Climate Systems and Climate Change

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Climate Noun

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[kly-mit]

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Climate

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An area's average weather conditions over a long period, including temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind patterns.

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Example: This diagram shows the greenhouse effect, where solar radiation enters the atmosphere, and greenhouse gases trap some of the heat, warming the Earth's climate.

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Precipitation Noun

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[pri-sip-i-tay-shun]

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Precipitation

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Any form of water, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail, that falls from clouds to the Earth's surface.

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Humidity Noun

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[hyoo-mid-i-tee]

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Humidity

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A measure of the amount of water vapor, the gaseous state of water, that is present in the air.

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Example: This diagram shows that humidity is the amount of water in the air, represented by a scale from low (fewer, empty drops) to high (more, full drops).

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Sunspots Noun

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[sun-spots]

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Sunspots

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Temporary dark spots on the Sun's surface that are cooler than surrounding areas and associated with increased solar energy output.

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Greenhouse Gas Noun

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[green-hows gas]

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Greenhouse Gas

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A gas in the atmosphere, like carbon dioxide, that absorbs and emits radiant energy, trapping heat and warming the planet.

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Example: This diagram shows how greenhouse gases (like CO2 and CH4) in the atmosphere trap heat radiating from Earth, which keeps the planet warm.

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Axial Tilt Noun

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[ak-see-uhl tilt]

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Axial Tilt

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The angle between a planet's rotational axis and its orbital axis, which is the primary cause of its seasons.

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Example: This diagram shows Earth's rotation axis is tilted, which is the imaginary line (in red) that Earth spins around.

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Ice Age Noun

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[ays ayj]

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Ice Age

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A long period of reduced global temperatures, resulting in the expansion of continental and polar ice sheets and glaciers.

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Glacier Noun

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[glay-sher]

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Glacier

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A large, persistent body of dense ice that is constantly moving under its own weight over a land surface.

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Pleistocene Epoch Noun

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[ply-stoh-seen ep-ok]

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Pleistocene Epoch

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The geological epoch lasting from about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago, which was characterized by repeated glaciations.

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Climate Change Noun

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[kly-mit chaynj]

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Climate Change

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A long-term change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth’s local, regional, and global climates.

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Example: Sunlight warms the Earth, but greenhouse gases from sources like factories trap some of this heat in the atmosphere, causing the planet to warm.