AEROSOLS, CLOUDS AND CLIMATE

Question 1

Climate - definition

Answer 1

Long-term average of atmospheric elements. Driven by a balance in energy.

Question 2

Things affecting radiation on earth

Answer 2

earth surface: heating by absorption, cooling by reflection (albedo).
Atmosphere: Absorption by clouds and greenhouse gases and reflection by clouds and aerosols

Question 3

Gases that absorb short wave/long wave radiation

Answer 3

Short wave: O2 AND O3. Long wave: • H2O, CO2, CH4, N2O, O3 AND CFC

Question 4

Albedo percent

Answer 4

about 28 %

Question 5

Improvements needed for the climate model to be a good forecast

Answer 5

• MORE LAYERS ARE NEEDED

* SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL RESOLUTION MUST BE ADDED

Question 6

The scattering of light by aerosols depend on

Answer 6

size of particle. Strongest scattering when Particle diameter>radiation wavelength

Question 7

Effect of relative humidity on scattering

Answer 7

Water vapour is a poor scatterer of radiation so hygroscopic growth of particles at high humidity causes increased scattering.

Question 8

Sulfate

Answer 8

created by human emissions of SO2. Important component of aerosols. Negative RF

Question 9

Effects of black carbon

Answer 9

Fresh BC absorbs light and heats atmosphere. Aged black carbon reflects more. Could decrease albedo if it lands on snow. Possive RF

Question 10

Radiative forcing

Answer 10

Incoming radiation-outgoing radiation

RF>0 warms climate. RF<0 cools climate

Question 11

Climate effect of clouds

Answer 11

RF negative as a whole. Negative because they increase albedo. Positive because they absorb long wave radiation.

Question 12

Clouds with cooling effect

Answer 12

Lower and middle clouds such as cumulus, nimbostratus, stratocumulus, stratus and altostratus.

Question 13

Clouds with heating effect

Answer 13

High clouds such as cirrus, cirrustratus, cirrucumulus and cumulonimbus

Question 14

RCP

Answer 14

Representative concentration pathway

Question 15

RCP 2.6 vs RCP 8.5

Answer 15

2. 6: global efforts to reduce emissions

8. 5: business as usual

Question 16

Examples of geoengeneering

Answer 16

* SULFATE AEROSOL INTO STRATOSPHERE
• EMIT MORE CCN TO MARINE LOW-LEVEL CLOUDS
• SEEDING CIRRUS CLOUDS
• MIRRORS IN SPACE
• CAPTURE CO2 FROM ATMOSPHERE

Question 17

Albrecht effect

Answer 17

More CNN less rainfall and more light scattered. longer lifetime of clouds.