Key terms & definitions

A steep rock face at the coast, shaped by marine erosion, weathering and collapse.

An ending that leaves an important situation unresolved, creating suspense about what will happen next.

An ending that leaves an important situation unresolved, making the audience want to discover what happens next.

An ending that leaves a significant event or danger unresolved, encouraging audiences to continue with the story.

The long-term pattern of weather in a place, usually described using averages and variability over at least 30 years.

The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a region or across Earth.

The long-term patterns of weather in a region, including averages and variation.

Assessing how much an observed climate change is explained by different causes, including human activity and natural influences.

A long-term change in patterns of temperature, rainfall and other features of climate.

A long-term change in climate patterns, including temperature and rainfall.

A lasting change in climate patterns, including average temperature, rainfall and the frequency or intensity of extreme weather.

A long-term change in weather patterns and conditions, such as temperature and rainfall.

Long-term changes in temperatures and weather patterns. Current climate change is driven mainly by human activities, including burning fossil fuels.

Long-term changes in climate, including temperature, rainfall patterns and the frequency or intensity of extreme weather.

Adjustment to actual or expected climate change to reduce its harmful effects.

Action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase their removal, limiting future climate change.

Action taken to limit climate change by reducing greenhouse-gas emissions or increasing their removal from the atmosphere.

Information about climate variables, such as temperature or atmospheric composition, collected over time or across locations.

A factor that changes the Earth's energy balance and therefore tends to warm or cool the climate.

A graph showing how average temperature and precipitation vary through the months of a year.

A simplified representation of the climate system used to investigate past changes or project possible future changes.

A computer-based representation of the climate system used to test explanations and make predictions.

A simplified representation of the Earth's climate system, used to investigate how it works and predict how it may change.

An estimate of possible future climate conditions based on climate models and assumptions, such as a particular pathway of greenhouse gas emissions.

An indirect indicator of past climate, such as tree-ring width or preserved pollen, used when direct measurements are unavailable.

An estimate of past climatic conditions produced by interpreting and combining evidence.

A person forced to leave their home because of the effects of climate change. The expression describes displacement; it does not automatically confer legal refugee status.

The size of the climate’s warming response to an increase in greenhouse gases.

A broad region with similar long-term temperature and precipitation patterns.

A broad region with similar long-term patterns of temperature and precipitation.