Bathymetry is the topography of the floor of the ocean. It also refers to the measurement of the depth of the oceans.
Biogeochemical feedbacks are feedbacks that involve interactions between climate, biological activity and the biogeochemical cycles on Earth. See section 4.3.3.
Biogeophysical feedbacks are feedbacks that involve interactions between climate and some physical characteristics of the surface that are influenced by biological activity. See section 4.3.3.
Biomes are regions with distinctive large-scale vegetation types. See sections 1.5, 3.3.4 and 4.3.3.
The biosphere is the part of the Earth System comprising all the living organisms in the atmosphere, on land (terrestrial biosphere) or in the ocean (marine biosphere), including derived dead organic matter, such as litter, soil organic matter and oceanic detritus (from IPCC, 2007). See sections 1.1, 1.3.3.1 and 1.5.
Biota is the total collection of organisms of a geographic region or a time period.
A black body is an object or system that absorbs all electromagnetic radiation incident upon it. See sections 2.1.1 and 2.1.2.
Phytoplankton blooms are rapid increases in the mass of phytoplankton. See section 1.3.3.1.
Boreal is a synonym for 'northern'.