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Climate Change

Definition

Climate change refers to significant changes in global temperatures and weather patterns over time. It's largely caused by human activities such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation.

Analogy

Imagine climate change as slowly turning up the heat while cooking popcorn. At first, nothing happens but eventually it gets too hot causing the kernels (our planet) to pop (extreme weather events).

Related terms

Greenhouse Effect: The trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface.

Deforestation: The removal or clearing of forests, often resulting in damage to the quality of land.

Sustainability: Meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

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Practice Questions (19)

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.