How are the terms climate change, global warming and global change different?
The term climate change is often used as if it means the same thing as the term global warming. According to the National Academy of Sciences, however, “the phrase ‘climate change’ is growing in preferred use to ‘global warming’ because it helps convey that there are [other] changes in addition to rising temperatures.” Climate change refers to any distinct change in measures of climate lasting for a long period of time. In other words, “climate change” means major changes in temperature, rainfall, snow, or wind patterns lasting for decades or longer. Climate change may result from: a. natural factors, such as changes in the Sun’s energy or slow changes in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun; b. natural processes within the climate system (e.g., changes in ocean circulation); c. human activities that change the atmosphere’s makeup (e.g, burning fossil fuels) and the land surface (e.g., cutting down forests, planting trees, building developments in cities and suburbs, etc.). d. Global warmi
The term climate change is often used as if it means the same thing as the term global warming. According to the National Academy of Sciences, however, “the phrase ‘climate change’ is growing in preferred use to ‘global warming’ because it helps convey that there are [other] changes in addition to rising temperatures.” Climate change refers to any distinct change in measures of climate lasting for a long period of time. In other words, “climate change” means major changes in temperature, rainfall, snow, or wind patterns lasting for decades or longer.
