1. Global Climate Change Vocabulary Week 1

2. Greenhouse Effect
When gases in the atmosphere keep heat near Earth and prevent it from radiating into space

3. Greenhouse Gas
Gases that keep heat in the atmosphere

4. Thermohaline Circulation
Cooler, saltier water at the poles sink and warmer, fresher water from the equator moves to take its place

5. El Nino
Weakening of equatorial winds making Eastern Pacific Ocean warmer than usual; changes in climatic patterns

6. La Nina
Strengthening of equatorial winds making Eastern Pacific Ocean cooler than usual; changes climatic patterns

7. Topography
Describes the surface characteristics of the area

8. Global Climate Change
A change in global weather patterns; includes temperature, winds, rainfall and frequency of storms

9. Global Warming
An increase in Earth’s average surface temperature

10. Proxy Indicator
Type of indirect evidence that serves as a substitute for direct measurement

11. Climate Model
Programs that combine what is known about the atmosphere and oceans to simulate climate processes.

12. Global Climate Change Vocabulary Week 2

13. Fossil Fuels
Main source of extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

14. Coral Bleaching
Death of algae in corals due to temperature and pH changes

15. Carbon Footprint
Amount of carbon dioxide emissions for which an individual or group is responsible

16. Carbon Tax
Fee that a government chargers polluter for each unit of greenhouse gases they emit

17. Carbon Offset
Voluntary payment made when one industry or person pays another group to reduce their carbon footprint

18. Carbon Sequestration
Consists of ways of storing captured carbon

19. Kyoto Protocol
International agreement that seeks to limit greenhouse gas emissions

20. Geoid
Shape that the surface of the oceans would take under the influence of Earths gravitation and rotation alone

21. Permafrost
Permanently frozen soil

22. Ice Cores
A core sample that is typically removed from an ice sheet to reconstruct climatic records over the age range of the core using the annual layers.