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| A measure of the reflectivity of a surface. More reflective surfaces have higher albedos |
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| Something made or caused by human activities. Anthropo = human, genic = made by. |
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| Chlorofluorocarbons are pollutants that cause ozone depletion and contribute to global climate change |
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| An organism that gains its metabolic energy using energy from chemical reactions eg nitrifying bacteria in the nitrogen cycle and sulphur bacteria around volcanic vents. |
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| A combination of active processes that cancel out each other's effects so that there is no overall change. |
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| The name given to the reversal of the equatorial Pacific Ocean current that normally flows westwards. This causes changes to the weather locally and globally. |
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| Electromagnetic radiation |
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Definition
| Energy in the form of energy waves with a range of frequencies eg infrared radiation, visible light, ultra violet light,. |
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| The range of different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation types, including X rays, gamma rays, UV light, visible light and infra red radiation. |
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| Enhanced greenhouse effect |
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Definition
| An alternative name for global climate change where the natural greenhouse effect is increased by the increased concentration of gases in the troposphere that absorb infrared radiation. |
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| The various changes to the climate caused by increased energy being retained in the atmosphere as a result of human activities |
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| The natural processes by which atmospheric gases allow visible light to pass through but absorb infrared energy, causing heating. |
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| Hydrochlorofluorocarbons. A group of chemicals used to replace CFCs. |
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| Hydrofluorocarbons. A group of chemicals used to replace CFCs |
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| The process by which surface water enters the ground, flowing between the particles of soil or rock. |
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| Long wavelength electromagnetic radiation emitted by warm objects. |
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| The international agreement intended to control emissions of greenhouse gases. |
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| The name given to the strengthening of the westward flowing equatorial Pacific Ocean current. |
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| Less Economically Developed Country |
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| More Economically Developed Country |
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| International agreement that has controlled the release of ozone-depleting substances |
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| Negative feedback mechanism |
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Definition
| A situation where an initial change causes a reaction that reduces the original change. |
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| The release of energy during the joining of the nuclei of small atoms such as hydrogen. |
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| Positive feedback mechanism |
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Definition
| A situation where an initial change causes a reaction that increases the original change. |
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| The layer of the atmosphere in which UV is absorbed by the ozone layer. It is above the troposphere at an altitude of approximately 10 to 50km. |
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| The layer of the atmosphere below the stratosphere, from ground level to about 10km. |
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| Ozone in the troposphere, largely produced by human activities. |
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| High energy electromagnetic radiation including the short wavelength radiation emitted by the sun. Its energy can cause chemical reactions to take place, such as in the ozone layer or sunburn and DNA damage. |
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