This definitions covers Key Definitions within Climate Change for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Climate Change in Atmosphere for GCSE Chemistry with 20 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 8 of 17 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
Topic position
Section 8 of 17
Practice
20 questions
Recall
15 flashcards
📖 Key Definitions
Climate change: Long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns. While some climate change is natural, since the mid-20th century human activities have been the main driver.
Global warming: The observed increase in Earth's average surface temperature, primarily caused by the enhanced greenhouse effect from increased greenhouse gas concentrations.
Carbon footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by an individual, organisation, event, or product, measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
Weather: Atmospheric conditions at a specific time and place (temperature, precipitation, wind). Short-term and variable.
Climate: The average weather conditions over a long period (typically 30+ years) for a region. Represents long-term patterns.
Albedo: The reflectivity of a surface. Ice and snow have high albedo (reflect sunlight). Dark ocean water has low albedo (absorbs sunlight). Melting ice reduces albedo, amplifying warming.