The Cryosphere
This term describes the percentage of incoming solar radiation reflected by a surface, which is very high for fresh snow and very low for dark colors such as ocean water.
Albedo
This is the three-letter acronym for the complex computer simulations used to project future climate states by solving physical equations.
GCMs (Global circulation models or global climate models)
This phenomenon occurs when stressed corals expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, often due to warming waters and turn a lighter color.
Coral bleaching
Saline (salty) water does this in the water column or ocean.
Sinks
This term describes the goal of balancing the amount of greenhouse gas produced with the amount removed from the atmosphere. Several countries have pledged to reach this level.
Net zero
The melting of these two massive ice sheets (one in the Northern Hemisphere and one in the Southern Hemisphere) are the primary contributors to global sea-level rise.
Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets
The layer of Earth's atmosphere which contains the ozone layer. Commercial jets fly in the lower portion of this layer.
Stratosphere
To escape warming temperatures, many species are observed shifting their ranges in these two directions (geographically and topographically).
Upslope and poleward
This "Great Ocean Conveyor Belt" process is driven by differences in water temperature and salinity.
Thermohaline Circulation
This technology involves capturing CO2 at the source (like a power plant) and pumping it underground for long-term storage.
Carbon sequestration
This permanently frozen ground in the Arctic contains vast amounts of stored organic carbon that is released as methane or CO2 when it thaws.
Permafrost
The layer of the atmosphere where we live.
Troposphere
The study of ancient plants is called this.
Paleobotany
This term describes a region of the ocean with such low oxygen levels that most marine life cannot survive, often worsened by warming and nutrient runoff.
Dead zone
This policy approach places a direct fee on every ton of greenhouse gas emissions, encouraging countries to switch to cleaner energy sources to save money. Countries often trade this.
Carbon tax
The process whereby glaciers melt and drop into the ocean below.
Calving
As ocean acidity increases, the concentration of this specific ion decreases, making it impossible for organisms like oysters to build their protective structures. It is also the primary ion in limestone.
Carbonates or carbonate ions
This concept describes the maximum level of warming a species or ecosystem can endure before it crosses a an irreversible state.
Tipping point
Fresh and warm water does this in the ocean water column.
Floats upwards
Mitigation efforts often focus on "decarbonizing" the electrical grid by replacing coal and natural gas with these two (2) altrnative energy sources.
Solar and wind power
These are studied within glacial ice to determine ancient climates.
Air bubbles
To account for uncertainty, scientists run these "groups" of models many times with slightly different starting conditions.
Ensembles
As climates warm, these types of species, which are not native to an ecosystem, often find it easier to move in, survive, and outcompete local wildlife for resources.
Invasive species
The process by which ocean water becomes less alkaline (e.g., less basic) as it absorbs CO2.
Oceanic acidification
Low-carbon electricity generation with the movement of water alone.
Hydroelectric power