climate change
Definition
Climate change encompasses the significant alterations in global temperatures and weather patterns over time. While some variability is natural, human activities have accelerated these changes, particularly through the emission of greenhouse gases.
Analogy
Climate change is like adjusting the thermostat of a house too far; just as cranking up a thermostat can make a house uncomfortably hot or cold, human activities are throwing off the Earth's natural climate balance, leading to extreme weather conditions and temperature shifts.
Related terms
Greenhouse Gases: Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the warming of Earth's surface.
Global Warming: The increase in Earth’s average surface temperature due to rising levels of greenhouse gases.
Carbon Footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)
Are you a college student?
Study guides for the entire semester
200k practice questions
Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab
Resources
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.