Climate Change Dictionary

By: Jerra Furay

Anthropogenic: having to do with man, or caused by
humans.

Emissions: Gases and other substances discharged,

usually into the air.

Fossil fuels: Deposits of organic matter that have been

altered over geologic time (since the Earth's formation)
and can be burned for energy; for example, coal, crude oil
and natural gas.

Greenhouse Effect: the ability of the atmosphere to trap

heat because of the presence of greenhouse gases.

Global Warming: An average increase in the temperature of the

atmosphere.

Greenhouse Gas: a gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by

absorbing infrared radiation.

Mitigation: To moderate or lessen the force or intensity.

Mitigating climate change mostly involves decreasing the
emissions of greenhouse gases to stop or lessen the
greenhouse effect.