Glossary

The process of adjusting to new (climate) conditions in order to reduce risks to valued assets

The ability of a person, asset, or system to adjust to a hazard, take advantage of new opportunities, or cope with change

People, resources, ecosystems, infrastructure, and the services they provide. Assets are the tangible and intangible things people or communities value

CMRA is a screening tool for accessing data on past, present, and projected future climate conditions. Data and maps help people understand their potential exposure to climate-related hazards. The site also lists federal funding programs for building resilience help protect people, property, and infrastructure.

System of federal data relevant for exploring climate exposure

A condition, event, or trend related to climate variability and change that can exacerbate hazards

A subsequent result (usually negative) that follows from damage to or loss of an asset. Quantifying potential consequences is an important part of determining risk

Benefits that humans receive from natural systems

The presence of people, assets, and ecosystems in places where they could be adversely affected by hazards

An event or condition that may cause injury, illness, or death to people or damage to assets

Effects on natural and human systems that result from hazards. Evaluating potential impacts is a critical step in assessing vulnerability

Processes that can reduce the amount and speed of future climate change by reducing emissions of heat-trapping gases or removing them from the atmosphere

A change or trend unrelated to climate that can exacerbate hazards

The likelihood of hazard events occurring. Probabilities have traditionally been determined from the historic frequency of events. With changing climate and the introduction of non-climate stressors, the probability of hazard events also changes

Potential future climate conditions calculated by computer-based models of the Earth system. Projections are based on sets of assumptions about the future (scenarios) that may or may not be realized

The capacity of a community, business, or natural environment to prevent, withstand, respond to, and recover from a disruption

The potential for negative consequences where something of value is at stake. In the context of the assessment of climate impacts, the term risk is often used to refer to the potential for adverse consequences of a climate-related hazard. Risk can be assessed by multiplying the probability of a hazard by the magnitude of the negative consequence or loss

The degree to which a system, population, or resource is or might be affected by hazards

A state of incomplete knowledge. Uncertainty about future climate arises from the complexity of the climate system and the ability of models to represent it, as well as the inability to predict the decisions that society will make

The propensity or predisposition of assets to be adversely affected by hazards. Vulnerability encompasses exposure, sensitivity, potential impacts, and adaptive capacity