Climate Change
Long-term shifts in global temperatures and weather patterns, primarily driven by human activities.
Also: global warming · climate crisis
Definition
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global and regional climate patterns, particularly the accelerated warming observed since the mid-20th century attributed primarily to human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes that increase atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases. Consequences include rising sea levels, more frequent extreme weather events, ecosystem disruption, and changes in precipitation patterns.
Example
“Since the Industrial Revolution, global average temperatures have risen by approximately 1.1 degrees Celsius, causing Arctic sea ice extent to decline by about 13% per decade, threatening polar bear habitats and accelerating sea level rise.”
Synonyms
- global warming
- anthropogenic climate change
- climate crisis
Antonyms / Opposites
- climate stability
- natural climate variability
Images
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Related Terms
- Greenhouse Effect
- Atmosphere
- Ocean Currents
- Carbon Dioxide