Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does equality of opportunity mean?
What does equality of opportunity mean?
Situation where everyone has the same opportunities regardless of their background.
What are anthropogenic emissions?
What are anthropogenic emissions?
Emissions of greenhouse gases caused by human activities.
What is a carbon footprint?
What is a carbon footprint?
The total amount of greenhouse gases produced directly or indirectly by an individual, event, or organization.
What is coastal erosion?
What is coastal erosion?
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What does exposure refer to in the context of climate change?
What does exposure refer to in the context of climate change?
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What are greenhouse gases?
What are greenhouse gases?
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What is continental ice?
What is continental ice?
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What is a glacier?
What is a glacier?
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What is sea level rise?
What is sea level rise?
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What is thermal inertia?
What is thermal inertia?
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What is climate justice?
What is climate justice?
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What is weather?
What is weather?
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What is permafrost?
What is permafrost?
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What are extreme weather events?
What are extreme weather events?
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What is primary production?
What is primary production?
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What is a heat sink?
What is a heat sink?
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What is infrared radiation?
What is infrared radiation?
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What is global warming?
What is global warming?
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What was the Industrial Revolution?
What was the Industrial Revolution?
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What are ecosystem services?
What are ecosystem services?
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What does the climate system encompass?
What does the climate system encompass?
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What is natural variability?
What is natural variability?
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Study Notes
Key Concepts in Climate Change
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Equality of Opportunity: Ensures that individuals have equal access to education, healthcare, and legal rights, regardless of background.
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Anthropogenic Emissions: Refers to greenhouse gases emitted through human actions such as deforestation, fossil fuel combustion, industrial activities, and agricultural practices.
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Carbon Footprint: Represents the total greenhouse gas emissions, measured in carbon dioxide equivalents, linked to an individual, event, or organization.
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Coastal Erosion: Involves the natural removal of coastal materials due to environmental factors like waves and currents, which is intensified by climate change, particularly through sea level rise.
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Exposure: Indicates the vulnerability of populations to climate-related hazards, with low-lying areas at greater risk of sea level rise compared to elevated regions.
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Greenhouse Gases: Comprises gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone that trap heat in the atmosphere, enhancing the greenhouse effect.
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Continental Ice: Refers to permanent ice found on land, including glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost, formed by the accumulation of snow over long periods.
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Glacier: A large mass of ice that moves slowly downhill, driven by its own gravitational force.
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Sea Level Rise: Describes the upward trend in average global sea levels due primarily to the melting of glaciers and ice sheets.
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Thermal Inertia: Measures the rate at which materials change temperature to match their surroundings; higher thermal inertia means slower temperature change.
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Climate Justice: Acknowledges that the impacts of climate change disproportionately affect marginalized communities, necessitating a focus on both social and environmental justice.
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Weather: Defined as the short-term state of the atmosphere, measured by parameters like temperature, precipitation, and wind conditions.
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Permafrost: Refers to ground that has remained at or below freezing for at least two consecutive years, typically located in polar or high-altitude regions.
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Extreme Weather Events: Includes infrequent yet severe weather occurrences such as tornadoes, hurricanes, heatwaves, droughts, and floods, causing significant damage.
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Primary Production: The process by which plants convert inorganic materials like carbon dioxide into organic compounds through photosynthesis, serving as the foundation of food chains.
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Heat Sink: An element, like the ocean, that absorbs heat from warmer bodies, helping to stabilize Earth’s temperature.
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Infrared Radiation: A form of electromagnetic radiation felt as heat which contributes to the greenhouse effect when absorbed by greenhouse gases.
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Global Warming: Refers to the long-term rise in Earth's average temperature due to escalated greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.
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Industrial Revolution: Marked the shift from agrarian to industrial societies in the 18th century, leading to significant advancements and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
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Ecosystem Services: Benefits obtained from natural environments including clean air, water, food production, pollination, and climate regulation.
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Climate System: A dynamic system comprising the atmosphere, oceans, land, and ice influenced by solar energy.
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Natural Variability: Climate fluctuations not caused by human activity, due to natural cycles like El Niño and volcanic eruptions.
Glossary of Key Terms
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CO₂ Absorption: Processes that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, such as ocean absorption and plant incorporation during photosynthesis.
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Carbonic Acid (H₂CO₃): Formed from the dissolution of carbon dioxide in water, contributing to ocean acidification through the chemical reaction CO₂ + H₂O → H₂CO₃.
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Ocean Acidification: Results from the increase in ocean acidity due to CO₂ absorption, leading to higher hydrogen ion concentrations and a decrease in pH.
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Adaptation: Modifying systems and practices to mitigate negative impacts of climate change.
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Description
Test your understanding of essential concepts related to climate change. This quiz covers topics such as anthropogenic emissions, carbon footprint, and the impacts of coastal erosion. Delve into the factors contributing to climate change and assess your knowledge on these pivotal issues.
