It is emitted directly into the atmosphere in the form of fine particles (PM 2.5).Īny exploratory hole drilled into the Earth or ice to gather geophysical data. īlack carbon (BC) is the most strongly light-absorbing component of particulate matter (PM), and is formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, biofuels, and biomass. The part of the Earth system comprising all ecosystems and living organisms, in the atmosphere, on land (terrestrial biosphere) or in the oceans (marine biosphere), including derived dead organic matter, such as litter, soil organic matter and oceanic detritus. Materials that are biological in origin, including organic material (both living and dead) from above and below ground, for example, trees, crops, grasses, tree litter, roots, and animals and animal waste. Movements through the Earth system of key chemical constituents essential to life, such as carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and phosphorus. Includes wood, wood waste, wood liquors, peat, railroad ties, wood sludge, spent sulfite liquors, agricultural waste, straw, tires, fish oils, tall oil, sludge waste, waste alcohol, municipal solid waste, landfill gases, other waste, and ethanol blended into motor gasoline. Gas or liquid fuel made from plant material. (Some compounds, most notably carbon dioxide, have more complex lifecycles, and their atmospheric lifetimes are not defined by a simple exponential equation.) Greenhouse gas lifetimes can range from a few years to a few thousand years.Ī - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z - # This fraction will continue to decrease in an exponential way, so that about 15 percent of the quantity will remain at the end of two times the atmospheric lifetime, etc. In general, if a quantity of a compound is emitted into the atmosphere at a particular time, about 35 percent of that quantity will remain in the atmosphere at the end of the compound's atmospheric lifetime. Ītmospheric lifetime is the average time that a molecule resides in the atmosphere before it is removed by chemical reaction or deposition. The atmosphere also contains clouds and aerosols. In addition the atmosphere contains water vapor, whose amount is highly variable but typically 1% volume mixing ratio. The dry atmosphere consists almost entirely of nitrogen (78.1% volume mixing ratio) and oxygen (20.9% volume mixing ratio), together with a number of trace gases, such as argon (0.93% volume mixing ratio), helium, radiatively active greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (0.035% volume mixing ratio), and ozone. The gaseous envelope surrounding the Earth. Usually used in the context of emissions that are produced as a result of human activities. Made by people or resulting from human activities. Under Articles 4.2 (a) and 4.2 (b) of the Convention, Annex I countries commit themselves specifically to the aim of returning individually or jointly to their 1990 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2000. By default, the other countries are referred to as Non-Annex I countries. Group of countries included in Annex I (as amended in 1998) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including all the developed countries in the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development, and economies in transition. The amount of solar radiation reflected from an object or surface, often expressed as a percentage.Įnergy derived from nontraditional sources (e.g., compressed natural gas, solar, hydroelectric, wind). Planting of new forests on lands that historically have not contained forests. Small particles or liquid droplets in the atmosphere that can absorb or reflect sunlight depending on their composition. The ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences. Sudden (on the order of decades), large changes in some major component of the climate system, with rapid, widespread effects.Īdjustment or preparation of natural or human systems to a new or changing environment which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. Third Assessment Report Working Group III: Migration.Third Assessment Report Working Group II: Impacts, Adaptation and Vunerability.Third Assessment Report Working Group I: The Scientific Basis.
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