Digital Glossary

Global Warming &Greenhouse Effect

G-Z

GGlobal warming: an increase in world temperatures, caused by an increase in carbon dioxide around the Earth.

Glaciers: persistent bodies of ice formed by the accumulation of snow.

Gas: one of the three fundamental states of matter; a substance such as air, which is not solid or liquid.

Greenhouse: a glass building used for growing plants.

Greenhouse effect: the warming of the air around the Earth as a result of the Sun’s heat being trapped by pollution.

Greenhouse gases: gases released in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation.

HHuman activity: human work that contributes to upset the balance of the carbon cycle.

Heat: an increase in temperature.

Hot: having a high temperature.

IInfra-red: infra-red light gives out heat but cannot be seen. Infrared radiation (I.R.): electromagnetic radiation with longer wavelenghts than those of visible light.

Imbalance: when two things are not the right size in relation to each other.

MMethane: a chemical compound, the main component of natural gas and also a greenhouse gas.

Minimize temperature increase: to diminish the temperature of the Earth.

NNatural causes: happenings produced by nature.

Natural greenhouse gases: gases originated in nature, which cushion the earth’s surface, causing a global heat increase.

OOzone: an unstable, poisonous allotrope of oxygen, that is formed naturally in the ozone layer. It is made up of 3 atoms of oxygen.

Ozone layer: it is a layer in the Earth’s atmosphere containing high concentrations of ozone. This layer absorbs ultra-violet radiation.

Ozone hole: it is an annual thinning of the ozone layer over the Antarctic, caused by stratospheric chlorine.

PPollutants: substances which contaminate the atmosphere with undesired effects.

Predictability: something behaving or happening in the way that you expect.

Pollution: damage caused to air, water, soil, by harmful chemicals and waste.

Recycle: to extract useful materials from garbage or waste.

Reduce: to limit, to decrease the quantity of something.

R

SSea levels: the levels of the ocean surface used as a standard in reckoning with land elevation or sea depths.

Storm: a period of very bad weather with heavy rain, strong wind, and often lightning.

WWeather: condition of the atmosphere at a certain place and time, with reference to temperature and the presence of rain, sunshine, wind.

Warm: slightly hot, especially in a pleasant way.

Liceo Scientifico Statale«G. Galilei»

PescaraA. S. 2012-2013

UDA: Global Warming

Federico Di FabioClass: II A

English Teacher: Prof. Roberta Miscia