Climate Change and Ecology - Key Concepts Glossary

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Afforestation

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The process of planting new forests on land that was not previously forested to increase carbon sequestration and biodiversity.

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Albedo

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The measure of how much light or radiation is reflected by a surface. Ice and snow have high albedo (reflect sunlight), while dark surfaces have low albedo (absorb heat).

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Anthropogenic

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Caused or produced by human activities. In climate science, refers to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and environmental changes.

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Boreal Forests

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Cold-climate forests found in northern regions (Alaska, Canada, Russia) dominated by coniferous trees. Also called taiga. Important carbon sinks that are vulnerable to climate change.

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Budburst

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The emergence of new leaves or shoots from buds in spring, triggered by increasing temperatures and longer daylight hours.

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Carbon Sequestration

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The capture and long-term storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide through biological processes (photosynthesis, biomass storage) or geological processes (peat formation).

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Carbon Sink

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An ecosystem or reservoir that absorbs and stores more carbon dioxide than it releases, helping to reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels.

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Carbon Source

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An ecosystem or process that releases more carbon dioxide than it absorbs, contributing to increased atmospheric CO₂ levels.

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Coral Bleaching

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The process where corals expel their symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) due to stress, often from increased water temperature, causing corals to turn white and potentially die.

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Competitive Exclusion

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The principle that species competing for the same limited resources cannot coexist indefinitely; one will outcompete and exclude the other.