[ 21st century skills library ]
32
INDEX
GLOSSARY
albedo effect
(al-BEE-doh ih-FEKT) measure of how
much of the sun’s heat is reflected back into space
Arctic
(AHRK-tik) the North Pole region or area
carbon footprint
(KAHR-buhn FUT-print) a
measure of the amount of carbon dioxide produced
by a person, object, or organization and released
into the atmosphere
climate
(KLYE-mit) weather patterns over a long
period of time
climate change
(KLYE-mit CHAYNJ) a change in
normal weather patterns over a long period of time
coral reefs
(KOR-uhl REEFS) ridges of rock under
the sea made from coral
droughts
(DROUTS) periods of dry weather
environmentalism
(en-vye-ruhn-MEN-tuhl-iz-uhm)
working to protect the air, water, animals, and
plants from pollution and other harmful things
evaporates
(ih-VAP-uh-rayts) changes from a liquid
or solid into a vapor or mist
extinct
(ik-STINGT) no longer exists or has died out
fossil fuels
(FAH-suhl FYOOLZ) oil, coal, and gas
formed from the remains of animals and plants that
died and decayed millions of years ago
global warming
(GLOH-buhl WORM-ing) the
warming of the earth’s surface and air caused by an
increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
greenhouse effect
(GREEN-hous ih-FEKT) the
natural process of heat being trapped in the
atmosphere rather than being released into space
landfills
(LAND-filz) large outdoor areas used to
dump garbage
moisture
(MOIS-cher) a small amount of liquid,
especially water
population
(pahp-yuh-LAY-shuhn) the number of
people in one place
precipitation
(prih-sip-ih-TAY-shuhn) moisture that
falls from the sky, including rain, sleet, snow, and
hail
recycle
(ree-SYE-kuhl) to break something down in
order to make something new from it
renewable resources
(rih-NOO-uh-buhl REE-sors-
iz) natural power, such as wind, that will never be
used up and can be used again and again
wind turbines
(WIND TUR-binz) machines that
capture the wind, which eventually is converted to
energy
albedo effect, 12
alternative energy, 24
Antarctica, 13
Arctic, 12–13, 15
atmosphere, 7, 9, 24, 27
carbon dioxide, 7, 9, 24,
27
climate change
in the Arctic, 12–13, 15
causes, 9
economics, 24–29
what can be done,
18–23, 26, 27
what it is, 4–11
coral reefs, 15–17
deserts, 17
droughts, 9–10, 17
electric cars, 19–21
electricity, 18, 19
energy, 18–21
environmentalism, 4
fossil fuels, 8, 9, 18,
21, 24, 25, 30
gases, 7, 9
geography, 12–17
geothermal power, 21
global warming, 9, 11
greenhouse effect,
6, 7
greenhouse gases,
21, 23
hydropower, 21
ice and snow,
12–13, 15
jobs, 27, 29
Kyoto Protocol, 21
Paris Agreement, 23
polar bears, 12, 15
precipitation, 17
renewable energy,
18–21, 28
Risk Zone Maps, 17
sea levels, 13–15
solar energy, 21, 29
“sunny day flooding,”
15
trees, 26, 27
weather, 11
wind power, 18–19, 20
