adaptations

Responding to the current and future impacts of climate change to minimize harm.

adjustment, transformation

Being able to blend into the environment is an adaptation called camouflage.

The natural process by which carbon is exchanged among the atmosphere, oceans, soil, plants, and animals.

Human activities, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, are altering the Earth’s natural carbon cycle and driving climate change.

The total amount of greenhouse gases generated by an individual, organization, product, or activity.

Carbon footprints are often used as a tool to focus on what individuals can do, but it is just as helpful to look at the carbon footprints of large companies and nations.

Energy sources that are naturally replenished and emit little to no greenhouse gases.

Many countries are investing in clean energy sources like wind and solar to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and lower emissions.

climates, climatic

the weather conditions most prevailing in a place, averaged over several years or decades

weather patterns

Antarctica is known for both its cold climate and its penguins.

Changes in the measures of Earth’s climate over a long period of time including weather, precipitation, and temperature patterns.

global warming

Rising global temperatures due to climate change are causing more frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and heatwaves.

fossil fuels

Natural carbon-rich fuels that are formed over long periods of time and release greenhouse gases when burned.

nonrenewable fuel source

renewable fuel source

Since 1750, the burning of fossil fuels has added more and more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, rapidly warming the planet and causing climate change.

The rise in global temperatures due mainly to the emission of greenhouse gases.

Global warming will lead to sea-level rise, increased drought, and more tropical storms.

Gases that trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere.

Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, trap heat from the Sun inside Earth’s atmosphere.

Actions taken to reduce or prevent the emissions of greenhouse gases.

Mitigation solutions include everything from renewable energy to electric cars and public transportation.

A protective layer of Earth’s atmosphere that absorbs most of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

While the use of harmful chemicals depleted our ozone layer, it has recovered since then.

The process of capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in a stable form.

Carbon sequestration helps reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide by capturing it and safely storing it.

Short-term atmospheric conditions.

Extreme weather will get worse in many places.