Light

Global Climate Change

Definition

Global climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature, precipitation patterns, and other aspects of the Earth's climate system. It is primarily driven by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Analogy

Imagine global climate change as a giant puzzle. Each piece represents a different aspect of the Earth's climate system—temperature, rainfall, sea level—and how they are interconnected. Human activities like burning fossil fuels or cutting down forests are like adding extra pieces that disrupt the puzzle and cause changes to occur.

Related terms

Greenhouse Effect: The greenhouse effect is when certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat from the sun, leading to an overall increase in temperature on Earth.

Mitigation Strategies: Mitigation strategies refer to actions taken to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the impacts of global climate change.

Adaptation Measures: Adaptation measures are steps taken to adjust or modify systems (such as infrastructure or agriculture) in response to changing climatic conditions caused by global climate change.