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Climate Change
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| climate change | A long-term change in Earth’s climate patterns, including temperature and precipitation. |
| global warming | The long-term increase in Earth’s average temperature. |
| atmosphere | The layer of gases surrounding Earth. |
| greenhouse effect | The natural process in which gases in the atmosphere trap some heat and keep Earth warm. |
| greenhouse gas | A gas in the atmosphere that absorbs and traps heat. |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) | A greenhouse gas released naturally and by human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels. |
| Methane (CH₄) | A powerful greenhouse gas released from sources such as wetlands, livestock, landfills, and fossil fuel production. |
| fossil fuels | Coal, oil, and natural gas formed from ancient organisms over millions of years. |
| industrial revolution | A period when humans began using machines and burning much larger amounts of fossil fuels. |