This section explains the meaning of some of the terms used on this site, listed alphabetically.
A
- Atmosphere
- The air and other gases that surround a planet such as the Earth.
- Absorbed
- Taken in or soaked up.
- Adapt
- To change to suit a new environment.
B
C
- Carbon dioxide
- A greenhouse gas that cannot be seen or smelt.
- CFC
- See Chlorofluorocarbons.
- Climate
- Typical weather conditions at a particular time.
- Chlorofluorocarbons
- Greenhouse gases used mostly in air conditioners, refrigerators and spray cans.
- Climate model
- A 3-dimensional grid of the planet which uses mathematics to study the climate
E
- Earth's crust
- The outer layer of the Earth.
- Emissions
- Gases or other substances that are released into the atmosphere.
- Erode
-
To wear away.
- Evaporation
- Changing from a liquid into a gas.
F
- Fertilisers
- Substances put onto soil to improve plant growth.
- Fossil fuels
-
Fuels, such as coal, oil and natural gas that are formed in the Earth's crust from the organic remains of prehistoric plants and animals.
G
- Global warming
- The increase in the average temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans which leads to climate change.
- Greenhouse gases
- Gases that absorb the sun's heat and contribute to the greenhouse effect.
- Grey water
- Waste water produced by activities such as showering, bathing, washing dishes and washing clothes.
I
L
M
- Marsupial
- A mammal that carries its young in a pouch.
- Methane
- A flammable greenhouse gas that cannot be seen or smelt.
O
- Ozone hole
-
A part of the ozone layer that has been damaged by pollution and allows extra rays from the sun to pass through it.
P
- Permits
- Tickets, passes or licences to do something.
- Polar ice
-
Areas at the north and south poles of the Earth that are permanently covered in ice.
- Predict
- To imagine what might happen in the future.
R
S
- Sewerage
- The system along which waste matter and water travels.
- Stormwater
- Excess water resulting from heavy rains or storms.
