Chapter 16: Global Climate Change
Vocabulary Week 1:
1. Greenhouse effect: when gases in the atmosphere keep heat near Earth and
prevent it from radiating into space
2. Greenhouse gas: gases that keep heat in the atmosphere
3. Thermohaline circulation: cooler, saltier water at the poles sink and warmer,
fresher water from the equator moves to take its place
4. El Nino: weakening of equatorial winds making Eastern Pacific Ocean warmer than
usual; changes climatic patterns
5. La Nina: strengthening of equatorial winds making Eastern Pacific Ocean cooler than
usual; changes climatic patterns
6. Topography: describes the surface characteristics of the area
7. Global climate change: a change in global weather patterns; includes temperature,
winds, rainfall and frequency of storms
8. Global warming: an increase in Earth’s average surface temperature
9. Proxy indicator: type of indirect evidence that serves as a substitute for direct
measurement; example – ice core data, tree rings
10. Climate model: programs that combine what is known about the atmosphere and
oceans to simulate climate processes
Chapter 16: Global Climate Change
Vocabulary Week 1:
1. Greenhouse effect: when gases in the atmosphere keep heat near Earth and
prevent it from radiating into space
2. Greenhouse gas: gases that keep heat in the atmosphere
3. Thermohaline circulation: cooler, saltier water at the poles sink and warmer,
fresher water from the equator moves to take its place
4. El Nino: weakening of equatorial winds making Eastern Pacific Ocean warmer than
usual; changes climatic patterns
5. La Nina: strengthening of equatorial winds making Eastern Pacific Ocean cooler than
usual; changes climatic patterns
6. Topography: describes the surface characteristics of the area
7. Global climate change: a change in global weather patterns; includes temperature,
winds, rainfall and frequency of storms
8. Global warming: an increase in Earth’s average surface temperature
9. Proxy indicator: type of indirect evidence that serves as a substitute for direct
measurement; example – ice core data, tree rings
10. Climate model: programs that combine what is known about the atmosphere and
oceans to simulate climate processes
Chapter 16: Global Climate Change
Vocabulary Week 2:
1. Fossil Fuels: main source of extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; coal, petroleum,
and natural gas
2. Coral bleaching: death of algae in corals due to temperature and pH changes
3. Carbon footprint: amount of carbon dioxide emissions for which an individual or
group is responsible
4. Carbon tax: fee that a government charges polluter for each unit of greenhouse gases
they emit
5. Carbon offset: voluntary payment made when one industry or person pays another
group to reduce their carbon footprint such as planting trees
6. Carbon sequestration: consists of ways of storing captured carbon
7. Kyoto Protocol: international agreement that seeks to limit greenhouse gas
emissions
8. Geoid: shape that the surface of the oceans would take under the influence of Earth’s
gravitation and rotation alone, in the absence of other influences such as winds and
tides
9. Permafrost: permanently frozen soil
10. Ice cores: a core sample that is typically removed form an ice sheet; can then be used
to reconstruct a climatic record over the age range of the core using the annual layers
Chapter 16: Global Climate Change
Vocabulary Week 2:
1. Fossil Fuels: main source of extra carbon dioxide in the atmosphere; coal, petroleum,
and natural gas
2. Coral bleaching: death of algae in corals due to temperature and pH changes
3. Carbon footprint: amount of carbon dioxide emissions for which an individual or
group is responsible
4. Carbon tax: fee that a government charges polluter for each unit of greenhouse gases
they emit
5. Carbon offset: voluntary payment made when one industry or person pays another
group to reduce their carbon footprint such as planting trees
6. Carbon sequestration: consists of ways of storing captured carbon
7. Kyoto Protocol: international agreement that seeks to limit greenhouse gas
emissions
8. Geoid: shape that the surface of the oceans would take under the influence of Earth’s
gravitation and rotation alone, in the absence of other influences such as winds and
tides
9. Permafrost: permanently frozen soil
10. Ice cores: a core sample that is typically removed form an ice sheet; can then be used
to reconstruct a climatic record over the age range of the core using the annual layers
Climate Change Learning Targets Week 1:







Describe factors that affect how the sun warms Earth. (pages 484-487)
o Be able to discuss the greenhouse effect.
o Discuss how latitude has an impact on climate due to unequal heating.
o Draw a diagram to show how earth’s revolution creates seasons in temperate climate zones.
o Be able to discuss sunspot cycles and its effect on climate.
Discuss the role of wind patterns in determining climate. (pg. 487)
o Illustrate how winds are created due to unequal heating from the sun.
o Draw a diagram and name the major wind patterns on Earth.
Explain how the oceans affect climate. (pgs. 488-489)
o Create a model to illustrate thermohaline circulation.
o Compare and contrast El Nino and La Nina.
o Discuss how ocean’s absorption of carbon dioxide affects climate.
Describe how climate is affected by topography, volcanoes, regional
vegetation, and periodic changes in Earth’s orbit (pgs. 489-490)
o Topography: Discuss how both temperature and rainfall are affected by the presence of mountains
o Volcanoes: Explain how volcanic activity can be both a warming and cooling effect
o Regional vegetation: Discuss how vegetation can change an area’s albedo as well as precipitation
patterns.
o Changes in Earth’s Orbit: Discuss how Milankovitch cycles effect Earth’s climate.
Identify evidence of global warming. (pgs. 491-492)
o Describe data showing rising temperatures, changes in precipitation, melting land and sea ice, and
rising sea levels.
Explain three methods used to study climate change.(pg.493-495)
o Compare direct measurements to proxy indicators.
o Discuss ice core data, sediment samples and the use of tree rings to study climate change.
o Discuss how climate models are created and used.
State the probable cause of global climate change. (pg. 495-496)
o Illustrate how increases in greenhouse gases correlate to rising temperatures.
o Describe how burning fossil fuels and changes in land use have contributed to climate change.
Climate Change Learning Targets Week 1:







