Informing BC Stakeholders

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Glossary beginning with I

I

Impacts

The effects of climate change on natural and human systems. Depending on the consideration of adaptation, one can distinguish between potential impacts and residual impacts. Potential impacts are what may occur given a projected change in climate, without considering adaptation. Residual impacts are the impacts of climate change that would occur after adaptation.

[IPCC Fourth Assessment, Working Group II, Appendix I Glossary, p. 876]

Insolation

The amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth by latitude and by season. Usually insolation refers to the radiation arriving at the top of the atmosphere. Sometimes it is specified as referring to the radiation arriving at the Earth’s surface.

[IPCC Fourth Assessment, Working Group I, Appendix I Glossary, p. 948]