"Climate change has adversely affected terrestrial ecosystems, including tundras..."
The interplay between plate tectonics, ocean currents, and atmospheric circulation that can affect global climate over geologic time frames.
Continental Drift Theory: The idea that the continents have moved over geological time due to plate tectonics.
Plate Tectonics Theory: The theory that the Earth's lithosphere is made up of plates that move and interact with each other.
Divergent Boundaries: The boundaries where plates move apart.
Convergent Boundaries: The boundaries where plates move towards each other.
Transform Boundaries: The boundaries where plates slide past each other.
Tectonic Plates: The pieces that make up the Earth's lithosphere that move and cause geological activity.
Volcanoes: An opening in the Earth's surface where molten rock, ash, and gas can escape.
Earthquakes: A sudden, violent shaking of the Earth's surface.
Oceanic Trenches: A long, narrow, and deep depression in the ocean floor.
Mid-Ocean Ridges: A long chain of mountains located in the middle of the ocean.
Seafloor Spreading: The process by which new oceanic lithosphere is created at mid-ocean ridges.
Subduction Zones: The zones where two tectonic plates meet and one plate is forced underneath the other into the mantle.
Paleomagnetism: The study of ancient magnetic fields recorded in rocks, which can provide evidence for plate movement.
Climate Belts: The different climate zones determined by latitude and the amount of solar energy received.
Greenhouse Effect: The process by which greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, leading to increased temperatures.
Global Warming: The observed increase in the Earth's temperature caused by human activities that release greenhouse gases, such as burning fossil fuels.
Climate Feedbacks: The mechanisms by which changes in temperature can lead to further changes in the climate system.
Climate Models: Computer simulations that try to predict the future climate based on current data and understanding of climate processes.
Carbon Cycle: The cycle of carbon between the atmosphere, oceans, land, and living organisms, which plays a key role in climate change.
Divergent plates: This occurs when two plates move away from each other, creating a gap or rift between them.
Convergent plates: This happens when two plates move towards each other and collide, resulting in the formation of mountains or ocean trenches.
Transform plates: This occurs when two plates slide past each other horizontally, creating a fault line at the boundary.
Natural Climate Change: This involves changes in Earth's climate caused by natural factors such as variations in solar radiation, Earth's orbit, and volcanic activity.
Anthropogenic Climate Change: This is the type that's primarily caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture. This has resulted in an increase in greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide (CO2), which has led to global warming, melting of glaciers, rise in sea levels and other disastrous effects.
"Climate change has adversely affected... marine ecosystems, including... coral reefs..."
"Increasing global temperature, more frequent occurrence of extreme weather, and rising sea level are examples of the most impactful effects of climate change."
"Possible consequences of these effects include species decline and extinction and overall significant loss of biodiversity, change within ecosystems, increased prevalence of invasive species..."
"Possible consequences of these effects include species decline and extinction..."
"Forests converting from carbon sinks to carbon sources..."
"Disruption of the water cycle..."
"Ocean acidification..."
"Increased occurrence and severity of natural disasters like wildfires and flooding..."
"Lasting effects on species adaptation."
"Climate change has adversely affected tundras, mangroves, coral reefs, and caves."
"Rising sea level is an example of the most impactful effects of climate change."
"Possible consequences of these effects include... overall significant loss of biodiversity..."
"Possible consequences of these effects include... increased prevalence of invasive species..."
"Loss of habitats..."
"Climate change has adversely affected... coral reefs..."
"Increased occurrence and severity of natural disasters like wildfires..."
"Climate change has adversely affected terrestrial ecosystems, including tundras..."
"Forests converting from carbon sinks to carbon sources..."
"Lasting effects on species adaptation."