absorption of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases and reradiation of the energy back toward Earth.

change that occurs in the chemical, biological, and physical properties of the planet.

an approach to stabilizing greenhouse gases by removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

an estimate of how much a molecule of any compound can contribute to global warming over a period of 100 years relative to a molecule of CO2.

a process by which some organisms can convert nitrogen gas molecules directly into ammonia

the process by which an increase in ocean CO2 causes more CO2 to be converted to carbonic acid, which lowers the pH of the water.

the warming of the oceans, land masses, and atmosphere of Earth.

changes in the average weather that occurs in an area over a period of years or decades.

derived from human activities

randomness in a system.

a system in which matter and energy exchanges do not occur across boundaries.

the time it takes for one-half of an original radioactive parent atom to decay.

a substance that contributes hydrogen ions to a solution.

a physical law which states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can change from one form to another.

a method of oil and gas extraction that uses high pressure fluids to force open cracks in rocks deep underground

gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that trap heat near the surface

the processes by which life-supporting resources such as clean water, timber, fisheries, and agricultural crops are produced

an area where tectonic plates movetoward one another and collide

the process of one crustal plate passing under another.

a factor that has the same effect on an individual’s probability of survival and the amount of reproduction at any population size

a resource that a population cannot live without and occurs in quantities lower than the population would require to increase in size

the careful and responsible management and care for Earth and its resources.

a tax placed on environmentally harmful activities or emissions in an attempt to internalize some of the externalities that may be involved in the life cycle of those activities or products.

the study of how humans allocate scarce resources in the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.

a strategy for pollution control that involves regulations and enforcement mechanisms.

a worldview that places equal value on all living organisms and the ecosystems in which they live.

the U.S. organization that oversees all governmental efforts related to the environment, including science, research, assessment, and education.

an approach to controlling CO2 emissions, where a cap places an upper limit on the amount of pollutant that can be emitted and trade allows companies to buy and sell allowances for a given amount of pollution.

a measurement index that combines three basic measures of human status; life expectancy; knowledge and education.

the practice of assigning monetary value to intangible benefits and natural capital.

the resources of the planet, such as air, water, and minerals.

a global institution dedicated to promoting dialogue among countries with the goal of maintaining world peace.

a measure of economic status that includes personal consumption, income distribution, levels of higher education, resource depletion, pollution, and health of the population.

methods of promoting global CO2 reduction that do not involve a direct reduction in the amount of CO2 actually emitted by a company.

the status of being healthy, happy, and prosperous.

a strategy for pollution control that constructs financial and other incentives for lowering emissions based on profits and benefits.

all goods and services that humans produce.

the phenomenon of less developed counties using new technology without first using the precursor technology.

an international agreement that sets a goal for global emissions of greenhouse gases from all industrialized countries to be reduced by 5.2 percent below their 1990 levels by 2012.

change that occurs in the chemical, biological, and physical properties of the planet.

an approach to stabilizing greenhouse gases by removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

a form of soil degradation that occurs when the small amount of salts in irrigation water becomes highly concentrated on the soil surface through evaporation.

an estimate of how much a molecule of any compound can contribute to global warming over a period of 100 years relative to a molecule of CO2.

a process by which some organisms can convert nitrogen gas molecules directly into ammonia

derived from human activities

the processes by which life-supporting resources such as clean water, timber, fisheries, and agricultural crops are produced

the process of one crustal plate passing under another.

a factor that has the same effect on an individual’s probability of survival and the amount of reproduction at any population size

a resource that a population cannot live without and occurs in quantities lower than the population would require to increase in size