climate change
Global temperature shift
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns.
While natural factors cause some variation, the term now typically describes human-caused warming since the Industrial Revolution, driven largely by burning fossil fuels.
Climate change is accelerating ice melt in the Arctic.
The phrase has largely replaced "global warming" in public discourse, capturing broader effects beyond rising temperatures—altered precipitation, extreme weather events, and ecosystem disruption.
Increasing ocean surface height
- glacier retreatShrinking of frozen masses
- permafrost thawPermanently frozen soil melting
- coral bleachingStress-induced reef discoloration
- ocean acidificationSeawater pH dropping from CO2
biodiversity loss · habitat loss · species extinction · desertification · drought · flooding · crop failure · food insecurity
Prolonged abnormally high temperatures
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
- floodOverwhelming water overflow
- hurricaneViolent tropical windstorm
- typhoonWestern Pacific hurricane
wildfire · cyclone · tornado · storm surge · monsoon · blizzard · landslide · ice storm
Emissions that trap heat
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- CO2Carbon dioxide formula
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
- fossil fuelsCombustible prehistoric organic deposits
emissions · combustion · deforestation · industrialization · carbon footprint · carbon cycle · overpopulation · urbanization
Self-replenishing natural power
- solarOf the star
- windAir current outdoors
- carbon captureCollecting and storing emissions
- sequestrationAct of setting apart
decarbonization · energy transition · conservation · reforestation · afforestation · carbon sink · recycling · electric vehicles
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- divestmentDisposal of assets
- youth movementOrganized effort by adolescents
- advocacyPleading for a cause
awareness · denial · skepticism · greenwashing · ecocide · indigenous rights · environmental justice
Measured heat intensity
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- greenhouse effectAtmospheric heat retention mechanism
- IPCCUN climate science authority
- paleoclimatePast geological climate conditions
ice cores · attribution · tipping points · anomaly · baseline · preindustrial · scenarios · projections
sea level rise
Increasing ocean surface height
- glacier retreatShrinking of frozen masses
- permafrost thawPermanently frozen soil melting
- coral bleachingStress-induced reef discoloration
ocean acidification · biodiversity loss · habitat loss · species extinction · desertification · drought · flooding · crop failure · food insecurity · water scarcity
heatwave
Prolonged abnormally high temperatures
typhoon · wildfire · cyclone · tornado · storm surge · monsoon · blizzard · landslide · ice storm · thunderstorm
greenhouse gases
Emissions that trap heat
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- CO2Carbon dioxide formula
- methaneSimplest alkane fuel
fossil fuels · emissions · combustion · deforestation · industrialization · carbon footprint · carbon cycle · overpopulation · urbanization · agriculture
renewable energy
Self-replenishing natural power
- solarOf the star
- windAir current outdoors
- carbon captureCollecting and storing emissions
sequestration · decarbonization · energy transition · conservation · reforestation · afforestation · carbon sink · recycling · electric vehicles · nuclear
Greta Thunberg
- protestPublic expression of disapproval
- divestmentDisposal of assets
- youth movementOrganized effort by adolescents
advocacy · awareness · denial · skepticism · greenwashing · ecocide · indigenous rights · environmental justice
temperature
Measured heat intensity
- warmingIncreasing in temperature
- greenhouse effectAtmospheric heat retention mechanism
- IPCCUN climate science authority
paleoclimate · ice cores · attribution · tipping points · anomaly · baseline · preindustrial · scenarios · projections · uncertainty
- environmentair pollution, ecology, clean air, biosphere, air quality
- globalworldwide, global, international, universal, planetary
- climateweather, global warming, temperature, greenhouse effect, greenhouse gas
- Climate Changeglobal warming, greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, CO2, carbon emissions
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, geology, volcano, crust
- ecologyhabitat, ecosystem, balance, niche, food webs