Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Leopold Center releases glossary of climate change terms

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June 3, 2009

AMES, Iowa—Just as the science of climate change evolves, so does the way we describe it. A new glossary from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture defines terms like milankovitch cycles and eutrophication, which could become just as common in climate change discussions in the near future as carbon footprint and acid rain are now.

"Understanding Common Terms Used in Discussions about Climate Change and Agriculture" is the name of a new resource from the Leopold Center. The glossary was written by Rich Pirog, Leopold Center Associate Director and leader of the Center’s Marketing and Food Systems Initiative, and Rebecca Rasmussen, an MBA student in the ISU College of Business.

Pirog, who has looked at the environmental impacts of the food system, said most of the existing resources provide technical information about climate change and agriculture. “We saw a need for a readily accessible, straight-forward glossary with the most common conversational terms that could be used by educators, farmers and students,” he said. “We believe this publication meets that need.”

Following each of the terms are definitions and their sources, as well as places to get more information on the Internet. The glossary is available on the Leopold Center web site or in hard copy by request, (515) 294-3711, leocenter@iastate.edu. 

For more info contact:

Rich Pirog, Leopold Center Marketing and Food Systems Initiative, (515) 294-1854, rspirog@iastate.edu

Laura Miller, Leopold Center Communications, (515) 294-5272, lwmiller@iastate.edu

 

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