GLOBAL WARMING-an increase in the earth's average atmospheric temperature that causes corresponding changes in climate and that may result from the greenhouse effect. GREENHOUSE EFFECT- heating of the atmosphere resulting from the absorption by certain gases of solar energy that has been captured and reradiated by the earth's surface. DESERTIFICATION - the processes by which an area becomes a desert. DEFORESTIFICATION- the processes that result in the change of forested lands to non-forest uses FOSSIL …showed first 75 words of 439 total…

…showed last 75 words of 439 total…a colorless, odorless, incombustible gas, CO2, present in the atmosphere and formed during respiration: used as dry ice and in carbonated beverages and fire extinguishers. NITROUS OXIDE- a powerful greenhouse gas that is produced by soil cultivation practices, especially the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion, and nitric acid production. EMISSIONS- the release of a substance into the atmosphere RESIDENCE TIME- The amount of time a particular molecule remains in the atmosphere.