Climate Change definitions beginning with G

Gasohol - permalink - collapse

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Vehicle fuel consisting of a mixture of gasoline and ethyl or methyl alcohol; typically 10 to 23 percent ethanol by volume.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Aviation gasoline, biofuel, Ethanol (C, Methanol (CH<sub>3</sub>3OH), Motor gasoline

gastropod - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

a member of the class of mollusks that includes snails.
NCDC National Climatic Data Center - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Accuracy, Air temperature, Hygrometer, Instrument shelter, instrumental record, Psychrometer, Scale, Shield, Thermograph, Thermometer

Gauge - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

Gauge In meteorology, general term for any device that measures, strength of wind, pressure, and other parameters. The most widespread gauges on meteorology are balance snow g., barometer g., density-of-snow g., dew g., distance g., rain-and snow g., rain-intensity g., standard g., wind g., etc.
NSIDC - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Aneroid barometer, Barograph, Barometer, Mercury barometer

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General Aviation - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

That portion of civil aviation, which encompasses all facets of aviation except air carriers. It includes any air taxis, commuter air carriers, and air travel clubs, which do not hold Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity. See air carrier.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Air carrier, Bus, Transportation sector

General circulation - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

General circulation (global circulation, planetary circulation) of the atmosphere. Complete statistical description of atmospheric motions over the Earth.
NSIDC - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Atmospheric circulation, Cyclogenesis, Cyclolysis, Meridional circulation

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General Circulation Model - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

General circulation model (GCM) Numerical representation of the atmosphere and its phenomena over the entire Earth, using the equations of motion and including radiation, photochemistry, and the transfer of heat, water vapor, and momentum.
NSIDC - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Climate Model, Climate modeling, General Circulation Model (GCM), Model year

General Circulation Model (GCM) - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

A global, three-dimensional computer model of the climate system which can be used to simulate human-induced climate change. GCMs are highly complex and they represent the effects of such factors as reflective and absorptive properties of atmospheric water vapor, greenhouse gas concentrations, clouds, annual and daily solar heating, ocean temperatures and ice boundaries. The most recent GCMs include global representations of the atmosphere, oceans, and land surface. See climate modeling.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
A global, three-dimensional computer model of the climate system which can be used to simulate human-induced climate change. GCMs are highly complex and they represent the effects of such factors as reflective and absorptive properties of atmospheric water vapor, greenhouse gas concentrations, clouds, annual and daily solar heating, ocean temperatures and ice boundaries. The most recent GCMs include global representations of the atmosphere, oceans, and land surface. See climate modeling.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Climate Model, Climate modeling, General Circulation Model, Model year

Geosphere - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

The soils, sediments, and rock layers of the Earth's crust, both continental and beneath the ocean floors.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
The soils, sediments, and rock layers of the Earth's crust, both continental and beneath the ocean floors.
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Browse Related Terms: benthic foraminifera, diatom, Marine climate, ostracod, planktonic foraminifera, tephra, terrigenous, upwelling, varve

Geostrophic wind - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

Geostrophic wind Theoretical wind which results from the equilibrium between horizontal components of the pressure gradient force and the Coriolis force (deviating force) above the friction layer. Only these two forces (no frictional force) are supposed to act on the moving air. It blows parallel to straight isobars or contours.
NSIDC - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Atmospheric pressure, Gradient wind, Isobar, Jet stream, Katabatic wind, Steering flow

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Geothermal energy - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

Heat transferred from the earth's molten core to under-ground deposits of dry steam (steam with no water droplets), wet steam (a mixture of steam and water droplets), hot water, or rocks lying fairly close to the earth's surface.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Coal Mine Methane, Industrial sector, Strip mining, Surface mining

GISP2 - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

Greenland Ice Sheet Project 2, the second phase of an effort by a group of scientists to produce long records of climate by drilling at the summit of the Greenland Ice Sheet from the surface to bedrock.
NCDC National Climatic Data Center - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Borehole, calving, Floe, Heinrich Events, Ice, Ice Core, Ice patrol ship, ice sheet, ice sheet margin, ice streams, Laurentide ice sheet, Vostok

glacial - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

a time interval characterized by widespread glacial ice, see also "Ice Age".
NCDC National Climatic Data Center - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: chronology, Ice Age, interglacial, visual stratigraphy

Glacier - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

river of ice that under pressure can deform and flow plastically.
NCDC National Climatic Data Center - Cite This Source - This Definition
A multi-year surplus accumulation of snowfall in excess of snowmelt on land and resulting in a mass of ice at least 0.1 km2 in area that shows some evidence of movement in response to gravity. A glacier may terminate on land or in water. Glacier ice is the largest reservoir of fresh water on Earth, and second only to the oceans as the largest reservoir of total water. Glaciers are found on every continent except Australia.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: ablation, Arctic mist, Cryosphere, Drift of ice, Drifting stations, Fusion, ice rafted detritus, loess

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Glaze - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

Glaze A coating of ice, generally clear and smooth but usually containing some air pockets, formed on exposed objects by freezing of a film of super-cooled water deposited by rain, drizzle, fog, or possibly condensed from super-cooled water vapor. Glaze is denser, harder and more transparent, than either rime or hoarfrost.
NSIDC - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Dansgaard-Oeschger event, Hoarfrost, Icing, Rime