Describe factors that affect how the sun warms Earth. (pages 484-487)
o Be able to discuss the greenhouse effect.
o Discuss how latitude has an impact on climate due to unequal heating.
o Draw a diagram to show how earth’s revolution creates seasons in temperate climate zones.
o Be able to discuss sunspot cycles and its effect on climate.
Discuss the role of wind patterns in determining climate. (pg. 487)
o Illustrate how winds are created due to unequal heating from the sun.
o Draw a diagram and name the major wind patterns on Earth.
Explain how the oceans affect climate. (pgs. 488-489)
o Create a model to illustrate thermohaline circulation.
o Compare and contrast El Nino and La Nina.
o Discuss how ocean’s absorption of carbon dioxide affects climate.
Describe how climate is affected by topography, volcanoes, regional
vegetation, and periodic changes in Earth’s orbit (pgs. 489-490)
o Topography: Discuss how both temperature and rainfall are affected by the presence of mountains
o Volcanoes: Explain how volcanic activity can be both a warming and cooling effect
o Regional vegetation: Discuss how vegetation can change an area’s albedo as well as precipitation
patterns.
o Changes in Earth’s Orbit: Discuss how Milankovitch cycles effect Earth’s climate.
Identify evidence of global warming. (pgs. 491-492)
o Describe data showing rising temperatures, changes in precipitation, melting land and sea ice, and
rising sea levels.
Explain three methods used to study climate change.(pg.493-495)
o Compare direct measurements to proxy indicators.
o Discuss ice core data, sediment samples and the use of tree rings to study climate change.
o Discuss how climate models are created and used.
State the probable cause of global climate change. (pg. 495-496)
o Illustrate how increases in greenhouse gases correlate to rising temperatures.
o Describe how burning fossil fuels and changes in land use have contributed to climate change.
Climate Change Learning Targets Week 2:

State the ways in which the warming atmosphere affects ecosystems

and organisms. (pgs. 497-499)
o Give examples of how climate change has shifted organisms’ habitats and migration times, as well
as prohibited organisms from finding food.
o Be able to describe how warming oceans and ocean acidification has affected shellfish such as
coral.
Explain how climate change is affecting people now. (pg.500)
o Discuss how climate change can be both positive and negative in terms of agriculture and forestry.
o Discuss examples of economic impacts and health effects climate change is having on people.
Predict future effects of climate change on people. (pg.501)
o Argue how climate change can affect people by expanding the range of vectors, flood their
communities and decrease available freshwater.
List ways to reduce greenhouse gases related to use and generation of

electricity. (pg.502-503)
o Compare and contrast how to lower one’s carbon footprint in terms of electrical generation through
mitigation and conservation.
Describe some of the ways of reducing greenhouse gases related to




transportation. (pg.504)
o Discuss new technologies that enable us to use less gasoline, thus lowering our emission.
Describe other strategies for reducing greenhouse gases. (pgs.505-506)
o Compare and contrast cap-and-trade, carbon tax, carbon offsets and carbon sequestration.
Explain how nations are working together to try to address climate
change. (pgs.506-507)
o Discuss the pros and cons of the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol.
o Research the current policy/legislation concerning climate change.
Climate Change Learning Targets Week 2:

State the ways in which the warming atmosphere affects ecosystems

and organisms. (pgs. 497-499)
o Give examples of how climate change has shifted organisms’ habitats and migration times, as well
as prohibited organisms from finding food.
o Be able to describe how warming oceans and ocean acidification has affected shellfish such as
coral.
Explain how climate change is affecting people now. (pg.500)
o Discuss how climate change can be both positive and negative in terms of agriculture and forestry.
o Discuss examples of economic impacts and health effects climate change is having on people.
Predict future effects of climate change on people. (pg.501)
o Argue how climate change can affect people by expanding the range of vectors, flood their
communities and decrease available freshwater.
List ways to reduce greenhouse gases related to use and generation of

electricity. (pg.502-503)
o Compare and contrast how to lower one’s carbon footprint in terms of electrical generation through
mitigation and conservation.
Describe some of the ways of reducing greenhouse gases related to




transportation. (pg.504)
o Discuss new technologies that enable us to use less gasoline, thus lowering our emission.
Describe other strategies for reducing greenhouse gases. (pgs.505-506)
o Compare and contrast cap-and-trade, carbon tax, carbon offsets and carbon sequestration.
Explain how nations are working together to try to address climate
change. (pgs.506-507)
o Discuss the pros and cons of the UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol.
o Research the current policy/legislation concerning climate change.