climate change

certain gases in the atmosphere keep heat near Earth & prevent it from radiating into space

gases involved in keeping heat near Earth

a water movement pattern in which warmer, less salty water moves along the surface of the ocean, and colder, saltier water moves deep beneath the ocean's surface

change in air pressure, wind patterns, ocean temperature, and ocean circulation in the Pacific

describes the surface characteristics of an area; elevation, mountains, rivers, and lakes

measurement of a place's distance from the equator

the side of a mountain that wind passes over

the downwind side of a mountain

change in many climate characteristics; temperature, rainfall, wind patterns, & storm frequency

increase in Earth's average surface temperatures

types of indirect evidence that serve as substitutes for direct measurement

programs that combine what we know about the atmosphere and oceans to simulate climate processes

a fuel that formed a long ago from the remains of living things

algae living within coral dies

amount of carbon dioxide emissions for which an individual or group is responsible

fee that a gov't charges polluters for each unit of greenhouse gases they emit

a voluntary payment made when one industry or person, instead of reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions, pays another group or person to do so

storage; ways to store carbon underground

international agreement that seeks to limit greenhouse gas emissions; binding

gov't puts a limit (cap) on amount of greenhouse gases that can be released by specific industries & power plants