Glossary
Agricultural fertilizers
Substances added to soil to improve plant growth, often containing nitrogen compounds that can lead to nitrous oxide emissions.
Example:
Excessive use of synthetic agricultural fertilizers can lead to runoff pollution and increased nitrous oxide emissions.
Agriculture
The practice of farming, including crop cultivation and livestock raising, which is a major anthropogenic source of methane and nitrous oxide.
Example:
Sustainable agriculture practices aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from farming activities.
Animal digestion
The natural process in the digestive systems of certain animals, particularly ruminants like cattle, that produces methane.
Example:
The methane released from animal digestion in large livestock operations is a notable contributor to agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.
Burning fossil fuels
An anthropogenic process involving the combustion of coal, oil, and natural gas for energy, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide.
Example:
Power plants that generate electricity by burning fossil fuels are a primary source of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
A naturally occurring greenhouse gas, also released by human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, serving as the baseline for GWP.
Example:
The burning of gasoline in cars releases large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.
Cellular respiration
A natural biological process where organisms convert glucose and oxygen into energy, releasing carbon dioxide and water vapor as byproducts.
Example:
When you exhale, you are releasing carbon dioxide produced during cellular respiration in your body.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Synthetic greenhouse gases formerly used in refrigerants and aerosols, known for their extremely high GWP and role in ozone depletion.
Example:
The phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) under the Montreal Protocol was a major step in protecting both the ozone layer and the climate.
Decomposition of organic matter
The natural process by which dead organisms and waste products are broken down by decomposers, releasing carbon dioxide and methane.
Example:
The smell of a compost pile is often a sign of active decomposition of organic matter, which releases gases like methane.
Deforestation
The clearing of forests for other land uses, which reduces carbon sequestration and releases stored carbon into the atmosphere.
Example:
Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest contributes to climate change by removing trees that absorb carbon dioxide.
Enhanced greenhouse effect
The intensification of the natural greenhouse effect due to increased concentrations of greenhouse gases from human activities, leading to global warming.
Example:
The rapid increase in global temperatures over the past century is primarily attributed to the enhanced greenhouse effect caused by human emissions.
Evaporation
The natural process by which liquid water changes into water vapor and enters the atmosphere.
Example:
After a rain shower, puddles disappear due to evaporation as water turns into vapor.
Foam-blowing agents
Chemicals used to create bubbles in the production of foams, such as insulation or packaging, historically including CFCs.
Example:
The production of rigid insulation boards once relied on foam-blowing agents that released CFCs into the atmosphere.
Fossil fuel extraction
The process of removing coal, oil, and natural gas from the Earth, which can lead to the leakage of methane into the atmosphere.
Example:
Natural gas leaks during fossil fuel extraction and transport contribute to atmospheric methane concentrations.
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
A measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific time period (usually 100 years) relative to carbon dioxide.
Example:
Methane has a higher Global Warming Potential than carbon dioxide, meaning a smaller amount of methane can trap significantly more heat.
Greenhouse effect
A natural process where certain gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat, keeping the planet warm enough to support life.
Example:
Without the greenhouse effect, Earth would be a frozen planet, much like Mars, unable to sustain liquid water or complex ecosystems.
Greenhouse gases
Gases in Earth's atmosphere that absorb and re-emit infrared radiation, trapping heat and warming the planet.
Example:
Carbon dioxide and methane are key greenhouse gases that contribute to Earth's atmospheric warming.
Industrial processes
Human activities in manufacturing and production that can release various greenhouse gases, such as cement production releasing CO2.
Example:
The production of steel and cement are examples of industrial processes that are significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Infrared radiation
A type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light, often perceived as heat, re-emitted by Earth's surface after absorbing solar energy.
Example:
A thermal camera detects infrared radiation to show heat signatures, even in complete darkness.
Land use changes
Alterations to the natural and semi-natural environment, such as urbanization or conversion of forests to agriculture, impacting greenhouse gas emissions.
Example:
Converting grasslands into urban areas represents a land use change that can affect local temperatures and carbon cycling.
Landfills
Sites for the disposal of waste materials, where anaerobic decomposition of organic waste produces significant amounts of methane.
Example:
Many modern landfills capture the methane gas produced to generate electricity, reducing its release into the atmosphere.
Lightning
A natural electrical discharge during thunderstorms that can produce small amounts of nitrous oxide.
Example:
The intense energy of a lightning strike can cause nitrogen and oxygen in the air to combine, forming nitrous oxide.
Methane (CH4)
A potent greenhouse gas produced naturally in wetlands and animal digestion, and anthropogenically from landfills and agriculture.
Example:
Cattle farming is a significant source of methane (CH4) emissions due to the digestive processes of livestock.
Montreal Protocol
An international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances responsible for ozone depletion, including CFCs.
Example:
The success of the Montreal Protocol demonstrates how international cooperation can effectively address global environmental problems.
Nitrous oxide (N2O)
A powerful greenhouse gas produced naturally by soil decomposition and anthropogenically from agricultural fertilizers and industrial processes.
Example:
The overuse of synthetic fertilizers in agriculture can lead to increased emissions of nitrous oxide (N2O).
Refrigerants
Chemical compounds used in cooling systems, historically including CFCs and HCFCs, which are potent greenhouse gases if released.
Example:
Older air conditioning units often contained refrigerants like CFCs that are now banned due to their environmental impact.
Soil decomposition
The breakdown of organic matter in soil by microorganisms, which can release nitrous oxide, especially under certain conditions.
Example:
Healthy soil decomposition is vital for nutrient cycling, but can also be a natural source of nitrous oxide.
Solvents
Substances, often liquids, used to dissolve other substances, some of which historically contained CFCs.
Example:
Certain industrial cleaning processes once used solvents containing CFCs, contributing to atmospheric pollution.
Thermal retention property
The ability of a substance, particularly a gas, to absorb and hold heat energy.
Example:
The high thermal retention property of water vapor makes it a significant contributor to the natural greenhouse effect.
Transpiration
The process by which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves.
Example:
Forests contribute significantly to atmospheric humidity through the collective transpiration of millions of trees.
Ultraviolet radiation
A type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths shorter than visible light, also emitted by the sun.
Example:
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause sunburn and skin damage.
Visible light
A form of electromagnetic radiation that is visible to the human eye, emitted by the sun.
Example:
When sunlight streams through a window, you are seeing visible light that has traveled from the sun to Earth.
Volcanic eruptions
Natural geological events that release large quantities of gases, including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and water vapor, into the atmosphere.
Example:
Major volcanic eruptions can temporarily alter global climate patterns by releasing aerosols and greenhouse gases.
Water vapor (H2O)
The most abundant natural greenhouse gas, formed through evaporation and transpiration, but with a short atmospheric residence time.
Example:
The humidity you feel on a hot, muggy day is due to high concentrations of water vapor (H2O) in the air.
Wetlands
Areas of land saturated with water, such as swamps and marshes, which are natural sources of methane due to anaerobic decomposition.
Example:
Rice paddies, which are a type of artificial wetland, can release significant amounts of methane.
Wildfires
Uncontrolled fires that burn in wildland areas, releasing large amounts of carbon dioxide, methane, and other gases into the atmosphere.
Example:
Intense wildfires in California can release millions of tons of carbon dioxide, impacting air quality and climate.