climate change
Definition
Climate change is a change in the average weather patterns that have come to define Earth's local, regional and global climates. These changes have a broad range of observed effects that are synonymous with the term.
Climate change is caused by human activities that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These gases trap heat, which warms the planet.
The primary greenhouse gases are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.
Human activities that release greenhouse gases include burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture.
The effects of climate change are already being felt around the world, and they are expected to get worse in the future. These effects include rising sea levels, more extreme weather events, changes in plant and animal life, and melting glaciers.
How can the word be used?
A gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
Different forms of the word
Noun:
Singular: climate change.
Plural: climate changes.
Adjective:
Climate-change: relating to climate change.
Verb:
Climate-change: to cause climate change.
Etymology
The word “climate change” is a compound word, which means that it is made up of two separate words: “climate” and “change”. The word “climate” comes from the Latin word “climās”, which means “inclination” or “slope”. The word “change” comes from the Old English word “cēanian”, which means “to alter”.
Question
What can we do about climate change?
AQA Science Exam Question and Answer
Question:
What is climate change, and what are some of the main factors contributing to its occurrence?
Answer:
Climate change refers to the long-term alteration of Earth's climate patterns, including changes in temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events. Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing significantly to climate change. Natural factors, such as volcanic eruptions and solar radiation variations, also influence climate change to a lesser extent. The combination of human-induced and natural factors results in shifts in global and regional climates, impacting ecosystems, weather patterns, and living organisms.