Causes and Effects of Global Change

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Fossil Fuels Noun

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[fos-uhl fyools]

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Fossil Fuels

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Combustible materials like coal, oil, and natural gas, formed from the carbon-rich remains of ancient organisms over millions of years.

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Example: This diagram shows how fossil fuels like petroleum form over millions of years from the remains of ancient marine organisms buried under layers of sediment.

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Greenhouse Gases Noun

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[green-hous gas-iz]

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Greenhouse Gases

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Atmospheric gases, like carbon dioxide and methane, that absorb and emit radiant energy, trapping heat and warming the planet's surface.

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Example: Greenhouse gases like CO₂ trap heat from the sun in the atmosphere, which warms the Earth, similar to how a greenhouse stays warm.

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Greenhouse Effect Noun

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[green-hous uh-fekt]

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Greenhouse Effect

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The natural process where certain atmospheric gases trap heat from the sun, which maintains a warm temperature on Earth's surface.

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Example: Sunlight warms the Earth's surface. The surface radiates heat, which is then trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, warming the planet.

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Global Warming Noun

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[gloh-buhl wor-ming]

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Global Warming

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The long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities that release heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

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Example: This diagram shows how incoming solar radiation warms the Earth, while greenhouse gases in the atmosphere trap outgoing heat, causing a warming effect.

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Climate Change Noun

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[kly-mit cheynj]

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Climate Change

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Measurable long-term shifts in global or regional climate patterns, including changes in temperature, precipitation, and wind patterns over decades.

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Example: Industrial factories release carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment. This CO2 is absorbed by the ocean, contributing to global changes like ocean acidification.

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Ocean Acidification Noun

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[oh-shuhn uh-sid-i-fi-kay-shuhn]

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Ocean Acidification

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The ongoing decrease in the pH of Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide from human activities.

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Example: Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) from sources like factories is absorbed by the ocean, creating carbonic acid, which lowers the water's pH and harms marine life.

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Acid Rain Noun

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[as-id reyn]

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Acid Rain

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Rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic from atmospheric pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

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Example: Pollutants from factories (SO2, NO2) mix with water in clouds, forming acids that fall back to Earth as acid rain.

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Ozone Layer Noun

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[oh-zohn ley-er]

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Ozone Layer

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A protective layer in Earth's stratosphere containing a high concentration of ozone that absorbs most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation.

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Example: This diagram shows the ozone layer surrounding Earth, acting as a shield that blocks most of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

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Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) Noun

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[klor-oh-floor-oh-kar-buhns]

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Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)

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A group of synthetic organic compounds that contribute to the destruction of the ozone layer in the upper atmosphere.

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Example: This graph and series of images show how the ozone layer was damaged over time, creating a 'hole' (blue area), and how it is now slowly recovering.

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Smog Noun

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[smog]

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Smog

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A type of air pollution, a visible haze formed by chemical reactions between sunlight and pollutants from industrial and vehicle emissions.

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Example: Pollutants from sources like cars and factories (primary pollutants) react with sunlight in the atmosphere to create different, harmful pollutants (secondary pollutants), forming photochemical smog.