Climate Glossary

Climate

The long-term pattern of weather conditions in a particular place or region.

Afghanistan has diverse climatic conditions across mountainous, valley, and lowland areas.

Weather

The short-term condition of the atmosphere, such as temperature, rainfall, wind, and humidity.

Daily weather conditions can include rain, snow, heat, cold, and strong winds.

Climate Change

Long-term changes in temperature, precipitation, and other climate patterns.

Climate change can affect Afghanistan's water resources, agriculture, ecosystems, and livelihoods.

Global Warming

The long-term increase in the Earth's average surface temperature.

Global warming contributes to changes in temperature and climate conditions affecting Afghanistan.

Climate Variability

Natural or other variations in climate conditions over different periods.

Variations in rainfall and temperature can strongly affect agriculture and water availability.

Climate Trend

A general pattern of change in a climate variable over time.

Long-term temperature and precipitation records can help identify climate trends.

Extreme Weather Event

An unusually severe or rare weather event.

Floods, severe storms, extreme heat, and heavy snowfall can create significant risks.

Greenhouse Effect

The natural process through which certain gases in the atmosphere retain heat.

The natural greenhouse effect makes Earth habitable.

Enhanced Greenhouse Effect

The additional warming caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases from human activities.

It is a major driver of current global warming.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG)

A gas that absorbs and re-emits heat in the atmosphere.

Major gases include CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O.

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂)

A greenhouse gas released through fossil fuel combustion, land-use change, and other processes.

It is one of the main human-caused contributors to global warming.

Methane (CH₄)

A greenhouse gas produced by sources including livestock, agriculture, waste, and fossil fuel activities.

Methane has a strong warming effect compared with CO₂ over shorter time periods.

Nitrous Oxide (N₂O)

A greenhouse gas associated with agriculture, fertilizers, livestock, and industrial processes.

Agricultural practices can contribute to N₂O emissions.

Carbon Sink

A natural or human-managed system that absorbs more carbon than it releases.

Forests, soils, and some ecosystems can act as carbon sinks.

Carbon Source

A system or activity that releases more carbon than it absorbs.

Fossil fuel combustion is a major source of CO₂ emissions.

Climate Impact

An effect resulting from climate-related changes or hazards.

Reduced crop production following drought.

Climate Hazard

A potentially damaging climate-related physical event or trend.

Drought, flood, heatwave, or extreme rainfall.

Climate Risk

The potential for climate-related hazards to cause harm to people, ecosystems, assets, or economies.

Risk of agricultural losses due to drought.

Exposure

The presence of people, infrastructure, ecosystems, or economic activities in areas that could be affected by hazards.

Communities living in flood-prone areas.

Vulnerability

The degree to which a person, community, system, or ecosystem may be harmed by climate impacts.

Communities with limited access to water may be more vulnerable to drought.

Sensitivity

The degree to which a system is affected by climate conditions.

Rain-fed agriculture can be highly sensitive to changes in rainfall.

Adaptive Capacity

The ability of people, institutions, systems, or ecosystems to adjust to climate impacts.

Access to climate information can improve adaptive capacity.

Resilience

The ability to prepare for, withstand, recover from, and adapt to climate-related impacts.

Climate-resilient communities can better prepare for droughts and floods.

Drought

A prolonged period of unusually low precipitation or water availability.

Crop losses, livestock impacts, water shortages, and livelihood stress.

Flood

Overflow of water onto land that is normally dry.

Damage to homes, roads, agricultural land, and infrastructure.

Flash Flood

A rapid and often unexpected flood that develops within a short period.

Can cause severe damage and loss of life, particularly in vulnerable areas.

Heatwave

A period of unusually high temperatures lasting for several days or longer.

Heat stress, health impacts, water demand, and agricultural losses.

Extreme Cold

Unusually low temperatures that can create risks for people, livestock, and infrastructure.

Health risks and impacts on livestock and vulnerable communities.

Heavy Rainfall

Rainfall occurring at unusually high intensity or amount.

Flooding, erosion, landslides, and agricultural damage.

Landslide

The movement of soil, rocks, or debris down a slope.

Damage to roads, settlements, agriculture, and infrastructure.

Desertification

Land degradation in dry areas caused by climatic and human factors.

Reduced agricultural productivity, ecosystem degradation, and livelihood impacts.

Climate Adaptation

Actions taken to adjust to actual or expected climate impacts and reduce harm.

Improving water management during drought.

Adaptation Measure

A specific action designed to reduce vulnerability or climate risk.

Building flood protection infrastructure.

Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Agricultural practices designed to maintain productivity under changing climate conditions.

Drought-tolerant crops and improved irrigation.

Early Warning System

A system that provides timely information about potential hazards so people can take action.

Flood or drought early warning systems.

Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

Policies and actions that reduce disaster risks and impacts.

Hazard mapping, preparedness, and resilient infrastructure.

Preparedness

Actions taken before a disaster or climate event to improve response capacity.

Emergency planning and community awareness.

Climate-Proofing

Adjusting policies, infrastructure, or projects to account for current and future climate risks.

Designing infrastructure to withstand future flood risks.

Climate Mitigation

Actions that reduce greenhouse gas emissions or increase their removal from the atmosphere.

Renewable energy development.

Emission

The release of a substance, particularly greenhouse gases, into the atmosphere.

CO₂ released from burning fuel.

Emission Reduction

A decrease in the amount of greenhouse gases released.

Improving energy efficiency.

Carbon Removal

The process of removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it.

Reforestation and certain carbon removal technologies.

Renewable Energy

Energy produced from naturally replenishing sources.

Solar, wind, hydropower, and geothermal energy.

Energy Efficiency

Using less energy to provide the same service or output.

Energy-efficient buildings and appliances.

Low-Carbon Development

Development that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting economic and social development.

Expanding renewable energy while improving energy access.

Net Zero

A situation where human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are balanced by removals over a specified period.

Reducing emissions and increasing carbon removals.