Consequences of Climate Change

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Drought Noun

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[drowt]

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Drought

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An extended period of abnormally low rainfall, leading to a shortage of water and negatively impacting agriculture and ecosystems.

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Example: A prolonged lack of rain causes a drought, leading to cracked, dry soil and the death of plants and trees.

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Medieval Climate Anomaly Noun

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[med-ee-ee-vuhl kly-mit uh-nom-uh-lee]

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Medieval Climate Anomaly

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A period of unusually warm climate in certain regions, such as the North Atlantic, that occurred from approximately 950 to 1250 AD.

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Example: This graph shows temperature changes over hundreds of years. The highlighted section shows the Medieval Climate Anomaly, a time when temperatures were warmer than average.

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Extreme Precipitation Noun

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[ik-streem pri-sip-i-tey-shuhn]

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Extreme Precipitation

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Precipitation events that are significantly more intense or last longer than what is typical for a specific location and time.

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Example: This chart shows that the number of extreme precipitation events has been increasing over the last century, especially in recent decades, which is a consequence of climate change.

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Computational weather models Noun

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[kom-pyoo-tey-shuhn-l weth-er mod-ls]

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Computational weather models

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Computer programs using mathematical equations and current atmospheric data to process information and predict future weather conditions.

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Example: Computational models divide the Earth's surface and atmosphere into a 3D grid of boxes to calculate weather and climate conditions in each one.

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Nine-year weighted average Noun

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[nahyn-yeer wey-tid av-er-ij]

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Nine-year weighted average

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A statistical method for smoothing data to show trends, giving more importance to the central year in a nine-year period.

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Example: This graph shows how a nine-year weighted average (smooth lines) reveals the long-term trend of increasing hot days, a consequence of climate change.

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Alpine glaciers Noun

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[al-pahyn gley-shers]

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Alpine glaciers

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Glaciers that form in mountainous areas, serving as a crucial source of freshwater by storing and slowly releasing water.

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Example: This diagram shows different types of glaciers found in mountain regions, such as valley glaciers and cirque glaciers, which are all considered alpine glaciers.

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Groundwater reservoirs Noun

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[ground-waw-ter rez-er-vwahrs]

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Groundwater reservoirs

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Underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock or materials, known as aquifers, that store significant amounts of fresh water.

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Example: This cross-section shows how groundwater is stored in underground layers called aquifers, which are separated by materials like clay and sit on top of bedrock.

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Sea surges Noun

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[see sur-jiz]

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Sea surges

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An abnormal rise in sea level generated by a storm, over and above the predicted astronomical tides, which exacerbates coastal flooding.

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Example: A storm surge is an abnormal rise in sea level during a storm, measured as the height of the water above the normal high tide.

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Sunny-day flooding Noun

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[suhn-ee-dey fluhd-ing]

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Sunny-day flooding

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Coastal flooding during peak monthly high tides, even on days without storms, due to long-term increases in sea level.

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Example: This image shows a coastal street flooded with water under a clear, sunny sky, illustrating how sea-level rise can cause flooding even without a storm.

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Topography Noun

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[tuh-pog-ruh-fee]

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Topography

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The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area, which influences factors like flood susceptibility.

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Example: This topographic map uses color and shading to show the shape and elevation of the land, including mountains, valleys, and low-lying coastal areas.