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Climate system

It is a highly complex system consisting of five main components: the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the earth's surface, and the biosphere, and the interrelationships between them. The last four subsystems represent the active surface. Solar energy that enters the interaction between the atmosphere and the active surface is the driving force behind meteorological and climate changes. The existence of the Earth's climate system can be dated back to the formation of the atmosphere, roughly 4.5 billion years. Subsequently, other components of the system were created, which significantly interact with each other and influence each other. Each of these components represents a complex thermodynamic system in which a large number of physical and chemical processes take place. There is a constant exchange of mass and energy between the individual components of the climate system. The climate system is therefore a very complex non-linear system.

A typical feature of the climate system is that it is constantly changing and developing, and it is also so complex that current science cannot fully accurately describe and predict its further development.

Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS)

A family of man-made compounds that includes, but is not limited to, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), bromofluorocarbons (halons), methyl chloroform, carbon chloride, methyl bromide, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). These compounds have been shown to damage stratospheric ozone and are therefore usually referred to as ODS.

 

 

 

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Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) (Glossary)

The mechanism defined in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol protocol , through which investors (governments or companies) from developed countries (Annex B) can finance projects to reduce or eliminate emissions greenhouse gases (GHG) in developing countries (without Annex B) and obtain an Emission Reduction Unit (CER) certification. CERs can be attributed to the commitments of the respective developed countries. CDM aims to facilitate two objectives which are support of sustainable development (SD) in developing countries and aid industrialized countries in achieving their emissions obligations in a cost-effective manner.

 

 

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Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (Glossary)

The IPCC was established jointly by the United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Organization in 1988. The purpose of the IPCC is to evaluate information in the scientific and technical literature related to all significant components of the climate change issue. The IPCC draws on hundreds of the world's expert scientists as authors and thousands as peer reviewers. Leading experts on climate change and environmental, social and economic sciences from around 60 countries have helped the IPCC prepare regular assessments of the scientific evidence for understanding global climate change and its consequences. Thanks to its ability to report on climate change, its consequences and the feasibility of adaptation and mitigation measures, the IPCC is considered the official advisory body for the entire world. government on the state of science on climate change. For example, the IPCC organized the development of internationally accepted methods for conducting national inventories of greenhouse gas emissions.

Methane (CH 4 ) (Dictionary)

A hydrocarbon that is a greenhouse gas with a global warming potential most recently estimated to be 25 times that of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). Methane is produced by anaerobic (oxygen-free) decomposition of waste in landfills, animal digestion, decomposition of animal waste, production and distribution of natural gas and oil, coal production and incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. GWP is from the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC (AR4). For more information, visit the EPA's page on methane.

 

 

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Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) (Glossary)

Anthropogenic activities removing WHAT 2  from atmosphere and its permanent storage in geological, terrestrial or oceanic reservoirs or in products. Includes existing and potential anthropogenic enhancement of biological or geochemical intercepts and direct capture and storage of air, but excludes natural absorption of CO 2 , which is not directly caused by human activity.

 

 

 

 

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Nitrogen oxides (NO x ) (Glossary)

Gases consisting of one nitrogen molecule and varying numbers of oxygen molecules. Nitrogen oxides are produced in exhaust gas emissions from vehicles and power plants. In the atmosphere, nitrogen oxides can contribute to the formation of photochemical ozone (smog), can impair visibility and have health consequences; therefore, they are considered pollutants.

 

 

 

 

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Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) (Glossary)

Naturally occurring CO gas 2 it is also a by-product of combustion fossil fuels (such as oil, gas and coal), combustion   biomass , of land use changes (LUC) and industrial processes (e.g. cement production). It's the main one anthropogenic greenhouse gas ( GHG ), which affects the radiation balance of the Earth. It is the reference gas against which other greenhouse gases are measured and therefore has a global warming potential (GWP).

 

 

 

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Ozone

Ozone, a triatomic form of oxygen (O 3 ), is a gaseous component of the atmosphere. In the troposphere, it is formed by photochemical reactions of gases that arise both from natural sources and from human activity (photochemical smog). In high concentrations, tropospheric ozone can be harmful to a wide range of living organisms. Tropospheric ozone acts as a greenhouse gas. In the stratosphere, ozone is formed by the interaction between solar ultraviolet radiation and molecular oxygen (O 2 ). Stratospheric ozone plays a critical role in the stratospheric radiation balance. Depletion of stratospheric ozone due to chemical reactions that may be enhanced by climate change leads to an increased ground-level flux of ultraviolet (UV-) B radiation.