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Global Observing System - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

Global Observing System (GOS) Global network of observational stations which is the coordinated system of methods, techniques and facilities for making observations on a world-wide scale in the framework of the World Weather Watch, a WMO program.
NSIDC - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Atmospheric phenomenon, Error, Global Telecommunication System, observation, Observational network, stable state, Surface observation, Upper air observation, World Weather Watch

Global Telecommunication System - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

Global Telecommunication System (GTS) The coordinated global system of telecommunication facilities and arrangements for the rapid collection, exchange and distribution of observational data in the framework of the World Weather Watch, a WMO program.
NSIDC - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Atmospheric phenomenon, Error, Global Observing System, observation, Observational network, stable state, Surface observation, Upper air observation, World Weather Watch

Global Warming - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

an increase in temperature that occurs globally such as during the transition from a glacial to an interglacial climate state, or that predicted to result from human increases in greenhouse gases.
NCDC National Climatic Data Center - Cite This Source - This Definition
The progressive gradual rise of the earth's surface temperature thought to be caused by the greenhouse effect and responsible for changes in global climate patterns. An increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. See climate change, greenhouse effect, enhanced greenhouse effect, radiative forcing.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth's surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. Global warming can occur from a variety of causes, both natural and human induced. In common usage, "global warming" often refers to the warming that can occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities. See climate change, greenhouse effect, enhanced greenhouse effect, radiative forcing, troposphere.
Source: 2006 U.S. Inventory of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: Fast Facts (PDF, 2 pp., 220 KB, About PDF)
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: abrupt climate change, adaptation, Carbon Dioxide Fertilization, Climate Change, Climate Lag, Climate Sensitivity, Emissions, forcing, Forcing Mechanism, Irreversibilities, mechanism, Nonlinearities, Radiative Forcing

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Global Warming Potential (GWP) - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

The index used to translate the level of emissions of various gases into a common measure in order to compare the relative radiative forcing of different gases without directly calculating the changes in atmospheric concentrations. GWPs are calculated as the ratio of the radiative forcing that would result from the emissions of one kilogram of a greenhouse gas to that from emission of one kilogram of carbon dioxide over a period of time (usually 100 years). The chart below shows the original GWPs (assigned in 1990) and the most recent GWPs (assigned in 1996) for the most important greenhouse gases. GASGWP 1990GWP 1996Carbon Dioxide11Methane2221Nitrous Oxide270310HFC-134a1,2001,300HFC-2310,00011,700HFC-152a150140HCF-125NA*2,800PFCs**5,4007,850SF6NA*23,900* Not Applicable. GWP was not yet estimated for this gas.**This figure is an average GWP for the two PFCs, CF4 and C2F6.See radiative forcing, carbon equivalent, carbon dioxide equivalent.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
Global Warming Potential (GWP) is defined as the cumulative radiative forcing effects of a gas over a specified time horizon resulting from the emission of a unit mass of gas relative to a reference gas. The GWP-weighted emissions of direct greenhouse gases in the U.S. Inventory are presented in terms of equivalent emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), using units of teragrams of carbon dioxide equivalents (Tg CO2 Eq.).

Conversion: Tg = 10⁹ kg = 10⁶ metric tons = 1 million metric tons

The molecular weight of carbon is 12, and the molecular weight of oxygen is 16; therefore, the molecular weight of CO2 is 44 (i.e., 12+[16 x 2]), as compared to 12 for carbon alone. Thus, carbon comprises 12/44ths of carbon dioxide by weight.

See radiative forcing, carbon dioxide equivalent.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Carbon Dioxide Equivalent, Carbon Equivalent, Metric Ton, Short Ton

Gradient wind - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

Gradient wind The same as geostrophic wind, but blowing parallel to curved isobars or contours. The curved airflow pattern around a pressure center results from a balance among pressure-gradient force, Coriolis force, and centrifugal force.
NSIDC - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: Atmospheric pressure, Geostrophic wind, Isobar, Jet stream, Katabatic wind, Steering flow

Grassland - permalink - collapse

All > Science > Climate Change

Terrestrial ecosystem (biome) found in regions where moderate annual average precipitation (25 to 76 centimeters or 10 to 30 inches) is enough to support the growth of grass and small plants but not enough to support large stands of trees.
EPA - Cite This Source - This Definition
Browse Related Terms: arid, Feedlot, Forest, Quad, Rangeland

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Gasohol - permalink - collapse

gastropod - permalink - collapse

Gauge - permalink - collapse

General Aviation - permalink - collapse

General circulation - permalink - collapse

General Circulation Model - permalink - collapse

General Circulation Model (GCM) - permalink - collapse

Geosphere - permalink - collapse

Geostrophic wind - permalink - collapse

Geothermal energy - permalink - collapse

GISP2 - permalink - collapse

glacial - permalink - collapse

Glacier - permalink - collapse

Glaze - permalink - collapse

Global Observing System - permalink - collapse

Global Telecommunication System - permalink - collapse

Global Warming - permalink - collapse

Global Warming Potential (GWP) - permalink - collapse

Gradient wind - permalink - collapse

Grassland - permalink - collapse

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