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Climate Change
Any long-term, significant change in the weather patterns of an area.
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Smog
A combination of fog and smoke or other atmospheric pollutants which makes the fog thick. It is dangerous to living things and damages lungs.
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Hydrosphere
All the waters on the earth's surface. (Includes Groundwater, snow, ice, and water in the atmosphere)
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Fossil Fuels
Any combustible organic material derived from the remains of former life.
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Greenhouse Effect
Atmospheric heat caused by the trapping of the sun's warmth in the earth's lower atmosphere.
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Heat Wave
An unusual hot weather which tends to stay for an extended period of time.
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Water Cycle
A cycle in which water circulates between the earth's hydrosphere and the atmosphere.
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Tar Sands
Sandstone combined of clay, sand, water, and bitumen which is then refined into oil.
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Anthropogenic
Greek word meaning "man made." Effects, Processes of material that are resulting from human activities.
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Drought
Shortage of water resulting from an abnormally low rainfall through a long time period.
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Carbon Cycle
The process where carbon is exchanged between organisms and the environment.
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Hydraulic Fracturing
When millions of gallons of water, sand, and chemicals are pumped underground to break rock surfaces and release gas. This is dangerous because the waste fluids can pose a threat underground or on earth's surface.
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Anthropogenic Greenhouse Effect
Man made Greenhouse effect. Humans cause greenhouse gassed to be released into the atmosphere, which thickens the atmosphere and traps heat inside the earth.
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Water-borne disease
Diseases that are transmitted through drinking or bathing in water.
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Growing season
A period of the year that has favourable climate conditions for plant growth in a certain area.
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Carbon Sink
A resevoir where chemicals containing carbon are stored. Carbon sinks remove carbon from the atmosphere.
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Albedo
The amount of solar radiation that is reflected back to space from a surface on earth.
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Solar radiation
All the radiation that comes from the sun. There is a wide range of solar radiation (earth's tilt).
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Arable Land
Land that is capable of growing crops. It has a fresh water supply, nutrients in the soil, and suitable climate.
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Greenhouse gasses
A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect. Ex. Carbon dioxide, Methane, etc.
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Convection
The process of a fluid rising and sinking as it gets hotter and cooler.
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Heat Sink
Something that removes heat from the atmosphere
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Drive Clean
Ontario's mandatory vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program which aims to reduce car emissions, reduce fuel consumption and improve people's health.
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Energy Star
A US program which helps save energy from homes and appliances. "Energy Star" Homes and appliances are enviromentaly friendly.
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Community tree planting programs
Program which plants trees in neighbourhoods to help the environment.
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Federal and/or Provincial Rebates for refitting older buildings to be more energy efficient.
Homes program provides grants up to $5 000 to make their old homes more energy efficient.
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
An international organization of scientists who asses and reports on climate change.
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Changes in Glacial and Polar Ice
Glacial Ice: Ice that is or once was a part of a glacier byt has broken off.
Polar Ice: A region of land that is covered in ice.
The changes: They are melting/ breaking apart due to climate change
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Sea Levels
Height of the ocean's surface between high and low tides.
Sea Levels have risen due to melting ice and cause floods.
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Wind Patterns
The patterns of air movement. Can help determine the effects of climate change.
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Tree Rings Analysis
The analysis of tree rings can show the changes in climate.
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Ice Cores Analysis
Ice cores analysis can show records of long term temperature and atmospheric gasses
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Fossil Evidence of Climate Change
Fossils of plants, rocks, etc, can tell about climate change.
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