxide and other trace gases in the atmosphere at a given time. The classical period is 3 decades, as defined by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The total amount of greenhouse gases that are emitted into the atmosphere each year by a person, family, building, organization, or company. The most abundant greenhouse gas, it is the water present in the atmosphere in gaseous form. Usually used in the context of emissions that are produced as a result of human activities. A volcano in the Philippine Islands that erupted in 1991. Glacier ice is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth, and second only to the oceans as the largest reservoir of total water. Many people do not know what it really amounts to, either due to unreliable sources or deliberate misinformation, which has led to a series of myths about climate change. Common measurement for a ton in the United States. Carbon Dioxide Equivalent With respect to greenhouse gases, residence time refers to how long on average a particular molecule remains in the atmosphere. [8], Thermohaline Circulation Climate in a narrow sense is usually defined as the "average weather," or more rigorously, as the statistical description in terms of the mean and variability of relevant quantities over a period of time ranging from months to thousands of years. Climate change is now a major concern especially in colder countries. [5]. An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report in 2018 suggested that keeping to the 1.5C target would require " rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes … Most ultraviolet radiation is blocked by Earth's atmosphere, but some solar ultraviolet penetrates and aids in plant photosynthesis and helps produce vitamin D in humans. Photosynthesis The annual movements of carbon, the carbon exchanges between reservoirs, occur because of various chemical, physical, geological, and biological processes. The natural circulation of nitrogen among the atmosphere, plants, animals, and microorganisms that live in soil and water. A naturally occurring gas, and also a by-product of burning fossil fuels and biomass, as well as land-use changes and other industrial processes. In the last 130 years, the world has warmed by approximately 0.85oC. See ultraviolet radiation, infrared radiation, radiation. [3], Deforestation Carbon Capture and Sequestration See parts per billion, parts per million. [2], Climate For most gases other than methane and carbon dioxide, the residence time is approximately equal to the atmospheric lifetime. [3]. Thermal Expansion Although relatively unimportant in terms of their absolute volume, they have significant effects on the Earth's weather and climate. This oceanic event is associated with a fluctuation of the intertropical surface pressure pattern and circulation in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, called the Southern Oscillation. ENERGY STAR [2], Anthropogenic Although ultraviolet radiation constitutes only about 5 percent of the total energy emitted from the sun, it is the major energy source for the stratosphere and mesosphere, playing a dominant role in both energy balance and chemical composition. The process in which a coral colony, under environmental stress expels the microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) that live in symbiosis with their host organisms (polyps). Eccentricity Climate's Moral Economy — The Empire of Climate This episode is related to Climate change Ittibitium, borborygmus, and Ba humbugi – 14 wonderful science words … Español. While humans are not significantly increasing its concentration through direct emissions, it contributes to the enhanced greenhouse effect because the warming influence of greenhouse gases leads to a positive water vapor feedback. Climate in a wider sense is the state, including a statistical description, of the climate system. There are many platforms for us to utilize that can allow us to spread our message easily. Fluctuations in the volume of the cryosphere cause changes in ocean sea level, which directly impact the atmosphere and biosphere. Quotes tagged as "climate-change" Showing 1-30 of 525. Energy transfer in the form of electromagnetic waves or particles that release energy when absorbed by an object. In the atmosphere, nitrogen oxides can contribute to formation of photochemical ozone (smog), can impair visibility, and have health consequences; they are thus considered pollutants. Weather is the state of the atmosphere—its temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall and so on—over hours to weeks. See climate, radiative forcing. Livestock, especially cattle, produce methane as part of their digestion. It is the reference gas against which other greenhouse gases are measured and therefore has a Global Warming Potential of 1. Substance ( usually a gas is derived by multiplying the tons of a in. 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