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Sofia Colon EES 3.4
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Heat Absorption | The process by which a material takes in heat energy from its surroundings. Darker surfaces usually absorb more heat than lighter surfaces. |
| Heat Retention | The ability of a substance or surface to store heat and release it slowly over time. Water has high heat retention compared to land. |
| Solar Radiation | Energy emitted by the Sun in the form of light and heat that travels through space and reaches Earth. |
| Thermal Energy | The total kinetic energy of particles in a substance; the faster the particles move, the higher the thermal energy. |
| Climate Impact | Long-term changes or effects on Earth’s climate system caused by natural processes or human activities. |
| Weather Patterns | Repeating or predictable weather conditions (like temperature, precipitation, and wind) in a region over time. |
| Land Cover | The physical materials on Earth’s surface, such as forests, grasslands, water, ice, deserts, and urban areas, which affect heat absorption and reflection. |
| Oxygen (O₂) | A gas that makes up about 21% of Earth’s atmosphere and is essential for most living organisms to breathe. |
| Nitrogen (N₂) | A stable gas that makes up about 78% of Earth’s atmosphere and plays a key role in the nitrogen cycle. |
| Greenhouse Gases | Gases in the atmosphere that trap heat by absorbing infrared radiation, helping keep Earth warm. Examples include CO₂, CH₄, and H₂O. |
| Albedo Effect | The measure of how much sunlight a surface reflects. High albedo surfaces (like ice and snow) reflect more energy, while low albedo surfaces (like asphalt) absorb more. |
| Land vs. Water | Land heats up and cools down quickly, while water heats and cools slowly due to its high heat capacity, affecting climate and weather patterns. |
| Urban Heat Island | A phenomenon where cities are warmer than nearby rural areas because buildings, roads, and pavement absorb and retain heat. |
| Surface | The outermost layer of Earth where interactions between land, water, and air occur. |
| Troposphere | The lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere where weather occurs and where most greenhouse gases are found. |
| Uneven Heating | The unequal distribution of solar energy across Earth due to its curved shape, tilt, and varying land and water surfaces. |
| Atmosphere | The layer of gases surrounding Earth that protects life and regulates temperature. |
| Energy In | The incoming solar radiation Earth receives from the Sun. |
| Energy Out | The infrared radiation Earth emits back into space after absorbing solar energy. |
| Sun | The star at the center of our solar system that provides the energy necessary for weather, climate, and life on Earth. |
| Earth | The third planet from the Sun that absorbs, reflects, and radiates energy, maintaining a balance that supports life. |
| Reflects | When energy, such as sunlight, bounces off a surface instead of being absorbed. |
| Absorbs | When a material takes in energy, increasing its temperature. |
| Circulation | The large-scale movement of air in the atmosphere and water in the oceans that redistributes heat around the planet. |
| Ice Core | A cylindrical sample drilled from glaciers or ice sheets that contains trapped air bubbles, providing evidence of past climates and greenhouse gas levels. |
| Geologic Sample | Rock, sediment, or fossil evidence used to study Earth’s past environments and climate changes. |
| Water Vapor (H₂O) | The gaseous form of water and the most abundant greenhouse gas, which increases as temperatures rise. |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) | A greenhouse gas released naturally and through human activities like burning fossil fuels; it plays a major role in global warming. |
| Methane (CH₄) | A powerful greenhouse gas released from livestock, wetlands, fossil fuel production, and landfills; it traps more heat than CO₂ over short periods. |
| Nitrous Oxide (N₂O) | A greenhouse gas produced by agricultural fertilizers, industrial processes, and combustion; it contributes to warming and ozone depletion. |
| Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) | Man-made gases used in refrigeration and aerosols that damage the ozone layer and act as greenhouse gases. |
| Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) | Man-made gases used as replacements for CFCs and HCFCs; they do not harm the ozone layer but are strong greenhouse gases. |
| Ozone (O₃) | A gas made of three oxygen atoms; in the stratosphere it protects Earth from harmful UV radiation, but at ground level it is a pollutant. |
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