Climate Change: Key Terms
Climate change: Key terms
Climate change: Key terms
Causes of climate change
Atmospheric dust – Tiny particles from asteroids or volcanic eruptions that block sunlight and cool the Earth's surface.
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) – A greenhouse gas released through activities like burning fossil fuels, which traps heat in the atmosphere.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) – Man-made chemicals once used in fridges and aerosols that trap heat and damage the ozone layer.
Enhanced greenhouse effect – The increased trapping of heat due to higher levels of greenhouse gases from human activity.
Greenhouse effect – A natural process where certain gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, keeping the planet warm enough for life.
Greenhouse gases – Gases such as CO₂, methane, and nitrous oxide that trap heat in the atmosphere.
Historical sources – Old diaries, art, and records used as indirect evidence of past climate changes.
Ice cores – Cylinders of ice from glaciers that contain air bubbles, helping scientists study past climates.
Methane (CH₄) – A powerful greenhouse gas released from livestock, rice paddies, landfill sites, and decaying organic material.
Milankovitch cycles – Long-term changes in the Earth's orbit, tilt, and wobble that affect how much sunlight the Earth receives.
Natural sources of greenhouse gases – Includes water vapour (from evaporation), carbon dioxide (from wildfires), and methane (from decaying matter).
Nitrous oxide (N₂O) – A greenhouse gas released from soil, oceans, and fertilisers.
Pollen – Preserved plant material in sediments used to identify ancient climates.
Quaternary period – The last 2.6 million years during which the Earth has gone through many glacial and interglacial periods.
Sea ice position – The extent of ice coverage in the ocean, which scientists track to understand climate trends.
Short- and long-wave radiation – Sunlight reaches Earth as short waves; Earth radiates heat back as long waves, some of which are trapped by greenhouse gases.
Sunspot activity – Dark patches on the sun’s surface that can cause slight increases in solar energy received by Earth.
Tree rings – The rings in tree trunks show how trees grew each year, which indicates past climate conditions.
Volcanic eruption – A natural event that releases ash into the atmosphere, blocking sunlight and causing temporary cooling.
Water vapour – A natural greenhouse gas formed by evaporation from oceans and transpiration from plants.
Impacts of climate change
Air pollution – Warmer temperatures can trap dirty air, worsening health conditions like asthma.
Biodiversity loss – Climate change causes species to go extinct as their habitats change or disappear.
Coral bleaching – Coral reefs lose their colour and die due to warming ocean temperatures.
Drought – Prolonged periods of little rainfall, causing crop failures and water shortages.
Ecosystem shift – Entire biomes, like tundra or rainforests, may move or vanish due to climate change.
Flooding – Sea level rise and heavy rainfall increase the risk of flood events, especially in low-lying areas.
Food insecurity – Not having enough reliable access to affordable, nutritious food.
Health impacts – Heatwaves, poor air quality, and the spread of disease lead to more illness and death.
Heatwave – A period of excessively hot weather that can cause heatstroke and dehydration.
Malaria – A disease that can spread more easily with warmer, wetter conditions.
Migration – People forced to leave their homes due to sea level rise, floods, or food shortages.
Natural hazards – Includes stronger storms, droughts, and wildfires becoming more frequent due to climate change.
Respiratory disease – Illnesses like asthma that get worse during periods of heat and poor air quality.
Sea level rise – As oceans warm and ice melts, sea levels rise, threatening coastlines worldwide.
Waterborne diseases – Illnesses like cholera that spread when drinking water is contaminated, especially after floods.
Climate Change Case Study: Bangladesh
Adaptation strategies – Ways Bangladesh is adjusting to climate impacts, like building flood shelters and planting mangroves.
Bangladesh climate change strategy and action plan (2009) – A national policy for adapting to and reducing climate change impacts.
Bay of Bengal – The sea east of Bangladesh where sea level rise and tropical storms cause severe flooding.
Coastal embankments – Man-made barriers that protect Bangladesh’s coastal areas from storm surges and rising seas.
Early warning systems – Community-based alarms and alerts to warn people before cyclones and floods strike.
Floodplain – Low-lying land next to rivers that floods regularly; more than 80% of Bangladesh is floodplain.
Mangroves – Trees which grow along coasts. They help to reduce erosion and provide natural protection from storms.
Monsoon – The seasonal rains in Bangladesh are becoming more intense due to climate change.
Renewable energy policy (2008) – A plan to increase clean energy use in Bangladesh, especially solar power.
Salinity intrusion – Saltwater seeping into freshwater systems due to sea level rise, making farming harder.
Sea level rise in Bangladesh – A 1-metre rise would submerge 20% of the land and displace 15 million people.
Shelters on stilts – Raised buildings where people and animals can stay safe during floods.
Submersible roads – Roads that can cope with being underwater during floods without being damaged.
Sundarbans – A large mangrove forest in Bangladesh under threat from rising seas and biodiversity loss.