7.2 Climate Change - Causes and Impacts Flashcards
Climate vs Weather
Climate: The long-term average of weather patterns in a specific area over decades.
Weather: The short-term atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place.
Global Warming
The long-term rise in Earth’s average surface temperature due to human activities, primarily fossil fuel burning.
Greenhouse Effect
The trapping of heat in Earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases, which keeps the planet warm enough to sustain life
Climate Change
Significant changes in global or regional climate patterns over time, including global warming and its effects like sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and ecosystem shifts.
Short-wave vs longwave radiation (in terms of the greenhouse effect)
Shortwave Radiation: Solar radiation that reaches Earth’s surface, including visible light, which is absorbed and converted to heat.
Longwave Radiation: Infrared radiation emitted by Earth’s surface, which is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases, warming the atmosphere.
Paris Agreement
A 2015 global treaty where nations commit to limiting global temperature rise to below 2°C, with efforts to limit the increase to 1.5°C.
Albedo
The reflectivity of Earth’s surface; surfaces with high albedo (like ice) reflect more sunlight, while those with low albedo (like forests) absorb more heat.
Albedo-related positive feedback global warming loop
Melting ice reducing albedo, leading to more warming.
Increased plant growth as a negative feedback mechanism for greenhouse gases
Increased plant growth absorbing more CO2 as temperatures rise.
Climate tipping points
Critical thresholds where small changes can lead to drastic shifts, like the collapse of the West Antarctic ice sheet leading to significant sea level rise.
Greenhouse Gases
Trap (reflect) long-wave infrared radiation in the atmosphere.
Carbon dioxide (0.3% of atmosphere), methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, ozone (in the troposphere), CFCs
GWP
Global Warming Potential
A measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific time compared to CO2.
Methane has a higher GWP than CO2, which means it is a worse greenhouse gas. However, methane has a much shorter atmospheric lifespan than CO2.
Carbon Emissions
The release of carbon, particularly CO2 (but including methane and carbon monoxide), into the atmosphere from human activities like burning fossil fuels.
Net zero
A politicized term relating to temporal targets and timeframes.
Achieving a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere.
Also referred to as carbon neutrality.
Carbon neutral
Achieving net zero carbon emissions, often through a combination of reducing emissions and carbon offsetting.
1.5 degree threshold.
The critical limit of global warming above pre-industrial levels, beyond which severe climate impacts are expected.
Used as a nominal target in the drafting of global treaties and international agreements, in which countries pledge to work together towards exceeding this.
Solar insolation
The amount of solar radiation reaching a given area of Earth’s surface.
Outcomes of radiation hitting the Earth
Reflection: Solar radiation bouncing off surfaces like ice and clouds back into space.
Absorption: Solar radiation absorbed by Earth’s surface, warming it.
Anthropogenic sources of carbon
Human activities like burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes that release carbon into the atmosphere.
Enhanced greenhouse effect
As opposed to the “natural greenhouse effect”
The increased trapping of heat due to higher levels of greenhouse gases from human activities, leading to global warming.
Why is melting of the permafrost bad?
Thawing of frozen soil releasing trapped greenhouse gases like methane, further amplifying global warming.
Why is methane worse than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas?
Methane has a higher GWP (global warming potential) than CO2, meaning it traps significantly more heat in the atmosphere over a short period.
Biggest anthropogenic sources of atmospheric methane
Cows (30%)
Natural gas and oil abstraction (20%)
Rice paddies (10%)
Coal mining (10%)
Landfill (10%)
Amazon Rainforest as a tipping point
Large-scale deforestation could turn the Amazon from a carbon sink to a carbon source, triggering further climate change.
Phytoplankton as a carbon sink
Microscopic marine organisms that absorb CO2 during photosynthesis, playing a critical role in the ocean’s carbon cycle.
The warmer the Earth the more phytoplankton (negative feedback)
Carbon sequestration
The process of capturing and storing atmospheric CO2 in plants, soils, oceans, or geological formations.
The Great Global Warming Swindle
A controversial documentary (2007 - the year after and Inconvenient Truth) that argues against the scientific consensus on climate change.
Climate change skeptic
An expert in ignoring overwhelming evidence!
Climate refugee
Individuals (or species) who are forced to leave their homes due to the impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, droughts, or extreme weather events.
Which island natons are at risk of submersion as a result of sea level rise
Tuvalu, Kiribati, Nauru, Maldives, Marshall Islands.
The highest point on Tuvalu is just 4.6m above sealevel! 5.1 on the Maldives.
Cities at risk from (partial) submersion as a result of sea level rise.
Jakarta (Indonesia is changing the location of its capital to Borneo as a result), Venice, New York, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Manila, Miami, Shanghai
Displacement as a result of sea level rise.
By 2050, it is projected that up to 200 million people will be affected.
Climate Migration
The movement of populations driven by changes in climate, including shifts in temperature, precipitation, and environmental conditions.
Glacial Recession
The process by which glaciers shrink due to melting and reduced snowfall, often attributed to global warming.
Global Dimming
A reduction in the amount of sunlight reaching Earth’s surface, caused by air pollution and aerosols that reflect sunlight back into space.
Why does global warming result in more extreme weather events?
Global warming increases the energy in the Earth’s atmosphere, leading to more frequent and intense weather events like storms, floods, and heatwaves.
Biome shift
The movement of biomes, such as forests and grasslands, to new areas due to changes in temperature, precipitation, and other climate factors.
How is global warming positive for agriculture?
In some regions, warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons can increase crop yields and expand areas suitable for agriculture.
How is global warming negative for agriculture?
changing precipitation patterns can reduce crop yields, degrade soil, and increase the risk of pests and diseases
Ocean Acidification
The process by which oceans absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, leading to a decrease in pH levels and making the water more acidic.
Carbonic acid
A weak acid formed when carbon dioxide dissolves in water, contributing to ocean acidification and affecting marine life.
Thermal Expansion
The increase in water volume as it warms, which contributes to rising sea levels alongside melting ice caps and glaciers.
Relationship between temperature and CO2 solubility in seawater
As temperature increases, the solubility of carbon dioxide in seawater decreases, leading to less CO2 being absorbed by the oceans.
Coral dieback
The decline and death of coral reefs due to stressors such as increased water temperatures, ocean acidification, and pollution.
Coral bleaching
Where corals lose their vibrant colors and turn white due to the expulsion of symbiotic algae caused by stress from warmer water temperatures.
Impact of ocean acidification
Ocean acidification can weaken the shells and skeletons of marine organisms, disrupt food chains, and damage coral reefs.
Composition of the shells of marine organisms
Calcium carbonate
