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climate change
A change in the "average weather" that a region experiences. Average weather
includes all the features associated with weather such as temperature, wind
patterns and precipitation. A natural system known as the greenhouse
effect regulates the temperature on Earth. Human activities have the
potential to disrupt the balance of this system by increasing the amount
of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere
which enhances the warming capability of the natural greenhouse effect.
It is the human-induced enhanced greenhouse effect that causes environmental
concern. It has the potential to warm the planet at a rate that has never
been experienced in human history.
Climate change is more than a warming trend. Increasing temperatures will
lead to changes in many aspects of weather, such as wind patterns, the amount
and type of precipitation, and the types and frequency of severe weather
events that may be expected to occur. Climate change could have far-reaching
and/or unpredictable environmental, social and economic consequences.
Related category
• ECOLOGY
AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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