Page 11 - Climate Change

GLOSSARY

albedo effect (al-BEE-doh ih-FEKT) measure of how global warming (GLOH-buhl WORM-ing) the
much of the sun’s heat is reflected back into space warming of the earth’s surface and air caused by an
increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Arctic (AHRK-tik) the North Pole region or area
greenhouse effect (GREEN-hous ih-FEKT) the
carbon footprint (KAHR-buhn FUT-print) a natural process of heat being trapped in the
measure of the amount of carbon dioxide produced atmosphere rather than being released into space
by a person, object, or organization and released
into the atmosphere landfills (LAND-filz) large outdoor areas used to
dump garbage
climate (KLYE-mit) weather patterns over a long
period of time moisture (MOIS-cher) a small amount of liquid,
especially water
climate change (KLYE-mit CHAYNJ) a change in
normal weather patterns over a long period of time population (pahp-yuh-LAY-shuhn) the number of
people in one place
coral reefs (KOR-uhl REEFS) ridges of rock under
the sea made from coral precipitation (prih-sip-ih-TAY-shuhn) moisture that
falls from the sky, including rain, sleet, snow, and
droughts (DROUTS) periods of dry weather hail
environmentalism (en-vye-ruhn-MEN-tuhl-iz-uhm) recycle (ree-SYE-kuhl) to break something down in
working to protect the air, water, animals, and order to make something new from it
plants from pollution and other harmful things
renewable resources (rih-NOO-uh-buhl REE-sors-
evaporates (ih-VAP-uh-rayts) changes from a liquid iz) natural power, such as wind, that will never be
or solid into a vapor or mist used up and can be used again and again
extinct (ik-STINGT) no longer exists or has died out wind turbines (WIND TUR-binz) machines that
fossil fuels (FAH-suhl FYOOLZ) oil, coal, and gas capture the wind, which eventually is converted to
formed from the remains of animals and plants that energy
died and decayed millions of years ago

INDEX

albedo effect, 12 coral reefs, 15–17 greenhouse effect, renewable energy,
alternative energy, 24 deserts, 17 6, 7 18–21, 28
Antarctica, 13 greenhouse gases, Risk Zone Maps, 17
Arctic, 12–13, 15 droughts, 9–10, 17 21, 23 sea levels, 13–15
atmosphere, 7, 9, 24, 27 electric cars, 19–21 solar energy, 21, 29
electricity, 18, 19 hydropower, 21 “sunny day flooding,”
carbon dioxide, 7, 9, 24, energy, 18–21 ice and snow,
27 environmentalism, 4 12–13, 15 15
climate change trees, 26, 27
in the Arctic, 12–13, 15 fossil fuels, 8, 9, 18, jobs, 27, 29
causes, 9 21, 24, 25, 30 Kyoto Protocol, 21 weather, 11
economics, 24–29 gases, 7, 9 wind power, 18–19, 20
what can be done, geography, 12–17 Paris Agreement, 23
18–23, 26, 27 geothermal power, 21 polar bears, 12, 15
what it is, 4–11 global warming, 9, 11 precipitation, 17

32 [ 21st century skills library ]