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Climate Change
Memorie Yasuda TeacherTECH - January 24, 2006 |
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Notes to accompany the presentation. Please note that some of the information and comments within these notes are not necessarily the views of experts, but are limited to my own general observations about the subject.
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Vocabulary
Related words are grouped together Heat synonymous with "infrared radiation Infrared radiation - a form of energy that is transferred between systems by virtue of their temperature differences. Infrared radiation is just one type of radiation along a continuous spectrum of variation called the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum. Visible light, microwave, radio UV and x-ray radiation are all forms of EM radiation. In common usage, the term heat has a related but not identical meaning - the sensation caused by heat energy. Heat, energy and temperature are not the same thing. Energy The capacity to do work. Anthropogenic Caused by human activity. Climate The weather at some location averaged over some long period of time. Weather Meteorological conditions including temperature, windiness, cloudiness, precipitation and extreme events such as hurricanes. Electromagnetic radiation A general term describing an interacting electric and magnetic wave that propagates through vacuum at the speed of light. It includes radio waves, microwaves, infrared light, visible light, ultraviolet light, X rays and gamma rays. Fossil fuel A fuel such as coal, oil, and natural gas, produced by the partial decomposition of ancient (fossilized) plants and animals. Greenhouse warming potential (GWP) The ratio of the warming caused by any substance relative to the warming caused by a similar mass of carbon dioxide. Absorption Process by which a body absorbs electromagnetic energy. Emission Process by which a body radiates electromagnetic energy. Transmission of energy Passage of energy through space or a substance, from a substance that emits energy to one that absorbs it. Kyoto Protocol "The result of negotiations at the third Conference of the Parties (COP-3) in Kyoto, Japan, in December of 1997. The Kyoto Protocol sets binding greenhouse gas emissions targets for countries that sign and ratify the agreement. The gases covered under the Protocol include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride." - Department of Energy Gigaton Metric unit of mass, equal to 1,000,000,000,000 (1 trillion) kilograms. ppm The abbreviation for the unit pars per million. |
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©2006 by Earthguide at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. |