VOCAB: DO YOU KNOW WHAT THESE WORDS

MEAN?By Kathryn Boit

GLOBAL WARMING an increase in the earth's atmospheric

and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution

GREENHOUSE GASES Any of the atmospheric gases that contribute

to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation produced by solar warming of the Earth's surface. They include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (NO2), and water vapor. Although greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, the elevated levels especially of carbon dioxide and methane that have been observed in recent decades are directly related, at least in part, to human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and the deforestation of tropical forests.

CLIMATE ZONES  any of the geographical zones loosely

divided according to prevailing climate and latitude.

GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The trapping of the sun's warmth in a planet's lower atmosphere due to the greater transparency of the atmosphere to visible radiation from the sun than to infrared radiation emitted from the planet's surface

CLIMATE CHANGE

a long-term change in the earth’s climate especially a change due to an increase in the average atmospheric temperature

CARBON DIOXIDE A colorless, odorless gas produced by

burning carbon and organic compounds and by respiration. It is naturally present in air (about 0.03 percent) and is absorbed by plants in photosynthesis

METHANE A colorless, odorless flammable gas that

is the main constituent of natural gas.

DEFORESTATION The removal of trees

RECYCLING To convert waste into reusable material

WIND POWER With the use of wind mills, wind is

converted into energy

ENVIRONMENT The surroundings or conditions in which a

person, animal, or plant lives or operates