3.b. Monitoring changes in water and carbon cycle Flashcards
Satellite measuring: artic sea ice
NASA earth observing system
Measures microwave energy emitted from earths surface. Comparison of time series images shows change
Satellite measuring: atmospheric CO2
NASA orbiting carbon observatory (OCO)
Also measures effectiveness of CO2 absorption in plants
Measures size of store to show global disparity and change
Satellite measuring: primary productivity
NASA AQUA measures NPP on oceans and land
Satalite measuring: water vapour
NOAA satalite
Measures cloud liquid water, total precipitately water etc, long term trends in cloud cover and water vapour etc
Glacial extent
Over the past 400 000 years there have been 4 major cycles of glacial and interglacial periods.
At height of the last ice age 20 00 years ago average temp was 25 degrees colder
Visual fluctuation in size shows changes in temp
Water cycle and glacial extent
Water from ocean reservoir to be stored in ice sheets, glaciers and permafrost.
Ice sheets expanding destroys forests and shrinks biosphere
Lower evapotranspiration
Carbon cycle and glacial extent
Reduction in atmospheric CO2 in glacial periods
Glacial maxima: 180 ppm
Interglacial maxima: 280 ppm
CO2 more soluble in cold water
Carbon storage in veg declines
Lower NPP and sequestration
Pollen records
Provides evidence for past climate
Identifies which plants grew in the region, therefore climate
Tree rings
Variation in rings shows difference between wet and dry seasons
Less growth so narrow in dry season
Also shows scars from forest fires
Rings used to date forest
Shows cyclical climate patterns
Ice cores
Provide direct measurements of CO2 to the 1950s
Bubbles trap atmospheric gas to be analysed for decomposition
CH4 ppm and CO2 ppm measured
Can hold records up to 800 00 years ago
Shows global temp and ice thickness too
