Global Climate Change - AP Environmental Science

Releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Frozen organic matter decomposes, releasing $CH_4$ and $CO_2$.

Use public transportation. Mass transit reduces per-capita fossil fuel consumption.

Rising sea levels. Thermal expansion and ice melt cause ocean levels to increase.

Building flood defenses. Infrastructure adaptation protects communities from climate impacts.

The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual or entity. Measures the direct and indirect $CO_2$ emissions from all activities.

Burning fossil fuels. Coal, oil, and natural gas combustion releases stored carbon.

Efforts to reduce or prevent emission of greenhouse gases. Focuses on reducing sources and enhancing sinks of greenhouse gases.

Agriculture and livestock. Anaerobic decomposition in farming and ruminant digestion release $CH_4$.

An international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. First legally binding climate agreement with emission reduction targets.

Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide. These gases trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Rising sea levels and habitat loss for polar species. Ice melt contributes to sea level rise and Arctic ecosystem changes.

Adjusting practices to minimize damage from climate impacts. Prepares systems and communities for unavoidable climate changes.

The Paris Agreement. Signed in 2015 to limit global temperature rise to below $2°C$.

Increased concentration of greenhouse gases from human activities. Fossil fuel combustion releases $CO_2$, enhancing the greenhouse effect.

Altered growing seasons. Temperature and precipitation changes affect crop timing and yields.

A simulation used to predict future climate changes. Uses mathematical equations to represent atmospheric and oceanic processes.

Loss of habitats and species extinction. Changing temperatures and precipitation patterns disrupt ecosystems.

The reflectivity of Earth's surface. High albedo surfaces reflect more sunlight, cooling the planet.

Coral bleaching. Thermal stress causes corals to expel symbiotic algae.

Reflect sunlight, cooling the atmosphere. Particles scatter incoming solar radiation back to space.

Increased heat-related illnesses. Higher temperatures stress human physiology and spread disease vectors.

Releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Frozen organic matter decomposes, releasing $CH_4$ and $CO_2$.

Agriculture. Fertilizer use and soil management release $N_2O$.

Use public transportation. Mass transit reduces per-capita fossil fuel consumption.

Balancing emitted CO₂ with removal or offsetting. Net-zero emissions achieved through reduction and offset strategies.

Natural systems that absorb more CO₂ than they release. Forests, oceans, and soil store carbon long-term.

The decrease in pH of ocean water due to absorbed CO₂. Ocean absorbs atmospheric $CO_2$, forming carbonic acid that lowers pH.

Permit to emit a certain amount of CO₂, tradeable to reduce emissions. Market-based mechanism that incentivizes emission reductions through trading.

Global warming. Enhanced greenhouse effect leads to rising global temperatures.