Responses to Climate Change

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Greenhouse Gases Noun

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[green-hous gas-iz]

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Greenhouse Gases

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Atmospheric gases that trap heat, such as carbon dioxide and methane, contributing to the warming of the planet.

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Example: This diagram shows how greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide, trap heat in the atmosphere, preventing it from escaping into space and warming the planet.

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Terawatt (TW) Noun

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[ter-uh-wot]

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Terawatt (TW)

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A unit of power equal to one trillion watts, used to measure large-scale energy production or consumption.

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Example: This diagram shows the large amounts of materials, like concrete and steel, needed to produce one terawatt-hour of electricity, a huge unit of energy.

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Fossil Fuels Noun

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[fos-uhl fyoo-uhls]

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Fossil Fuels

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Natural fuels like coal, oil, and gas, formed from the geological past remains of living organisms.

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Example: This diagram shows how fossil fuels like petroleum are formed over millions of years from the buried remains of ancient marine organisms.

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Renewable Sources Noun

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[ri-noo-uh-buhl sor-siz]

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Renewable Sources

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Energy sources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale, including solar, wind, and hydroelectric power.

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Example: This diagram displays five key types of renewable energy sources—biomass, solar, geothermal, wind, and water—which are naturally replenished and used as a response to climate change.

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Hydroelectric Power Noun

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[hy-droh-i-lek-trik pou-er]

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Hydroelectric Power

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Electricity generated by harnessing the energy of moving water, typically by using dams to drive turbines.

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Example: Water stored in an upper reservoir flows through a dam, spinning a turbine to generate electricity, which is then sent to power homes and cities.

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Nuclear Fission Noun

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[noo-klee-er fish-uhn]

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Nuclear Fission

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A nuclear reaction in which the nucleus of an atom splits into smaller parts, releasing a large amount of energy.

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Example: A neutron hits a large atom's nucleus (uranium-235), causing it to split. This releases a lot of heat energy and more neutrons.

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Carbon Tax Noun

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[kar-buhn taks]

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Carbon Tax

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A fee imposed on burning carbon-based fuels, designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making them more expensive.

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Example: This image shows a factory releasing smoke made of money, illustrating that a carbon tax puts a direct financial cost on carbon dioxide pollution.

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Subsidies Noun

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[suhb-si-deez]

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Subsidies

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Financial assistance paid by a government to a business or economic sector to encourage a specific action.

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Example: The image shows a hand, representing the government, giving money (a benefit) to a business, which illustrates the basic concept of a subsidy.

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Solar Panels Noun

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[soh-ler pan-uhls]

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Solar Panels

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Devices that convert light energy from the sun directly into electricity through the photovoltaic effect.

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Example: Sunlight hits solar panels on a roof, converting solar energy into electricity. This electricity can power the house or be sent to the electrical grid.

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Wind Turbines Noun

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[wind tur-bines]

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Wind Turbines

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A device that converts kinetic energy from wind into mechanical energy, which is then used to generate electricity.

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Example: This diagram shows the main parts inside a wind turbine, like the blades, gearbox, and generator, which work together to convert wind's kinetic energy into electricity.