Paris Agreement (Glossary)

Paris Agreement according to of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted in December 2015 in Paris, France at the 21st session of the Conference   of the Contracting Parties (COP)to the UNFCCC. The agreement, accepted by 196 parties to the UNFCCC, entered into force on November 4, 2016, and in May 2018 had 195 signatories and was ratified by 177 parties. One of the goals of the Paris Agreement is to "hold the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and continue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels", recognizing that this would significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. In addition, the agreement aims to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the effects of climate change. The Paris Agreement is due to enter into full force in 2020. See also United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) , Kyoto Protocol  aNationally Determined Contributions (NDC) .

Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)

A group of chemicals composed only of carbon and fluorine. These chemicals (mainly CF 4 and C 2 F 6 ) were introduced as alternatives, along with hydrofluorocarbons, to ozone-depleting substances. In addition, PFCs are emitted as by-products of industrial processes and are also used in manufacturing. PFCs do not damage the stratospheric ozone layer, but they are powerful greenhouse gases: CF 4 has a global warming potential (GWP) of 7,390 and C 2 F 6 has a GWP of 12,200. The GWP is from the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC (AR4). These chemicals are mostly man-made, although there is a small natural source CF4

Transient climate response to cumulative CO 2 emissions (TCRE) (Glossary)

Transient global change in average surface temperature per unit of cumulative emissions CO2 , usually 1000 GtC TCRE combines information on the airborne share of cumulative CO emissions 2 (share of total emitted CO 2 , which remains in atmosphere , which is determined by processes   carbon cycle ), as well as Fr transient climate response (TCR) .

 

 

 

 

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Enhanced greenhouse effect (Glossary)

The concept that the natural greenhouse effect has been enhanced by increased atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (such as CO 2 and methane) emitted as a result of human activity. These added greenhouse gases cause the Earth to warm.

 

 

 

 

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Ozone precursors

Chemical compounds such as carbon monoxide, methane, non-methane hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides that, in the presence of sunlight, react with other chemical compounds to form ozone, especially in the troposphere.

 

 

 

 

 

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United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (Glossary)

The Convention on Climate Change sets out the overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to address the problem posed by climate change. It recognizes that the climate system is a common resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The Convention has almost universal membership, with 189 countries having ratified it.
According to the government convention:

  • collect and share information on greenhouse gas emissions, national policies and best practices
  • launch national strategies to address greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to expected impacts, including providing financial and technological support to developing countries
  • cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the effects of climate change

The Convention entered into force on March 21, 1994.

Carbon sequestration (Glossary)

Terrestrial or biological carbon sequestration is the process by which trees and plants absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, and store carbon. Geological sequestration is one step in the carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) process and involves injecting carbon dioxide deep underground where it remains permanently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Greenhouse effect (Glossary)

The trapping and accumulation of heat in the atmosphere (troposphere) near the earth's surface. Some of the heat flowing back into space from the Earth's surface is absorbed by water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, and several other gases in the atmosphere and then directed back toward the Earth's surface. If atmospheric concentrations of these greenhouse gases increase, the average temperature of the lower atmosphere will gradually increase.

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Greenhouse gas (GHG) (Glossary)

Greenhouse gases are the gaseous components of the atmosphere , natural and anthropogenically , which absorb and emit radiation at specific wavelengths within the spectrum of terrestrial radiation emitted by the earth's surface, the atmosphere itself and clouds. This property causes the greenhouse effect. Water vapor (H 2 ABOUT), carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) , nitrous oxide (N 2 ABOUT) , methane (CH 4 ) a ozone (O 3 ) are the primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. In addition, there are many greenhouse gases in the atmosphere created exclusively by humans, such as halogenated hydrocarbons and other chlorine- and bromine-containing substances covered by the Montreal Protocol. In addition to CO 2 , N 2 O and CH 4 with Kyoto protocol  deals with greenhouse gases sulfur fluoride (SF 6 ), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs).

Sulfate aerosols

Particles that consist of sulfur compounds formed by the interaction of sulfur dioxide and sulfur dioxide with other compounds in the atmosphere. Sulfate aerosols are injected into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels and the eruption of volcanoes such as Mt. Pinatubo. Sulfate aerosols can lower the Earth's temperature by reflecting solar radiation (negative radiation). General circulation models that include the effects of sulfate aerosols more accurately predict changes in global temperature.

Carbon cycle (Glossary)

A term used to describe the flow of carbon (in various forms, e.g. as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) , carbon in biomass and carbon dissolved in the ocean as carbonate and bicarbonate) through the atmosphere , hydrosphere, terrestrial and marine biosphere and lithosphere. In this report, the reference unit for the global carbon cycle is GtCO 2 or GtC (Gigaton of carbon = 1 GtC = 10 15 grams of carbon. This corresponds to 3.667 GtCO 2 ).

 

 

 

 

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